1988–89 Washington Bullets season

The 1988–89 NBA season was the Bullets' 28th season in the NBA.[1] In the 1988 NBA draft, the Bullets selected Harvey Grant from the University of Oklahoma with the twelfth overall pick, and Ledell Eackles from the University of New Orleans with the 36th overall pick.[2][3][4][5][6] During the off-season, the team acquired Dave Feitl from the Golden State Warriors.[7][8][9] Under Wes Unseld's first full season as head coach,[10] and with the addition of Grant and Eackles,[11][12] the Bullets struggled losing seven straight games in December, which led to a 4–14 start,[13] and held a 17–28 record at the All-Star break.[14] However, the team played above .500 for the remainder of the season, and finished fourth in the Atlantic Division with a 40–42 record, which was two more wins then the previous season, but the team failed to qualify for the playoffs, finishing just two games behind the 8th-seeded Boston Celtics.[15][16]

1988–89 Washington Bullets season
Head coachWes Unseld
General managerBob Ferry
ArenaCapital Centre (38 games)
Baltimore Arena (3 games)
Results
Record40–42 (.488)
PlaceDivision: 4th (Atlantic)
Conference: 9th (Eastern)
Playoff finishDid not qualify
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionWDCA
Home Team Sports
(Mel Proctor, Phil Chenier)
RadioWTOP
(Charlie Slowes)
A ticket for a November 1988 game between the Bullets and the Charlotte Hornets.

Jeff Malone led the team in scoring averaging 21.7 points per game, while Bernard King averaged 20.7 points per game, and sixth man Hot Plate Williams provided the team with 13.7 points, 7.0 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 1.7 steals per game off the bench, and finished in fourth place in Sixth Man of the Year voting.[17][18][19] In addition, Eackles contributed 11.5 points per game off the bench, while Terry Catledge provided with 10.4 points and 7.2 rebounds per game, Darrell Walker contributed 9.0 points, 6.4 rebounds, 6.3 assists and 2.0 steals per game, and starting center Charles Jones averaged 2.6 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game,[20] but only played 53 games due to a knee injury.[21][22][23] Unseld finished in fifth place in Coach of the Year voting.[24][25]

Following the season, Catledge was left unprotected in the 1989 NBA Expansion Draft, where he was selected by the newly expansion Orlando Magic,[26][27][28][29][30] and Feitl was released to free agency.

Draft picks
Main article: 1988 NBA draft
Round Pick Player Position Nationality College
112Harvey GrantSF/PF United StatesOklahoma
236Ledell EacklesSG/SF United StatesNew Orleans
360Ed Davender United StatesKentucky

Roster
1988–89 Washington Bullets roster
Players Coaches
Pos.No.NameHeightWeightDOBFrom
F 31 Alarie, Mark 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 217 lb (98 kg) 1963–12–11 Duke
F 33 Catledge, Terry 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1963–08–22 South Alabama
G 20 Colter, Steve 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 165 lb (75 kg) 1962–07–24 New Mexico State
G 21 Eackles, Ledell 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1966–11–24 New Orleans
C 22 Feitl, Dave 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 235 lb (107 kg) 1962–06–08 UTEP
F 44 Grant, Harvey 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1965–07–04 Oklahoma
C 23 Jones, Charles 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1957–04–03 Albany State
F 51 Jones, Charles 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1962–01–12 Louisville
F 30 King, Bernard 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 1956–12–04 Tennessee
G 24 Malone, Jeff 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 1961–06–28 Mississippi State
G 5 Walker, Darrell 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1961–03–09 Arkansas
F 34 Williams, John 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 235 lb (107 kg) 1966–10–26 LSU
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured Injured

Regular season

Season standings
Atlantic Division
 W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-New York Knicks 5230.634–35–617–2418–12
x-Philadelphia 76ers 4636.561630–1116–2519–11
x-Boston Celtics 4240.5121032–910–3119–11
Washington Bullets 4042.4881230–1110–3117–13
New Jersey Nets 2656.3172617–249–329–21
Charlotte Hornets 2062.2443212–298–338–22
#
Eastern Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1 z-Detroit Pistons6319.768–
2 y-New York Knicks5230.63411
3 x-Cleveland Cavaliers5725.6956
4 x-Atlanta Hawks5230.63411
5 x-Milwaukee Bucks4933.59814
6 x-Chicago Bulls4735.57316
7 x-Philadelphia 76ers4636.56117
8 x-Boston Celtics4240.51221
9 Washington Bullets4042.48823
10 Indiana Pacers2854.34135
11 New Jersey Nets2656.31737
12 Charlotte Hornets2062.24443
z - clinched division title
y - clinched division title
x - clinched playoff spot

