1988–89 Miami Heat season

1988–89 Miami Heat season
Head coachRon Rothstein
General managerLewis Schaffel
Owners
ArenaMiami Arena
Results
Record15–67 (.183)
PlaceDivision: 6th (Midwest)
Conference: 13th (Western)
Playoff finishDid not qualify

Stats at Basketball Reference
Local media
TelevisionWBFS-TV
SportsChannel Florida
(Sam Smith, Eric Reid)
RadioWQAM
(Sam Smith, Eric Reid)
WAQI (Spanish)
(Sarvelio del Valle, Jose Paneda)
1989–90 >
A ticket for a December 1988 game between the Heat and the Sacramento Kings.

The 1988–89 Miami Heat season was the first season for the Miami Heat in the National Basketball Association. The Heat were the first of two expansion teams to play in the state of Florida over a two-year period, and along with the Charlotte Hornets, joined the NBA during the 1988–89 season.[1][2][3] The team revealed a new primary logo of a red basketball on fire going through a hoop,[4] and got new uniforms adding red and black to their color scheme.[5][6] The Heat played their home games at the Miami Arena in Miami, Florida.

In the 1988 NBA expansion draft, the Heat selected veteran players like Billy Thompson, Fred Roberts, Jon Sundvold, Darnell Valentine, Dwayne "Pearl" Washington and Scott Hastings. However, Roberts was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks, and Valentine was dealt to the Cleveland Cavaliers.[7][8][9] The team also signed free agents Pat Cummings and Rory Sparrow during the off-season.[10][11] The Heat received the ninth overall pick in the 1988 NBA draft, and selected center Rony Seikaly out of Syracuse University, and also selected shooting guard Kevin Edwards out of DePaul University with the 20th overall pick.[12][13][14] Other rookies on the team included second-round draft picks, power forward Grant Long out of Eastern Michigan University, and small forward Sylvester Gray from the University of Memphis.[15] The team hired Ron Rothstein as their first ever head coach.[16][17]

The Heat made their NBA regular season debut on November 5, 1988, in which the team lost to the Los Angeles Clippers by a score of 111–91 at the Miami Arena. Sparrow made the first basket in the team's franchise history, while Washington led the Heat with 16 points and 3 steals off the bench.[18][19][20] The Heat struggled posting a dreadful 17-game losing streak to start their inaugural season, which was an NBA record for the worst start to the season at the time; the team had a winless month in November, losing all twelve of their games during that month.[21][22][23] On December 14, the Heat won their first ever game of the season and in franchise history, defeating the Clippers on the road by a score of 89–88 at the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena; Long, Thompson and Cummings all led the team with 15 points each.[24][25][26] Five games later on December 23, the Heat won their first ever home game at the Miami Arena, defeating the Utah Jazz by a score of 101–80; Sparrow led the team with 19 points, while Edwards finished with 18 points and 8 assists, and Cummings contributed 17 points.[27][28]

The Heat struggled all season long, posting a 10-game losing streak between December and January, then posting a seven-game losing streak between January and February, and holding a dreadful 5–40 record at the All-Star break.[29] The team posted a six-game losing streak between February and March, and posted another seven-game losing streak in April, losing 12 of their final 14 games of the season. The Heat finished their inaugural season in last place in the Midwest Division with a record of 15 wins and 67 losses, which was the league's worst record during the regular season.[30]

Edwards led the Heat in scoring averaging a low team-high of 13.8 points, and contributed 4.4 assists and 1.8 steals per game, and was also named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team, while Sparrow averaged 12.5 points, 5.4 assists and 1.3 steals per game, and Long provided the team with 11.9 points, 6.7 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game. In addition, Seikaly averaged 10.9 points and 7.0 rebounds per game, while Thompson provided with 10.8 points and 7.2 rebounds per game, and Sundvold contributed 10.4 points per game off the bench, while shooting .522 in three-point field-goal percentage. Meanwhile, Cummings averaged 8.8 points and 5.3 rebounds per game, Gray provided with 8.0 points and 5.2 rebounds per game, Washington contributed 7.6 points and 4.2 assists per game, and Hastings averaged 5.1 points and 3.1 rebounds per game.[31][23]

During the NBA All-Star weekend at the Houston Astrodome in Houston, Texas, Sundvold participated in the NBA Three-Point Shootout;[32][33] Sundvold was selected as a replacement for Trent Tucker of the New York Knicks, as Tucker withdrew due to an illness in his family.[34][35] The Heat finished twelfth in the NBA in home-game attendance, with an attendance of 612,754 at the Miami Arena during the regular season.[31][36] Following the season, Hastings signed as a free agent with the Detroit Pistons, and Gray and Washington were both released to free agency.

