1989–90 Los Angeles Clippers season explained

The 1989–90 NBA season was the Clippers' 20th season in the National Basketball Association, and their 6th in Los Angeles.^[1] With the second overall pick in the 1989 NBA draft, the Clippers selected Danny Ferry out of Duke University.^{[2] [3] [4] [5]} However, Ferry refused to play for the Clippers, and left to play overseas in Italy.^{[6] [7]} This would force General Manager Elgin Baylor into trading his draft rights along with Reggie Williams to the Cleveland Cavaliers in exchange for Ron Harper.^{[8] [9] [10]} The Clippers were approaching .500 at 16–19 when Harper went down to a knee injury after 28 games. The team posted a 7-game losing streak midway through the season, and held a 21–26 record at the All-Star break.^[11] At midseason, the team acquired Winston Garland in a trade with the Golden State Warriors.^{[12] [13] [14]} The Clippers lost their final five games of the season, finishing sixth in the Pacific Division with a 30–52 record.^[15]

Despite another 50-loss season, the team's second-year stars posted stellar seasons; forward Charles D. Smith averaged 21.1 points, 6.7 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game, while last year's top draft pick Danny Manning averaged 16.3 points and 5.9 rebounds per game, and guard Gary Grant provided the team with 13.1 points, 10.0 assists and 2.5 steals per game. In addition, Ken Norman contributed 16.1 points and 6.7 rebounds per game, and Benoit Benjamin provided with 13.5 points, 9.3 rebounds and 2.6 blocks per game.^[16]

For the season, the team slightly changed their uniforms, which remained in use until 2000.^{[17] [18]}

Draft picks

See main article: 1989 NBA draft.

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	College
1	2		PF		Duke
2	31		G		Murray State
2	33		G		Indiana

Roster

Roster notes

• Point guard David Rivers became the 3rd former Laker to play with the crosstown rival Clippers.

