The 1988-89 Dallas Mavericks season marked their ninth in the NBA. The team, coached by John MacLeod, finished the regular season with a 38-44 record. This placed them fourth in the Midwest Division, resulting in a playoff miss after two consecutive postseason appearances. Key players included Rolando Blackman, who led the team in scoring, and Derek Harper, who contributed significantly in assists and steals.
Despite their struggles, the Mavericks had notable wins against top-tier teams but lacked consistency. Injuries played a role, with star forward Mark Aguirre missing several games before being traded to the Detroit Pistons for Adrian Dantley. The team’s defense was a weak point, contributing to their inability to secure a playoff berth. Overall, the 1988-89 season was a year of transition, setting the stage for future rebuilding efforts.
- Regular Season Record: 38-44
- Playoff Result: Did not make playoffs
Dallas Mavericks Roster and Stats for 1988-89 Season
POINTS
Mark Aguirre
21.7
REBOUNDS
Roy Tarpley
11.5
ASSISTS
Derek Harper
7.0
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Mark Aguirre | 44 | 21.7 | 5.3 | 4.3 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 29.3 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Adrian Dantley | 31 | 20.3 | 4.9 | 2.5 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Rolando Blackman | 78 | 19.7 | 3.5 | 3.7 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 35.3 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Derek Harper | 81 | 17.3 | 2.8 | 7.0 | 2.1 | 0.5 | 35.6 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Roy Tarpley | 19 | 17.3 | 11.5 | 0.9 | 1.5 | 1.6 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Sam Perkins | 78 | 15.0 | 8.8 | 1.6 | 1.0 | 1.2 | 18.4 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Detlef Schrempf | 37 | 9.5 | 4.5 | 2.3 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 12.5 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| James Donaldson | 53 | 9.1 | 10.8 | 0.7 | 0.5 | 1.5 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Herb Williams | 30 | 6.6 | 6.6 | 1.2 | 0.5 | 1.8 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Brad Davis | 78 | 6.4 | 1.4 | 3.1 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 31.4 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Terry Tyler | 70 | 5.5 | 3.0 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 0.6 | 11.1 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Bill Wennington | 65 | 4.6 | 4.4 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 0.5 | 11.1 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Anthony Jones | 25 | 2.6 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 26.7 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Morlon Wiley | 51 | 2.2 | 0.9 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 25.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Uwe Blab | 37 | 1.8 | 1.2 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Steve Alford | 9 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 1.0 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Dallas Mavericks 1988-89 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1988-89 season for the Dallas Mavericks.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 04, 1988 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 116-113 | |
| Nov 05, 1988 | @ Houston Rockets | W 114-113 | |
| Nov 08, 1988 | vs. Miami Heat | W 92-88 | |
| Nov 09, 1988 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 111-103 | |
| Nov 11, 1988 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 115-102 | |
| Nov 12, 1988 | vs. Sacramento Kings | W 111-71 | |
| Nov 15, 1988 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 108-99 | |
| Nov 17, 1988 | vs. Charlotte Hornets | W 105-93 | |
| Nov 19, 1988 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 112-106 | |
| Nov 23, 1988 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 125-106 | |
| Nov 25, 1988 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 100-95 | |
| Nov 26, 1988 | vs. Utah Jazz | W 113-93 | |
| Nov 30, 1988 | vs. Houston Rockets | L 101-89 | |
| Dec 02, 1988 | vs. New York Knicks | L 104-101 | |
| Dec 03, 1988 | vs. Chicago Bulls | L 113-100 | |
| Dec 07, 1988 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 102-98 | |
| Dec 09, 1988 | @ Utah Jazz | W 97-89 | |
