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1987–88 New Jersey Nets season

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1987–88 New Jersey Nets season
Head coachDave Wohl
Bob MacKinnon
Willis Reed
ArenaBrendan Byrne Arena
Results
Record19–63 (.232)
PlaceDivision: 5th (Atlantic)
Conference: 11th (Eastern)
Playoff finishDid not qualify
Stats at Basketball Reference
Local media
TelevisionWWOR-TV
SportsChannel New York
RadioWNEW
< 1986–87 1988–89 >

The 1987–88 New Jersey Nets season was the 12th season for the New Jersey Nets in the National Basketball Association.[1]

Season summary

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Off-season

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The Nets received the third overall pick in the 1987 NBA draft, and selected shooting guard Dennis Hopson out of Ohio State University.[2][3][4] During the off-season, the team acquired John Bagley and Keith Lee from the Cleveland Cavaliers in a three-team trade,[5][6][7] acquired rookie power forward Dallas Comegys from the Atlanta Hawks,[8] and later on signed free agent Dudley Bradley in December.[9] However, Lee would miss the entire regular season due to a left leg injury.[10][11]

Regular season

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Despite the addition of Hopson and Bagley, the Nets struggled losing 15 of their first 17 games of the regular season, which included an 11-game losing streak between November and December. After a 2–13 start to the season, head coach Dave Wohl was fired and replaced with assistant General Manager Bob MacKinnon as an interim coach.[12] In January, the team traded Mike Gminski, and Ben Coleman to the Philadelphia 76ers in exchange for Roy Hinson, and Tim McCormick.[13][14][15] Before the trade, Gminski averaged 16.9 points and 9.4 rebounds per game in 34 games, while Coleman provided with 11.0 points and 6.4 rebounds per game in 27 games.[16] The Nets held a 10–34 record at the All-Star break,[17] and posted a six-game losing streak in February; at the end of the month, the team hired retired All-Star, and former New York Knicks center Willis Reed as their new coach.[18] The Nets suffered a dreadful 15-game losing streak between March and April, and finished in last place in the Atlantic Division with a 19–63 record.[19]

Buck Williams averaged 18.3 points and 11.9 rebounds per game, and was named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team, while Hinson averaged 17.6 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game in 48 games after the trade. In addition, Orlando Woolridge provided the team with 16.4 points and 3.7 assists per game, but only played just 19 games due to a right hand injury and drug abuse,[10][20][21] while McCormick provided with 14.1 points and 6.9 rebounds per game in 47 games, and Bagley contributed 12.0 points, 5.8 assists and 1.3 steals per game. Meanwhile, Otis Birdsong averaged 10.9 points per game, Hopson contributed 9.6 points per game, second-year guard Pearl Washington provided with 9.3 points, 3.0 assists and 1.3 steals per game, Bradley contributed 6.7 points per game, and Comegys averaged 5.6 points and 2.9 rebounds per game.[16]

Williams finished tied in 14th place in Most Valuable Player voting.[22] The Nets finished 15th in the NBA in home-game attendance, with an attendance of 476,054 at the Brendan Byrne Arena during the regular season.[16][23]

Aftermath

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Following the season, Woolridge signed as a free agent with the Los Angeles Lakers,[24][25][26] while McCormick was traded to the Houston Rockets,[27][28][29] and Washington was left unprotected in the 1988 NBA expansion draft, where he was selected by the Miami Heat expansion team.[30][31][32] Meanwhile, Comegys was traded to the San Antonio Spurs,[33][34] and Birdsong and Bradley were both released to free agency.