Record vs. opponents
1988-89 NBA Records
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 —3–14–14–24–21–10–21–51–11–15–12–01–11–16–04–12–22–21–11–12–01–11–11–13–1
Boston 1–3—6–01–31–41–11–11–31–11–12–32–01–12–02–25–13–33–30–21–12–02–00–21–12–4
Charlotte 1–40–6—1–40–40–20–20–40–20–22–22–00–21–10–42–42–43–30–20–21–12–01–11–11–5
Chicago 2–43–14–1—0–62–01–10–61–11–14–21–12–02–06–02–23–21–31–12–02–02–02–00–23–1
Cleveland 2–44–14–06–0—2–02–03–31–11–15–11–10–22–03–34–02–23–22–02–02–02–01–11–12–2
Dallas 1–11–12–00–20–2—3–30–21–31–51–13–10–46–00–21–10–21–11–32–22–25–12–24–21–1
Denver 2–01–12–01–10–23–3—1–13–14–21–12–21–35–10–21–11–11–11–32–23–13–32–23–31–1
Detroit 5–13–14–06–03–32–01–1—1–11–14–22–02–02–02–44–00–45–02–01–12–02–02–02–05–0
Golden State 1–11–12–01–11–13–11–31–1—1–31–15–12–34–00–22–02–01–12–42–42–33–12–42–21–1
Houston 1–11–12–01–11–15–12–41–13–1—2–02–21–34–21–12–00–20–21–33–12–26–02–22–40–2
Indiana 1–53–22–22–41–51–11–12–41–10–2—1–10–21–12–41–30–50–41–12–01–12–01–11–11–3
L.A. Clippers 0–20–20–21–11–11–32–20–21–52–21–1—1–51–30–21–10–20–21–51–52–33–11–41–30–2
L.A. Lakers 1–11–12–00–22–04–03–10–23–23–12–05–1—4–01–11–11–12–03–35–05–13–14–21–31–1
Miami 1–10–21–10–20–20–61–50–20–42–41–13–10–4—0–21–11–10–20–40–41–32–40–41–50–2
Milwaukee 0–62–24–00–63–32–02–04–22–01–14–22–01–12–0—4–11–33–11–12–02–01–11–11–14–1
New Jersey 1–41–54–22–20–41–11–10–40–20–23–11–11–11–11–4—2–41–51–10–21–11–12–00–21–5
New York 2–23–34–22–32–22–01–14–00–22–05–02–01–11–13–14–2—2–41–12–01–11–11–11–15–1
Philadelphia 2–23–33–33–12–31–11–10–51–12–04–02–00–22–01–35–14–2—0–21–12–01–11–11–14–2
Phoenix 1–12–02–01–10–23–13–10–24–23–11–15–13–34–01–11–11–12–0—2–35–13–14–12–22–0
Portland 1–11–12–00–20–22–22–21–14–21–30–25–10–54–00–22–00–21–13–2—3–34–02–40–41–1
Sacramento 0–20–21–10–20–22–21–30–23–22–21–13–21–53–10–21–11–10–21–53–3—2–21–51–30–2
San Antonio 1–10–20–20–20–21–53–30–21–30–60–21–31–34–21–11–11–11–11–30–42–2—0–41–51–1
Seattle 1–12–01–10–21–12–22–20–24–22–21–14–12–44–01–10–21–11–11–44–25–14–0—3–11–1
Utah 1–11–11–12–01–12–43–30–22–24–21–13–13–15–11–12–01–11–12–24–03–15–11–3—2–0
Washington 1–34–25–11–32–21–11–10–51–12–03–12–01–12–01–45–11–52–40–21–12–01–11–10–2—

