1988–89 New Jersey Nets season

1988–89 New Jersey Nets season
Head coachWillis Reed
General managerHarry Weltman
ArenaBrendan Byrne Arena
Results
Record26–56 (.317)
PlaceDivision: 5th (Atlantic)
Conference: 11th (Eastern)
Playoff finishDid not qualify
Stats at Basketball Reference
Local media
TelevisionWWOR-TV
SportsChannel New York
RadioWNEW

The 1988–89 New Jersey Nets season was the Nets' 13th season in the National Basketball Association, and also their 13th season in East Rutherford, New Jersey.[1] The Nets received the fourth overall pick in the 1988 NBA draft, and selected small forward Chris Morris from the University of Auburn.[2][3][4] During the off-season, the Nets acquired Walter Berry from the San Antonio Spurs,[5][6][7] and acquired Mike McGee from the Sacramento Kings.[8][9][10] Before the start of the regular season, the team acquired Joe Barry Carroll and Lester Conner from the Houston Rockets.[11][12][13]

With the addition of Morris, Barry Carroll, McGee and Conner, the Nets played around .500 in winning percentage with a 7–7 start to the regular season, but then posted a six-game losing streak between November and December afterwards, and later on held an 18–29 record at the All-Star break.[14] After 29 games with the team, Berry was released to free agency and signed with the Rockets at mid-season.[15][16] The Nets struggled posting a 10-game losing streak in March, and lost 20 of their final 23 games of the season, finishing in fifth place in the Atlantic Division with a 26–56 record.[17]

Roy Hinson averaged 16.0 points, 6.4 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game, while Morris averaged 14.1 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game, and was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team, and Barry Carroll provided the team with 14.1 points, 7.4 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game. In addition, Buck Williams provided with 13.0 points and 9.4 rebounds per game, while McGee contributed 13.0 points per game and led the Nets with 93 three-point field goals, and second-year guard Dennis Hopson provided with 12.7 points per game. Meanwhile, Conner replaced John Bagley as the Nets' starting point guard during the regular season, as he averaged 10.3 points, 7.4 assists and 2.2 steals per game, while Bagley contributed 7.4 points and 5.8 assists per game, and Keith Lee provided with 4.8 points and 4.5 rebounds per game.[18]

During the NBA All-Star weekend at the Houston Astrodome in Houston, Texas, Morris participated in the NBA Slam Dunk Contest.[19][20] Morris also finished in third place in Rookie of the Year voting,[21][22] while Williams finished tied in seventh place in Defensive Player of the Year voting.[22] The Nets finished 21st in the NBA in home-game attendance, with an attendance of 378,397 at the Brendan Byrne Arena during the regular season, which was the fifth-lowest in the league.[18][23]

Following the season, Williams was traded to the Portland Trail Blazers after eight seasons with the Nets,[24][25][26] while McGee was released to free agency, Bagley was traded to the Boston Celtics,[27][28] and Lee was left unprotected in the 1989 NBA expansion draft, where he was selected by the Orlando Magic expansion team.[29][30][31]

Draft picks

Main article: 1988 NBA draft
Round Pick Player Position Nationality College
1 4 Chris Morris SF  United States Auburn
2 32 Charles Shackleford PF/C  United States North Carolina State
3 52 Derrick Hamilton SF  United States Southern Mississippi

Roster

1988–89 New Jersey Nets roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Player Height Weight DOB From
G 5 John Bagley 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1960-04-23 Boston College
C 11 Joe Barry Carroll 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1958-07-24 Purdue
G 15 Lester Conner 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1959-09-17 Oregon State
G 12 Corey Gaines 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1965-06-01 Loyola Marymount
F 23 Roy Hinson 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1961-05-02 Rutgers
G 2 Dennis Hopson 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1965-04-22 Ohio State
F 20 Bill Jones 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1966-03-18 Iowa
F 24 Keith Lee 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1962-12-28 Memphis
G 22 Mike McGee 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1959-07-29 Michigan
F 34 Chris Morris 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1966-01-20 Auburn
C 33 Charles Shackleford 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1966-04-22 NC State
F 52 Buck Williams 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1960-03-08 Maryland
Head coach
Assistant(s)
Legend
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured

Roster

Regular season

Season standings

Atlantic Division
 W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-New York Knicks 52 30 .634 – 35–6 17–24 18–12
x-Philadelphia 76ers 46 36 .561 6 30–11 16–25 19–11
x-Boston Celtics 42 40 .512 10 32–9 10–31 19–11
Washington Bullets 40 42 .488 12 30–11 10–31 17–13
New Jersey Nets 26 56 .317 26 17–24 9–32 9–21
Charlotte Hornets 20 62 .244 32 12–29 8–33 8–22
#
Eastern Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1 z-Detroit Pistons 63 19 .768 –
2 y-New York Knicks 52 30 .634 11
3 x-Cleveland Cavaliers 57 25 .695 6
4 x-Atlanta Hawks 52 30 .634 11
5 x-Milwaukee Bucks 49 33 .598 14
6 x-Chicago Bulls 47 35 .573 16
7 x-Philadelphia 76ers 46 36 .561 17
8 x-Boston Celtics 42 40 .512 21
9 Washington Bullets 40 42 .488 23
10 Indiana Pacers 28 54 .341 35
11 New Jersey Nets 26 56 .317 37
12 Charlotte Hornets 20 62 .244 43
z – clinched division title
y – clinched division title
x – clinched playoff spot

Awards and records

Transactions

Player Transactions Citation:[32]

References

  1. ^ 1988-89 New Jersey Nets
  2. ^ Goldaper, Sam (June 29, 1988). "N.B.A. Draft; Manning, Then 3-Way Trade Give Hope to Lowly Clippers". The New York Times. Retrieved February 14, 2022.
  3. ^ Baker, Chris (June 29, 1988). "1988 NBA DRAFT: Clippers Choose Manning, Then Play for Position: They Trade Cage, End Up with Smith and Grant". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
  4. ^ "1988 NBA Draft". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
  5. ^ "Nets Get Walter Berry". The New York Times. August 30, 1988. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
  6. ^ "Spurs Trade Berry to Nets for Comegys". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. August 30, 1988. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
  7. ^ Goldaper, Sam (October 30, 1988). "N.B.A. '88-'89; League Is Changing, But Lakers Are Still on Top". The New York Times. Retrieved May 13, 2024.
  8. ^ "Nets Acquire Kings' McGee". The New York Times. November 1, 1988. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
  9. ^ "The Sacramento Kings Traded Guard Mike McGee..." Los Angeles Times. November 1, 1988. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
  10. ^ "Mike McGee Scored a Game-High 29 Points Against His..." United Press International. November 27, 1988. Retrieved May 13, 2024.
  11. ^ Goldaper, Sam (November 3, 1988). "Nets Acquire Rockets' Carroll". The New York Times. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
  12. ^ "Rockets Send Joe Barry Carroll to the Nets in a Six-Player Trade". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. November 3, 1988. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
  13. ^ "Nets Obtain Carroll from Rockets in 6-Player Deal". Los Angeles Times. November 3, 1988. Retrieved February 28, 2024.
  14. ^ "NBA Games Played on February 9, 1989". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved January 23, 2023.
  15. ^ Brown, Clifton (January 31, 1989). "Unhappy Berry Is Waived by Nets". The New York Times. Retrieved May 13, 2024.
  16. ^ Valenti, John (February 26, 1989). "Berry Starts Fourth "New Beginning"". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 13, 2024.
  17. ^ "1988–89 New Jersey Nets Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved February 10, 2022.
  18. ^ a b "1988–89 New Jersey Nets Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved February 10, 2022.
  19. ^ "All-Star Lineups". Ocala Star-Banner. February 11, 1989. p. 5D. Retrieved September 25, 2025.
  20. ^ "NBA & ABA All-Star Game Contest Winners". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved September 25, 2025.
  21. ^ "IN BRIEF: Richmond Wins Gottlieb Trophy". Los Angeles Times. Times Wire Services. May 1, 1989. Retrieved December 27, 2022.
  22. ^ a b "1988–89 NBA Awards Voting". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved December 27, 2022.
  23. ^ "1988–89 NBA Season Summary". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved February 15, 2026.
  24. ^ Brown, Clifton (June 25, 1989). "PRO-BASKETBALL; Nets Get Bowie for Buck Williams". The New York Times. Retrieved February 14, 2022.
  25. ^ "Trail Blazers Trade Bowie, No. 12 Pick in Draft to Nets for Buck Williams". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. June 25, 1989. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
  26. ^ "Blazers Trade Bowie, No. 12 Pick for Williams". Deseret News. Associated Press. June 25, 1989. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
  27. ^ "For the Record". The Washington Post. October 5, 1989. Retrieved May 13, 2024.
  28. ^ "Celtics Get Bagley in Trade with Nets". United Press International. October 6, 1989. Retrieved May 13, 2024.
  29. ^ Brown, Clifton (June 16, 1989). "Knicks' Green Is Taken First in N.B.A.'s Expansion Draft". The New York Times. Retrieved March 10, 2026.
  30. ^ Howard-Cooper, Scott (June 16, 1989). "NBA Expansion Draft: Timberwolves Get Mahorn; Lakers Lose Rivers". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 10, 2026.
  31. ^ "1989 NBA Expansion Draft". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved March 10, 2026.
  32. ^ "1988–89 New Jersey Nets Transactions". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved February 11, 2022.
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