1988–89 Portland Trail Blazers season

1988–89   Portland Trail Blazers season
Head coach	Mike Schuler (fired) Rick Adelman
General manager	Jon Spoelstra
Owner	Paul Allen
Arena	Memorial Coliseum
Results
Record	39–43 (.476)
Place	Division: 5th (Pacific) Conference: 8th (Western)
Playoff finish	First round (lost to Lakers 0–3)
Stats at Basketball Reference
Local media
Television	KOIN
Radio	KEX (Bill Schonely, Steve Jones)
< 1987–88 1989–90 >

The 1988–89 Portland Trail Blazers season was the 19th season for the Portland Trail Blazers in the National Basketball Association. ^[1] During the off-season, the Trail Blazers signed free agent Danny Young. ^[2] The team was racked with dissension, and posted a 25–22 record before head coach Mike Schuler was fired in mid-February; assistant coach Rick Adelman was promoted to replace him on an interim basis. ^{[3] [4] [5]} After the regular season, Adelman was made the team's head coach on a full-time basis. ^[6]

At mid-season, the team traded Kiki Vandeweghe to the New York Knicks in exchange for a future first-round draft pick. ^{[7] [8] [9]} After holding a 25–21 record at the All-Star break, ^[10] the Trail Blazers played below .500 in winning percentage for the remainder of the regular season, and finished in fifth place in the Pacific Division with a 39–43 record, earning the eighth seed in the Western Conference, and qualifying for the NBA playoffs for the seventh consecutive year. ^[11]

Clyde Drexler averaged 27.2 points, 7.9 rebounds, 5.8 assists and 2.7 steals per game, while last season's Most Improved Player Kevin Duckworth averaged 18.1 points and 8.0 rebounds per game, and Terry Porter provided the team with 17.7 points, 9.5 assists and 1.8 steals per game. In addition, Jerome Kersey contributed 17.5 points, 8.3 rebounds and 1.8 steals per game, while Steve Johnson provided with 10.0 points and 5.0 rebounds per game off the bench, and Sam Bowie averaged 8.6 points and 5.3 rebounds per game also off the bench, in only just 20 games due to injury. ^[12]

During the NBA All-Star weekend at the Houston Astrodome in Houston, Texas, Drexler and Duckworth were both selected for the 1989 NBA All-Star Game, as members of the Western Conference All-Star team; it was Duckworth's first ever All-Star appearance. ^{[13] [14] [15]} In addition, Drexler and Kersey both participated in the NBA Slam Dunk Contest; it was the fifth appearance for Drexler, and the fourth appearance for Kersey. ^{[16] [17]}

In the Western Conference First Round of the 1989 NBA playoffs, the Trail Blazers faced off against the top–seeded, and 2-time defending NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers, who won the Pacific Division title; the team was led by the quartet of All-Star guard, and Most Valuable Player of the Year, Magic Johnson, All-Star forward James Worthy, Byron Scott, and All-Star center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. The Trail Blazers lost the first two games to the Lakers on the road at the Great Western Forum, before losing Game 3 at home, 116–108 at the Memorial Coliseum, as the team lost the series in a three-game sweep; it was the fourth consecutive year that the Trail Blazers lost in the opening round of the NBA playoffs. ^{[18] [19] [20]} The Lakers would reach the NBA Finals for the third consecutive year, but would lose to the Detroit Pistons in a four-game sweep in the 1989 NBA Finals. ^{[21] [22] [23]}

Following the season, the oft-injured Bowie was traded to the New Jersey Nets, ^{[24] [25] [26]} and Johnson was left unprotected in the 1989 NBA expansion draft, where he was selected by the Minnesota Timberwolves expansion team. ^{[27] [28] [29]}

Draft picks

Main article: 1988 NBA draft

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	School/Club team
1	21	Mark Bryant	PF	United States	Seton Hall
2	26	Rolando Ferreira	C	Brazil	Houston
3	53	Anthony Mason	PF	United States	Tennessee State
3	71	Craig Neal	G	United States	Georgia Tech

