1987–88 Portland Trail Blazers season

1987–88   Portland Trail Blazers season
Head coach	Mike Schuler
General manager	Jon Spoelstra
Owner	Larry Weinberg
Arena	Memorial Coliseum
Results
Record	53–29 (.646)
Place	Division: 2nd (Pacific) Conference: 4th (Western)
Playoff finish	First round (lost to Jazz 1–3)
Stats at Basketball Reference
< 1986–87 1988–89 >

The 1987–88 Portland Trail Blazers season was the 18th season for the Portland Trail Blazers in the National Basketball Association. ^[1] During the first month of the regular season in November, the Trail Blazers signed free agent, former Trail Blazers and All-Star forward Maurice Lucas, ^{[2] [3] [4]} and later on in December signed Richard Anderson, who was previously released by the Houston Rockets. ^[5] The team began their season without Sam Bowie, who was out due to a preseason right leg injury, and would miss the entire season. ^{[6] [7] [8]}

After winning their first two games of the regular season, the Trail Blazers posted a five-game losing streak, but then posted a 9-game winning streak between November and December, and held a 26–16 record at the All-Star break. ^[9] At mid-season, the team traded Jim Paxson to the Boston Celtics in exchange for Jerry Sichting. ^{[10] [11] [12]} The Trail Blazers posted another 9-game winning streak between February and March, and won 10 of their final 13 games of the season, finishing in second place in the Pacific Division with a 53–29 record, earning the fourth seed in the Western Conference, and qualifying for the NBA playoffs for the sixth consecutive year. ^[13]

Clyde Drexler averaged 27.0 points, 6.6 rebounds, 5.8 assists and 2.9 steals per game, and was named to the All-NBA Second Team, while Kiki Vandeweghe contributed 20.2 points per game off the bench, but only played just 37 games due to injury, and Jerome Kersey provided the team with 19.2 points, 8.3 rebounds and 1.6 steals per game. In addition, second-year center Kevin Duckworth averaged 15.8 points and 7.4 rebounds per game, and was named the NBA Most Improved Player of the Year, ^{[14] [15] [16]} while Steve Johnson provided with 15.4 points and 6.3 rebounds per game, but only appeared in just 43 games also due to injury, and Terry Porter contributed 14.9 points, 10.1 assists and 1.8 steals per game. Off the bench, Anderson averaged 6.7 points and 4.6 rebounds per game, while Lucas provided with 6.1 points and 4.3 rebounds per game, Mike Holton contributed 5.3 points and 2.6 assists per game, and starting power forward Caldwell Jones averaged 4.2 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game. ^[17]

During the NBA All-Star weekend at the Chicago Stadium in Chicago, Illinois, Drexler and Johnson were both selected for the 1988 NBA All-Star Game, as members of the Western Conference All-Star team, although Johnson did not participate due to injury; it was his final All-Star selection. ^{[18] [19] [20]} In addition, Drexler and Kersey both participated in the NBA Slam Dunk Contest; it was the fourth appearance for Drexler, and the third appearance for Kersey. ^{[21] [22]}

Drexler finished in fifth place in Most Valuable Player voting, and also finished tied in eighth place in Defensive Player of the Year voting, ^[23] while Kersey finished in fifth place in Most Improved Player voting, ^[23] and head coach Mike Schuler finished tied in third place in Coach of the Year voting. ^{[24] [23]}

In the Western Conference First Round of the 1988 NBA playoffs, the Trail Blazers were eliminated in the opening round for the third consecutive year, this time losing to the 5th-seeded Utah Jazz, three games to one in the best-of-five series. ^[25] Following the season, Lucas retired, and Holton was left unprotected in the 1988 NBA expansion draft, where he was selected by the Charlotte Hornets expansion team. ^{[26] [27] [28]}

Draft picks

Main article: 1987 NBA draft

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	School/Club team
1	17	Ronnie Murphy	F	United States	Jacksonville
2	29	Lester Fonville		United States	Jackson State
2	30	Nikita Wilson	PF	United States	Louisiana State
3	63	Kevin Gamble	SF/SG	United States	Iowa
4	86	Norwood Barber		United States	Florida State
5	109	David Moss		United States	Tulsa
6	132	Bernard Jackson		United States	Loyola (IL)
7	155	Kenny Stone		United States	George Fox

