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1988–89 Chicago Bulls season

NBA professional basketball team season

NBA professional basketball team season

(lost to Pistons 2–4) Sportsvision (Jim Durham, Johnny “Red” Kerr) (Jim Durham, Johnny “Red” Kerr)

The 1988–89 Chicago Bulls season was the 23rd season for the Chicago Bulls in the National Basketball Association. The Bulls had the eleventh overall pick in the 1988 NBA draft, and selected center Will Perdue out of Vanderbilt University. During the off-season, the team acquired Bill Cartwright from the New York Knicks, then later on acquired three-point specialist Craig Hodges from the Phoenix Suns in December.

The Bulls struggled with a 6–8 start to the regular season, but later on held a 27–19 record at the All-Star break. Despite losing eight of their final ten games of the season, the team finished in fifth place in the Central Division with a 47–35 record, and earned the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference.

Michael Jordan led the league in scoring averaging 32.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, 8.0 assists and 2.9 steals per game, and was named to the All-NBA First Team, and to the NBA All-Defensive First Team. In addition, second-year forward Scottie Pippen showed improvement, replacing Brad Sellers as the team's starting small forward during the regular season, and averaging 14.4 points, 6.1 rebounds and 1.9 steals per game, while Cartwright provided the team with 12.4 points and 6.7 rebounds per game, and second-year forward Horace Grant provided with 12.0 points and 8.6 rebounds per game. Meanwhile, Hodges contributed 10.0 points per game in 49 games with the Bulls after the trade, Sam Vincent provided with 9.4 points and 4.8 assists per game, John Paxson contributed 7.3 points and 3.9 assists per game, and Sellers contributed 6.9 points per game.

During the NBA All-Star weekend at the Houston Astrodome in Houston, Texas, Jordan was selected for the 1989 NBA All-Star Game, as a member of the Eastern Conference All-Star team; Jordan scored 28 points along with 5 steals, despite the Eastern Conference losing to the Western Conference, 143–134. Meanwhile, Hodges participated in the NBA Three-Point Shootout for the fourth consecutive year. Jordan finished in second place in Most Valuable Player voting, behind Magic Johnson of the Los Angeles Lakers, and also finished in fifth place in Defensive Player of the Year voting, while Pippen finished tied in seventh place in Most Improved Player voting.

In the Eastern Conference First Round of the 1989 NBA playoffs, and for the second consecutive year, the Bulls faced off against the 3rd–seeded Cleveland Cavaliers, a team that featured the quartet of All-Star center Brad Daugherty, All-Star guard Mark Price, All-Star forward Larry Nance, and Ron Harper. The Bulls took a 2–1 series lead before losing Game 4 to the Cavaliers at home in overtime, 108–105 at the Chicago Stadium. The Bulls then won Game 5 over the Cavaliers on the road, 101–100 at the Coliseum at Richfield, in which Jordan hit a memorable game-winning shot over Cavaliers guard Craig Ehlo at the buzzer, as the Bulls won the series over the Cavaliers in five hard-fought games.

In the Eastern Conference Semi-finals, the team faced off against the 2nd–seeded, and Atlantic Division champion New York Knicks, who were led by All-Star center Patrick Ewing, All-Star guard Mark Jackson, and former Bulls forward Charles Oakley. With the series tied at 1–1, the Bulls won the next two games at home, defeating the Knicks in Game 4 at the Chicago Stadium, 106–93 to take a 3–1 series lead. After losing Game 5 on the road, 121–114 at Madison Square Garden, the Bulls then won Game 6 over the Knicks at home, 113–111 to win the series in six games.

In the Eastern Conference Finals, and also for the second consecutive year, the Bulls faced off against the top–seeded, and Central Division champion Detroit Pistons, who were led by the trio of All-Star guard Isiah Thomas, Joe Dumars and Bill Laimbeer. The Bulls managed to take a 2–1 series lead, after winning Game 3 over the Pistons at home, 99–97 at the Chicago Stadium. However, the Bulls then lost the next three games to the Pistons, losing Game 6 at home, 103–94, thus losing the series in six games. The Pistons would reach the NBA Finals for the second consecutive year, and defeat the 2-time defending NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers in a four-game sweep in the 1989 NBA Finals, winning their first ever NBA championship.

Following the season, head coach Doug Collins was fired after three seasons with the Bulls, while Vincent was left unprotected in the 1989 NBA expansion draft, where he was selected by the Orlando Magic expansion team, and Sellers was traded to the Seattle SuperSonics.

