1988–89 Miami Heat season
The 1988–89 Miami Heat season was Miami's inaugural season in the NBA. The Miami Heat were the first of two expansion teams to play in the state of Florida over a two-year period. The expansion included three other franchises in Charlotte, Minnesota, and Orlando. The Heat were able to select Syracuse star center Rony Seikaly in the NBA draft. The Heat made their debut on November 5 in a losing effort to the Los Angeles Clippers by a score of 111-91 at the Miami Arena. Rory Sparrow made the first basket in franchise history. The Heat lost an NBA record 17 games to start their inaugural season.[1] On December 14, they won their first game of the season by beating the Clippers in Los Angeles by a score of 89-88. Five games later, the Heat won their first game ever at home when they beat the Utah Jazz, 101-80. The Heat finish their first season with a 15-67 record. The club's leading scorer was Kevin Edwards, who averaged 13.8 points per game.[1]
1988–89 Miami Heat season | |
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Head coach | Ron Rothstein |
Arena | Miami Arena |
Results | |
Record | 15–67 (.183) |
Place | Division: 6th (Midwest) Conference: 13th (Western) |
Playoff finish | Did Not Qualify |
Stats @ Basketball-Reference.com | |
Local media | |
Television | WBFS-TV SportsChannel Florida (Sam Smith, Eric Reid) |
Radio | WQAM (Sam Smith, Eric Reid) |
Despite their location, the NBA placed the Heat in the Midwest Division of the Western Conference. This meant that Heat were forced on some of the longest and farthest road trips in the NBA in 1988-89 as their closest divisional opponent was the Houston Rockets which were located over 950 miles away.
Offseason
Expansion Draft
Number | Player | Position | Team |
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1 | Arvid Kramer | Power Forward/Center | Dallas Mavericks |
3 | Billy Thompson | Small forward | Los Angeles Lakers |
5 | Fred Roberts | Power Forward | Boston Celtics |
7 | Scott Hastings | Center | Atlanta Hawks |
9 | Jon Sundvold | Shooting guard | San Antonio Spurs |
11 | Kevin Williams | Point guard | Seattle SuperSonics |
13 | Hansi Gnad | Center | Philadelphia 76ers |
15 | Darnell Valentine | Point guard | Los Angeles Clippers |
17 | Dwayne Washington | Point guard | New Jersey Nets |
19 | Andre Turner | Point guard | Houston Rockets |
21 | Conner Henry | Shooting guard | Sacramento Kings |
23 | John Stroeder | Power Forward | Milwaukee Bucks |
Draft picks
Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | School/Club Team |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 9 | Rony Seikaly | C | ![]() | Syracuse |
1 | 20 | Kevin Edwards | SG | ![]() | DePaul |
2 | 33 | Grant Long | PF | ![]() | Eastern Michigan |
2 | 35 | Sylvester Gray | F | ![]() | Memphis |
2 | 40 | Orlando Graham | F | ![]() | Auburn-Montgomery |
3 | 59 | Nate Johnston | F | ![]() | Tampa |
Roster
Miami Heat roster | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Players | Coaches | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Regular season
Season standings
Midwest Division | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div |
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y-Utah Jazz | 51 | 31 | .622 | – | 34–7 | 17–24 | 19–11 |
x-Houston Rockets | 45 | 37 | .549 | 6 | 31–10 | 14–27 | 19–11 |
x-Denver Nuggets | 44 | 38 | .537 | 7 | 35–6 | 9–32 | 18–12 |
Dallas Mavericks | 38 | 44 | .463 | 13 | 24–17 | 14–27 | 19–11 |
San Antonio Spurs | 21 | 61 | .256 | 30 | 18–23 | 3–38 | 9–21 |
Miami Heat | 15 | 67 | .183 | 36 | 12–29 | 3–38 | 6–24 |
# | Western Conference | ||||
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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
Record vs. opponents
1988–89 NBA records | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Team | ATL | BOS | CHA | CHI | CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GSW | HOU | IND | LAC | LAL | MIA | MIL | NJN | NYK | PHI | PHO | POR | SAC | SAS | SEA | UTA | WAS |
Atlanta | — | 3–1 | 4–1 | 4–2 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 6–0 | 4–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 |
Boston | 1–3 | — | 6–0 | 1–3 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 5–1 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–4 |
Charlotte | 1–4 | 0–6 | — | 1–4 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–5 |
Chicago | 2–4 | 3–1 | 4–1 | — | 0–6 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–6 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 6–0 | 2–2 | 3–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–1 |
Cleveland | 2–4 | 4–1 | 4–0 | 6–0 | — | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 |
Dallas | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | — | 3–3 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 0–4 | 6–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 5–1 | 2–2 | 4–2 | 1–1 |
Denver | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–3 | — | 1–1 | 3–1 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 5–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–3 | 2–2 | 3–3 | 1–1 |
Detroit | 5–1 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 6–0 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | — | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–4 | 4–0 | 0–4 | 5–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 5–0 |
Golden State | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | — | 1–3 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 2–3 | 4–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 2–3 | 3–1 | 2–4 | 2–2 | 1–1 |
Houston | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 3–1 | — | 2–0 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 6–0 | 2–2 | 2–4 | 0–2 |
Indiana | 1–5 | 3–2 | 2–2 | 2–4 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | — | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 1–3 | 0–5 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 |
L.A. Clippers | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 2–2 | 1–1 | — | 1–5 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 1–5 | 2–3 | 3–1 | 1–4 | 1–3 | 0–2 |
L.A. Lakers | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 3–2 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 5–1 | — | 4–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 5–0 | 5–1 | 3–1 | 4–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 |
Miami | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–6 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 0–4 | — | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 2–4 | 0–4 | 1–5 | 0–2 |
Milwaukee | 0–6 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 0–6 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | — | 4–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–1 |
New Jersey | 1–4 | 1–5 | 4–2 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–4 | — | 2–4 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–5 |
New York | 2–2 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 2–3 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 5–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 4–2 | — | 2–4 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 5–1 |
Philadelphia | 2–2 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 3–1 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–5 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 5–1 | 4–2 | — | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–2 |
Phoenix | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 3–3 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | — | 2–3 | 5–1 | 3–1 | 4–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 |
Portland | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 5–1 | 0–5 | 4–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–2 | — | 3–3 | 4–0 | 2–4 | 0–4 | 1–1 |
Sacramento | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 3–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 1–5 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 3–3 | — | 2–2 | 1–5 | 1–3 | 0–2 |
San Antonio | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 0–6 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 2–2 | — | 0–4 | 1–5 | 1–1 |
Seattle | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 2–4 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–4 | 4–2 | 5–1 | 4–0 | — | 3–1 | 1–1 |
Utah | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 5–1 | 1–3 | — | 2–0 |
Washington | 1–3 | 4–2 | 5–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–5 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–4 | 5–1 | 1–5 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | — |
Game log
1988–89 Game Log (15–67) (Home: 12–29; Road: 3–38) | |
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November (0–12) (Home: 0–6; Road: 0–6)
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December (3–12) (Home: 2–6; Road: 1–6)
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January (1–13) (Home: 1–5; Road: 0–8)
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February (4–9) (Home: 4–5; Road: 0–4)
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March (5–11) (Home: 4–4; Road: 1–7)
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April (2–12) (Home: 1–3; Road: 1–7)
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1988-89 Schedule |
Awards, records, and honors
Player stats
Note: GP= Games played; REB= Rebounds; AST= Assists; STL = Steals; BLK = Blocks; PTS = Points; AVG = Average
Player | GP | REB | AST | STL | BLK | PTS | AVG |
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