1988–89 Indiana Pacers season
The 1988–89 NBA season was Indiana's 13th season in the NBA and 22nd season as a franchise. Despite finishing with a 38–44 record the previous season, the Pacers had the second overall pick in the 1988 NBA draft, and selected Dutch center Rik Smits out of Marist College. The Pacers went through four different head coaches this season; head coach Jack Ramsay resigned after an 0–7 start, then after two games under interim coach Mel Daniels, and 20 games under interim George Irvine, the team hired Dick Versace as their new coach. At midseason, the  team traded Wayman Tisdale to the Sacramento Kings for LaSalle Thompson and Randy Wittman, and dealt Herb Williams to the Dallas Mavericks for Detlef Schrempf. The Pacers finished last place in the Central Division with a 28–54 record. Chuck Person averaged 21.6 points and 6.5 rebounds per game, while second-year star Reggie Miller stepped into the lineup and showed improvement, averaging 16.0 points and 1.3 steals per game, Vern Fleming contributed 14.3 points and 6.5 assists per game, and Smits provided the team with 11.7 points, 6.1 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game, and was named to the NBA  All-Rookie First Team. Following the season, Scott Skiles left in the 1989 NBA Expansion Draft. Player statistics. Season. Player Statistics Citation: