The 1988–89 NBA season was the Jazz's 15th season in the National Basketball Association , and 10th season in Salt Lake City, Utah .[ 1] During the off-season, the Jazz acquired Mike Brown from the expansion Charlotte Hornets .[ 2] [ 3] [ 4] This season marked the arrival of assistant coach Jerry Sloan , who became a full-time head coach replacing Frank Layden , who retired from coaching after an 11–6 start to the season.[ 5] [ 6] [ 7] [ 8] Sloan would go on to coach the Jazz for 23 seasons, including two trips to the Finals in 1997 and 1998 , and 19 playoff appearances out of 22 seasons, including 15 consecutive appearances from 1989 to 2003 , and 4 more from 2007 to 2010 before he resigned midway through the 2010–11 season . The Jazz held a 28–20 record at the All-Star break,[ 9] and finished first in the Midwest Division with a 51–31 record.[ 10]
Karl Malone averaged 29.1 points, 10.7 rebounds and 1.8 steals per game, and was named to the All-NBA First Team, while sixth man Thurl Bailey averaged 19.5 points and 5.5 rebounds per game off the bench, and John Stockton provided the team with 17.1 points, 13.2 assists and 3.2 steals per game, and was named to the All-NBA Second Team and NBA All-Defensive Second Team. In addition, Darrell Griffith contributed 13.8 points per game, and Mark Eaton provided with 6.2 points, 10.3 rebounds and 3.8 blocks per game, and was named Defensive Player of the Year,[ 11] [ 12] [ 13] [ 14] while being selected to the NBA All-Defensive First Team.[ 15]
Malone, Stockton and Eaton were all selected for the 1989 NBA All-Star Game ,[ 16] [ 17] [ 18] which was Stockton's first ever All-Star appearance, and where Malone won the All-Star Game MVP award.[ 19] [ 20] [ 21] [ 22] [ 23] [ 24] Malone also finished in third place in Most Valuable Player voting, while Stockton finished in seventh place,[ 25] [ 26] [ 27] [ 28] and Bailey finished in second place in Sixth Man of the Year voting.[ 29] [ 30] [ 31] [ 32]
However, in the Western Conference First Round of the playoffs , the Jazz were swept by the 7th-seeded Golden State Warriors in three straight games.[ 33] [ 34] [ 35] [ 36] The Jazz sold 10,153 season tickets , which was an increase of 550 from the previous season .[ 37]
1988–89 Utah Jazz roster
Players
Coaches
Pos.
No.
Name
Height
Weight
DOB
From
F
41
Bailey, Thurl
6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)
215 lb (98 kg)
1961–04–07
NC State
C
40
Brown, Mike
6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
257 lb (117 kg)
1963–07–19
George Washington
C
53
Eaton, Mark
7 ft 4 in (2.24 m)
275 lb (125 kg)
1957–01–24
UCLA
G
21
Farmer, Jim
6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
190 lb (86 kg)
1964–09–23
