1988–89 Detroit Pistons season | |
---|---|
NBA champions | |
Conference champions | |
Division champions | |
Head coach | Chuck Daly |
General manager | Jack McCloskey |
Owner(s) | William Davidson |
Arena | The Palace of Auburn Hills |
Results | |
Record | 63–19 (.768) |
Place | Division: 1st (Central) Conference: 1st (Eastern) |
Playoff finish | NBA Champions (Defeated Lakers 4–0) |
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com | |
Local media | |
Television | WKBD-TV (George Blaha, Dick Motta) PASS Sports (Fred McLeod, Tom Wilson) |
Radio | WWJ (George Blaha, Dick Motta) |
The 1988–89 NBA season was the Detroit Pistons' 41st season in the NBA and 32nd season in the Detroit metropolitan area.[1] The Pistons moved from the Pontiac Silverdome to the brand-new Palace of Auburn Hills before the start of the season.[1]
The team won their first eight games of the season, and held a 31–13 record at the All-Star break.[2] However, Adrian Dantley was unhappy with his role on the team, losing playing time to Dennis Rodman at the small forward position.[3][4] At midseason, the team traded Dantley to the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for All-Star forward Mark Aguirre, a childhood friend of Isiah Thomas.[5][6][7][8][9] Dantley felt that Thomas had a major role in engineering the trade, so that Aguirre could have the opportunity of winning a championship; an accusation that Thomas denied.[10][11][4] The Pistons posted a nine-game winning streak in March, won eight consecutive games between March and April, then won their final five games, finishing with a league best record of 63–19.[12][13]
Thomas led the team with 18.2 points, 8.3 assists and 1.7 steals per game, and was selected for the 1989 NBA All-Star Game,[14][15][16][17][18] while Joe Dumars averaged 17.2 points and 5.7 assists per game, and Vinnie Johnson contributed 13.8 points per game. In addition, Bill Laimbeer provided the team with 13.7 points and 9.6 rebounds per game, while Rodman provided with 9.0 points and 9.4 rebounds per game off the bench, and Rick Mahorn averaged 7.3 points and 6.9 rebounds per game.[19] Dumars and Rodman were both named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team, while Rodman finished in third place in Defensive Player of the Year voting,[20] and in third place in Sixth Man of the Year voting,[21][22][23] and head coach Chuck Daly finished in fourth place in Coach of the Year voting.[24][25][26]
In the Eastern Conference First Round of the playoffs, the Pistons swept the Boston Celtics in three straight games,[27][28][29][30] then swept the 5th-seeded Milwaukee Bucks in four straight games in the Eastern Conference Semi-finals.[31][32][33][34] In the Eastern Conference Finals, they trailed 2–1 to Michael Jordan and the 6th-seeded Chicago Bulls, but managed to win the series in six games to advance to the NBA Finals,[35][36][37][38] where the Pistons would win their first ever NBA championship, sweeping the Los Angeles Lakers in four straight games, as Dumars was named Finals MVP.[39][40][41][42][43] This series was a rematch from last year's NBA Finals, with the Pistons avenging their NBA Finals loss.
Following the season, Mahorn was left unprotected in the 1989 NBA Expansion Draft, where he was selected by the newly expansion Minnesota Timberwolves.[44][45][46][47][48] However, Mahorn never played for the Timberwolves, as he was then traded to the Philadelphia 76ers soon after.[49][50][51][52] The Pistons and Lakers would face each other again 15 years later in the NBA Finals in 2004, where the Pistons won in five games en route to their third NBA championship, despite being underdogs to the heavily-favored Lakers.
Draft picks
Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | College |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2 | 30 | Fennis Dembo | Forward | United States | Wyoming |
2 | 48 | Micheal Williams | Guard | United States | Baylor |
Roster
1988–89 Detroit Pistons roster | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Regular season
On February 15, 1989, the Pistons traded Adrian Dantley to the Dallas Mavericks for Mark Aguirre. Dantley was unhappy relegating the leadership role on the Pistons to Isiah Thomas, while Aguirre had clashed with his coaches and teammates in Dallas. Aguirre was more amenable to deferring to Thomas, and accepted his role in Chuck Daly's system. His ability to shoot the three, post up, run the floor, and pass was instrumental in the growth of the team.
