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1988–89 Houston Rockets season

NBA season

Home Sports Entertainment (Bill Worrell, McCoy McLemore) (Gene Peterson, Bill Foley) (lost to SuperSonics 1–3)

The 1988–89 Houston Rockets season was the 22nd season for the Houston Rockets in the National Basketball Association, and their 18th season in Houston, Texas. The city of Houston also hosted the NBA All-Star Game at the Houston Astrodome this season. The Rockets had the 16th overall pick in the 1988 NBA draft, and selected small forward Derrick Chievous from the University of Missouri. During the off-season, the team acquired Otis Thorpe from the Sacramento Kings, signed free agent Mike Woodson, acquired Tim McCormick and Frank Johnson from the New Jersey Nets, and hired Don Chaney as their new head coach.

The Rockets won seven of their first ten games of the regular season, then posted a six-game winning streak in December, and held a 28–18 record at the All-Star break. At mid-season, the team signed free agent Walter Berry, who was previously released by the New Jersey Nets. Despite a 7-game losing streak between February and March, the Rockets finished in second place in the Midwest Division with a 45–37 record, and earned the fifth seed in the Western Conference.

Akeem Olajuwon averaged 24.8 points, 13.5 rebounds, 2.6 steals and 3.4 blocks per game, and was named to the All-NBA First Team, while Thorpe averaged 16.7 points and 9.6 rebounds per game, and Sleepy Floyd provided the team with 14.2 points, 8.6 assists and 1.5 steals per game, and led the Rockets with 109 three-point field goals. In addition, Woodson contributed 12.9 points per game, while Buck Johnson provided with 9.6 points per game. Off the bench, Chievous averaged 9.3 points and 3.2 rebounds per game, while Berry provided with 8.8 points and 3.8 rebounds per game in 40 games, Purvis Short contributed 7.4 points per game, McCormick averaged 5.2 points and 3.2 rebounds per game, and Johnson contributed 4.4 points and 2.7 assists per game.

During the NBA All-Star weekend at the Houston Astrodome in Houston, Olajuwon was selected for the 1989 NBA All-Star Game, as a member of the Western Conference All-Star team; he finished in fifth place in Most Valuable Player voting, and also finished in second place in Defensive Player of the Year voting, behind Mark Eaton of the Utah Jazz.

In the Western Conference First Round of the 1989 NBA playoffs, the Rockets faced off against the 4th–seeded Seattle SuperSonics, a team that featured All-Star guard Dale Ellis, All-Star forward Xavier McDaniel, and second-year forward Derrick McKey. The Rockets lost the first two games to the SuperSonics on the road at the Seattle Center Coliseum, but then won Game 3 at home, 126–107 at the The Summit. However, the Rockets then lost Game 4 to the SuperSonics at home, 98–96, thus losing the series in four games.

Following the season, Short signed as a free agent with the New Jersey Nets, while Berry left to play overseas in Italy after only three seasons in the NBA, and Johnson was released to free agency.

Draft picks

Main article: 1988 NBA draft

Houston Rockets}}" width="10%"	Round	Houston Rockets}}" width="10%"	Pick	Houston Rockets}}" width="20%"	Player	Houston Rockets}}" width="15%"	Position	Houston Rockets}}" width="15%"	Nationality	Houston Rockets}}" width="20%"	College/Club team
1	16	Derrick Chievous	SF	United States	Missouri

Roster

Don Chaney
Carroll Dawson
Rudy Tomjanovich

Regular season

Season standings

:z – clinched division title :y – clinched division title :x – clinched playoff spot

Game log

Regular season

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 1 | | @ Denver | L 117–120 | | | | McNichols Sports Arena | 0–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 2 | | Dallas | L 113–114 (OT) | | | | The Summit | 0–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 3 | | San Antonio | W 120–102 | | | | The Summit | 1–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 4 | | Utah | W 106–99 | | | | The Summit | 2–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 5 | | @ Miami | W 121–100 | | | | Miami Arena | 3–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 6 | | Sacramento | W 129–127 | | | | The Summit | 4–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 7 | | New York | L 121–126 | | | | The Summit | 4–3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 8 | | Miami | W 113–107 | | | | The Summit | 5–3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 9 | | Detroit | W 109–98 | | | | The Summit | 6–3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 10 | | Atlanta | W 117–113 | | | | The Summit | 7–3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 11 | | @ Utah | L 99–102 | | | | Salt Palace | 7–4 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 12 | | @ Portland | L 94–111 | | | | Memorial Coliseum | 7–5 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 13 | | @ Golden State | W 119–109 | | | | Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena | 8–5 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 14 | | Phoenix | L 107–124 | | | | The Summit | 8–6 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 15 | | @ Dallas | W 101–89 | | | | Reunion Arena | 9–6 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 16 | | @ Phoenix | L 95–110 | | | | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum | 9–7 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 17 | | Charlotte | W 108–104 | | | | The Summit | 10–7 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 18 | | Cleveland | W 106–105 | | | | The Summit | 11–7 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 19 | | @ L.A. Clippers | L 116–120 | | | | Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena | 11–8 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 20 | | Seattle | W 110–91 | | | | The Summit | 12–8 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 21 | | @ Denver | L 101–126 | | | | McNichols Sports Arena | 12–9 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 22 | | Golden State | W 124–115 (2OT) | | | | The Summit | 13–9 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 23 | | San Antonio | W 120–109 | | | | The Summit | 14–9 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 24 | | Sacramento | W 105–104 | | | | The Summit | 15–9 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 25 | | L.A. Clippers | W 125–109 | | | | The Summit | 16–9 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 26 | | @ Charlotte | W 97–95 | | | | Charlotte Coliseum | 17–9 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 27 | | @ Miami | W 101–93 | | | | Miami Arena | 18–9 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 28 | | @ Washington | L 109–126 | | | | Capital Centre | 18–10 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 29 | | @ Detroit | L 83–95 | | | | The Palace of Auburn Hills | 18–11 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 30 | | Utah | W 104–102 | | | | The Summit | 19–11 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 31 | | Philadelphia | L 95–96 | | | | The Summit | 19–12 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 32 | | @ San Antonio | W 122–117 (OT) | | | | HemisFair Arena | 20–12 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 33 | | Portland | W 116–106 | | | | The Summit | 21–12 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 34 | | Dallas | W 110–98 | Olajuwon (29) | Thorpe (11) | Floyd (9) | The Summit 16,611 | 22–12 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 35 | | @ L.A. Lakers | L 113–124 | | | | Great Western Forum | 22–13 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 36 | | @ Sacramento | L 109–123 | | | | ARCO Arena | 22–14 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 37 | | @ Seattle | L 108–124 | | | | Seattle Center Coliseum | 22–15 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 38 | | @ Golden State | L 114–121 | | | | Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena | 22–16 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 39 | | Miami | W 118–93 | | | | The Summit | 23–16 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 40 | | L.A. Clippers | W 106–100 | | | | The Summit | 24–16 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 42 | | @ San Antonio | W 96–91 | | | | HemisFair Arena | 25–17 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 42 | | L.A. Lakers | L 114–125 | | | | The Summit | 25–17 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 43 | | Chicago | W 105–98 | | | | The Summit | 26–17 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 44 | | Denver | W 124–112 | | | | The Summit | 27–17 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 45 | | @ L.A. Clippers | L 111–114 | | | | Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena | 27–18 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 46 | | @ Portland | W 113–110 | | | | Memorial Coliseum | 28–18 |- align="center" |- style="background:#cfc;" |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 47 | | Boston | W 137–123 | | | | The Summit | 29–18 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 48 | | Denver | W 121–111 | | | | The Summit | 30–18 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 49 | | @ Dallas | W 105–94 | | | | Reunion Arena | 31–18 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 50 | | @ Cleveland | L 90–110 | | | | Richfield Coliseum | 31–19 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 51 | | @ New York | L 115–120 | | | | Madison Square Garden | 31–20 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 52 | | @ Chicago | L 97–106 | | | | Chicago Stadium | 31–21 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 53 | | @ Milwaukee | L 105–121 | | | | Bradley Center | 31–22 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 54 | | Washington | L 98–104 | | | | The Summit | 31–23 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 55 | | @ Denver | L 103–113 | | | | McNichols Sports Arena | 31–24 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 56 | | @ Seattle | L 108–118 | | | | Seattle Center Coliseum | 31–25 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 57 | | L.A. Lakers | W 88–83 | | | | The Summit | 32–25 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 58 | | @ Utah | L 80–117 | | | | Salt Palace | 32–26 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 59 | | Dallas | W 96–86 | | | | The Summit | 33–26 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 60 | | New Jersey | W 124–94 | | | | The Summit | 34–26 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 61 | | @ L.A. Lakers | L 96–97 | | | | Great Western Forum | 34–27 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 62 | | @ Sacramento | L 90–95 | | | | ARCO Arena | 34–28 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 63 | | Milwaukee | W 120–104 | | | | The Summit | 35–28 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 64 | | Portland | W 127–113 | | | | The Summit | 36–28 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 65 | | Denver | L 110–112 | | | | The Summit | 36–29 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 66 | | Utah | L 99–102 | | | | The Summit | 36–30 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 67 | | Golden State | W 144–104 | | | | The Summit | 37–30 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 68 | | Seattle | W 120–117 | | | | The Summit | 38–30 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 69 | | @ New Jersey | W 109–101 | | | | Brendan Byrne Arena | 39–30 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 70 | | @ Boston | L 109–126 | | | | Boston Garden | 39–31 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 71 | | @ Philadelphia | L 99–108 | | | | The Spectrum | 39–32 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 72 | | @ Indiana | W 90–88 | | | | Market Square Arena | 40–32 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 73 | | @ Atlanta | L 112–120 (OT) | | | | The Omni | 40–33 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 74 | | @ Miami | L 104–107 (OT) | | | | Miami Arena | 40–34 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 75 | | Indiana | W 108–99 | | | | The Summit | 41–35 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 76 | | Phoenix | L 111–119 | | | | The Summit | 41–35 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 77 | | @ Utah | L 96–122 | | | | Salt Palace | 41–36 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 78 | | @ Dallas | W 114–112 (OT) | | | | Reunion Arena | 42–36 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 79 | | San Antonio | W 99–91 | | | | The Summit | 43–36 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 80 | | @ San Antonio | W 99–84 | | | | HemisFair Arena | 44–36 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 81 | | @ Phoenix | W 112–101 | | | | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum | 45–36 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 82 | | Miami | L 89–91 | | | | The Summit | 45–37