Alabama
G
35
Griffith, Darrell
6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
190 lb (86 kg)
1958–06–16
Louisville
G
20
Hansen, Bob
6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
190 lb (86 kg)
1961–01–18
Iowa
F
43
Iavaroni, Marc
6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
210 lb (95 kg)
1956–09–15
Virginia
C
45
Leckner, Eric
6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)
265 lb (120 kg)
1966–05–27
Wyoming
G
25
Les, Jim
5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
165 lb (75 kg)
1963–08–18
Bradley
F
32
Malone, Karl
6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
250 lb (113 kg)
1963–07–24
Louisiana Tech
F
44
Ortiz, José
6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)
260 lb (118 kg)
1963–10–25
Oregon State
G
12
Stockton, John
6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
170 lb (77 kg)
1962–03–26
Gonzaga
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
(DP) Unsigned draft pick(FA) Free agent(S) Suspended Injured
Roster Last transaction: January 15, 1989
Record vs. opponents
edit
1988-89 NBA Records
Team
ATL
BOS
CHA
CHI
CLE
DAL
DEN
DET
GSW
HOU
IND
LAC
LAL
MIA
MIL
NJN
NYK
PHI
PHO
POR
SAC
SAS
SEA
UTA
WAS
Atlanta
—
3–1
4–1
4–2
4–2
1–1
0–2
1–5
1–1
1–1
5–1
2–0
1–1
1–1
6–0
4–1
2–2
2–2
1–1
1–1
2–0
1–1
1–1
1–1
3–1
Boston
1–3
—
6–0
1–3
1–4
1–1
1–1
1–3
1–1
1–1
2–3
2–0
1–1
2–0
2–2
5–1
3–3
3–3
0–2
1–1
2–0
2–0
0–2
1–1
2–4
Charlotte
1–4
0–6
—
1–4
0–4
0–2
0–2
0–4
0–2
0–2
2–2
2–0
0–2
1–1
0–4
2–4
2–4
3–3
0–2
0–2
1–1
2–0
1–1
1–1
1–5
Chicago
2–4
3–1
4–1
—
0–6
2–0
1–1
0–6
1–1
1–1
4–2
1–1
2–0
2–0
6–0
2–2
3–2
1–3
1–1
2–0
2–0
2–0
2–0
0–2
3–1
Cleveland
2–4
4–1
4–0
6–0
—
2–0
2–0
3–3
1–1
1–1
5–1
1–1
0–2
2–0
3–3
4–0
2–2
3–2
2–0
2–0
2–0
2–0
1–1
1–1
2–2
Dallas
1–1
1–1
2–0
0–2
0–2
—
3–3
0–2
1–3
1–5
1–1
3–1
0–4
6–0
0–2
1–1
0–2
1–1
1–3
2–2
2–2
5–1
2–2
4–2
1–1
Denver
2–0
1–1
2–0
1–1
0–2
3–3
—
1–1
3–1
4–2
1–1
2–2
1–3
5–1
0–2
1–1
1–1
1–1
1–3
2–2
3–1
3–3
2–2
3–3
1–1
Detroit
5–1
3–1
4–0
6–0
3–3
2–0
1–1
—
1–1
1–1
4–2
2–0
2–0
2–0
2–4
4–0
0–4
5–0
2–0
1–1
2–0
2–0
2–0
2–0
5–0
Golden State
1–1
1–1
2–0
1–1
1–1
3–1
1–3
1–1
—
1–3
1–1
5–1
2–3
4–0
0–2
2–0
2–0
1–1
2–4
2–4
2–3
3–1
2–4
2–2
1–1
Houston
1–1
1–1
2–0
1–1
1–1
5–1
2–4
1–1
3–1
—
2–0
2–2
1–3
4–2
1–1
2–0
0–2
0–2
1–3
3–1
2–2
6–0
2–2
2–4
0–2
Indiana
1–5
3–2
2–2
2–4
1–5
1–1
1–1
2–4
1–1
0–2
—
1–1
0–2
1–1
2–4
1–3
0–5
0–4
1–1
2–0
1–1
2–0
1–1
1–1
1–3
L.A. Clippers
0–2
0–2
0–2
1–1
1–1
1–3
2–2
0–2
1–5
2–2
1–1
—
1–5
1–3
0–2
1–1
0–2
0–2
1–5
1–5
2–3
3–1
1–4
1–3
0–2
L.A. Lakers
1–1
1–1
2–0
0–2
2–0
4–0
3–1
0–2
3–2
3–1
2–0
5–1
—
4–0
1–1
1–1
1–1
2–0
3–3
5–0
5–1
3–1
4–2
1–3
1–1
Miami
1–1
0–2
1–1
0–2
0–2
0–6
1–5
0–2
0–4
2–4
1–1
3–1
0–4
—
0–2
1–1
1–1
0–2
0–4
0–4
1–3
2–4
0–4
1–5
0–2
Milwaukee
0–6