Season standings
W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
y-Detroit Pistons | 63 | 19 | .768 | – | 37–4 | 26–15 | 20–10 |
x-Cleveland Cavaliers | 57 | 25 | .695 | 6 | 37–4 | 20–21 | 19–11 |
x-Atlanta Hawks | 52 | 30 | .634 | 11 | 33–8 | 19–22 | 20–10 |
x-Milwaukee Bucks | 49 | 33 | .598 | 14 | 31–10 | 18–23 | 11–19 |
x-Chicago Bulls | 47 | 35 | .573 | 16 | 30–11 | 17–24 | 12–18 |
Indiana Pacers | 28 | 54 | .341 | 35 | 20–21 | 8–33 | 8–22 |
# | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Team | W | L | PCT | GB | |
1 | z-Detroit Pistons | 63 | 19 | .768 | – |
2 | y-New York Knicks | 52 | 30 | .634 | 11 |
3 | x-Cleveland Cavaliers | 57 | 25 | .695 | 6 |
4 | x-Atlanta Hawks | 52 | 30 | .634 | 11 |
5 | x-Milwaukee Bucks | 49 | 33 | .598 | 14 |
6 | x-Chicago Bulls | 47 | 35 | .573 | 16 |
7 | x-Philadelphia 76ers | 46 | 36 | .561 | 17 |
8 | x-Boston Celtics | 42 | 40 | .512 | 21 |
9 | Washington Bullets | 40 | 42 | .488 | 23 |
10 | Indiana Pacers | 28 | 54 | .341 | 35 |
11 | New Jersey Nets | 26 | 56 | .317 | 37 |
12 | Charlotte Hornets | 20 | 62 | .244 | 43 |
Record vs. opponents
1988–89 NBA Records | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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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 | — |
Game log
Regular season
1988–89 game log Total: 63–19 (Home: 37–4; Road: 26–15) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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November: 11–3 (home: 4–1; road: 7–2)
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December: 9–4 (home: 6–1; road: 3–3)
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January: 8–6 (home: 7–2; road: 1–4)
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February: 8–3 (home: 4–0; road: 4–3)
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March: 16–1 (home: 9–0; road: 7–1)
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April: 11–2 (home: 7–0; road: 4–2)
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1988–89 schedule |
Playoffs
1989 playoff game log | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Eastern Conference First Round: 3–0 (home: 2–0; road: 1–0)
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Eastern Conference Semifinals: 4–0 (home: 2–0; road: 2–0)
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Eastern Conference Finals: 4–2 (home: 2–1; road: 2–1)
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NBA Finals: 4–0 (home: 2–0; road: 2–0)
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1989 schedule |
Playoffs
After finishing with the best record in the NBA, the Pistons swept through the first two rounds of the playoffs. In the Eastern Conference finals, they faced the Chicago Bulls, whom they had defeated in the conference semifinals a year earlier. Although the Bulls were able to win two of the first three games, the Pistons' use of their "Jordan Rules" defense wore out Michael Jordan, setting up Detroit's second consecutive NBA Finals appearance against the Los Angeles Lakers.
Player stats
GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game |
FG% | Field-goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field-goal percentage | FT% | Free-throw percentage |
RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game |
BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game |
Regular season
Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mark Aguirre | 36 | 32 | 29.7 | .483 | .293 | .738 | 4.2 | 2.5 | .44 | .19 | 15.5 |
Adrian Dantley | 42 | 42 | 31.9 | .521 | .000 | .839 | 3.9 | 2.2 | .55 | .14 | 18.4 |
Darryl Dawkins | 14 | 0 | 3.4 | .474 | .000 | .500 | .5 | .1 | .00 | .07 | 1.9 |
Fennis Dembo | 31 | 0 | 2.4 | .333 | .000 | .800 | .7 | .2 | .03 | .00 | 1.2 |
Joe Dumars | 69 | 67 | 34.9 | .505 | .483 | .850 | 2.5 | 5.7 | .91 | .07 | 17.2 |
James Edwards | 76 | 1 | 16.5 | .500 | .000 | .686 | 3.0 | .6 | .14 | .41 | 7.3 |
Steve Harris | 3 | 0 | 2.3 | .250 | .000 | 1.000 | .7 | .0 | .33 | .00 | 1.3 |
Vinnie Johnson | 82 | 21 | 25.3 | .464 | .295 | .734 | 3.1 | 3.0 | .90 | .21 | 13.8 |