Draft picks

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Round Pick Player Position Nationality College
13Dennis HopsonSF/SG United StatesOhio State
348Jamie Waller United StatesVirginia Union
472Andrew Moten United StatesFlorida
594James Blackmon Sr. United StatesKentucky
6118Perry Bromwell United StatesPennsylvania
7140Frank Booker United StatesBowling Green State

Roster

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1987–88 New Jersey Nets roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Player Height Weight DOB From
G 5 John Bagley 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1960-04-23 Boston College
G 10 Otis Birdsong 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1955-12-09 Houston
G 22 Dudley Bradley 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1957-03-19 North Carolina
F 45 Dallas Comegys 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 1964-08-17 DePaul
C 50 Chris Engler 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 245 lb (111 kg) 1959-03-01 Wyoming
F 21 Roy Hinson 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1961-05-02 Rutgers
G/F 23 Dennis Hopson 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1965-04-22 Ohio State
F 24 Keith Lee Injured (IN) 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1962-12-28 Memphis
C 40 Tim McCormick 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1962-03-10 Michigan
G 12 Kevin McKenna 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1959-01-08 Creighton
F 31 Mike O'Koren 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 207 lb (94 kg) 1958-02-07 North Carolina
G 14 Duane Washington 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1964-08-31 Middle Tennessee
G 1 Dwayne Washington 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1964-01-06 Syracuse
F 52 Buck Williams 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1960-03-08 Maryland
F 0 Orlando Woolridge 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1959-12-16 Notre Dame
Head coach
Assistant(s)
Legend
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured Injured

Roster

Roster notes

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Regular season

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Season standings

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Atlantic Division
 W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-Boston Celtics 5725.695–36–521–2019–5
x-Washington Bullets 3844.4631925–1613–2813–11
x-New York Knicks 3844.4631929–129–3210–14
Philadelphia 76ers 3646.4392127–149–3212–12
New Jersey Nets 1963.2323816–253–386–18
#
Eastern Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1 c-Boston Celtics5725.695–
2 y-Detroit Pistons5428.6593
3 x-Chicago Bulls5032.6107
4 x-Atlanta Hawks5032.6107
5 x-Milwaukee Bucks4240.51215
6 x-Cleveland Cavaliers4240.51215
7 x-Washington Bullets3844.46319
8 x-New York Knicks3844.46319
9 Indiana Pacers3844.46319
10 Philadelphia 76ers3646.43921
11 New Jersey Nets1963.23238
z – clinched division title
y – clinched division title
x – clinched playoff spot

Game log

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Regular season

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1987–88 game log
Total: 19–63 (Home: 16–25; Road: 3–38)
November: 0–0 (home: 0–0; road: 0–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
December: 0–0 (home: 0–0; road: 0–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
12 December 1, 1987
7:30 PM EST		 Detroit L 115–124 (OT) Brendan Byrne Arena
8,232		 9–32
15 December 8, 1987
7:30 PM EST		 L.A. Lakers L 81–98 Brendan Byrne Arena
18,008		 2–13
24 December 26, 1987
7:30 PM EST		 @ Detroit L 75–110 Pontiac Silverdome
23,330		 4–20
January: 0–0 (home: 0–0; road: 0–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
41 January 30, 1988
7:30 PM EST		 Detroit W 116–104 Brendan Byrne Arena
11,894		 9–32
February: 0–0 (home: 0–0; road: 0–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
53 February 26, 1988
7:30 PM EST		 @ Detroit L 109–137 Pontiac Silverdome
25,334		 12–41
March: 0–0 (home: 0–0; road: 0–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
62 March 14, 1988
10:30 PM EST		 @ L.A. Lakers L 105–115 The Forum
17,505		 16–46
April: 0–0 (home: 0–0; road: 0–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
73 April 5, 1988
7:30 PM EDT		 Detroit L 95–107 Brendan Byrne Arena
11,586		 18–55
79 April 16, 1988
7:30 PM EDT		 @ Detroit L 96–114 Pontiac Silverdome
22,767		 18–61
1987–88 schedule

