The 1988-89 New Jersey Nets season was marked by struggles, as the team finished with a 26-56 record, placing them last in the Atlantic Division and out of playoff contention. This season was part of a rebuilding phase for the franchise, which was seeking to regain competitiveness in the NBA.
Key players included Buck Williams, who led the team with solid performances, averaging 13.0 points and 9.4 rebounds per game. Rookie Chris Morris showed promise, contributing 11.4 points per game. Despite these individual efforts, the Nets faced challenges in defense and overall team cohesion.
Head coach Willis Reed, in his second year, tried to steer the team through a difficult schedule, but the lack of depth and experience showed in their frequent losses. The season underscored the need for strategic changes and stronger roster development for the future.
- Regular Season Record: 26-56
- Playoff Result: Did not make playoffs
New Jersey Nets Roster and Stats for 1988-89 Season
POINTS
Roy Hinson
16.0
REBOUNDS
Buck Williams
9.4
ASSISTS
Lester Conner
7.4
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Roy Hinson | 82 | 16.0 | 6.4 | 0.9 | 0.4 | 1.5 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Chris Morris | 76 | 14.1 | 5.2 | 1.6 | 1.3 | 0.8 | 36.6 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Joe Barry Carroll | 64 | 14.1 | 7.4 | 1.6 | 1.1 | 1.3 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Mike McGee | 80 | 13.0 | 2.4 | 1.5 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 36.5 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Buck Williams | 74 | 13.0 | 9.4 | 1.1 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Dennis Hopson | 62 | 12.7 | 3.3 | 1.7 | 1.1 | 0.5 | 14.8 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Lester Conner | 82 | 10.3 | 4.3 | 7.4 | 2.2 | 0.1 | 35.1 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Walter Berry | 29 | 8.9 | 4.0 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| John Bagley | 68 | 7.4 | 2.1 | 5.8 | 1.1 | 0.1 | 20.4 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Keith Lee | 57 | 4.8 | 4.5 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Kevin Williams | 41 | 4.3 | 1.2 | 0.9 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 16.7 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Bill Jones | 37 | 3.5 | 1.3 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Charles Shackleford | 60 | 3.1 | 2.6 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Corey Gaines | 32 | 2.1 | 0.6 | 2.1 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 20.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Ron Cavenall | 5 | 1.2 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
New Jersey Nets 1988-89 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1988-89 season for the New Jersey Nets.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 04, 1988 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 113-105 | |
| Nov 05, 1988 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 112-102 | |
| Nov 08, 1988 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 109-101 | |
| Nov 11, 1988 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 97-85 | |
| Nov 12, 1988 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 97-91 | |
| Nov 14, 1988 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 100-96 | |
| Nov 15, 1988 | @ Charlotte Hornets | W 106-99 | |
| Nov 17, 1988 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | W 105-96 | |
| Nov 18, 1988 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 95-94 | |
| Nov 20, 1988 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 117-106 | |
| Nov 22, 1988 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 141-106 | |
| Nov 23, 1988 | @ Phoenix Suns | W 133-129 | |
| Nov 25, 1988 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | L 100-93 | |
| Nov 26, 1988 | @ Sacramento Kings | W 98-97 | |
| Nov 29, 1988 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 100-93 | |
| Nov 30, 1988 | @ Boston Celtics | L 133-100 | |
| Dec 02, 1988 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 103-92 | |
| Dec 04, 1988 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 102-99 | |
| Dec 06, 1988 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 97-93 | |
| Dec 09, 1988 | @ Charlotte Hornets | L 96-95 | |
| Dec 10, 1988 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 121-112 | |
| Dec 13, 1988 | @ New York Knicks | L 121-100 | |
| Dec 14, 1988 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 118-113 | |
| Dec 16, 1988 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 114-106 | |
| Dec 17, 1988 | @ Indiana Pacers | W 100-92 | |
| Dec 21, 1988 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 122-120 | |
| Dec 26, 1988 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 120-108 | |
| Dec 28, 1988 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 118-101 | |
| Dec 30, 1988 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 116-109 | |
| Jan 03, 1989 | @ Charlotte Hornets | W 109-106 | |
| Jan 04, 1989 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 105-96 | |
| Jan 07, 1989 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 103-93 | |
| Jan 11, 1989 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 103-94 | |
| Jan 12, 1989 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 106-103 | |
| Jan 14, 1989 | @ Indiana Pacers | W 106-97 | |
| Jan 17, 1989 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 117-112 | |
| Jan 18, 1989 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 103-90 | |
| Jan 21, 1989 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 115-103 | |
| Jan 24, 1989 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 117-115 | |
| Jan 26, 1989 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 112-109 | |
| Jan 28, 1989 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 123-105 | |
| Jan 31, 1989 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 118-112 | |
| Feb 02, 1989 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 127-113 | |
| Feb 03, 1989 | @ Utah Jazz | L 129-101 | |
| Feb 05, 1989 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 134-116 | |
| Feb 07, 1989 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 109-99 | |
| Feb 09, 1989 | @ Washington Bullets | L 110-103 | |
| Feb 14, 1989 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 132-91 | |
| Feb 15, 1989 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 119-112 | |
| Feb 17, 1989 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | W 129-127 | |
| Feb 18, 1989 | @ New York Knicks | L 125-115 | |
| Feb 20, 1989 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 117-109 | |
| Feb 22, 1989 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 130-111 | |
| Feb 23, 1989 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 111-100 | |
| Feb 25, 1989 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 113-95 | |
| Feb 27, 1989 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 109-96 | |
| Mar 01, 1989 | @ Washington Bullets | L 120-105 | |
| Mar 02, 1989 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 114-103 | |
| Mar 04, 1989 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 98-95 | |
| Mar 06, 1989 | @ Dallas Mavericks | L 105-99 | |
| Mar 09, 1989 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 112-98 | |
| Mar 11, 1989 | @ Houston Rockets | L 124-94 | |
| Mar 13, 1989 | @ Boston Celtics | L 114-91 | |
| Mar 15, 1989 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 100-96 | |
| Mar 17, 1989 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 124-121 | |
| Mar 19, 1989 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 101-91 | |
| Mar 21, 1989 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 92-89 | |
| Mar 24, 1989 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 112-96 | |
| Mar 27, 1989 | @ Miami Heat | L 100-79 | |
| Mar 28, 1989 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 111-108 | |
| Mar 30, 1989 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 109-101 | |
| Mar 31, 1989 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 116-99 | |
| Apr 02, 1989 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 106-95 | |
| Apr 04, 1989 | @ Washington Bullets | L 104-96 | |
| Apr 07, 1989 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 115-105 | |
| Apr 10, 1989 | @ Boston Celtics | L 113-112 | |
| Apr 11, 1989 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 125-93 | |
| Apr 14, 1989 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 123-111 | |
| Apr 16, 1989 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 100-96 | |
| Apr 18, 1989 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 121-105 | |
| Apr 20, 1989 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 105-92 | |
| Apr 22, 1989 | @ New York Knicks | L 109-99 |