2–2
4–0
0–6
3–3
2–0
2–0
4–2
2–0
1–1
4–2
2–0
1–1
2–0
—
4–1
1–3
3–1
1–1
2–0
2–0
1–1
1–1
1–1
4–1
New Jersey
1–4
1–5
4–2
2–2
0–4
1–1
1–1
0–4
0–2
0–2
3–1
1–1
1–1
1–1
1–4
—
2–4
1–5
1–1
0–2
1–1
1–1
2–0
0–2
1–5
New York
2–2
3–3
4–2
2–3
2–2
2–0
1–1
4–0
0–2
2–0
5–0
2–0
1–1
1–1
3–1
4–2
—
2–4
1–1
2–0
1–1
1–1
1–1
1–1
5–1
Philadelphia
2–2
3–3
3–3
3–1
2–3
1–1
1–1
0–5
1–1
2–0
4–0
2–0
0–2
2–0
1–3
5–1
4–2
—
0–2
1–1
2–0
1–1
1–1
1–1
4–2
Phoenix
1–1
2–0
2–0
1–1
0–2
3–1
3–1
0–2
4–2
3–1
1–1
5–1
3–3
4–0
1–1
1–1
1–1
2–0
—
2–3
5–1
3–1
4–1
2–2
2–0
Portland
1–1
1–1
2–0
0–2
0–2
2–2
2–2
1–1
4–2
1–3
0–2
5–1
0–5
4–0
0–2
2–0
0–2
1–1
3–2
—
3–3
4–0
2–4
0–4
1–1
Sacramento
0–2
0–2
1–1
0–2
0–2
2–2
1–3
0–2
3–2
2–2
1–1
3–2
1–5
3–1
0–2
1–1
1–1
0–2
1–5
3–3
—
2–2
1–5
1–3
0–2
San Antonio
1–1
0–2
0–2
0–2
0–2
1–5
3–3
0–2
1–3
0–6
0–2
1–3
1–3
4–2
1–1
1–1
1–1
1–1
1–3
0–4
2–2
—
0–4
1–5
1–1
Seattle
1–1
2–0
1–1
0–2
1–1
2–2
2–2
0–2
4–2
2–2
1–1
4–1
2–4
4–0
1–1
0–2
1–1
1–1
1–4
4–2
5–1
4–0
—
3–1
1–1
Utah
1–1
1–1
1–1
2–0
1–1
2–4
3–3
0–2
2–2
4–2
1–1
3–1
3–1
5–1
1–1
2–0
1–1
1–1
2–2
4–0
3–1
5–1
1–3
—
2–0
Washington
1–3
4–2
5–1
1–3
2–2
1–1
1–1
0–5
1–1
2–0
3–1
2–0
1–1
2–0
1–4
5–1
1–5
2–4
0–2
1–1
2–0
1–1
1–1
0–2
—
1988–89 game log Total: 51–31 (home: 34–7; road: 17–24)
November: 9–4 (home: 8–1; road: 1–3)
December: 8–8 (home: 5–1; road: 3–7)
January: 9–4 (home: 3–1; road: 6–3)
February: 8–6 (home: 7–2; road: 1–4)
March: 10–4 (home: 7–1; road: 3–3)
April: 7–5 (home: 4–1; road: 3–4)
1988–89 schedule
1989 playoff game log
First Round: 0–3 (home: 0–2; road: 0–1)
1989 schedule
^ 1988-89 Utah Jazz
^ Kragthorpe, Kurt (June 23, 1988). "Jazz Unload Both Tripucka, Green Gain Center Mike Brown; Gain Center Mike Brown" . Deseret News . Retrieved April 3, 2023 .
^ Goldaper, Sam (June 24, 1988). "Miami Chooses 'Who?' First" . The New York Times . Retrieved December 28, 2022 .
^ Edes, Gordon (June 24, 1988). "Billy Thompson Goes to Miami; Valentine Winds Up in Cleveland" . Los Angeles Times . Retrieved December 28, 2022 .
^ Kragthorpe, Kurt (December 9, 1988). "Layden Quits as Jazz Coach; Sloan Steps In" . Deseret News . Retrieved December 20, 2022 .
^ "SPORTS PEOPLE: BASKETBALL; Layden Steps Down as Coach of Jazz" . The New York Times . December 10, 1988. Retrieved February 12, 2022 .
^ Aldridge, David (December 10, 1988). "Layden Resigns Jazz Coaching Post" . The Washington Post . Retrieved November 6, 2023 .
^ Goldstein, Alan (December 29, 1988). "Jerry Sloan Just Trying to Fill an Empty Chair" . Los Angeles Times . Retrieved December 20, 2022 .
^ "NBA Games Played on February 9, 1989" . Basketball-Reference . Retrieved December 6, 2022 .
^ "1988–89 Utah Jazz Schedule and Results" . Basketball-Reference. Retrieved February 10, 2022 .