Bill Laimbeer | 81 | 81 | 32.6 | .499 | .349 | .840 | 9.6 | 2.2 | .63 | 1.23 | 13.7 |
John Long | 24 | 1 | 6.3 | .475 | .000 | .846 | .5 | .6 | .00 | .08 | 2.0 |
Rick Mahorn | 72 | 61 | 24.9 | .517 | .000 | .748 | 6.9 | .8 | .56 | .92 | 7.2 |
Pace Mannion | 5 | 0 | 2.8 | 1.000 | .000 | .000 | .6 | .0 | .20 | .00 | .8 |
Dennis Rodman | 82 | 8 | 26.9 | .595 | .231 | .626 | 9.4 | 1.2 | .67 | .93 | 9.0 |
Jim Rowinski | 6 | 0 | 1.3 | .000 | .000 | 1.000 | .3 | .0 | .00 | .00 | .7 |
John Salley | 67 | 21 | 21.8 | .498 | .000 | .692 | 5.0 | 1.1 | .60 | 1.07 | 7.0 |
Isiah Thomas | 80 | 76 | 36.6 | .464 | .273 | .818 | 3.4 | 8.3 | 1.66 | .25 | 18.2 |
Micheal Williams | 49 | 0 | 7.3 | .364 | .222 | .660 | .6 | 1.4 | .27 | .06 | 2.6 |
Playoffs
Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mark Aguirre | 17 | 17 | 27.2 | .489 | .276 | .737 | 4.4 | 1.6 | .47 | .18 | 12.6 |
Fennis Dembo | 2 | 0 | 2.0 | 1.000 | .000 | .000 | .0 | .0 | .00 | .00 | 1.0 |
Joe Dumars | 17 | 17 | 36.5 | .455 | .083 | .861 | 2.6 | 5.6 | .71 | .06 | 17.6 |
James Edwards | 17 | 0 | 18.6 | .471 | .000 | .784 | 2.1 | .7 | .06 | .47 | 7.1 |
Vinnie Johnson | 17 | 0 | 21.9 | .455 | .417 | .758 | 2.6 | 2.5 | .24 | .18 | 14.1 |
Bill Laimbeer | 17 | 17 | 29.2 | .465 | .357 | .806 | 8.2 | 1.8 | .35 | .47 | 10.1 |
John Long | 4 | 0 | 2.0 | 1.000 | .000 | 1.000 | .0 | .0 | .00 | .00 | 1.2 |
Rick Mahorn | 17 | 17 | 21.2 | .580 | .000 | .654 | 5.1 | .4 | .53 | .76 | 5.7 |
Dennis Rodman | 17 | 0 | 24.1 | .529 | .000 | .686 | 10.0 | .9 | .35 | .71 | 5.8 |
John Salley | 17 | 0 | 23.1 | .586 | .000 | .667 | 4.6 | .5 | .53 | 1.47 | 8.9 |
Isiah Thomas | 17 | 17 | 37.2 | .412 | .267 | .740 | 4.3 | 8.3 | 1.59 | .24 | 18.2 |
Micheal Williams | 4 | 0 | 1.5 | .000 | .000 | 1.000 | .5 | .5 | .25 | .00 | .5 |
NBA Finals
The Pistons' overpowering play allowed them to sweep the Lakers, who struggled to fill the defensive void left by Byron Scott's injury prior to the start of the Finals. Joe Dumars was named Finals MVP. In addition, Magic Johnson pulled a hamstring early in the second game, and unable to play the rest of the series. The Lakers' depleted backcourt allowed the Pistons to easily win the 1988–89 NBA Championship.
Game | Home Team | Road Team | series |
---|---|---|---|
Game 1 | Detroit 109 | L.A. Lakers 97 | 1–0 |
Game 2 | Detroit 108 | L.A. Lakers 105 | 2–0 |
Game 3: | L.A. Lakers 110 | Detroit 114 | 3–0 |
Game 4: | L.A. Lakers 97 | Detroit 105 | 4–0 |
Pistons win series 4–0
Award winners
External links
References
- 1 2 "1988–89 Detroit Pistons Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference.com.
- ↑ "NBA Games Played on February 9, 1989". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
- ↑ Waitzkin, Fred (January 8, 1989). "What Drives the Pistons". The New York Times. Retrieved December 25, 2022.
- 1 2 "Dantley Was Ushered Out of Detroit Before He Could Win a Title". Vintage Detroit. March 19, 2013. Retrieved February 10, 2022.
- ↑ "Mavericks Trade Aguirre to Pistons". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. February 15, 1989. Retrieved June 20, 2023.
- ↑ Mike, Rabun (February 15, 1989). "The Dallas Mavericks and Detroit Pistons Wednesday Exchanged All-Star..." United Press International. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
- ↑ "Dantley Traded for Aguirre". Deseret News. February 15, 1989. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
- ↑ "SPORTS PEOPLE: BASKETBALL; Mavericks Send Aguirre to Pistons for Dantley". The New York Times. February 16, 1989. Retrieved February 10, 2022.
- ↑ Baker, Chris (February 16, 1989). "Pistons Acquire Aguirre in Trade for Dantley, Pick". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
- ↑ "Dantley Says Politics, Not Basketball, Led to Trade". United Press International. June 11, 1989. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
- ↑ Cotton, Anthony (October 18, 1989). "He May Play for Dallas Now, But Don't Brand Dantley a Maverick". The Washington Post. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
- ↑ "1988–89 Detroit Pistons Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved February 10, 2022.
