1988–89 Miami Heat season
| 1988–89 Miami Heat season | |
|---|---|
| Head coach | Ron Rothstein |
| General manager | Lewis Schaffel |
| Owners |
|
| Arena | Miami Arena |
| Results | |
| Record | 15–67 (.183) |
| Place | Division: 6th (Midwest) Conference: 13th (Western) |
| Playoff finish | Did not qualify |
Stats at Basketball Reference | |
| Local media | |
| Television | WBFS-TV SportsChannel Florida (Sam Smith, Eric Reid) |
| Radio | WQAM (Sam Smith, Eric Reid) WAQI (Spanish) (Sarvelio del Valle, Jose Paneda) |
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
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
| Players | Coaches | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Head coach
Assistant(s)
Legend
Roster |
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) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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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
- Kevin Edwards, NBA All-Rookie Second Team
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
- ^ Goldaper, Sam (April 23, 1987). "No Headline". The New York Times. Retrieved March 10, 2022.
- ^ "NBA Gives Florida Two Franchises -- Miami, Orlando: League Also Grants Expansion Teams to Minneapolis and Charlotte for $32.5 Million". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. April 23, 1987. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
- ^ Cotton, Anthony (April 23, 1987). "NBA Accepts Miami, Charlotte, Orlando, Twin Cities". The Washington Post. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
- ^ "Miami Heat Logo". Chris Creamer's Sports Logos Page - SportsLogos.Net. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
- ^ "Miami Heat Uniform". Chris Creamer's Sports Logos Page - SportsLogos.Net. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
- ^ "Miami Heat Uniform". Chris Creamer's Sports Logos Page - SportsLogos.Net. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
- ^ Goldaper, Sam (June 24, 1988). "Miami Chooses "Who?" First". The New York Times. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
- ^ Edes, Gordon (June 24, 1988). "Billy Thompson Goes to Miami; Valentine Winds Up in Cleveland". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
- ^ "1988 NBA Expansion Draft". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
- ^ Winderman, Ira (September 20, 1988). "Cummings, 32, Signs with Heat". Sun Sentinel. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
- ^ Patton, Robes (November 4, 1988). "Heat Signs Sparrow, Cuts Joe, Turner". Sun Sentinel. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
- ^ Goldaper, Sam (June 29, 1988). "N.B.A. Draft; Manning, Then 3-Way Trade Give Hope to Lowly Clippers". The New York Times. Retrieved February 10, 2022.
- ^ Cotton, Anthony (June 29, 1988). "Three-Team Trade Leaves Clippers with Manning, Smith, Gary Grant". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 20, 2023.
- ^ "1988 NBA Draft". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
- ^ Barnes, Craig (June 29, 1988). "If Hornets Had the Edge, Heat May Have Neutralized It". Sun Sentinel. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
- ^ "Sports People; Heat Hires Piston Aide". The New York Times. July 12, 1988. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
- ^ Winderman, Ira (July 12, 1988). "Rothstein Gets Good News from Heat; Coach's Peers Saw NBA Dream as Matter of Time". Sun Sentinel. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
- ^ Howard-Cooper, Scott (November 6, 1988). "Clippers Find a Team They Can Beat Up as Heat Humbled, 111-91". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
- ^ Winderman, Ira (November 6, 1988). "No Win, But a Great Show; Clippers' 3rd-Quarter Runs Spoils Heat's Coming-Out Party, 111-91". Sun Sentinel. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
- ^ "Los Angeles Clippers at Miami Heat Box Score, November 5, 1988". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
- ^ Winderman, Ira (December 13, 1988). "Angry Malone Dismantles Winless Heat". Sun Sentinel. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
- ^ "Miami Heat at Utah Jazz Box Score, December 12, 1988". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
- ^ a b Miami Heat (1988-Present)
- ^ Howard-Cooper, Scott (December 15, 1988). "Heat Gets 1st Win Ever to Put Onus on Clippers, 89-88". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
- ^ Winderman, Ira (December 15, 1988). "Heat Rises, Wins 1st Heat Holds Off Clippers to Win, 89-88". Sun Sentinel. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
- ^ "Miami Heat at Los Angeles Clippers Box Score, December 14, 1988". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
- ^ Winderman, Ira (December 24, 1988). "Heat Hits Its First Homer Reserves' Strength Silences Jazz, 101-80". Sun Sentinel. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
- ^ "Utah Jazz at Miami Heat Box Score, December 23, 1988". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
- ^ "NBA Games Played on February 9, 1989". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
- ^ "1988–89 Miami Heat Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved February 15, 2022.
- ^ a b "1988–89 Miami Heat Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved February 15, 2022.
- ^ "All-Star Lineups". Ocala Star-Banner. February 11, 1989. p. 5D. Retrieved September 25, 2025.
- ^ "NBA & ABA All-Star Game Contest Winners". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved September 25, 2025.
- ^ "Sundvold Gains Shootout". Sun Sentinel. February 3, 1989. Retrieved September 25, 2025.
- ^ "Sundvold to Replace Tucker in Shootout". The Evening News. Associated Press. February 3, 1989. p. 2B. Retrieved September 25, 2025.
- ^ "1988–89 NBA Season Summary". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved February 16, 2026.
- ^ Winderman, Ira (July 20, 1988). "Heat Becomes a Travel Club". Sun Sentinel. Retrieved December 28, 2022.