Roster

1987–88 Portland Trail Blazers roster

Players

Coaches

Pos. No. Player Height Weight DOB From F 35 Richard Anderson 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1960–11–19 California C 31 Sam Bowie   (IN) 7 ft 1 in (2.16 m) 235 lb (107 kg) 1961–03–17 Kentucky G 22 Clyde Drexler 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1962–06–22 Houston C 00 Kevin Duckworth 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 275 lb (125 kg) 1964–04–01 Eastern Illinois G 6 Mike Holton 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1961–08–04 UCLA C 33 Steve Johnson 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 235 lb (107 kg) 1957–11–03 Oregon State C 27 Caldwell Jones 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 217 lb (98 kg) 1950–08–04 Albany State F 25 Jerome Kersey 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1962–06–26 Longwood F 20 Maurice Lucas 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1952–02–18 Marquette G 4 Jim Paxson 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1957–07–09 Dayton G 30 Terry Porter 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1963–04–08 Wisconsin G 14 Jerry Sichting 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 168 lb (76 kg) 1956–11–29 Purdue F 55 Kiki Vandeweghe 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1958–08–01 UCLA

Head coach Mike Schuler Assistant(s) Rick Adelman Jack Schalow Legend (DP) Unsigned draft pick (FA) Free agent (S) Suspended Injured Roster Updated: February 23, 1988

Roster notes

• Center Sam Bowie was on the injured reserve list due to a right leg injury sustained during the preseason, and missed the entire regular season. ^{[6] [7] [8]}

Regular season

The Trail Blazers played their home games at Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

Season standings

Pacific Division v t e	W	L	PCT	GB	Home	Road	Div
y-Los Angeles Lakers	62	20	.756	–	36–5	26–15	23–7
x-Portland Trail Blazers	53	29	.646	9	33–8	20–21	23–7
x-Seattle SuperSonics	44	38	.537	18	32–9	12–29	19–11
Phoenix Suns	28	54	.341	34	22–19	6–35	11–19
Golden State Warriors	20	62	.244	42	16–25	4–37	7–23
Los Angeles Clippers	17	65	.207	45	14–27	3–38	7–23

#	Western Conference v t e
	Team	W	L	PCT	GB
1	z-Los Angeles Lakers	62	20	.756	–
2	y-Denver Nuggets	54	28	.659	8
3	x-Dallas Mavericks	53	29	.646	9
4	x-Portland Trail Blazers	53	29	.646	9
5	x-Utah Jazz	47	35	.573	15
6	x-Houston Rockets	46	36	.561	16
7	x-Seattle SuperSonics	44	38	.537	18
8	x-San Antonio Spurs	31	51	.378	31
9	Phoenix Suns	28	54	.341	34
10	Sacramento Kings	24	58	.293	38
11	Golden State Warriors	20	62	.244	42
12	Los Angeles Clippers	17	65	.207	45

