The 1987-88 New Jersey Nets endured a challenging NBA season, finishing with a record of 19-63. This placed them last in the Atlantic Division and tied for the worst record in the league. The team’s performance was marked by instability and struggles on both ends of the court.
Led by head coach Dave Wohl, the Nets failed to find consistency, with their defense being a particular weakness, allowing an average of 112.8 points per game. Offensive efforts were spearheaded by Buck Williams, who averaged a double-double with 15.5 points and 12.0 rebounds per game. However, the lack of a strong supporting cast hindered the team’s success.
The season highlighted the need for significant improvements in the roster and strategy. Moving forward, the Nets aimed to restructure their team dynamics, focusing on acquiring talent through the draft and trades to build a competitive squad for future seasons.
- Regular Season Record: 19-63
- Playoff Result: Did not make playoffs
New Jersey Nets Roster and Stats for 1987-88 Season
POINTS
Buck Williams
18.3
REBOUNDS
Buck Williams
11.9
ASSISTS
John Bagley
5.8
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Buck Williams | 70 | 18.3 | 11.9 | 1.6 | 1.0 | 0.7 | 100.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Roy Hinson | 48 | 17.6 | 7.3 | 1.5 | 0.9 | 1.5 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Mike Gminski | 34 | 16.9 | 9.4 | 1.6 | 0.8 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Orlando Woolridge | 19 | 16.4 | 4.8 | 3.7 | 0.7 | 1.1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Tim McCormick | 47 | 14.1 | 6.9 | 2.0 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| John Bagley | 82 | 12.0 | 3.1 | 5.8 | 1.3 | 0.1 | 29.2 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Ben Coleman | 27 | 11.0 | 6.4 | 1.4 | 1.0 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Otis Birdsong | 67 | 10.9 | 2.5 | 3.3 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 36.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Dennis Hopson | 61 | 9.6 | 2.3 | 1.9 | 0.9 | 0.4 | 26.7 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Pearl Washington | 68 | 9.3 | 1.7 | 3.0 | 1.3 | 0.1 | 22.5 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Dudley Bradley | 63 | 6.7 | 2.0 | 2.4 | 1.8 | 0.7 | 36.6 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Adrian Branch | 20 | 6.7 | 2.4 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 0.6 | 20.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Dallas Comegys | 75 | 5.6 | 2.9 | 0.9 | 0.5 | 0.9 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Jamie Waller | 9 | 4.7 | 1.4 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Mike O'Koren | 4 | 4.5 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Kevin McKenna | 31 | 4.1 | 1.0 | 1.3 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 32.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Duane Washington | 15 | 3.6 | 1.5 | 2.3 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 50.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Ricky Wilson | 6 | 3.5 | 0.2 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 100.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Chris Engler | 54 | 1.9 | 1.8 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Johnny Moore | 1 | 0.0 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
New Jersey Nets 1987-88 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1987-88 season for the New Jersey Nets.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 06, 1987 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 114-108 | |
| Nov 11, 1987 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 105-96 | |
| Nov 13, 1987 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 103-85 | |
| Nov 15, 1987 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 113-109 | |
| Nov 17, 1987 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 114-111 | |
| Nov 19, 1987 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 108-107 | |
| Nov 21, 1987 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 107-97 | |
| Nov 24, 1987 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 132-104 | |
| Nov 26, 1987 | @ Sacramento Kings | L 110-102 | |
| Nov 27, 1987 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 113-107 | |
| Nov 29, 1987 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 125-104 | |
| Dec 01, 1987 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 124-115 | |
| Dec 02, 1987 | @ Boston Celtics | L 130-99 | |
| Dec 04, 1987 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 139-102 | |
| Dec 08, 1987 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 98-81 | |
| Dec 10, 1987 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 108-91 | |
| Dec 12, 1987 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 122-107 | |
| Dec 15, 1987 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 104-98 | |
| Dec 16, 1987 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 109-105 | |
| Dec 18, 1987 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 103-94 | |
| Dec 19, 1987 | @ New York Knicks | L 125-93 | |
| Dec 21, 1987 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 106-95 | |
| Dec 23, 1987 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 110-106 | |
| Dec 26, 1987 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 110-75 | |
| Dec 27, 1987 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 101-83 | |
| Dec 29, 1987 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 106-88 | |
| Jan 02, 1988 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 116-93 | |
| Jan 05, 1988 | @ Washington Bullets | L 101-97 | |
| Jan 06, 1988 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 98-93 | |
| Jan 08, 1988 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 118-111 | |
| Jan 10, 1988 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 105-87 | |
| Jan 13, 1988 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 104-95 | |
| Jan 14, 1988 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 90-87 | |
| Jan 16, 1988 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 103-96 | |
| Jan 18, 1988 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 117-113 | |
| Jan 20, 1988 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 103-101 | |
| Jan 22, 1988 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 113-104 | |
| Jan 24, 1988 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 118-111 | |
| Jan 26, 1988 | @ New York Knicks | L 122-101 | |
| Jan 29, 1988 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 120-93 | |
| Jan 30, 1988 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 116-104 | |
| Feb 01, 1988 | @ Dallas Mavericks | W 108-103 | |
| Feb 02, 1988 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 118-106 | |
| Feb 04, 1988 | @ Houston Rockets | L 115-87 | |
| Feb 09, 1988 | @ Washington Bullets | L 126-117 | |
| Feb 10, 1988 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 93-84 | |
| Feb 12, 1988 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 98-96 | |
| Feb 14, 1988 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 109-105 | |
| Feb 15, 1988 | @ New York Knicks | L 97-96 | |
| Feb 19, 1988 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 115-100 | |
| Feb 20, 1988 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 113-101 | |
| Feb 23, 1988 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 114-102 | |
| Feb 26, 1988 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 137-109 | |
| Feb 27, 1988 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 106-98 | |
| Mar 01, 1988 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 104-75 | |
| Mar 02, 1988 | @ Boston Celtics | W 117-107 | |
| Mar 05, 1988 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 94-85 | |
| Mar 07, 1988 | @ Utah Jazz | L 105-81 | |
| Mar 09, 1988 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | W 97-93 | |
| Mar 10, 1988 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 128-112 | |
| Mar 13, 1988 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 115-102 | |
| Mar 14, 1988 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 115-105 | |
| Mar 16, 1988 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 83-79 | |
| Mar 18, 1988 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 106-104 | |
| Mar 20, 1988 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 102-96 | |
| Mar 22, 1988 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 102-90 | |
| Mar 23, 1988 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 105-96 | |
| Mar 25, 1988 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 101-100 | |
| Mar 26, 1988 | @ Washington Bullets | L 99-88 | |
| Mar 28, 1988 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 106-105 | |
| Apr 02, 1988 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 125-111 | |
| Apr 03, 1988 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 105-103 | |
| Apr 05, 1988 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 107-95 | |
| Apr 07, 1988 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 120-94 | |
| Apr 08, 1988 | @ Boston Celtics | L 127-90 | |
| Apr 10, 1988 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 119-105 | |
| Apr 11, 1988 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 95-93 | |
| Apr 15, 1988 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 100-99 | |
| Apr 16, 1988 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 114-96 | |
| Apr 19, 1988 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 119-109 | |
| Apr 21, 1988 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 104-101 | |
| Apr 23, 1988 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 118-105 |