Despite their location in Miami, the NBA placed the Heat in the Midwest Division of the Western Conference; this meant that the Heat were forced on some of the longest, and farthest road trips in the NBA during the 1988–89 season, as their closest divisional opponent was the Houston Rockets, which were located over 950 miles away in the city of Houston.[37]

The team's new primary logo, and new uniforms would both remain in use until 1999.

Offseason

Expansion draft

Number Player Position Team
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  Lebanon Syracuse
1 20 Kevin Edwards SG  United States DePaul
2 33 Grant Long PF  United States Eastern Michigan
2 35 Sylvester Gray F  United States Memphis
2 40 Orlando Graham F  United States Auburn-Montgomery
3 59 Nate Johnston F  United States Tampa

Roster

1988–89 Miami Heat roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Player Height Weight DOB From
F/C 42 Pat Cummings 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1956–07–11 Cincinnati
G 21 Kevin Edwards 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1965–10–30 DePaul
F 40 Sylvester Gray 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1967–07–08 Memphis
C 44 Scott Hastings 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 235 lb (107 kg) 1960–06–03 Arkansas
F 43 Grant Long 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1966–03–12 Eastern Michigan
G 11 Craig Neal 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 165 lb (75 kg) 1964–02–16 Georgia Tech
F 41 Dave Popson 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1964–05–17 North Carolina
C 4 Rony Seikaly 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1965–05–10 Syracuse
C 45 John Shasky 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 235 lb (107 kg) 1964–07–31 Minnesota
G 2 Rory Sparrow 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1958–06–12 Villanova
G 20 Jon Sundvold 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 170 lb (77 kg) 1961–07–02 Missouri
F 55 Billy Thompson 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1963–12–01 Louisville
G 31 Dwayne Washington 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1964–01–06 Syracuse
Head coach
Assistant(s)

Legend
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured Injured

Roster
Updated: April 12, 1989

Regular season

Season standings

W L PCT GB Home Road Div
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
#
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