Awards and records

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References

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  1. ↑ "Brooklyn Nets". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved August 8, 2026.
  2. ↑ Goldaper, Sam (June 23, 1987). "Guards Dominate Draft, But Robinson Goes First". The New York Times. Retrieved March 31, 2026.
  3. ↑ Edes, Gordon (June 23, 1987). "Only Surprise in the NBA Draft Is the Big Demand for Guards". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 31, 2026.
  4. ↑ "1987 NBA Draft". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved March 31, 2026.
  5. ↑ "Jazz Trades for Dawkins, Turpin". The Washington Post. News Services and Staff Reports. October 8, 1987. Retrieved March 31, 2026.
  6. ↑ Goldaper, Sam (October 9, 1987). "Dawkins Joins Jazz in Trade". The New York Times. Retrieved March 31, 2026.
  7. ↑ "Utah Gets Dawkins and Turpin in a Three-Team Trade". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. October 9, 1987. Retrieved March 31, 2026.
  8. ↑ "Comegys Traded to Nets". The New York Times. November 5, 1987. Retrieved March 31, 2026.
  9. ↑ Goldaper, Sam (December 22, 1987). "Washington Stirs Late Rally". The New York Times. Retrieved March 31, 2026.
  10. 1 2 "Sports People: Woolridge Out". The New York Times. October 23, 1987. Retrieved March 31, 2026.
  11. ↑ Goldaper, Sam (July 28, 1988). "N.B.A. Notebook: Nets' Lee Heading in Right Direction". The New York Times. Retrieved March 31, 2026.
  12. ↑ Goldaper, Sam (December 10, 1987). "Wohl Dismissed as Coach of Nets". The New York Times. Retrieved March 31, 2026.
  13. ↑ "Nets, 76ers Exchange Four Players". The Washington Post. News Services. January 16, 1988. Retrieved March 31, 2026.
  14. ↑ Raskin, David A. (January 17, 1988). "Pro Basketball: Nets Send Gminski, Coleman to 76ers". The New York Times. Retrieved March 31, 2026.
  15. ↑ "Nets' Coleman, Gminski Traded to Philadelphia". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. January 17, 1988. Retrieved March 31, 2026.
  16. 1 2 3 "1987–88 New Jersey Nets Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved March 31, 2026.
  17. ↑ "NBA Games Played on February 4, 1988". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved March 31, 2026.
  18. ↑ Goldaper, Sam (February 29, 1988). "N.B.A.: Reed Will Become Nets Coach Today". The New York Times. Retrieved March 31, 2026.
  19. ↑ "1987–88 New Jersey Nets Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved March 31, 2026.
  20. ↑ Goldaper, Sam (February 24, 1988). "Woolridge Admits to Cocaine Problem". The New York Times. Retrieved March 31, 2026.
  21. ↑ Goldaper, Sam (February 26, 1988). "N.B.A. to Check Early Woolridge Alert". The New York Times. Retrieved March 31, 2026.
  22. ↑ "1987–88 NBA Awards Voting". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved March 31, 2026.
  23. ↑ "1987–88 NBA Season Summary". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved March 31, 2026.
  24. ↑ Edes, Gordon (August 10, 1988). "Lakers to Announce Signing Today of Free Agent Orlando Woolridge". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 31, 2026.
  25. ↑ "Sports People: Lakers Sign Woolridge". The New York Times. August 11, 1988. Retrieved March 31, 2026.
  26. ↑ Thomas, Pete (August 11, 1988). "Lakers Boost Bench by Signing 6-9 Woolridge". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 31, 2026.
  27. ↑ Goldaper, Sam (November 3, 1988). "Nets Acquire Rockets' Carroll". The New York Times. Retrieved March 31, 2026.
  28. ↑ "Rockets Send Joe Barry Carroll to the Nets in a Six-Player Trade". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. November 3, 1988. Retrieved March 31, 2026.
  29. ↑ "Nets Obtain Carroll from Rockets in 6-Player Deal". Los Angeles Times. November 3, 1988. Retrieved March 31, 2026.
  30. ↑ Goldaper, Sam (June 24, 1988). "Miami Chooses "Who?" First". The New York Times. Retrieved March 31, 2026.
  31. ↑ Edes, Gordon (June 24, 1988). "Billy Thompson Goes to Miami; Valentine Winds Up in Cleveland". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 31, 2026.
  32. ↑ "1988 NBA Expansion Draft". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved March 31, 2026.
  33. ↑ "Nets Get Walter Berry". The New York Times. August 30, 1988. Retrieved March 31, 2026.
  34. ↑ "Spurs Trade Berry to Nets for Comegys". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. August 30, 1988. Retrieved March 31, 2026.

See also

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