Playoffs

1–3

Player statistics

Season

Player	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3FG%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG

Playoffs

Player	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3FG%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG

Awards and records

Akeem Olajuwon, All-NBA First Team

References

[https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/HOU/1989.html 1988-89 Houston Rockets]
Weil, Mike. (June 28, 1988). "The Los Angeles Clippers Today Attained Some of the...". United Press International.
Goldaper, Sam. (June 29, 1988). "N.B.A. Draft; Manning, Then 3-Way Trade Give Hope to Lowly Clippers". The New York Times.
"1988 NBA Draft". Basketball-Reference.
(October 12, 1988). "SPORTS PEOPLE; Signed, Then Traded". The New York Times.
(October 12, 1988). "Rockets Trade 2 for Sacramento's Otis Thorpe". Los Angeles Times.
Aldridge, David. (October 12, 1988). "Bullets Lose Out on Thorpe". The Washington Post.
(July 20, 1988). "Former Clipper Woodson Signs with Rockets, Rejoins Coach Don Chaney". Los Angeles Times.
Luna, Richard. (July 20, 1988). "Guard Mike Woodson, Who Led the Los Angeles Clippers...". United Press International.
Cooper, Barry. (November 4, 1988). "1. Atlanta Hawks". Orlando Sentinel.
Goldaper, Sam. (November 3, 1988). "Nets Acquire Rockets' Carroll". The New York Times.
(November 3, 1988). "Rockets Send Joe Barry Carroll to the Nets in a Six-Player Trade". Los Angeles Times.
(June 11, 1988). "Sports People; Speculation on Chaney". The New York Times.
(June 14, 1988). "Chaney Hired to Take Over Bickering Rockets". Los Angeles Times.
Cotton, Anthony. (June 14, 1988). "Chaney Officially In at Houston". The Washington Post.
"NBA Games Played on February 9, 1989". Basketball-Reference.
(February 2, 1989). "Sports Digest". United Press International.
Valenti, John. (February 26, 1989). "Berry Starts Fourth "New Beginning"". Los Angeles Times.
"1988–89 Houston Rockets Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference.
"1988–89 Houston Rockets Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference.
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.
(September 13, 2021). "1989 NBA All-Star Recap". NBA.com.
"1989 NBA All-Star Game: West 143, East 134". Basketball-Reference.
McManis, Sam. (May 23, 1989). "Magic Is the MVP This Time: Jordan Finishes Second in Closest Voting in 8 Seasons". Los Angeles Times.
"1988–89 NBA Awards Voting". Basketball-Reference.
(May 11, 1989). "IN BRIEF: Utah's Eaton Gets Defensive Award". Los Angeles Times.
Hafner, Dan. (May 6, 1989). "McKey's Last-Second Shot Pits Sonics Against Lakers". Los Angeles Times.
(May 6, 1989). "McKey Buzzes Rockets". The Washington Post.
"1989 NBA Western Conference First Round: Rockets vs. SuperSonics". Basketball-Reference.
(September 21, 1989). "Sports Digest". United Press International.
(September 22, 1989). "SPORTS PEOPLE: PRO BASKETBALL; Nets Sign Short to One-Year Contract". The New York Times.
(September 22, 1989). "Names in the News". Los Angeles Times.
(December 27, 1990). "Berry Taking New Approach in Italy". The Victoria Advocate.

Info: Wikipedia Source

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