The 1988-89 Philadelphia 76ers experienced a challenging NBA season, finishing with a 46-36 record. Under head coach Jim Lynam, the team displayed flashes of competitiveness but struggled for consistency. Key player Charles Barkley led the team, delivering impressive performances and earning All-NBA First Team honors. Barkley’s prowess was a bright spot, averaging 25.8 points and 12.5 rebounds per game, showcasing his dominance in the league.
Despite Barkley’s heroics, the 76ers faced difficulties integrating new talent and maintaining defensive stability. The team ranked 12th in the league for points allowed per game, which hindered their playoff aspirations. The 76ers secured a playoff berth but were eliminated in the First Round by the New York Knicks in a 3-0 sweep. This season highlighted the need for strategic adjustments and roster enhancements to recapture past glories and contend more effectively in future campaigns.
- Regular Season Record: 46-36
- Playoff Result: Eastern Conference First Round: 0-3
Philadelphia 76ers Roster and Stats for 1988-89 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Charles Barkley | 79 | 25.8 | 12.5 | 4.1 | 1.6 | 0.8 | 21.6 | 3 | 27.0 | 11.7 | 5.3 | 1.7 | 0.7 | 20.0 |
| Mike Gminski | 82 | 17.2 | 9.4 | 1.7 | 0.6 | 1.3 | 0.0 | 3 | 16.3 | 7.7 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 2.7 | 0.0 |
| Ron Anderson | 82 | 16.2 | 5.0 | 1.7 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 18.2 | 3 | 20.7 | 5.3 | 4.3 | 0.3 | 0.7 | 0.0 |
| Cliff Robinson | 14 | 15.1 | 5.4 | 2.3 | 1.2 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Hersey Hawkins | 79 | 15.1 | 2.8 | 3.0 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 42.8 | 3 | 2.7 | 1.7 | 1.3 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 |
| Maurice Cheeks | 71 | 11.6 | 2.6 | 7.8 | 1.5 | 0.2 | 7.7 | 3 | 17.7 | 3.7 | 13.0 | 2.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 |
| Derek Smith | 36 | 7.8 | 2.4 | 1.9 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 25.0 | 3 | 6.3 | 2.3 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Gerald Henderson | 65 | 6.5 | 1.0 | 2.2 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 30.8 | 3 | 8.0 | 2.3 | 1.7 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 28.6 |
| Scott Brooks | 82 | 5.2 | 1.1 | 3.7 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 35.9 | 3 | 1.7 | 1.3 | 1.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 50.0 |
| Ben Coleman | 58 | 5.1 | 3.1 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 3 | 4.7 | 1.7 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Shelton Jones | 42 | 5.0 | 2.3 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| David Wingate | 33 | 4.2 | 1.1 | 2.2 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 33.3 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Pete Myers | 4 | 3.5 | 2.5 | 0.5 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Chris Welp | 72 | 3.4 | 2.7 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 3 | 0.7 | 2.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Bob Thornton | 54 | 2.4 | 1.7 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 33.3 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Jim Rowinski | 3 | 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 |
Philadelphia 76ers in the 1989 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs First Round vs. New York Knicks
In the first round of the 1989 NBA Playoffs, the Philadelphia 76ers faced off against the New York Knicks. Despite a strong performance from Charles Barkley, who was the team's standout star, the 76ers were unable to advance, losing the series 3-0. The Knicks' physical defense and clutch performances, particularly from Patrick Ewing, proved too much for Philadelphia to overcome.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 27, 1989 | @ New York Knicks | L 102-96 | |
| Apr 29, 1989 | @ New York Knicks | L 107-106 | |
| May 02, 1989 | vs. New York Knicks | L 116-115 |
Philadelphia 76ers 1988-89 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1988-89 season for the Philadelphia 76ers.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 04, 1988 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | W 129-110 | |
| Nov 05, 1988 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 129-115 | |
| Nov 08, 1988 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 116-109 | |
| Nov 09, 1988 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 114-103 | |
| Nov 11, 1988 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 107-105 | |
| Nov 15, 1988 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 120-107 | |
| Nov 16, 1988 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 123-110 | |
| Nov 18, 1988 | vs. New York Knicks | W 137-135 | |
| Nov 19, 1988 | @ New York Knicks | L 141-122 | |
| Nov 22, 1988 | @ Washington Bullets | W 130-103 | |