^ "IN BRIEF: Utah's Eaton Gets Defensive Award" . Los Angeles Times . Times Wire Services. May 11, 1989. Retrieved December 6, 2022 .
^ "Sports Digest" . United Press International . May 11, 1989. Retrieved February 29, 2024 .
^ Kragthorpe, Kurt (May 12, 1989). "Jazz's Eaton Honored as Top Defender" . Deseret News . Retrieved December 6, 2022 .
^ "NBA & ABA Defensive Player of the Year Award Winners" . Basketball-Reference . Retrieved December 27, 2022 .
^ "1988–89 Utah Jazz Roster and Stats" . Basketball-Reference. Retrieved February 10, 2022 .
^ Robinson, John (February 1, 1989). "Stockton, Eaton on All-Star Squad" . Deseret News . Retrieved May 21, 2023 .
^ McManis, Sam (February 12, 1989). "Today's All-Star Game May Lack the Usual Magic: Without Johnson and Bird, NBA Showcase Just Won't Be the Same" . Los Angeles Times . Retrieved December 20, 2022 .
^ "NBA All-Star Weekend Stars Will Have to Shine Without Bird, Magic Spotlights" . Sun Sentinel . February 12, 1989. Retrieved May 21, 2023 .
^ Goldaper, Sam (February 13, 1989). "West Stars Set Mark and Win" . The New York Times . Retrieved December 6, 2022 .
^ "Utah's Malone - Star of the NBA All-Stars" . Deseret News . February 13, 1989. Retrieved January 24, 2023 .
^ Rabun, Mike (February 13, 1989). "The NBA All-Star Game Was Billed as the 'Changing..." United Press International . Retrieved December 6, 2022 .
^ "1989 NBA All-Star Recap" . NBA.com . NBA.com Staff. September 13, 2021. Retrieved May 21, 2023 .
^ "1989 NBA All-Star Game: West 143, East 134" . Basketball-Reference . Retrieved February 10, 2022 .
^ "NBA & ABA All-Star Game Most Valuable Player Award Winners" . Basketball-Reference . Retrieved December 27, 2022 .
^ "Magic Named MVP 2nd Time: Jordan Edged Out in Closest Vote in 8 Years" . Los Angeles Times . Times Wire Services. May 22, 1989. Retrieved February 19, 2024 .
^ "Malone Finishes 3rd in NBA MVP Voting" . Deseret News . Associated Press. May 22, 1989. Retrieved September 15, 2023 .
^ McManis, Sam (May 23, 1989). "Magic Is the MVP This Time: Jordan Finishes Second in Closest Voting in 8 Seasons" . Los Angeles Times . Retrieved December 20, 2022 .
^ "Jordan 2nd in Close MVP Vote" . Chicago Tribune . May 23, 1989. Retrieved February 19, 2024 .
^ "Suns' Johnson Wins NBA's 6th Man Award" . Los Angeles Times . Associated Press. May 8, 1989. Retrieved December 6, 2022 .
^ "SPORTS PEOPLE: BASKETBALL; Johnson Is Top 6th Man" . The New York Times . May 9, 1989. Retrieved December 6, 2022 .
^ "Bailey Finishes Second in Sixth-Man Balloting" . Deseret News . May 9, 1989. Retrieved December 6, 2022 .
^ "1988–89 NBA Awards Voting" . Basketball-Reference . Retrieved February 14, 2022 .
^ Howard-Cooper, Scott (May 3, 1989). "NBA PLAYOFFS: Warriors Use a Full Nelson to Sweep Jazz" . Los Angeles Times . Retrieved December 6, 2022 .
^ "Warriors Top Jazz, 120-106" . The Washington Post . May 3, 1989. Retrieved December 6, 2022 .
^ "Jazz Off-Key Again - Season's Over; Golden State Completes Playoff Sweep" . Deseret News . May 3, 1989. Retrieved December 6, 2022 .
^ "1989 NBA Western Conference First Round: Warriors vs. Jazz" . Basketball-Reference . Retrieved March 20, 2023 .
^ "Utah Jazz Ticket Prices Increase" . Davis County Clipper . Davis County, Utah. June 21, 1989. p. 36. Retrieved February 20, 2019 .