Draft picks

RoundPickPlayerPositionNationalitySchool/Club team
111Will PerdueCVanderbilt
362Derrick LewisFMaryland

Roster

  • Doug Collins
  • Johnny Bach
  • Phil Jackson
  • Tex Winter

Regular season

In the 1988–89 season, Jordan again led the league in scoring, averaging 32.5 ppg on 53.8% shooting from the field. The Bulls finished with a 47–35 record, and advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals. On March 11, 1989, head coach Doug Collins moved Jordan to the point guard position. Two days later, Jordan finished with 21 points, 14 rebounds, and 14 assists in just 30 minutes of a blowout win against the Pacers. Jordan continued at point guard through the rest of the regular season.

Season standings

Game log

Regular season

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 1 | November 4, 1988 | Detroit | L 94–107 | | | | Chicago Stadium | 0–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 3 | November 8, 1988 | @ New York | L 117–126 | | | | Madison Square Garden | 1–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 13 | November 29, 1988 | @ Golden State | L 99–109 | | | | Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena | 6–7 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 17 | December 7, 1988 | @ Detroit | L 89–102 | | | | The Palace of Auburn Hills | 8–9 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 18 | December 9, 1988 | Milwaukee | W 118–100 | | | | Chicago Stadium | 9–9 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 22 | December 17, 1988 | @ Milwaukee | W 112–93 | | | | Bradley Center | 12–10 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 23 | December 20, 1988 | L.A. Lakers | W 116–103 | | | | Chicago Stadium | 13–10 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 26 | December 29, 1988 | New York | W 108–106 | | | | Chicago Stadium | 14–12 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 37 | January 21, 1989 | Phoenix | L 107–116 | | | | Chicago Stadium | 22–15 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 41 | January 31, 1989 | Detroit | L 98–104 (OT) | | | | Chicago Stadium | 24–17 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 44 | February 5, 1989 | @ Detroit | L 102–113 | | | | The Palace of Auburn Hills | 25–19 |- align="center" |- style="background:#cfc;" |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 48 | February 16, 1989 | Milwaukee | W 117–116 | | | | Chicago Stadium | 28–20 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 49 | February 19, 1989 | @ Milwaukee | W 108–106 | | | | Bradley Center | 29–20 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 55 | March 3, 1989 | Milwaukee | W 102–96 | | | | Chicago Stadium | 34–21 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 56 | March 4, 1989 | @ New York | L 104–122 | | | | Madison Square Garden | 34–22 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 59 | March 11, 1989 | Seattle | W 105–88 | | | | Chicago Stadium | 35–24 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 62 | March 17, 1989 | New York | W 129–124 | | | | Chicago Stadium | 37–25 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 64 | March 21, 1989 | @ L.A. Lakers | W 104–103 | | | | Great Western Forum | 38–26 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 65 | March 22, 1989 | @ Phoenix | W 112–111 | | | | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum | 39–26 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 67 | March 25, 1989 | @ Seattle | W 111–110 | | | | Seattle Center Coliseum | 41–26 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 68 | March 28, 1989 | Golden State | W 115–106 | | | | Chicago Stadium | 42–26 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 69 | March 29, 1989 | @ Milwaukee | W 106–102 | | | | Bradley Center | 43–26 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 73 | April 6, 1989 | @ Detroit | L 108–115 | | | | The Palace of Auburn Hills | 45–28 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 74 | April 7, 1989 | Detroit | L 112–114 (OT) | | | | Chicago Stadium | 45–29 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 79 | April 17, 1989 | New York | W 104–100 | | | | Chicago Stadium | 46–33

Playoffs

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 1 | April 28, 1989 | @ Cleveland | W 95–88 | Jordan (31) | Grant (13) | Jordan (11) | Richfield Coliseum 19,312 | 1–0 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 2 | April 30, 1989 | @ Cleveland | L 88–96 | Jordan (30) | Grant (14) | Jordan (10) | Richfield Coliseum 20,273 | 1–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 3 | May 3, 1989 | Cleveland | W 101–94 | Jordan (44) | Grant (17) | Jordan (10) | Chicago Stadium 17,721 | 2–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 4 | May 5, 1989 | Cleveland | L 105–108 (OT) | Jordan (50) | Grant (16) | Hodges, Pippen (5) | Chicago Stadium 18,264 | 2–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 5 | May 7, 1989 | @ Cleveland | W 101–100 | Jordan (44) | Pippen (10) | Jordan (6) | Richfield Coliseum 20,273