| Nov 23, 1988 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 104-91 | |
| Nov 25, 1988 | vs. Charlotte Hornets | W 123-116 | |
| Nov 26, 1988 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 122-114 | |
| Nov 28, 1988 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 109-104 | |
| Nov 30, 1988 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 114-106 | |
| Dec 01, 1988 | @ Charlotte Hornets | L 109-107 | |
| Dec 03, 1988 | @ Indiana Pacers | W 107-100 | |
| Dec 07, 1988 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 134-109 | |
| Dec 09, 1988 | @ Boston Celtics | L 121-107 | |
| Dec 10, 1988 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 106-100 | |
| Dec 13, 1988 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | L 109-91 | |
| Dec 14, 1988 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 103-96 | |
| Dec 16, 1988 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 114-106 | |
| Dec 17, 1988 | vs. Utah Jazz | W 119-107 | |
| Dec 20, 1988 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | L 108-102 | |
| Dec 25, 1988 | vs. Washington Bullets | W 125-110 | |
| Dec 27, 1988 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 119-112 | |
| Dec 28, 1988 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 128-123 | |
| Dec 30, 1988 | @ Utah Jazz | L 102-95 | |
| Jan 05, 1989 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 119-104 | |
| Jan 07, 1989 | @ Houston Rockets | W 96-95 | |
| Jan 09, 1989 | @ Dallas Mavericks | W 121-103 | |
| Jan 11, 1989 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 103-94 | |
| Jan 13, 1989 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 114-101 | |
| Jan 15, 1989 | @ Charlotte Hornets | W 116-109 | |
| Jan 16, 1989 | vs. Charlotte Hornets | L 127-122 | |
| Jan 18, 1989 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 115-104 | |
| Jan 20, 1989 | @ Boston Celtics | L 117-109 | |
| Jan 21, 1989 | @ Washington Bullets | L 107-105 | |
| Jan 25, 1989 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 120-108 | |
| Jan 27, 1989 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 113-112 | |
| Jan 28, 1989 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 123-105 | |
| Jan 31, 1989 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 118-103 | |
| Feb 01, 1989 | vs. Washington Bullets | W 114-110 | |
| Feb 03, 1989 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 124-106 | |
| Feb 08, 1989 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 109-102 | |
| Feb 14, 1989 | @ Indiana Pacers | W 113-108 | |
| Feb 15, 1989 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 113-98 | |
| Feb 17, 1989 | vs. New Jersey Nets | L 129-127 | |
| Feb 18, 1989 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 118-100 | |
| Feb 22, 1989 | @ Miami Heat | W 139-108 | |
| Feb 24, 1989 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 120-95 | |
| Feb 26, 1989 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 122-115 | |
| Feb 28, 1989 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | W 123-105 | |
| Mar 01, 1989 | @ Sacramento Kings | W 114-111 | |
| Mar 03, 1989 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 129-121 | |
| Mar 04, 1989 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 118-104 | |
| Mar 06, 1989 | vs. Phoenix Suns | L 110-106 | |
| Mar 07, 1989 | @ Chicago Bulls | W 90-88 | |
| Mar 09, 1989 | vs. Sacramento Kings | W 106-96 | |
| Mar 11, 1989 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 111-106 | |
| Mar 15, 1989 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 100-96 | |
| Mar 16, 1989 | @ New York Knicks | W 121-112 | |
| Mar 18, 1989 | @ Washington Bullets | L 123-114 | |
| Mar 20, 1989 | vs. New York Knicks | L 129-109 | |
| Mar 22, 1989 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 100-97 | |
| Mar 24, 1989 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 135-122 | |
| Mar 26, 1989 | @ Boston Celtics | L 105-103 | |
| Mar 28, 1989 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 117-115 | |
| Mar 31, 1989 | vs. Miami Heat | W 114-93 | |
| Apr 02, 1989 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 108-99 | |
| Apr 04, 1989 | @ New York Knicks | W 124-113 | |
| Apr 05, 1989 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 135-93 | |
| Apr 07, 1989 | @ Charlotte Hornets | W 118-108 | |
| Apr 08, 1989 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 113-103 | |
| Apr 11, 1989 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 92-90 | |
| Apr 14, 1989 | vs. Charlotte Hornets | L 119-115 | |
| Apr 16, 1989 | vs. New York Knicks | W 115-112 | |
| Apr 18, 1989 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 124-102 | |
| Apr 20, 1989 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 105-92 | |
| Apr 21, 1989 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 100-91 | |
| Apr 23, 1989 | vs. Washington Bullets | W 115-106 |