The 1988-89 Utah Jazz season marked a significant period in the franchise as they continued to build on their reputation as a competitive team in the NBA. Led by head coach Frank Layden, and later by Jerry Sloan, the team finished the regular season with a 51-31 record. This performance earned the Jazz a second-place finish in the Midwest Division and the fifth seed in the Western Conference playoffs.
The season was highlighted by the stellar play of Karl Malone and John Stockton. Malone, known for his scoring prowess, averaged 29.1 points and 10.7 rebounds per game, establishing himself as one of the league’s elite power forwards. Stockton, on the other hand, was instrumental in orchestrating the team’s offense, leading the NBA in assists with an average of 13.6 per game. Together, they formed one of the most formidable duos in the league.
In the playoffs, the Jazz faced the Golden State Warriors in the first round. Despite having home-court advantage, the Jazz were upset by the Warriors in a best-of-five series, losing 3-2. This early exit was a disappointment but provided valuable experience for the young team. Overall, the 1988-89 season was a stepping stone for the Utah Jazz, emphasizing their potential and setting the stage for future successes in the 1990s.
- Regular Season Record: 51-31
- Playoff Result: Western Conference First Round: 0-3
Utah Jazz 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% |
| Karl Malone | 80 | 29.1 | 10.7 | 2.7 | 1.8 | 0.9 | 31.3 | 3 | 30.7 | 16.3 | 1.3 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 |
| Thurl Bailey | 82 | 19.5 | 5.5 | 1.7 | 0.6 | 1.1 | 40.0 | 3 | 12.0 | 8.3 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 1.3 | 0.0 |
| John Stockton | 82 | 17.1 | 3.0 | 13.6 | 3.2 | 0.2 | 24.2 | 3 | 27.3 | 3.3 | 13.7 | 3.7 | 1.7 | 75.0 |
| Darrell Griffith | 82 | 13.8 | 4.0 | 1.6 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 31.1 | 3 | 15.3 | 4.0 | 0.0 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 31.6 |
| Bob Hansen | 46 | 7.4 | 2.8 | 1.1 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 35.2 | 3 | 11.0 | 5.7 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 0.7 | 33.3 |
| Mark Eaton | 82 | 6.2 | 10.3 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 3.8 | 0.0 | 3 | 8.3 | 11.0 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.7 | 0.0 |
| Mike Brown | 66 | 4.5 | 3.9 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 2 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Eric Leckner | 75 | 4.3 | 2.7 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 3 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Jim Farmer | 37 | 4.1 | 1.5 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 45.0 | 2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| José Ortiz | 51 | 2.8 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Marc Iavaroni | 77 | 2.3 | 1.7 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Jim Les | 82 | 1.7 | 1.1 | 2.6 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 7.1 | 3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Bart Kofoed | 19 | 1.6 | 0.6 | 1.1 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Scott Roth | 16 | 1.4 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 16.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Eric White | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
Utah Jazz in the 1989 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs First Round vs. Golden State Warriors
In the first round of the 1989 NBA Playoffs, the Utah Jazz faced off against the Golden State Warriors. Despite a strong effort led by Karl Malone and John Stockton, the Jazz were unable to advance, losing the series 3-0. The Warriors' high-paced offense and sharp shooting proved too much for Utah's defense, marking an early exit for the Jazz that year.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 27, 1989 | vs. Golden State Warriors | L 123-119 | |
| Apr 29, 1989 | vs. Golden State Warriors | L 99-91 | |
| May 02, 1989 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 120-106 |
Utah Jazz 1988-89 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1988-89 season for the Utah Jazz.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 04, 1988 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | L 104-97 | |
| Nov 09, 1988 | vs. Sacramento Kings | W 105-81 | |
| Nov 10, 1988 | @ Houston Rockets | L 106-99 | |
| Nov 12, 1988 | @ San Antonio Spurs | W 105-96 | |
| Nov 15, 1988 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 108-96 | |
| Nov 17, 1988 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 123-99 | |
| Nov 19, 1988 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 134-121 | |
| Nov 21, 1988 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | W 117-98 | |
| Nov 23, 1988 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 111-108 | |
| Nov 25, 1988 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 115-95 | |
| Nov 26, 1988 | @ Dallas Mavericks | L 113-93 | |