Regular season

Season standings

z - clinched division title

y - clinched division title

x - clinched playoff spot

Record vs. opponents

1989-90 NBA Records
width=100	Team	ATL	BOS	CHA	CHI	CLE	DAL	DEN	DET	GSW	HOU	IND	LAC	LAL	MIA	MIL	MIN	NJN	NYK	ORL	PHI	PHO	POR	SAC	SAS	SEA	UTA	WAS
Atlanta	–	1–3	2–0	0–5	2–3	0–2	1–1	3–2	2–0	2–0	2–3	1–1	0–2	4–0	3–2	1–1	2–2	1–3	5–0	2–2	0–2	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	2–2
Boston	3–1	–	2–0	2–2	3–1	1–1	1–1	2–2	1–1	2–0	1–3	1–1	0–2	5–0	2–2	1–1	5–1	4–1	4–0	3–2	1–1	0–2	2–0	1–1	2–0	1–1	2–3
Charlotte	0–2	0–2	–	0–2	1–1	1–3	3–2	0–2	2–2	1–4	1–1	2–2	0–4	1–1	0–2	2–2	1–1	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–3	0–4	1–3	0–5	0–4	0–5	0–2
Chicago	5–0	2–2	2–0	–	5–0	2–0	1–1	1–4	2–0	1–1	2–3	1–1	1–1	4–0	4–1	2–0	3–1	3–1	3–2	2–2	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	0–2	3–1
Cleveland	3–2	1–3	1–1	0–5	–	0–2	0–2	1–4	1–1	0–2	3–2	1–1	1–1	4–0	3–2	1–1	4–0	2–2	4–1	2–2	1–1	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–1	3–1
Dallas	2–0	1–1	3–1	0–2	2–0	–	2–3	1–1	3–1	4–1	2–0	3–1	0–4	2–0	1–1	4–1	2–0	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–3	0–4	3–1	3–2	2–2	1–3	1–1
Denver	1–1	1–1	2–3	1–1	2–0	3–2	–	0–2	2–2	4–1	0–2	2–2	0–4	2–0	1–1	5–0	2–0	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–3	2–2	4–0	1–3	2–2	0–4	1–1
Detroit	2–3	2–2	2–0	4–1	4–1	1–1	2–0	–	1–1	1–1	4–1	1–1	1–1	3–1	3–2	2–0	4–0	4–0	5–0	1–3	2–0	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–1	4–0
Golden State	0–2	1–1	2–2	0–2	1–1	1–3	2–2	1–1	–	2–2	1–1	3–1	1–4	2–0	1–1	3–1	2–0	0–2	2–0	1–1	0–5	2–2	3–2	1–3	2–3	2–2	1–1
Houston	0–2	0–2	4–1	1–1	2–0	1–4	1–4	1–1	2–2	–	1–1	2–2	2–2	1–1	1–1	2–2	1–1	1–1	2–0	1–1	2–2	1–3	4–0	2–2	2–2	3–2	1–1
Indiana	3–2	3–1	1–1	3–2	2–3	0–2	2–0	1–4	1–1	1–1	–	0–2	0–2	3–1	3–2	1–1	4–0	1–3	4–1	0–4	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	3–1
L.A. Clippers	1–1	1–1	2–2	1–1	1–1	1–3	2–2	1–1	1–3	2–2	2–0	–	1–4	0–2	1–1	3–1	2–0	0–2	2–0	0–2	0–4	0–5	2–3	0–4	3–2	0–4	1–1
L.A. Lakers	2–0	2–0	4–0	1–1	1–1	4–0	4–0	1–1	4–1	2–2	2–0	4–1	–	2–0	1–1	4–0	2–0	2–0	1–1	1–1	3–1	2–3	5–0	2–2	4–0	2–2	1–1
Miami	0–4	0–5	1–1	0–4	0–4	0–2	0–2	1–3	0–2	1–1	1–3	2–0	0–2	–	2–2	1–1	1–4	1–5	3–1	0–5	0–2	0–2	1–1	0–2	0–2	1–1	2–3
Milwaukee	2–3	2–2	2–0	1–4	2–3	1–1	1–1	2–3	1–1	1–1	2–3	1–1	1–1	2–2	–	2–0	4–0	2–2	5–0	1–3	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	2–0	0–2	3–1
Minnesota	1–1	1–1	2–2	0–2	1–1	1–4	0–5	0–2	1–3	2–2	1–1	1–3	0–4	1–1	0–2	–	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	0–4	1–3	2–2	1–4	1–3	0–5	1–1
New Jersey	2–2	1–5	1–1	1–3	0–4	0–2	0–2	0–4	0–2	1–1	0–4	0–2	0–2	4–1	0–4	1–1	–	1–4	1–3	1–4	0–2	0–2	1–1	0–2	0–2	0–2	2–3
New York	3–1	1–4	1–1	1–3	2–2	1–1	1–1	0–4	2–0	1–1	3–1	2–0	0–2	5–1	2–2	1–1	4–1	–	2–2	2–3	1–1	0–2	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–1	5–0
Orlando	0–5	0–4	1–1	2–3	1–4	0–2	0–2	0–5	0–2	0–2	1–4	0–2	1–1	1–3	0–5	1–1	3–1	2–2	–	2–2	0–2	0–2	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	0–4
Philadelphia	2–2	2–3	2–0	2–2	2–2	1–1	1–1	3–1	1–1	1–1	4–0	2–0	1–1	5–0	3–1	1–1	4–1	3–2	2–2	–	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	5–1
Phoenix	2–0	1–1	3–1	0–2	1–1	3–1	3–1	0–2	5–0	2–2	1–1	4–0	1–3	2–0	1–1	4–0	2–0	1–1	2–0	1–1	–	2–3	5–0	0–4	3–2	3–1	2–0
Portland	1–1	2–0	4–0	1–1	1–1	4–0	2–2	1–1	2–2	3–1	1–1	5–0	3–2	2–0	1–1	3–1	2–0	2–0	2–0	1–1	3–2	–	4–0	3–1	3–2	2–2	1–1
Sacramento	1–1	0–2	3–1	1–1	0–2	1–3	0–4	0–2	2–3	0–4	1–1	3–2	0–5	1–1	1–1	2–2	1–1	0–2	1–1	1–1	0–5	0–4	–	0–4	2–2	1–3	1–1
San Antonio	1–1	1–1	5–0	1–1	1–1	2–3	3–1	1–1	3–1	2–2	1–1	4–0	2–2	2–0	1–1	4–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–1	4–0	1–3	4–0	–	3–1	3–2	2–0
Seattle	1–1	0–2	4–0	1–1	1–1	2–2	2–2	1–1	3–2	2–2	1–1	2–3	0–4	2–0	0–2	3–1	2–0	1–1	2–0	1–1	2–3	2–3	2–2	1–3	–	1–3	2–0
Utah	1–1	1–1	5–0	2–0	1–1	3–1	4–0	1–1	2–2	2–3	1–1	4–0	2–2	1–1	2–0	5–0	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–3	2–2	3–1	2–3	3–1	–	2–0
Washington	2–2	3–2	2–0	1–3	1–3	1–1	1–1	0–4	1–1	1–1	1–3	1–1	1–1	3–2	1–3	1–1	3–2	0–5	4–0	1–5	0–2	1–1	1–1	0–2	0–2	0–2	—

