The
1989–90 NBA season
The 1989–90 NBA season was the 44th season of the National Basketball Association. The season ended with the Detroit Pistons winning their second consecutive NBA Championship, beating the Portland Trail Blazers 4 games to 1 in the NBA Finals. ...
was the 20th season for the
Los Angeles Clippers
The Los Angeles Clippers are an American professional basketball team based in the Greater Los Angeles area. The Clippers compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference. The ...
in the
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association (NBA) is a professional basketball league in North America composed of 30 teams (29 in the United States and 1 in Canada). The NBA is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United States and Ca ...
, and their sixth season in
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...
. With the second overall pick in the
1989 NBA draft
The 1989–90 NBA season, 1989 NBA draft took place on June 27, 1989, in New York City. Despite eight of the top ten picks being considered busts, including the first two picks Pervis Ellison and Danny Ferry, the draft produced many talented play ...
, the Clippers selected power forward
Danny Ferry
Daniel John Willard Ferry (born October 17, 1966) is an American executive and former professional basketball player who played the forward position.
Considered one of the most celebrated basketball players in the United States from the high sc ...
out of
Duke University
Duke University is a Private university, private research university in Durham, North Carolina, United States. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in the present-day city of Trinity, North Carolina, Trinity in 1838, the school moved to Durham in 1 ...
. However, Ferry refused to play for the Clippers, and left to play overseas in
Italy
Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe, Western Europe. It consists of Italian Peninsula, a peninsula that extends into the Mediterranean Sea, with the Alps on its northern land b ...
; this would force General Manager
Elgin Baylor
Elgin Gay Baylor ( ; September 16, 1934 – March 22, 2021) was an American professional basketball player, coach, and executive. He played 14 seasons as a forward in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for the Minneapolis/Los Angeles Lak ...
into trading Ferry, along with
Reggie Williams to the
Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cleveland Cavaliers, often referred to as the Cavs, are an American professional basketball team based in Cleveland. The Cavaliers compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Central Division (NBA), Central Divis ...
in exchange for
Ron Harper
Ronald Harper Sr. (born January 20, 1964) is an American former professional basketball player. He played for four teams in the National Basketball Association (NBA) between 1986 and 2001 and is a five-time NBA champion.
Early life
Ronald Har ...
.
The Clippers were approaching .500 with a 16–19 start to the regular season, 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. At mid-season, the team acquired
Winston Garland in a trade with the
Golden State Warriors
The Golden State Warriors are an American professional basketball team based in San Francisco. The Warriors compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference. Founded in 1946 i ...
. The Clippers lost their final five games of the season, finishing in sixth place in the
Pacific Division with a 30–52 record.
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
Danny is a masculine given name. It is related to and short for the male name Daniel.🖾🖾
People
*Danny Altmann, British immunologist
* Danny Antonucci, Canadian animator, director, producer, and writer
* Danny Baker (born 1957), English j ...
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
Kenneth Darnel Norman (born September 5, 1964) is an American former professional basketball player. After graduating from Crane High School in Chicago, Kenny was an outstanding forward for the Illinois Fighting Illini who was selected 19th ove ...
contributed 16.1 points and 6.7 rebounds per game, and
Benoit Benjamin
Lenard Benoit Benjamin e-NOYT(; born November 22, 1964) is an American former professional basketball player who was selected by the Los Angeles Clippers in the 1st round (3rd overall) of the 1985 NBA draft. A 7'0" center from Creighton Unive ...
provided with 13.5 points, 9.3 rebounds and 2.6 blocks per game.
For the season, the team slightly changed their uniforms, which remained in use until 2000.
Draft picks
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
Game log
Player statistics
Regular season
Player Statistics Citation:
Awards and records
Transactions
The Clippers were involved in the following transactions during the 1989–90 season.
Trades
Free agents
Additions
Subtractions
Player Transactions Citation:
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:1989-90 Los Angeles Clippers season
Los Angeles Clippers seasons