Roster

1988–89 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 UC Santa Barbara C 31 Sam Bowie 7 ft 1 in (2.16 m) 235 lb (107 kg) 1961–03–17 Kentucky F 24 Adrian Branch 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1963–11–17 Maryland F 2 Mark Bryant 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 245 lb (111 kg) 1965–04–25 Seton Hall 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 C 32 Rolando Ferreira 7 ft 1 in (2.16 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1964–05–24 Houston C 33 Steve Johnson 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 235 lb (107 kg) 1957–11–03 Oregon State F 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 G 30 Terry Porter 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1963–04–08 UW–Stevens Point G 14 Jerry Sichting 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 168 lb (76 kg) 1956–11–29 Purdue G 7 Brook Steppe 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1959–11–07 Georgia Tech G 21 Danny Young 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1962–07–26 Wake Forest

Head coach Rick Adelman Assistant(s) Maurice Lucas Jack Schalow John Wetzel Legend (DP) Unsigned draft pick (FA) Free agent (S) Suspended Injured

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	57	25	.695	–	35–6	22–19	25–9
x-Phoenix Suns	55	27	.671	2	35–6	20–21	23–11
x-Seattle SuperSonics	47	35	.573	10	31–10	16–25	20–14
x-Golden State Warriors	43	39	.524	14	29–12	14–27	15–19
x-Portland Trail Blazers	39	43	.476	18	28–13	11–30	17–17
Sacramento Kings	27	55	.329	30	21–20	6–35	12–22
Los Angeles Clippers	21	61	.256	36	17–24	4–37	7–27

#	Western Conference v t e
	Team	W	L	PCT	GB
1	c-Los Angeles Lakers	57	25	.695	–
2	y-Utah Jazz	51	31	.622	6
3	x-Phoenix Suns	55	27	.671	2
4	x-Seattle SuperSonics	47	35	.573	10
5	x-Houston Rockets	45	37	.549	12
6	x-Denver Nuggets	44	38	.537	13
7	x-Golden State Warriors	43	39	.524	14
8	x-Portland Trail Blazers	39	43	.476	18
9	Dallas Mavericks	38	44	.463	19
10	Sacramento Kings	27	55	.329	30
11	San Antonio Spurs	21	61	.256	36
12	Los Angeles Clippers	21	61	.256	36
13	Miami Heat	15	67	.183	42