Game log

Player statistics

Regular season

Player	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
	78	76	35.0	.520	.083	.794	6.7	1.5	1.1	1.5	21.1
	77	19	17.2	.395	.200	.775	3.0	.8	.4	.3	4.8
	73	22	23.6	.494	.190	.772	2.2	4.0	1.2	.1	7.0
	71	58	32.6	.526	.000	.732	9.3	2.2	.8	2.6	13.5
	71	42	32.0	.533	.000	.741	5.9	2.6	1.3	.5	16.3
	70	64	33.3	.510	.438	.632	6.7	2.3	1.1	.8	16.1
	69	23	19.6	.411	.133	.705	2.3	.6	.6	.2	6.3
	52	11	13.9	.406	.000	.756	1.6	3.0	.6	.0	4.2
	52	1	11.3	.478	.000	.473	2.2	.3	.3	.1	4.0
	45	2	10.2	.474	.308	.711	1.9	.5	.6	.1	4.9
	44	44	34.8	.466	.238	.779	4.4	10.0	2.5	.1	13.1
†	28	28	39.5	.481	.283	.795	5.6	4.8	2.4	1.1	23.0
†	28	15	31.1	.428	.423	.831	3.7	5.2	1.1	.2	10.9
	15	0	6.2	.350		.750	.7	.1	.5	.1	2.1
	7	0	14.9	.250	.000	.500	1.7	1.0	.9	.1	2.6
†	6	0	14.3	.357	.000	.846	1.2	3.3	.5	.0	3.5
†	5	5	26.6	.368	.000	.857	3.0	2.0	1.8	.2	12.0
	4	0	6.5	.429	.000	.333	.5	1.0	.3	.0	1.8
†	3	0	10.3	.154	.000		1.7	1.0	.3	.0	1.3
	3	0	3.3	.000		.667	.7	.0	.7	.3	1.3

Transactions

The Clippers were involved in the following transactions during the 1989–90 season.

Trades

November 16, 1989	To Los Angeles Clippers Ron Harper, 1990 & 1992 first-round draft picks and 1991 second-round draft pick	To Cleveland Cavaliers Reggie Williams & the draft rights to Danny Ferry
February 22, 1990	To Los Angeles Clippers Winston Garland	To Golden State Warriors 1990 & 1992 second-round draft picks

Free agents

Subtractions

Player Transactions Citation:^[19]

Notes and References

1. https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/LAC/1990.html 1989-90 Los Angeles Clippers
2. News: Goldaper . Sam . Kings Take Ellison First in N.B.A. Draft; Clippers Pick Ferry . The New York Times . June 28, 1989 . January 13, 2022.
3. News: McManis . Sam . THE NBA DRAFT: The Other Teams: Sacramento's Secret Is Out: It's Ellison . Los Angeles Times . June 28, 1989 . November 23, 2022.
4. News: Cotton . Anthony . Bullets Draft Hammonds . The Washington Post . June 28, 1989 . December 31, 2022.
5. News: 1989 NBA Draft . Basketball-Reference . December 31, 2022.
6. News: Howard-Cooper . Scott . Clippers Left High and Dry: Ferry Takes Italian Route . Los Angeles Times . August 2, 1989 . November 23, 2022.
7. News: Steadman . John . Danny Ferry's Great Adventure-- It's Basketball, Italian Style . Los Angeles Times . September 3, 1989 . November 23, 2022.
8. News: Cavs Trade Harper, Draft Picks to Clippers . United Press International . November 16, 1989 . November 23, 2022.
9. News: Associated Press . Ferry's Rights Are Traded . The New York Times . November 17, 1989 . November 23, 2022.
10. News: Howard-Cooper . Scott . Ferry Is Traded; Benjamin on Board: Deal: The Clippers Give Up Reggie Williams, and Rights to Former Duke Star for Cavaliers' Harper, and Three Draft Picks . Los Angeles Times . November 17, 1989 . November 23, 2022.
11. News: NBA Games Played on February 8, 1990 . Basketball-Reference . November 23, 2022.
12. News: Howard-Cooper . Scott . Clippers Deal for Garland: Trade: He Isn't the Big-Name Player L.A. Wanted, But He Cost Only Two No. 2 Picks and Could Be a Starter Soon . Los Angeles Times . February 23, 1990 . December 31, 2022.
13. News: San Francisco Chronicle . Warriors Deal Former Starter Garland, Blab . Chicago Tribune . February 23, 1990 . December 31, 2022.
14. News: Warriors Deal Garland, Blab . Orlando Sentinel . February 23, 1990 . December 31, 2022.
15. Web site: 1989–90 Los Angeles Clippers Schedule and Results. Basketball-Reference. January 13, 2022.
16. Web site: 1989–90 Los Angeles Clippers Roster and Stats. Basketball-Reference. January 13, 2022.
17. News: Los Angeles Clippers Uniform . Chris Creamer's Sports Logos Page - SportsLogos.Net. . January 22, 2022.
18. News: Los Angeles Clippers Uniform . Chris Creamer's Sports Logos Page - SportsLogos.Net. . January 22, 2022.
19. Web site: 1989–90 Los Angeles Clippers Transactions. Basketball-Reference. January 13, 2022.