z - clinched division title

y - clinched division title

x - clinched playoff spot

Game log

Regular season

1987–88 game log Total: 53–29 (home: 33–8; road: 20–21)
November: 7–5 (home: 6–1; road: 1–4) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 1 November 6 Phoenix W 118–104 Memorial Coliseum 1–0 2 November 7 @ L.A. Clippers W 124–99 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena 2–0 3 November 10 Houston L 111–118 Memorial Coliseum 2–1 4 November 12 @ Denver L 113–126 McNichols Sports Arena 2–2 5 November 14 @ Dallas L 116–127 Reunion Arena 2–3 6 November 17 7:30 p.m. PST @ L.A. Lakers L 115–142 VanDeWeghe (24) Kersey (9) Lucas, Porter (5) The Forum 16,347 2–4 7 November 18 @ Seattle L 114–120 Seattle Center Coliseum 2–5 8 November 20 Washington W 120–101 Memorial Coliseum 3–5 9 November 22 Indiana W 120–110 Memorial Coliseum 4–5 10 November 24 Sacramento W 98–94 Memorial Coliseum 5–5 11 November 27 L.A. Clippers W 97–87 Memorial Coliseum 6–5 12 November 29 New Jersey W 125–104 Memorial Coliseum 7–5
December: 10–5 (home: 5–0; road: 5–5) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 13 December 1 Phoenix W 102–100 Memorial Coliseum 8–5 14 December 2, 1987 7:30 pm PST @ L.A. Lakers W 117–104 The Forum 17,505 9–5 15 December 5 @ Phoenix W 133–115 Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 10–5 16 December 6 New York W 117–99 Memorial Coliseum 11–5 17 December 8, 1987 4:30 pm PST @ Detroit L 117–127 Pontiac Silverdome 17,126 11–6 18 December 9 @ Philadelphia L 86–94 The Spectrum 11–7 19 December 11 @ Milwaukee L 112–125 MECCA Arena 11–8 20 December 12 @ Indiana W 108–101 Market Square Arena 12–8 21 December 15 Seattle W 128–109 Memorial Coliseum 13–8 22 December 18 @ Phoenix W 129–114 Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 14–8 23 December 20 San Antonio W 148–126 Memorial Coliseum 15–8 24 December 22 Golden State W 136–91 Memorial Coliseum 16–8 25 December 26 @ Cleveland L 117–120 Richfield Coliseum 16–9 26 December 29 @ New York L 110–123 Madison Square Garden 16–10 27 December 30 @ Washington W 117–112 Capital Centre 17–10
January: 8–5 (home: 7–2; road: 1–3) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 28 January 1 Philadelphia W 127–125 Memorial Coliseum 18–10 29 January 3, 1988 5:00 pm PST L.A. Lakers L 81–98 Memorial Coliseum 12,666 18–11 30 January 5 Seattle W 126–114 Memorial Coliseum 19–11 31 January 8 Sacramento W 98–91 Memorial Coliseum 20–11 32 January 13 @ Utah L 104–116 Salt Palace 20–12 33 January 14 @ Houston L 98–103 The Summit 20–13 34 January 16 @ San Antonio W 121–120 HemisFair Arena 21–13 35 January 19 Dallas L 116–120 Memorial Coliseum 21–14 36 January 22 Denver W 126–106 Memorial Coliseum 22–14 37 January 24, 1988 7:00 pm PST Detroit W 119–111 Memorial Coliseum 12,666 23–14 38 January 26 Milwaukee W 112–106 Memorial Coliseum 24–14 39 January 27 @ Golden State L 110–115 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 24–15 40 January 29 Phoenix W 128–119 Memorial Coliseum 25–15
February: 9–6 (home: 5–3; road: 4–3) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 41 February 2 Atlanta W 121–118 Memorial Coliseum 26–15 42 February 4 Utah L 123–126 Memorial Coliseum 26–16 43 February 9 Seattle W 139–123 Memorial Coliseum 27–16 44 February 11 @ Sacramento L 113–123 ARCO Arena 27–17 45 February 12 Denver W 120–105 Memorial Coliseum 28–17 46 February 14 Houston L 103–115 Memorial Coliseum 28–18 47 February 15 @ Utah L 94–112 Salt Palace 28–19 48 February 17 @ L.A. Clippers W 110–96 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena 29–19 49 February 19 Boston L 104–124 Memorial Coliseum 29–20 50 February 21 San Antonio W 117–112 Memorial Coliseum 30–20 51 February 23 @ New Jersey W 114–102 Brendan Byrne Arena 31–20 52 February 24 @ Boston L 112–113 Boston Garden 31–21 53 February 26 @ Chicago W 104–96 Chicago Stadium 32–21 54 February 27 @ Atlanta W 123–120 The Omni 33–21 55 February 29 Cleveland W 107–94 Memorial Coliseum 34–21
March: 9–4 (home: 4–0; road: 5–4) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 56 March 3 @ Phoenix W 135–112 Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 35–21 57 March 5 Golden State W 123–117 Memorial Coliseum 36–21 58 March 8 @ Dallas W 112–110 Reunion Arena 37–21 59 March 10 @ Houston W 112–109 The Summit 38–21 60 March 13 L.A. Clippers W 121–100 Memorial Coliseum 39–21 61 March 15, 1988 7:30 pm PST L.A. Lakers W 112–95 Memorial Coliseum 40–21 62 March 17 @ Denver L 115–116 (OT) McNichols Sports Arena 40–22 63 March 18 @ Golden State W 121–116 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 41–22 64 March 20 Dallas W 105–99 Memorial Coliseum 42–22 65 March 23 @ Seattle L 108–118 Seattle Center Coliseum 42–23 66 March 25 @ Dallas L 101–106 Reunion Arena 42–24 67 March 26 @ Houston L 109–115 The Summit 42–25 68 March 29 @ San Antonio W 136–113 HemisFair Arena 43–25
April: 10–4 (home: 6–2; road: 4–2) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 69 April 1 Chicago L 101–116 Memorial Coliseum 43–26 70 April 3 San Antonio W 110–107 Memorial Coliseum 44–26 71 April 5 L.A. Clippers W 141–119 Memorial Coliseum 45–26 72 April 6 @ L.A. Clippers W 111–103 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena 46–26 73 April 8 @ Seattle L 100–114 Seattle Center Coliseum 46–27 74 April 9, 1988 7:30 pm PDT L.A. Lakers W 119–109 Memorial Coliseum 12,666 47–27 75 April 12, 1988 7:30 pm PDT @ L.A. Lakers L 103–109 The Forum 17,505 47–28 76 April 14 @ Utah W 128–123 Salt Palace 48–28 77 April 15 Golden State W 147–113 Memorial Coliseum 49–28 78 April 17 Sacramento W 112–102 Memorial Coliseum 50–28 79 April 19 Utah L 122–129 Memorial Coliseum 50–29 80 April 20 @ Golden State W 131–117 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 51–29 81 April 22 Denver W 141–135 (OT) Memorial Coliseum 52–29 82 April 23 @ Sacramento W 124–110 ARCO Arena 53–29
1987–88 schedule