Game log

Regular season
1988–89 game log
Total: 40–42 (Home: 30–11; Road: 10–31)
November: 4–7 (home: 2–3; road: 2–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
1 November 5 Chicago L 98–111 Capital Centre 0–1
2 November 8 @ New Jersey L 101–109 Brendan Byrne Arena 0–2
3 November 9 New York L 110–117 Capital Centre 0–3
4 November 11 Charlotte W 96–87 Capital Centre 1–3
5 November 12 @ New York L 101–111 Madison Square Garden 1–4
6 November 18 @ Boston L 108–114 Boston Garden 1–5
7 November 19 Boston W 108–104 Capital Centre 2–5
8 November 22 Philadelphia L 103–130 Capital Centre 2–6
9 November 23 @ Milwaukee L 102–124 Bradley Center 2–7
10 November 25 @ Indiana W 106–101 Market Square Arena 3–7
11 November 26 @ Charlotte W 120–113 Charlotte Coliseum 4–7
December: 4–11 (home: 3–2; road: 1–9)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
12 December 1 @ Atlanta L 115–127 The Omni 4–8
13 December 2 Detroit L 114–120 Capital Centre 4–9
14 December 4 @ L.A. Lakers L 112–119 (OT) The Forum 4–10
15 December 6 @ Phoenix L 92–130 Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 4–11
16 December 7 @ Utah L 94–111 Salt Palace 4–12
17 December 9 @ Portland L 90–93 Memorial Coliseum 4–13
18 December 10 @ Golden State L 102–109 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 4–14
19 December 13 Boston W 115–105 Capital Centre 5–14
20 December 17 @ New York L 102–117 Madison Square Garden 5–15
21 December 18 L.A. Lakers W 115–110 Capital Centre 6–15
22 December 21 Utah L 82–98 Capital Centre 6–16
23 December 25 @ Philadelphia L 110–125 The Spectrum 6–17
24 December 26 @ New Jersey W 120–108 Brendan Byrne Arena 7–17
25 December 29 Houston W 126–109 Capital Centre 8–17
26 December 30 @ Cleveland L 110–127 Richfield Coliseum 8–18
January: 8–6 (home: 8–3; road: 0–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
27 January 2 Phoenix L 122–125 Capital Centre 8–19
28 January 4 Charlotte W 109–86 Capital Centre 9–19
29 January 6 Milwaukee
(at Baltimore, Maryland)		 L 121–128 (2OT) Baltimore Arena 9–20
30 January 7 @ Charlotte L 104–107 Charlotte Coliseum 9–21
31 January 10 Denver W 120–117 Capital Centre 10–21
32 January 12 Miami W 106–100 Capital Centre 11–21
33 January 13 @ Detroit L 103–119 The Palace of Auburn Hills 11–22
34 January 16 Atlanta L 106–117 Capital Centre 11–23
35 January 19 San Antonio W 115–112 Capital Centre 12–23
36 January 21 Philadelphia W 107–105 Capital Centre 13–23
37 January 26 Indiana W 126–106 Capital Centre 14–23
38 January 27 @ Chicago L 106–117 Chicago Stadium 14–24
38 January 29 Cleveland
(at Baltimore, Maryland)		 W 122–117 (OT) Baltimore Arena 15–24
40 January 31 Boston W 110–103 Capital Centre 16–24
February: 6–7 (home: 3–1; road: 3–6)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
41 February 1 @ Philadelphia L 110–114 (OT) The Spectrum 16–25
42 February 3 @ Boston L 108–117 Boston Garden 16–26
43 February 4 Milwaukee L 102–113 Capital Centre 16–27
44 February 7 @ New York L 105–117 Madison Square Garden 16–28
45 February 9 New Jersey W 110–103 Capital Centre 17–28
46 February 14 @ Sacramento W 107–99 ARCO Arena 18–28
45 February 15 @ Denver L 106–117 Capital Centre 18–29
48 February 17 @ Seattle L 112–126 Seattle Center Coliseum 18–30
49 February 18 @ L.A. Clippers W 98–93 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena 19–30
50 February 21 L.A. Clippers W 123–109 Capital Centre 20–30
51 February 24 New York
(at Baltimore, Maryland)		 W 130–127 Baltimore Arena 21–30
52 February 25 @ Dallas L 93–127 Reunion Arena 21–31
53 February 27 @ Houston W 104–98 Capital Centre 22–31
March: 11–6 (home: 9–0; road: 2–6)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
54 March 1 New Jersey W 120–105 Capital Centre 23–31
55 March 4 Dallas W 119–105 Capital Centre 24–31
56 March 5 Charlotte W 114–101 Capital Centre 25–31
57 March 7 @ Milwaukee L 101–121 Bradley Center 25–32
58 March 8 Atlanta W 119–111 Capital Centre 26–32
59 March 10 Sacramento W 114–97 Capital Centre 27–32
60 March 12 @ Detroit L 104–110 The Palace of Auburn Hills 27–33
61 March 13 Seattle W 106–101 Capital Centre 28–33
62 March 17 @ New Jersey W 124–121 (OT) Brendan Byrne Arena 29–33
63 March 18 Philadelphia W 123–114 Capital Centre 30–33
64 March 20 @ Cleveland L 97–103 Richfield Coliseum 30–34
65 March 22 @ Indiana L 92–101 Market Square Arena 30–35
66 March 23 @ Charlotte W 102–97 Charlotte Coliseum 31–35
67 March 25 Indiana W 111–108 (OT) Capital Centre 32–35
68 March 28 @ San Antonio L 114–130 HemisFair Arena 32–36
69 March 29 @ Atlanta L 102–120 The Omni 32–37
70 March 31 Portland W 107–105 Capital Centre 33–37
April: 7–5 (home: 5–2; road: 2–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
71 April 2 Golden State W 120–103 Capital Centre 34–37
72 April 4 New Jersey W 104–96 Capital Centre 35–37
73 April 6 @ Miami W 101–93 Miami Arena 36–37
74 April 7 Cleveland W 107–96 Capital Centre 37–37
75 April 9 New York L 92–94 Capital Centre 37–38
76 April 10 Detroit L 100–124 Capital Centre 37–39
78 April 16 @ Detroit L 98–104 The Palace of Auburn Hills 38–40
79 April 18 @ Boston W 121–113 Boston Garden 39–40
80 April 20 Chicago W 100–98 Capital Centre 40–40
81 April 21 @ Chicago L 113–115 Chicago Stadium 40–41
82 April 23 @ Philadelphia L 106–115 The Spectrum 40–42
1988–89 schedule

