1988–89 Utah Jazz season
The 1988–89 NBA season was the Jazz's 15th season in the National Basketball Association, and 10th season in Salt Lake City, Utah. During the off-season, the Jazz acquired Mike Brown from the expansion Charlotte Hornets. 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. 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, and finished first in the Midwest Division with a 51–31 record.
| 1988–89 Utah Jazz season | |
|---|---|
Division champions | |
| Head coach |
|
| General manager | Dave Checketts |
| Owner(s) | Larry H. Miller |
| Arena | Salt Palace |
| Results | |
| Record | 51–31 (.622) |
| Place | Division: 1st (Midwest) Conference: 2nd (Western) |
| Playoff finish | First round (lost to Warriors 0–3) |
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com | |
| Local media | |
| Television | KSTU Jazz Cable Network |
| Radio | KALL (Hot Rod Hundley, Ron Boone) |
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, while being selected to the NBA All-Defensive First Team.
Malone, Stockton and Eaton were all selected for the 1989 NBA All-Star Game, which was Stockton's first ever All-Star appearance, and where Malone won the All-Star Game MVP award. Malone also finished in third place in Most Valuable Player voting, while Stockton finished in seventh place, and Bailey finished in second place in Sixth Man of the Year voting.
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. The Jazz sold 10,153 season tickets, which was an increase of 550 from the previous season.