The1988–89 Indiana Pacers season was the 13th season for theIndiana Pacers in theNational Basketball Association, and their 22nd season as a franchise.^[1] Despite finishing with a 38–44 record the previous season, the Pacers received the second overall pick in the1988 NBA draft, and selected 7' 4" Dutch centerRik Smits out ofMarist College.^[2][3][4] Before the regular season began, centerSteve Stipanovich was out due a left knee injury, and would be sidelined for the entire season after undergoing knee surgery.^[5][6][7]

The Pacers went through four different head coaches this season; head coachJack Ramsay resigned after an 0–7 start,^[8][9][10] then after two games under interim coachMel Daniels, and 20 games under interimGeorge Irvine, the team hiredDick Versace as their new coach.^[11][12] At mid-season, the team tradedWayman Tisdale to theSacramento Kings in exchange forLaSalle Thompson andRandy Wittman,^[13][14][15] and dealtHerb Williams to theDallas Mavericks in exchange for German small forwardDetlef Schrempf.^[16][17][18] The Pacers held an 11–35 record at the All-Star break,^[19] but played slightly under .500 inwinning percentage for the remainder of the regular season, finishing in last place in theCentral Division with a 28–54 record.^[20]

Chuck Person averaged 21.6 points and 6.5 rebounds per game, while second-year starReggie Miller showed improvement becoming the team's starting shooting guard, averaging 16.0 points and 1.3 steals per game, plus leading the Pacers with 98 three-point field goals, andVern Fleming contributed 14.3 points and 6.5 assists per game. In addition, Smits provided the team with 11.7 points, 6.1 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game, and was named to theNBA All-Rookie First Team, andScott Skiles contributed 6.8 points and 4.9 assists per game off the bench.^[21]

During theNBA All-Star weekend at theHouston Astrodome inHouston, Texas, Miller participated in theNBA Three-Point Shootout.^[22][23] Following the season, Stipanovich retired after five seasons in the NBA with the Pacers; Stipanovich had gone through two knee operations, and doctors discovered he had a "dead spot" in the bone of his left knee.^[24][25][26]

Also following the season, Skiles was left unprotected in the1989 NBA expansion draft, where he was selected by theOrlando Magic expansion team.^[27][28][29]

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	College
1	2	Rik Smits	C	Netherlands	Marist
3	61	Herbert Crook	F	United States	Louisville
3	73	Michael Anderson		United States	Drexel

1988–89 Indiana Pacers roster

Players

Coaches

Pos. No. Player Height Weight DOB From C 54 Greg Dreiling 7 ft 1 in (2.16 m) 250 lb (113 kg) 1962–11–07 Kansas G 10 Vern Fleming 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1962–02–04 Georgia F 22 Anthony Frederick 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 1964–12–07 Pepperdine C 55 Stuart Gray 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 235 lb (107 kg) 1963–05–27 UCLA G 31 Reggie Miller 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1965–08–24 UCLA F 45 Chuck Person 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1964–06–27 Auburn F 11 Detlef Schrempf 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 214 lb (97 kg) 1963–01–21 Washington G 3 Scott Skiles 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1964–03–05 Michigan State C 24 Rik Smits 7 ft 4 in (2.24 m) 250 lb (113 kg) 1966–08–23 Marist G 15 Everette Stephens 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1966–10–21 Purdue C 40 Steve Stipanovich  (IN) 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 245 lb (111 kg) 1960–11–17 Missouri C 41 LaSalle Thompson 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 245 lb (111 kg) 1961–06–23 Texas F 14 Randy Wittman 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1959–10–28 Indiana

Head coach Jack Ramsay (resigned) Mel Daniels (interim) George Irvine (interim) Dick Versace Assistant(s) Mel Daniels George Irvine Dave Twardzik Legend (DP) Unsigned draft pick (FA) Free agent (S) Suspended Injured Roster Updated: February 21, 1989

• CenterSteve Stipanovich was on theinjured reserve list due to a left knee injury, and missed the entire regular season.^[5][6][7]

z - clinched division title

y - clinched division title

x - clinched playoff spot

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• Rik Smits,NBA All-Rookie Team 1st Team

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• 1988-89 NBA season

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• 1988–89 NBA season by team

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