Player statistics
Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field-goal percentage  3P%  3-point field-goal percentage  FT%  Free-throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game

Season

References
  1. 1988-89 Washington Bullets
  2. Cotton, Anthony (June 29, 1988). "Three-Team Trade Leaves Clippers with Manning, Smith, Gary Grant". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 20, 2023.
  3. Aldridge, David (June 29, 1988). "Bullets Get Sooners' Harvey Grant in Short Draft". The Washington Post. Retrieved December 25, 2022.
  4. Love, Ian (June 29, 1988). "The Los Angeles Clippers Gave Up the League's Best..." United Press International. Retrieved June 20, 2023.
  5. "NBA Draft Lists". Chicago Tribune. June 29, 1988. Retrieved June 20, 2023.
  6. "1988 NBA Draft". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 20, 2023.
  7. "Sports People; Bol Traded for Feitl". The New York Times. June 9, 1988. Retrieved December 25, 2022.
  8. "Warriors Acquire Bol from Bullets for Feitl, Second-Round Draft Pick". Los Angeles Times. Times Wire Services. June 9, 1988. Retrieved December 25, 2022.
  9. Wilbon, Michael (June 9, 1988). "Bullets Send Bol to Golden State for Center Feitl". The Washington Post. Retrieved December 25, 2022.
  10. Cotton, Anthony (April 13, 1988). "Unseld Will Return as Bullets' Coach". The Washington Post. Retrieved December 25, 2022.
  11. Aldridge, David (October 7, 1988). "Old, New Mingle as Bullets Get Serious". The Washington Post. Retrieved December 25, 2022.
  12. Aldridge, David (October 14, 1988). "Eackles Discovering What Is in Store". The Washington Post. Retrieved December 25, 2022.
  13. Aldridge, David (December 11, 1988). "Bol Blocks Bullets' Way, 109-102". The Washington Post. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
  14. "NBA Games Played on February 9, 1989". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
  15. Aldridge, David (April 24, 1989). "Bullets' Season Ends with Loss to 76ers, Lottery Pick". The Washington Post. Retrieved December 25, 2022.
  16. "1988–89 Washington Bullets Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved February 12, 2022.
  17. "Suns' Johnson Wins NBA's 6th Man Award". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. May 8, 1989. Retrieved December 27, 2022.
  18. "Bailey Finishes Second in Sixth-Man Balloting". Deseret News. May 9, 1989. Retrieved December 27, 2022.
  19. "1988–89 NBA Awards Voting". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved December 27, 2022.
  20. "1988–89 Washington Bullets Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved February 12, 2022.
  21. "Names in the News". Los Angeles Times. December 20, 1988. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
  22. Aldridge, David (December 20, 1988). "Bullets Center Jones Out with Knee Injury". The Washington Post. Retrieved December 31, 2022.
  23. Aldridge, David (February 7, 1989). "Jones Back in Week for Bullets". The Washington Post. Retrieved December 31, 2022.
  24. "Fitzsimmons Coach of Year". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. May 25, 1989. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
  25. "Cotton Fitzsimmons, Who Led the Phoenix Suns to the..." United Press International. May 25, 1989. Retrieved January 31, 2023.
  26. Brown, Clifton (June 16, 1989). "Knicks' Green Is Taken First in N.B.A.'s Expansion Draft". The New York Times. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
  27. Howard-Cooper, Scott (June 16, 1989). "NBA Expansion Draft: Timberwolves Get Mahorn; Lakers Lose Rivers". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
  28. Cotton, Anthony (June 16, 1989). "Green Tabbed No. 1, Mahorn No. 2 in NBA Expansion Draft". The Washington Post. Retrieved January 31, 2023.
  29. Smith, Sam (June 16, 1989). "Magic Day for Vincent, Not for Mahorn". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
  30. "1989 NBA Expansion Draft". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved February 13, 2022.

See also
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