Playoffs

1988 playoff game log
First round: 1–3 (home: 1–1; road: 0–2) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Series 1 April 28 Utah W 108–96 Clyde Drexler (26) Clyde Drexler (13) Terry Porter (12) Memorial Coliseum 12,666 1–0 2 April 30 Utah L 105–114 Clyde Drexler (25) Maurice Lucas (14) Terry Porter (7) Memorial Coliseum 12,666 1–1 3 May 4 @ Utah L 108–113 Jerome Kersey (23) Kevin Duckworth (16) Drexler, Porter (4) Salt Palace 12,444 1–2 4 May 6 @ Utah L 96–111 Kevin Duckworth (33) Kersey, Duckworth (10) Clyde Drexler (6) Salt Palace 12,444 1–3
1988 schedule

Player statistics

Legend

GP	Games played	GS	Games started	MPG	Minutes per game
FG%	Field-goal percentage	3P%	3-point field-goal percentage	FT%	Free-throw percentage
RPG	Rebounds per game	APG	Assists per game	SPG	Steals per game
BPG	Blocks per game	PPG	Points per game

Awards and honors

• Clyde Drexler, All-NBA Second Team
• Kevin Duckworth, NBA Most Improved Player

References

1. 1987-88 Portland Trail Blazers
2. "Blazers Host Rockets; No Lucas Yet". The Register-Guard. Associated Press. November 10, 1987. p. 2C. Retrieved July 9, 2025.
3. "Basketball". The Washington Post. News Services and Staff Reports. November 11, 1987. Retrieved July 9, 2025.
4. "Names in the News". Los Angeles Times. November 12, 1987. Retrieved July 9, 2025.
5. "Names in the News". Los Angeles Times. December 10, 1987. Retrieved July 9, 2025.
6. "Bowie Breaks Leg Again--in Same Place--Before Exhibition". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. October 18, 1987. Retrieved July 9, 2025.
7. "Bowie Refractures Leg Before Game". The New York Times. Associated Press. October 19, 1987. Retrieved July 9, 2025.
8. "Portland Trail Blazers Center Sam Bowie, Who Fractured His..." United Press International. October 19, 1987. Retrieved July 9, 2025.
9. "NBA Games Played on February 4, 1988". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved July 9, 2025.
10. "Jim Paxson Traded to Boston". The Washington Post. Associated Press. February 23, 1988. Retrieved July 9, 2025.
11. "The Portland Trail Blazers Tuesday Traded Guard Jim Paxson,..." United Press International. February 23, 1988. Retrieved July 9, 2025.
12. "Sports People; Paxson Traded". The New York Times. February 24, 1988. Retrieved July 9, 2025.
13. "1987–88 Portland Trail Blazers Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved July 9, 2025.
14. "SPORTS PEOPLE; Duckworth Honored". The New York Times. May 13, 1988. Retrieved July 9, 2025.
15. "Blazer Wins Improved Award". The Register-Guard. News Service Reports. May 13, 1988. p. 3C. Retrieved July 9, 2025.
16. "NBA Most Improved Player (George Mikan Trophy) Award Winners". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved July 9, 2025.
17. "1987–88 Portland Trail Blazers Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved July 9, 2025.
18. Barnard, Bill (February 7, 1988). "Today's NBA All-Star Game Will Be Homecoming of Sorts for 3 Players". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 9, 2025.
19. "1988 NBA All-Star Recap". NBA.com. NBA.com Staff. September 13, 2021. Retrieved July 9, 2025.
20. "1988 NBA All-Star Game: East 138, West 133". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved July 9, 2025.
21. "Field Set for NBA Dunk Contest". The Daily Record. United Press International. January 13, 1988. p. 11. Retrieved October 9, 2025.
22. "NBA & ABA All-Star Game Contest Winners". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved October 9, 2025.
23. "1987–88 NBA Awards Voting". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved July 9, 2025.
24. "Moe Named NBA Coach of Year". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. May 16, 1988. Retrieved July 9, 2025.
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26. Goldaper, Sam (June 24, 1988). "Miami Chooses "Who?" First". The New York Times. Retrieved July 9, 2025.
27. Edes, Gordon (June 24, 1988). "Billy Thompson Goes to Miami; Valentine Winds Up in Cleveland". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 9, 2025.
28. "1988 NBA Expansion Draft". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved July 9, 2025.