The 1988-89 Indiana Pacers finished their NBA season with a 28-54 record, placing them fifth in the Central Division. Despite having shooting guard Reggie Miller in his third season, the team struggled to find consistency on the court. Miller, however, showed signs of stardom, averaging 16 points per game.
Head coach Jack Ramsay was replaced mid-season by Dick Versace, but the coaching change did not translate into improved results. The Pacers missed the playoffs, continuing their postseason drought. Chuck Person contributed significantly, leading the team in scoring with 21.6 points per game, while center Rik Smits, in his rookie season, offered a glimpse of potential with 11.7 points per game.
The Pacers’ defense was a notable weak point, as they allowed an average of 113.5 points per game. The season underscored the need for a stronger supporting cast around Miller and Person to compete in the Eastern Conference.
- Regular Season Record: 28-54
- Playoff Result: Did not make playoffs
Indiana Pacers Roster and Stats for 1988-89 Season
POINTS
Chuck Person
21.6
REBOUNDS
LaSalle Thompson
9.9
ASSISTS
Vern Fleming
6.5
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Chuck Person | 80 | 21.6 | 6.5 | 3.6 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 30.7 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Wayman Tisdale | 48 | 16.0 | 6.5 | 1.6 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Reggie Miller | 74 | 16.0 | 3.9 | 3.1 | 1.3 | 0.4 | 40.2 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Detlef Schrempf | 32 | 14.8 | 7.2 | 2.9 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 26.3 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Vern Fleming | 76 | 14.3 | 4.1 | 6.5 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 13.1 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Herb Williams | 46 | 12.6 | 8.6 | 1.9 | 0.7 | 1.7 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| LaSalle Thompson | 33 | 12.5 | 9.9 | 1.1 | 1.0 | 1.2 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Rik Smits | 82 | 11.7 | 6.1 | 0.9 | 0.5 | 1.8 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| John Long | 44 | 7.3 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 40.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Scott Skiles | 80 | 6.8 | 1.9 | 4.9 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 26.7 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Randy Wittman | 33 | 5.2 | 1.6 | 2.4 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 50.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Anthony Frederick | 46 | 3.3 | 1.1 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 40.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Richard Morton | 2 | 3.0 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Stuart Gray | 72 | 2.6 | 3.4 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Greg Dreiling | 53 | 2.4 | 1.7 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Everette Stephens | 35 | 1.9 | 0.7 | 1.1 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 20.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Sedric Toney | 2 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Indiana Pacers 1988-89 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1988-89 season for the Indiana Pacers.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 04, 1988 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | L 117-103 | |
| Nov 05, 1988 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | L 105-99 | |
| Nov 08, 1988 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 112-107 | |
| Nov 11, 1988 | vs. New York Knicks | L 121-120 | |
| Nov 12, 1988 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 121-96 | |
| Nov 15, 1988 | @ Utah Jazz | L 108-96 | |
| Nov 16, 1988 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 123-104 | |
| Nov 18, 1988 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | L 113-110 | |
| Nov 19, 1988 | @ Sacramento Kings | L 107-96 | |
| Nov 22, 1988 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 105-91 | |
| Nov 25, 1988 | vs. Washington Bullets | L 106-101 | |
| Nov 26, 1988 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 122-114 | |
| Nov 29, 1988 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 107-98 | |
| Nov 30, 1988 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 114-111 | |
| Dec 03, 1988 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | L 107-100 | |
| Dec 07, 1988 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 129-120 | |
| Dec 09, 1988 | vs. Sacramento Kings | W 112-105 | |
| Dec 10, 1988 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 112-105 | |
| Dec 13, 1988 | vs. Charlotte Hornets | W 115-104 | |
| Dec 14, 1988 | @ Charlotte Hornets | L 115-106 | |
| Dec 16, 1988 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 100-93 | |
| Dec 17, 1988 | vs. New Jersey Nets | L 100-92 | |
| Dec 20, 1988 | @ New York Knicks | L 141-113 | |
| Dec 23, 1988 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 131-114 | |
| Dec 27, 1988 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 120-107 | |
| Dec 28, 1988 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 118-101 | |
| Dec 30, 1988 | vs. Chicago Bulls | L 101-85 | |
| Jan 03, 1989 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 119-98 | |
| Jan 04, 1989 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 116-113 | |
| Jan 06, 1989 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | W 123-88 | |
| Jan 07, 1989 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 113-99 | |
| Jan 11, 1989 | @ Boston Celtics | W 127-108 | |
| Jan 14, 1989 | vs. New Jersey Nets | L 106-97 | |
| Jan 15, 1989 | @ Miami Heat | L 118-117 | |
| Jan 17, 1989 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 103-96 | |
| Jan 19, 1989 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | L 113-106 | |
| Jan 20, 1989 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 132-99 | |
| Jan 23, 1989 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 117-102 | |
| Jan 25, 1989 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 103-94 | |
| Jan 26, 1989 | @ Washington Bullets | L 126-106 | |
| Jan 28, 1989 | vs. Golden State Warriors | L 114-112 | |
| Jan 31, 1989 | @ New York Knicks | L 120-111 | |
| Feb 03, 1989 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | L 109-91 | |
| Feb 04, 1989 | vs. New York Knicks | L 113-106 | |
| Feb 08, 1989 | @ Boston Celtics | L 109-102 | |
| Feb 09, 1989 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 108-99 | |
| Feb 14, 1989 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | L 113-108 | |
| Feb 15, 1989 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 113-98 | |
| Feb 18, 1989 | @ Charlotte Hornets | L 119-114 | |
| Feb 21, 1989 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 116-90 | |
| Feb 23, 1989 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 100-97 | |
| Feb 24, 1989 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 112-93 | |
| Feb 26, 1989 | vs. Utah Jazz | W 128-89 | |
| Feb 28, 1989 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 108-106 | |
| Mar 02, 1989 | @ Golden State Warriors | W 131-127 | |
| Mar 03, 1989 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 139-117 | |
| Mar 05, 1989 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | W 121-118 | |
| Mar 07, 1989 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | L 110-92 | |
| Mar 10, 1989 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 121-116 | |
| Mar 11, 1989 | @ New York Knicks | L 114-95 | |
| Mar 13, 1989 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 122-90 | |
| Mar 14, 1989 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 129-117 | |
| Mar 16, 1989 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 111-99 | |
| Mar 18, 1989 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 114-103 | |
| Mar 21, 1989 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 92-89 | |
| Mar 22, 1989 | vs. Washington Bullets | W 101-92 | |
| Mar 25, 1989 | @ Washington Bullets | L 111-108 | |
| Mar 27, 1989 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 104-102 | |
| Mar 29, 1989 | vs. Miami Heat | W 96-89 | |
| Mar 31, 1989 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | L 105-102 | |
| Apr 02, 1989 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | L 132-109 | |
| Apr 04, 1989 | vs. Houston Rockets | L 90-88 | |
| Apr 06, 1989 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 132-118 | |
| Apr 08, 1989 | @ San Antonio Spurs | W 128-126 | |
| Apr 10, 1989 | @ Dallas Mavericks | W 110-103 | |
| Apr 11, 1989 | @ Houston Rockets | L 108-99 | |
| Apr 13, 1989 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 109-105 | |
| Apr 15, 1989 | vs. Charlotte Hornets | W 115-105 | |
| Apr 18, 1989 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | L 121-114 | |
| Apr 19, 1989 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 115-105 | |
| Apr 21, 1989 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 120-110 | |
| Apr 22, 1989 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | W 117-110 |