3–2
-
- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
1
May 9, 1989
@ New York
W 120–109 (OT)
Jordan (34)
Cartwright (14)
Jordan (12)
Madison Square Garden
19,591
1–0
- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
2
May 11, 1989
@ New York
L 97–114
Paxson (16)
Davis (9)
Pippen (5)
Madison Square Garden
19,591
1–1
- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
3
May 13, 1989
New York
W 111–88
Jordan (40)
Jordan (15)
Jordan (9)
Chicago Stadium
18,599
2–1
- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
4
May 14, 1989
New York
W 106–93
Jordan (47)
Jordan (11)
Pippen (8)
Chicago Stadium
18,637
3–1
- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
5
May 16, 1989
@ New York
L 114–121
Jordan (38)
Pippen (9)
Jordan (10)
Madison Square Garden
19,591
3–2
- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
6
May 19, 1989
New York
W 113–111
Jordan (40)
Cartwright (8)
Jordan (10)
Chicago Stadium
18,676
4–2
-
-
- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
1
May 21, 1989
@ Detroit
W 94–88
Jordan (32)
Jordan,
Pippen (11)
Pippen (6)
The Palace of Auburn Hills
21,454
1–0
- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
2
May 23, 1989
@ Detroit
L 91–100
Jordan (27)
Grant (20)
Paxson (6)
The Palace of Auburn Hills
21,454
1–1
- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
3
May 27, 1989
Detroit
W 99–97
Jordan (46)
Pippen (8)
Hodges,
Jordan (5)
Chicago Stadium
18,676
2–1
- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
4
May 29, 1989
Detroit
L 80–86
Jordan (23)
Grant (12)
Hodges (5)
Chicago Stadium
18,676
2–2
- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
5
May 31, 1989
@ Detroit
L 85–94
Hodges (19)
Cartwright (12)
Jordan (9)
The Palace of Auburn Hills
21,454
2–3
- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
6
June 2, 1989
Detroit
L 94–103
Jordan (32)
Grant (13)
Jordan (13)
Chicago Stadium
18,676
2–4
-

Player stats

Regular season

PlayerGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
787629.9.475.000.7666.71.2.27.5312.4
81718.3.461.250.7403.91.3.36.565.9
49311.1.426.267.7312.3.6.22.103.8
797935.6.519.000.7048.62.11.09.7812.0
5115.7.474.000.7831.4.2.22.002.2
49622.7.475.423.8491.72.8.84.0810.0
808.1.333.0001.0001.0.5.25.121.5
818140.2.538.276.8508.08.02.89.8032.5
1307.2.714.000.5001.8.5.23.08.8
782022.3.480.331.8611.23.9.68.087.3
3006.3.403.000.5711.5.4.13.202.2
735633.1.476.273.6686.13.51.90.8414.4
305.7.167.000.000.31.3.00.00.7
802521.6.485.500.8512.81.2.44.866.9
705624.3.484.118.8222.74.8.76.149.4
201.0.000.000.000.0.0.00.00.0

Playoffs

PlayerGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
1734.3.486.000.7007.11.2.53.7111.8
1613.7.422.000.6472.6.6.25.384.1
1711.2.404.167.7782.5.3.24.062.7
1736.8.518.000.8009.82.1.65.9410.8
51.4.667.000.500.2.2.00.001.0
1732.6.412.398.7141.53.61.29.1811.2
1742.2.510.286.7997.07.62.47.7634.8
1618.9.474.263.875.62.1.75.005.8
37.3.667.000.6672.0.7.00.004.7
1736.4.462.393.6407.63.91.35.9413.1
1313.6.379.000.8332.41.2.23.314.2
167.1.303.000.750.51.2.19.061.8

Player statistics citation:

Awards and honors

  • Craig Hodges, NBA All-Star Weekend Three-Point Shootout Winner
  • Michael Jordan, All-NBA First Team
  • Michael Jordan, NBA All-Defensive First Team
  • Michael Jordan, NBA All-Star Game