z - clinched division title

y - clinched division title

x - clinched playoff spot

Game log

Regular season

1988–89 game log Total: 39–43 (home: 28–13; road: 11–30)
November: 7–7 (home: 6–1; road: 1–6) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 1 November 4 Phoenix W 120–105 Memorial Coliseum 1–0 2 November 5 Sacramento W 121–103 Memorial Coliseum 2–0 3 November 10 @ Denver L 115–135 McNichols Sports Arena 2–1 4 November 12 @ Golden State L 100–107 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 2–2 5 November 13 Denver L 132–143 Memorial Coliseum 2–3 6 November 15 L.A. Clippers W 125–103 Memorial Coliseum 3–3 7 November 17 @ Utah L 99–123 Salt Palace 3–4 8 November 18 @ L.A. Lakers L 105–106 The Forum 3–5 9 November 20 New Jersey W 117–106 Memorial Coliseum 4–5 10 November 22 @ Seattle W 125–104 Seattle Center Coliseum 5–5 11 November 25 Houston W 111–94 Memorial Coliseum 6–5 12 November 27 Golden State W 109–94 Memorial Coliseum 7–5 13 November 29 @ Milwaukee L 114–119 Bradley Center 7–6 14 November 30 @ Philadelphia L 106–114 The Spectrum 7–7
December: 9–4 (home: 5–0; road: 4–4) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 15 December 2 @ Miami W 105–102 Miami Arena 8–7 16 December 3 @ Atlanta L 97–115 The Omni 8–8 17 December 6 @ New Jersey W 97–93 Brendan Byrne Arena 9–8 18 December 7 @ Indiana L 120–129 Market Square Arena 9–9 19 December 9 Washington W 93–90 Memorial Coliseum 10–9 20 December 11 San Antonio W 128–123 (OT) Memorial Coliseum 11–9 21 December 13 L.A. Clippers W 113–92 Memorial Coliseum 12–9 22 December 16 @ Phoenix L 125–132 Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12–10 23 December 17 Phoenix W 115–97 Memorial Coliseum 13–10 24 December 20 @ Denver W 127–124 McNichols Sports Arena 14–10 25 December 22 @ Golden State W 117–109 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 15–10 26 December 23 Golden State W 111–107 Memorial Coliseum 16–10 27 December 27 @ Sacramento L 111–112 ARCO Arena 16–11
January: 6–8 (home: 5–4; road: 1–4) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 28 January 3 Miami W 119–95 Memorial Coliseum 17–11 29 January 4 @ L.A. Lakers L 120–133 Great Western Forum 17–12 30 January 6 Sacramento W 147–142 (2OT) Memorial Coliseum 18–12 31 January 7 @ Seattle L 123–129 Seattle Center Coliseum 18–13 32 January 10 Seattle W 125–109 Memorial Coliseum 19–13 33 January 12 @ Houston L 106–116 The Summit 19–14 34 January 14 @ San Antonio W 103–99 HemisFair Arena 20–14 35 January 15 @ Dallas L 108–111 Reunion Arena 20–15 36 January 17 Utah L 110–111 Memorial Coliseum 20–16 37 January 22 New York L 116–120 Memorial Coliseum 20–17 38 January 24 Seattle L 100–103 Memorial Coliseum 20–18 39 January 26 Milwaukee L 109–127 Memorial Coliseum 20–19 40 January 28 Atlanta W 110–94 Memorial Coliseum 21–19 41 January 30 Charlotte W 130–118 Memorial Coliseum 22–19
February: 5–7 (home: 3–3; road: 2–4) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 42 February 1 @ L.A. Clippers W 108–107 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena 23–19 43 February 3 @ L.A. Lakers L 129–140 Great Western Forum 23–20 44 February 4 San Antonio W 137–100 Memorial Coliseum 24–20 45 February 7 Dallas W 134–125 Memorial Coliseum 25–20 46 February 9 Houston L 110–113 Memorial Coliseum 25–21 47 February 16 L.A. Lakers L 101–110 Memorial Coliseum 25–22 48 February 18 Seattle L 115–116 Memorial Coliseum 25–23 49 February 20 @ Chicago L 98–102 Chicago Stadium 25–24 50 February 22 @ Detroit L 94–105 The Palace of Auburn Hills 25–25 51 February 24 @ Cleveland L 91–128 Richfield Coliseum 25–26 52 February 26 @ Miami W 124–102 Miami Arena 26–26 53 February 28 Phoenix W 139–134 Memorial Coliseum 27–26
March: 5–12 (home: 3–3; road: 2–9) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 54 March 2 @ L.A. Clippers W 119–113 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena 28–26 55 March 3 Philadelphia W 129–121 Memorial Coliseum 29–26 56 March 5 Indiana L 118–121 (OT) Memorial Coliseum 29–27 57 March 7 @ San Antonio W 116–103 HemisFair Arena 30–27 58 March 8 @ Dallas L 92–99 Reunion Arena 31–27 59 March 12 Cleveland L 110–122 Memorial Coliseum 31–28 60 March 14 Golden State W 139–110 Memorial Coliseum 31–29 61 March 15 @ Utah L 95–102 Salt Palace 31–30 62 March 17 @ Phoenix L 124–129 Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 31–31 63 March 18 @ Houston L 113–127 The Summit 31–32 64 March 20 Dallas W 112–91 Memorial Coliseum 32–32 65 March 21 @ Golden State L 127–151 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 32–33 66 March 24 Chicago L 113–128 Memorial Coliseum 32–34 67 March 25 @ Sacramento L 105–106 ARCO Arena 32–35 68 March 28 @ New York L 124–128 Madison Square Garden 32–36 69 March 29 @ Boston L 97–106 Boston Garden 32–37 70 March 31 @ Washington L 105–107 Capital Centre 32–38
April: 7–5 (home: 6–2; road: 1–3) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 71 April 1 @ Charlotte W 125–121 (OT) Charlotte Coliseum 33–38 72 April 4 Detroit W 118–100 Memorial Coliseum 34–38 73 April 6 @ L.A. Clippers L 123–133 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena 34–39 74 April 7 Boston W 113–100 Memorial Coliseum 35–39 75 April 9 Denver W 120–114 Memorial Coliseum 36–39 76 April 11 L.A. Clippers W 126–102 Memorial Coliseum 37–39 77 April 14 Miami W 97–86 Memorial Coliseum 38–39 78 April 15 Utah L 95–99 Memorial Coliseum 38–40 79 April 18 @ Sacramento L 118–120 ARCO Arena 38–41 80 April 20 @ Seattle L 118–124 Seattle Center Coliseum 38–42 81 April 21 L.A. Lakers L 114–121 Memorial Coliseum 38–43 82 April 23 Sacramento W 126–120 (OT) Memorial Coliseum 39–43
1988–89 schedule