1988–89 Game Log (15–67) (Home: 12–29; Road: 3–38)
November (0–12) (Home: 0–6; Road: 0–6)
Game Date Opponent Score Location Attendance Record
1 November 5 L.A. Clippers L 91–111 Miami Arena 15,008 0–1
2 November 8 @ Dallas L 88–92 Reunion Arena 16,129 0–2
3 November 9 @ San Antonio L 93–117 HemisFair Arena 0–3
4 November 11 Houston L 100–121 Miami Arena 15,008 0–4
5 November 15 Boston L 65–84 Miami Arena 15,008 0–5
6 November 17 @ Houston L 107–113 The Summit 16,288 0–6
7 November 18 Golden State L 117–123 (OT) Miami Arena 13,907 0–7
8 November 23 L.A. Lakers L 91–138 Miami Arena 15,008 0–8
9 November 26 @ Milwaukee L 93–103 Bradley Center 18,573 0–9
10 November 27 @ Cleveland L 80–109 Richfield Coliseum 0–10
11 November 29 @ Charlotte L 84–99 Charlotte Coliseum 23,388 0–11
12 November 30 San Antonio L 101–105 Miami Arena 14,298 0–12
December (3–12) (Home: 2–6; Road: 1–6)
Game Date Opponent Score Location Attendance Record
13 December 2 Portland L 102–105 Miami Arena 15,008 0–13
14 December 7 Sacramento L 94–96 Miami Arena 15,008 0–14
15 December 9 Denver L 110–121 Miami Arena 14,812 0–15
16 December 10 @ Chicago L 88–111 Chicago Stadium 17,615 0–16
17 December 12 @ Utah L 94–110 Salt Palace 12,444 0–17
18 December 14 @ L.A. Clippers W 89–88 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena 1–17
19 December 15 @ Sacramento L 90–94 ARCO Arena 16,517 1–18
20 December 17 Dallas L 87–104 Miami Arena 15,008 1–19
21 December 20 @ Detroit L 100–116 The Palace of Auburn Hills 21,454 1–20
22 December 21 Seattle L 101–109 Miami Arena 15,008 1–21
23 December 23 Utah W 101–80 Miami Arena 15,008 2–21
24 December 26 San Antonio W 111–109 Miami Arena 15,008 3–21
25 December 27 Houston L 93–101 Miami Arena 15,008 3–22
26 December 29 @ Seattle L 99–129 Seattle Center Coliseum 14,794 3–23
27 December 30 @ Denver L 83–109 McNichols Sports Arena 12,214 3–24
January (1–13) (Home: 1–5; Road: 0–8)
Game Date Opponent Score Location Attendance Record
28 January 3 @ Portland L 95–119 Memorial Coliseum 12,848 3–25
29 January 4 @ Golden State L 100–109 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 12,831 3–26
30 January 6 @ L.A. Lakers L 86–118 Great Western Forum 17,505 3–27
31 January 7 @ Phoenix L 99–107 Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12,288 3–28
32 January 10 Utah L 88–92 Miami Arena 15,008 3–29
33 January 12 @ Washington L 100–106 Capital Centre 3–30
34 January 13 Milwaukee L 101–107 Miami Arena 15,008 3–31
35 January 15 Indiana W 118–117 (2OT) Miami Arena 15,008 4–31
36 January 19 Chicago L 108–112 Miami Arena 15,008 4–32
37 January 23 @ San Antonio L 101–119 HemisFair Arena 4–33
38 January 24 @ Houston L 93–118 The Summit 16,611 4–34
39 January 26 Denver L 108–129 Miami Arena 15,008 4–35
40 January 29 @ Boston L 103–121 Boston Garden 14,890 4–36
41 January 30 Golden State L 98–105 Miami Arena 14,880 4–37
February (4–9) (Home: 4–5; Road: 0–4)
Game Date Opponent Score Location Attendance Record
42 February 2 Seattle L 93–100 Miami Arena 14,798 4–38
43 February 5 Sacramento W 102–98 Miami Arena 15,008 5–38
44 February 7 @ Utah L 77–96 Salt Palace 12,444 5–39
45 February 9 @ Denver L 92–117 McNichols Sports Arena 14,935 5–40
46 February 14 Cleveland L 98–109 Miami Arena 15,008 5–41
47 February 16 @ Dallas L 80–93 Reunion Arena 17,007 5–42
48 February 17 Charlotte W 103–102 Miami Arena 15,008 6–42
49 February 19 Atlanta W 124–115 Miami Arena 15,008 7–42
50 February 20 @ New Jersey L 109–117 Brendan Byrne Arena 7–43
51 February 22 Philadelphia L 108–139 Miami Arena 15,008 7–44
52 February 24 L.A. Clippers W 111–91 Miami Arena 15,008 8–44
53 February 26 Portland L 102–124 Miami Arena 15,008 8–45
54 February 28 Dallas L 110–111 (OT) Miami Arena 14,779 8–46
March (5–11) (Home: 4–4; Road: 1–7)
Game Date Opponent Score Location Attendance Record
55 March 2 @ New York L 123–132 Madison Square Garden 14,054 8–47
56 March 3 Utah L 95–107 Miami Arena 15,008 8–48
57 March 5 Detroit L 100–109 Miami Arena 15,008 8–49
58 March 8 L.A. Lakers L 87–127 Miami Arena 15,008 8–50
59 March 10 Denver W 131–130 (2OT) Miami Arena 15,008 9–50
60 March 11 @ Atlanta L 78–111 The Omni 16,371 9–51
61 March 13 Phoenix L 104–112 Miami Arena 15,008 9–52
62 March 15 @ L.A. Clippers W 109–103 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena 10–52
63 March 17 @ Utah L 96–118 Salt Palace 12,444 10–53
64 March 18 @ Denver L 105–111 McNichols Sports Arena 15,068 10–54
65 March 20 @ Phoenix L 97–115 Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12,315 10–55
66 March 22 New York W 107–103 Miami Arena 15,008 11–55
67 March 25 San Antonio W 107–105 Miami Arena 15,008 12–55
68 March 27 New Jersey W 100–79 Miami Arena 15,008 13–55
69 March 29 @ Indiana L 89–96 Market Square Arena 13–56
70 March 31 @ Philadelphia L 93–114 Spectrum 14,127 13–57
April (2–12) (Home: 1–3; Road: 1–7)
Game Date Opponent Score Location Attendance Record
71 April 2 @ Dallas L 96–98 Reunion Arena 16,846 13–58
72 April 4 @ San Antonio 87–109 HemisFair Arena 13–59
73 April 6 Washington L 93–101 Miami Arena 15,008 13–60
74 April 8 Houston W 107–104 (OT) Miami Arena 15,008 14–60
75 April 10 @ Sacramento L 69–108 ARCO Arena 16,517 14–61
76 April 11 @ Golden State L 98–114 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 15,025 14–62
77 April 13 @ Seattle L 111–116 Seattle Center Coliseum 11,267 14–63
78 April 14 @ Portland L 86–97 Memorial Coliseum 12,880 14–64
79 April 16 @ L.A. Lakers L 108–121 Great Western Forum 17,505 14–65
80 April 18 Dallas L 99–103 Miami Arena 15,008 14–66
81 April 19 Phoenix L 91–117 Miami Arena 15,008 14–67
82 April 22 @ Houston W 91–89 The Summit 16,611 15–67
1988-89 Schedule