| Nov 29, 1988 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 109-102 | |
| Nov 30, 1988 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 107-93 | |
| Dec 02, 1988 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 113-92 | |
| Dec 03, 1988 | @ Sacramento Kings | W 107-73 | |
| Dec 06, 1988 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 114-103 | |
| Dec 07, 1988 | vs. Washington Bullets | W 111-94 | |
| Dec 09, 1988 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | L 97-89 | |
| Dec 10, 1988 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | W 110-102 | |
| Dec 12, 1988 | vs. Miami Heat | W 110-94 | |
| Dec 14, 1988 | @ Boston Celtics | L 112-104 | |
| Dec 15, 1988 | @ New York Knicks | L 117-116 | |
| Dec 17, 1988 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 119-107 | |
| Dec 20, 1988 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 110-94 | |
| Dec 21, 1988 | @ Washington Bullets | W 98-82 | |
| Dec 23, 1988 | @ Miami Heat | L 101-80 | |
| Dec 25, 1988 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 101-87 | |
| Dec 28, 1988 | vs. Sacramento Kings | W 96-80 | |
| Dec 30, 1988 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 102-95 | |
| Jan 03, 1989 | @ Houston Rockets | L 104-102 | |
| Jan 06, 1989 | @ Chicago Bulls | W 106-92 | |
| Jan 07, 1989 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 107-89 | |
| Jan 09, 1989 | @ Charlotte Hornets | W 114-92 | |
| Jan 10, 1989 | @ Miami Heat | W 92-88 | |
| Jan 12, 1989 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 115-91 | |
| Jan 14, 1989 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 131-105 | |
| Jan 17, 1989 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | W 111-110 | |
| Jan 20, 1989 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 98-96 | |
| Jan 25, 1989 | @ San Antonio Spurs | W 107-103 | |
| Jan 26, 1989 | vs. Charlotte Hornets | L 89-88 | |
| Jan 28, 1989 | vs. New York Knicks | W 127-104 | |
| Jan 31, 1989 | @ Dallas Mavericks | W 99-84 | |
| Feb 01, 1989 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | L 94-93 | |
| Feb 03, 1989 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 129-101 | |
| Feb 04, 1989 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 127-126 | |
| Feb 06, 1989 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 104-87 | |
| Feb 07, 1989 | vs. Miami Heat | W 96-77 | |
| Feb 09, 1989 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | L 94-87 | |
| Feb 14, 1989 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 119-105 | |
| Feb 16, 1989 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 129-114 | |
| Feb 18, 1989 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 107-93 | |
| Feb 20, 1989 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 118-92 | |
| Feb 22, 1989 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 105-79 | |
| Feb 24, 1989 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 121-102 | |
| Feb 26, 1989 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 128-89 | |
| Feb 27, 1989 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 109-96 | |
| Mar 01, 1989 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 96-85 | |
| Mar 03, 1989 | @ Miami Heat | W 107-95 | |
| Mar 05, 1989 | @ Atlanta Hawks | W 85-83 | |
| Mar 08, 1989 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 117-80 | |
| Mar 10, 1989 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 126-112 | |
| Mar 13, 1989 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 98-83 | |
| Mar 15, 1989 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 102-95 | |
| Mar 17, 1989 | vs. Miami Heat | W 118-96 | |
| Mar 18, 1989 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 114-98 | |
| Mar 21, 1989 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 101-96 | |
| Mar 24, 1989 | @ Houston Rockets | W 102-99 | |
| Mar 25, 1989 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 112-90 | |
| Mar 27, 1989 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 124-105 | |
| Mar 29, 1989 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 108-104 | |
| Apr 01, 1989 | @ Sacramento Kings | L 117-97 | |
| Apr 04, 1989 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | W 95-80 | |
| Apr 05, 1989 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 114-104 | |
| Apr 07, 1989 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | W 99-97 | |
| Apr 08, 1989 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 110-106 | |
| Apr 12, 1989 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 107-102 | |
| Apr 14, 1989 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 122-96 | |
| Apr 15, 1989 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | W 99-95 | |
| Apr 17, 1989 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | W 108-102 | |
| Apr 18, 1989 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | L 95-92 | |
| Apr 21, 1989 | @ Dallas Mavericks | L 91-89 | |
| Apr 22, 1989 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 111-95 |