Playoffs

1989 playoff game log
First round: 0–3 (home: 0–1; road: 0–2) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Series 1 April 27 @ L.A. Lakers L 108–128 Clyde Drexler (30) Kersey, Porter (9) Terry Porter (10) Great Western Forum 17,505 0–1 2 April 30 @ L.A. Lakers L 105–113 Clyde Drexler (28) Jerome Kersey (11) Clyde Drexler (10) Great Western Forum 17,505 0–2 3 May 3 L.A. Lakers L 108–116 Terry Porter (29) Clyde Drexler (8) Terry Porter (9) Memorial Coliseum 12,880 0–3
1989 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, NBA All-Star
• Kevin Duckworth, NBA All-Star

References

1. 1988–89 Portland Trail Blazers
2. "Blazers Sign Young to Three-Year Deal". United Press International. August 1, 1989. Retrieved August 8, 2025.
3. "PRO BASKETBALL; Trail Blazers Dismiss Coach". The New York Times. Associated Press. February 19, 1989. Retrieved December 25, 2022.
4. "Trail Blazers Dump Schuler, Elevate Adelman". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. February 19, 1989. Retrieved December 25, 2022.
5. "Trail Blazers Fire Schuler, Replace Him with Adelman". Deseret News. February 19, 1989. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
6. "In Brief: Adelman Retained as Blazers Coach". Los Angeles Times. Times Wire Services. May 11, 1989. Retrieved February 15, 2010.
7. "IN BRIEF: Vandeweghe Prepped for a Trade". Los Angeles Times. Times Staff and Wire Service Reports. February 14, 1989. Retrieved December 20, 2022.
8. Thomas Jr., Robert Mcg. (February 24, 1989). "BASKETBALL; Knicks, In a Surprise, Get Vandeweghe; Celtics Trade Ainge". The New York Times. Retrieved February 12, 2022.
9. Love, Ian (February 26, 1989). "Kiki Vandeweghe, the Player the New York Knicks Coveted..." United Press International. Retrieved December 20, 2022.
10. "NBA Games Played on February 9, 1989". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
11. "1988–89 Portland Trail Blazers Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved February 12, 2022.
12. "1988–89 Portland Trail Blazers Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved February 12, 2022.
13. McManis, Sam (February 12, 1989). "Today's All-Star Game May Lack the Usual Magic: Without Johnson and Bird, NBA Showcase Just Won't Be the Same". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 20, 2022.
14. "1989 NBA All-Star Recap". NBA.com. NBA.com Staff. September 13, 2021. Retrieved May 21, 2023.
15. "1989 NBA All-Star Game: West 143, East 134". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved February 12, 2022.
16. "All-Star Lineups". Ocala Star-Banner. February 11, 1989. p. 5D. Retrieved September 25, 2025.
17. "NBA & ABA All-Star Game Contest Winners". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved September 25, 2025.
18. McManis, Sam (May 4, 1989). "Lakers Shake Their Lethargy, Finish Sweep: Win Over Portland Extends First-Round Streak to 18-0". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
19. "Abdul-Jabbar Leads Lakers to Sweep". The Washington Post. May 4, 1989. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
20. "1989 NBA Western Conference First Round: Trail Blazers vs. Lakers". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
21. Goldaper, Sam (June 14, 1989). "Pistons Earn First Title by Sweeping Lakers". The New York Times. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
22. McManis, Sam (June 14, 1989). "Pistons End a Reign, Cap a Career: Detroit Sweeps Lakers, 105-97". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
23. "1989 NBA Finals: Lakers vs. Pistons". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
24. Brown, Clifton (June 25, 1989). "PRO-BASKETBALL; Nets Get Bowie for Buck Williams". The New York Times. Retrieved February 12, 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. Brown, Clifton (June 16, 1989). "Knicks' Green Is Taken First in N.B.A.'s Expansion Draft". The New York Times. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
28. Howard-Cooper, Scott (June 16, 1989). "NBA Expansion Draft: Timberwolves Get Mahorn; Lakers Lose Rivers". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
29. "1989 NBA Expansion Draft". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved February 14, 2022.