Awards, records, and honors

Player statistics

Ragular season

Player POS GP GS MP REB AST STL BLK PTS MPG RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Grant Long PF 82 73 2,435 546 149 122 48 976 29.7 6.7 1.8 1.5 .6 11.9
Rory Sparrow PG 80 79 2,613 216 429 103 17 1,000 32.7 2.7 5.4 1.3 .2 12.5
Kevin Edwards SG 79 62 2,349 262 349 139 27 1,094 29.7 3.3 4.4 1.8 .3 13.8
Billy Thompson SF 79 58 2,273 572 176 56 105 854 28.8 7.2 2.2 .7 1.3 10.8
Rony Seikaly C 78 62 1,962 549 55 46 96 848 25.2 7.0 .7 .6 1.2 10.9
Scott Hastings C 75 6 1,206 231 59 32 42 386 16.1 3.1 .8 .4 .6 5.1
Jon Sundvold SG 68 8 1,338 87 137 27 1 709 19.7 1.3 2.0 .4 .0 10.4
John Shasky C 65 4 944 232 22 14 13 357 14.5 3.6 .3 .2 .2 5.5
Sylvester Gray SF 55 15 1,220 286 117 36 25 440 22.2 5.2 2.1 .7 .5 8.0
Dwayne Washington PG 54 8 1,065 123 226 73 4 411 19.7 2.3 4.2 1.4 .1 7.6
Pat Cummings PF 53 28 1,096 281 47 29 18 466 20.7 5.3 .9 .5 .3 8.8
Craig Neal PG 32 0 341 18 86 15 4 89 10.7 .6 2.7 .5 .1 2.8
Todd Mitchell SF 22 0 320 47 20 15 2 118 14.5 2.1 .9 .7 .1 5.4
Anthony Taylor PG 21 7 368 34 43 22 5 144 17.5 1.6 2.0 1.0 .2 6.9
Kelvin Upshaw SG 9 0 144 13 20 7 0 57 16.0 1.4 2.2 .8 .0 6.3
Clinton Wheeler PG 8 0 143 12 21 8 0 56 17.9 1.5 2.6 1.0 .0 7.0
Dave Popson PF 7 0 38 11 2 0 1 11 5.4 1.6 .3 .0 .1 1.6
  • Denotes player spent time with another team in the season. Stats reflect time with the Heat only.

References

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