References

References

  1. "1988-89 Chicago Bulls Roster and Stats".
  2. Goldaper, Sam. (June 29, 1988). "N.B.A. Draft; Manning, Then 3-Way Trade Give Hope to Lowly Clippers". The New York Times.
  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.
  4. "1988 NBA Draft". Basketball-Reference.
  5. Goldaper, Sam. (June 28, 1988). "N.B.A.; Cartwright Traded to Bulls for Oakley". The New York Times.
  6. Sakamoto, Bob. (June 28, 1988). "Bulls Deal Oakley to Knicks for Cartwright". Chicago Tribune.
  7. Goldaper, Sam. (June 29, 1988). "N.B.A. Draft; Manning, Then 3-Way Trade Give Hope to Lowly Clippers". The New York Times.
  8. (December 15, 1988). "Bulls Obtain Craig Hodges from Suns in Nealy Swap". Los Angeles Times.
  9. Smith, Sam. (December 15, 1988). "Bulls Trade for Suns' Hodges in Bid to Give Jordan a Break". Chicago Tribune.
  10. (December 15, 1988). "Bulls Trade Nealy". Orlando Sentinel.
  11. "NBA Games Played on February 9, 1989". Basketball-Reference.
  12. "1988–89 Chicago Bulls Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference.
  13. Smith, Sam. (February 26, 1989). "The Bulls Are Pushing Scottie Pippen for…". Chicago Tribune.
  14. Murphy, Robert J.. (June 27, 1989). "The Chicago Bulls Late Monday Night Traded 7-Foot Reserve...". United Press International.
  15. "1988–89 Chicago Bulls Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference.
  16. 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.
  17. (September 13, 2021). "1989 NBA All-Star Recap". NBA.com.
  18. "1989 NBA All-Star Game: West 143, East 134". Basketball-Reference.
  19. (February 11, 1989). "All-Star Lineups". Ocala Star-Banner.
  20. "NBA & ABA All-Star Game Contest Winners". Basketball-Reference.
  21. McManis, Sam. (May 23, 1989). "Magic Is the MVP This Time: Jordan Finishes Second in Closest Voting in 8 Seasons". Los Angeles Times.
  22. "1988–89 NBA Awards Voting". Basketball-Reference.
  23. (May 16, 1989). "Johnson Named Most Improved Player". Lewiston Tribune.
  24. Brown, Clifton. (May 8, 1989). "Jordan Shot Gives Series to the Bulls". The New York Times.
  25. Aldridge, David. (May 8, 1989). "NBA PLAYOFFS: Jordan Takes Air Out of Cavaliers, and Bulls Advance". Los Angeles Times.
  26. "1989 NBA Eastern Conference First Round: Bulls vs. Cavaliers". Basketball-Reference.
  27. Goldaper, Sam. (May 20, 1989). "Jordan Ends Knicks' Comeback and Season". The New York Times.
  28. Murphy, Robert J.. (May 20, 1989). "Bulls 113, Knicks 111". United Press International.
  29. "1989 NBA Eastern Conference Semifinals: Bulls vs. Knicks". Basketball-Reference.
  30. Brown, Clifton. (June 3, 1989). "Pistons Earn a Rematch with Lakers in Final". The New York Times.
  31. Downey, Mike. (June 3, 1989). "No Bull, Lakers Get Pistons Again: After Smoke Clears, "Gangsters" Have 103-94 Victory in Game 6". Los Angeles Times.
  32. "1989 NBA Eastern Conference Finals: Bulls vs. Pistons". Basketball-Reference.
  33. Goldaper, Sam. (June 14, 1989). "Pistons Earn First Title by Sweeping Lakers". The New York Times.
  34. McManis, Sam. (June 14, 1989). "Pistons End a Reign, Cap a Career: Detroit Sweeps Lakers, 105-97". Los Angeles Times.
  35. "1989 NBA Finals: Lakers vs. Pistons". Basketball-Reference.
  36. (July 7, 1989). "Collins Conflicts with Krause, Reinsdorf Told; Jackson Leads for Job". United Press International.
  37. Smith, Sam. (July 10, 1989). "Phil Jackson Gets the Chicago Bulls Coaching Job in 1989". Chicago Tribune.
  38. (July 11, 1989). "Bulls Elevate Phil Jackson to Head Coach". The New York Times.
  39. Brown, Clifton. (June 16, 1989). "Knicks' Green Is Taken First in N.B.A.'s Expansion Draft". The New York Times.
  40. Howard-Cooper, Scott. (June 16, 1989). "NBA Expansion Draft: Timberwolves Get Mahorn; Lakers Lose Rivers". Los Angeles Times.
  41. "1989 NBA Expansion Draft". Basketball-Reference.
  42. Goldaper, Sam. (June 27, 1989). "Trade of Sellers Gives Bulls 3 First-Round Picks". The New York Times.
  43. (March 14, 1989). "NBA Roundup: Jordan's Play Helps Bulls Beat Pacers, 122-90". Los Angeles Times.
  44. Kendall, Peter. (April 3, 1989). "Michael Jordan's Switch to Point Guard, Labeled…". Chicago Tribune.
  45. Garry Acedera, Shane. (October 8, 2023). "Michael Jordan Said That Playing Point Guard Could Extend His Career: "I'm Not Getting as Banged Up as I Used to"". Basketball Network.
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