- ↑ "Chevette to Corvette No. 1: The 1988–89 Detroit Pistons". January 9, 2012.
- ↑ Goldaper, Sam (February 1, 1989). "BASKETBALL; Jackson and Ewing Are Chosen as All-Stars". The New York Times. 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.
- ↑ "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.
- ↑ "1988–89 Detroit Pistons Roster and Stats". 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 27, 2022.
- ↑ "Suns' Johnson Wins NBA's 6th Man Award". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. May 8, 1989. Retrieved December 27, 2022.
- ↑ "Bailey Finishes Second in Sixth-Man Balloting". Deseret News. May 9, 1989. Retrieved December 27, 2022.
- ↑ "1988–89 NBA Awards Voting". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved February 14, 2022.
- ↑ "Fitzsimmons Coach of Year". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. May 25, 1989. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
- ↑ "Cotton Fitzsimmons, Who Led the Phoenix Suns to the..." United Press International. May 25, 1989. Retrieved January 31, 2023.
- ↑ "Around the NBA". The Washington Post. May 26, 1989. Retrieved November 6, 2023.
- ↑ Waterman, Frederick (May 2, 1989). "Pistons Sweep Celtics". United Press International. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
- ↑ Gold, Allan R. (May 3, 1989). "Pistons' Defense Smothers Celtics' Season". The New York Times. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
- ↑ Aldridge, David (May 3, 1989). "Pistons Finish Sweep of Celtics". The Washington Post. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
- ↑ "1989 NBA Eastern Conference First Round: Celtics vs. Pistons". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
- ↑ DiGiovanni, Joe (May 15, 1989). "Pistons 96, Bucks 94". United Press International. Retrieved December 5, 2022.
- ↑ Brown, Clifton (May 16, 1989). "Pistons Edge Bucks to Complete a Sweep". The New York Times. Retrieved December 5, 2022.
- ↑ "NBA PLAYOFFS: Pistons Sweep Bucks Out of the Way". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. May 16, 1989. Retrieved December 5, 2022.
- ↑ "1989 NBA Eastern Conference Semifinals: Bucks vs. Pistons". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
- ↑ Brown, Clifton (June 3, 1989). "Pistons Earn a Rematch with Lakers in Final". The New York Times. Retrieved December 5, 2022.
- ↑ Downey, Mike (June 3, 1989). "No Bull, Lakers Get Pistons Again: After Smoke Clears, 'Gangsters' Have 103-94 Victory in Game 6". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 5, 2022.
- ↑ Smith, Sam (June 3, 1989). "Pistons Finish Bulls with K.O." Chicago Tribune. Retrieved December 5, 2022.
- ↑ "1989 NBA Eastern Conference Finals: Bulls vs. Pistons". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
- ↑ Barnes, Mike (June 13, 1989). "Pistons Win NBA Title". United Press International. Retrieved December 5, 2022.
- ↑ Goldaper, Sam (June 14, 1989). "Pistons Earn First Title by Sweeping Lakers". The New York Times. Retrieved December 5, 2022.
- ↑ McManis, Sam (June 14, 1989). "Pistons End a Reign, Cap a Career: Detroit Sweeps Lakers, 105-97". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 5, 2022.
- ↑ Smith, Sam (June 14, 1989). "Pistons Sweep to NBA Title". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved December 5, 2022.
- ↑ "1989 NBA Finals: Lakers vs. Pistons". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
- ↑ Brown, Clifton (June 16, 1989). "Knicks' Green Is Taken First in N.B.A.'s Expansion Draft". The New York Times. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
- ↑ Howard-Cooper, Scott (June 16, 1989). "NBA Expansion Draft: Timberwolves Get Mahorn; Lakers Lose Rivers". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
- ↑ Cotton, Anthony (June 16, 1989). "Green Tabbed No. 1, Mahorn No. 2 in NBA Expansion Draft". The Washington Post. Retrieved January 31, 2023.
- ↑ Smith, Sam (June 16, 1989). "Magic Day for Vincent, Not for Mahorn". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
- ↑ "1989 NBA Expansion Draft". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved February 10, 2022.
- ↑ "Mahorn Traded to 76ers". The New York Times. October 28, 1989. Retrieved February 10, 2022.
- ↑ "Mahorn Is Traded to 76ers". Los Angeles Times. October 28, 1989. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
- ↑ "Timberwolves Trade Mahorn to the 76ers". The Washington Post. October 28, 1989. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
- ↑ "Minnesota Trades Mahorn to Philadelphia". Deseret News. October 28, 1989. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
- ↑ "1988 NBA Draft on Basketballreference.com". Archived from the original on March 17, 2010. Retrieved May 5, 2009.