| Dec 10, 1988 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | L 102-98 | |
| Dec 13, 1988 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 117-111 | |
| Dec 16, 1988 | @ Charlotte Hornets | W 107-98 | |
| Dec 17, 1988 | @ Miami Heat | W 104-87 | |
| Dec 20, 1988 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | W 108-102 | |
| Dec 21, 1988 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 122-120 | |
| Dec 23, 1988 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 113-101 | |
| Dec 27, 1988 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 110-101 | |
| Dec 29, 1988 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 131-115 | |
| Jan 03, 1989 | @ Sacramento Kings | L 123-96 | |
| Jan 06, 1989 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 120-111 | |
| Jan 07, 1989 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 115-94 | |
| Jan 09, 1989 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | L 121-103 | |
| Jan 11, 1989 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 107-106 | |
| Jan 12, 1989 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 130-95 | |
| Jan 14, 1989 | @ Houston Rockets | L 110-98 | |
| Jan 15, 1989 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 111-108 | |
| Jan 18, 1989 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 102-92 | |
| Jan 20, 1989 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 115-99 | |
| Jan 24, 1989 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 109-91 | |
| Jan 25, 1989 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | W 117-98 | |
| Jan 27, 1989 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 126-82 | |
| Jan 29, 1989 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 118-93 | |
| Jan 31, 1989 | vs. Utah Jazz | L 99-84 | |
| Feb 03, 1989 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 121-117 | |
| Feb 06, 1989 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | W 129-111 | |
| Feb 07, 1989 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 134-125 | |
| Feb 09, 1989 | @ Utah Jazz | W 94-87 | |
| Feb 14, 1989 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | W 117-98 | |
| Feb 16, 1989 | vs. Miami Heat | W 93-80 | |
| Feb 18, 1989 | vs. Houston Rockets | L 105-94 | |
| Feb 20, 1989 | @ San Antonio Spurs | W 105-93 | |
| Feb 22, 1989 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 109-106 | |
| Feb 24, 1989 | vs. Golden State Warriors | L 127-92 | |
| Feb 25, 1989 | vs. Washington Bullets | W 127-93 | |
| Feb 27, 1989 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 105-83 | |
| Feb 28, 1989 | @ Miami Heat | W 111-110 | |
| Mar 03, 1989 | @ Boston Celtics | L 107-106 | |
| Mar 04, 1989 | @ Washington Bullets | L 119-105 | |
| Mar 06, 1989 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 105-99 | |
| Mar 08, 1989 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 99-92 | |
| Mar 10, 1989 | @ Houston Rockets | L 96-86 | |
| Mar 11, 1989 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 97-90 | |
| Mar 13, 1989 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | L 111-95 | |
| Mar 15, 1989 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 113-100 | |
| Mar 17, 1989 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 106-103 | |
| Mar 18, 1989 | @ Sacramento Kings | L 100-90 | |
| Mar 20, 1989 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 112-91 | |
| Mar 22, 1989 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | L 116-112 | |
| Mar 24, 1989 | vs. Denver Nuggets | L 114-105 | |
| Mar 27, 1989 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 90-77 | |
| Mar 28, 1989 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 102-90 | |
| Mar 30, 1989 | @ New York Knicks | L 99-98 | |
| Mar 31, 1989 | @ Indiana Pacers | W 105-102 | |
| Apr 02, 1989 | vs. Miami Heat | W 98-96 | |
| Apr 04, 1989 | @ Utah Jazz | L 95-80 | |
| Apr 07, 1989 | vs. Sacramento Kings | W 115-102 | |
| Apr 08, 1989 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | L 114-90 | |
| Apr 10, 1989 | vs. Indiana Pacers | L 110-103 | |
| Apr 12, 1989 | vs. Phoenix Suns | L 109-94 | |
| Apr 14, 1989 | @ San Antonio Spurs | W 118-110 | |
| Apr 16, 1989 | vs. Houston Rockets | L 114-112 | |
| Apr 18, 1989 | @ Miami Heat | W 103-99 | |
| Apr 21, 1989 | vs. Utah Jazz | W 91-89 | |
| Apr 23, 1989 | @ Denver Nuggets | W 113-96 |