1988–89 Indiana Pacers season

The 1988–89 NBA season was Indiana's 13th season in the NBA and 22nd season as a franchise. Despite finishing with a 38–44 record the previous season, the Pacers had the second overall pick in the 1988 NBA draft, and selected 7' 4" Dutch center Rik Smits out of Marist College.    Before the season began, center Steve Stipanovich was out with a left knee injury, and would be sidelined for the entire season after undergoing knee surgery.

The Pacers went through four different head coaches this season; head coach Jack Ramsay resigned after an 0–7 start,  then after two games under interim coach Mel Daniels, and 20 games under interim George Irvine, the team hired Dick Versace as their new coach. At midseason, the team traded Wayman Tisdale to the Sacramento Kings in exchange for LaSalle Thompson and Randy Wittman,   and dealt Herb Williams to the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for German small forward Detlef Schrempf. The Pacers held an 11–35 record at the All-Star break, but played slightly under .500 for the remainder of the season, finishing last place in the Central Division with a 28–54 record.

Chuck Person averaged 21.6 points and 6.5 rebounds per game, while second-year star Reggie Miller showed improvement, becoming the team's starting shooting guard, averaging 16.0 points and 1.3 steals per game, Vern Fleming contributed 14.3 points and 6.5 assists per game, and Smits provided the team with 11.7 points, 6.1 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game, and was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team.

Following the season, Stipanovich retired after five seasons in the NBA with the Pacers; Stipanovich had gone through two knee operations, and doctors discovered he had a "dead spot" in the bone of his left knee. Also following the season, Scott Skiles was left unprotected in the 1989 NBA Expansion Draft, where he was selected by the newly expansion Orlando Magic.

Roster Notes

 * Center Steve Stipanovich missed the entire season due to a left knee injury.

Season standings

 * z - clinched division title
 * y - clinched division title
 * x - clinched playoff spot

Season
Player Statistics Citation:

Awards and records

 * Rik Smits, NBA All-Rookie Team 1st Team