1987–88 Los Angeles Clippers season

1987–88 Los Angeles Clippers season
Head coach	Gene Shue
General manager	Elgin Baylor
Owner(s)	Donald Sterling
Arena	Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena
Results
Record	17–65 (.207)
Place	Division: 6th (Pacific) Conference: 12th (Western)
Playoff finish	Did not qualify
Stats at Basketball Reference
Local media
Television	KTLA (Ralph Lawler, Junior Bridgeman)
Radio	KIIS (Pete Arbogast)

The 1987–88 Los Angeles Clippers season was their 18th season in the NBA, their 4th in Los Angeles. The Clippers continued to struggle to finish last place in the Pacific Division, and Western Conference with a terrible 17–65 record. Following the season, Michael Cage was traded to the Seattle SuperSonics. The team rebranded their jerseys, with the Clippers wearing red on the road for the first time ever. They would wear red away uniforms until 2017.

Draft picks

Main article: 1987 NBA draft

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	College
1	4	Reggie Williams	F	United States	Georgetown
1	13	Joe Wolf	C	United States	North Carolina
1	19	Ken Norman	F	United States	Illinois
2	38	Norris Coleman	F	United States	Kansas State
3	47	Tim McCalister	G	United States	Oklahoma
5	93	Chad Kessler	F	United States	Georgia
6	116	Martin Nessley	C	United States	Duke
7	139	Henry Carr	F	United States	Wichita State

Roster

1987–88 Los Angeles Clippers roster

Players

Coaches

Pos. No. Player Height Weight DOB From C 00 Benoit Benjamin 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 250 lb (113 kg) Creighton G 15 Steve Burtt 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 195 lb (88 kg) Iona F/C 44 Michael Cage 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 235 lb (107 kg) San Diego State F 45 Norris Coleman (waived) 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 210 lb (95 kg) Kansas State F 25 Earl Cureton 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 215 lb (98 kg) Detroit Mercy G 20 Quintin Dailey 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 180 lb (82 kg) San Francisco G 22 Larry Drew 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Missouri G 54 Kenny Fields (waived) 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 240 lb (109 kg) UCLA G 4 Lancaster Gordon (waived) 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 195 lb (88 kg) Louisville F 43 Claude Gregory 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 235 lb (107 kg) Wisconsin C 32 Greg Kite 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 250 lb (113 kg) BYU F 46 Tod Murphy (waived) 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 220 lb (100 kg) UC Irvine C 51 Martin Nessley (waived) 7 ft 2 in (2.18 m) 260 lb (118 kg) Duke G 10 Norm Nixon 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 170 lb (77 kg) Duquesne F 33 Ken Norman 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 215 lb (98 kg) Illinois G 14 Mike Phelps (waived) 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 185 lb (84 kg) Alcorn State G 1 Darnell Valentine 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 183 lb (83 kg) Kansas F 31 Eric White 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 200 lb (91 kg) Pepperdine F 34 Reggie Williams 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Georgetown C 24 Joe Wolf 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 230 lb (104 kg) North Carolina G 42 Mike Woodson 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 198 lb (90 kg) Indiana

Head coach Gene Shue Assistant(s) Don Casey Legend (DP) Unsigned draft pick (FA) Free agent (S) Suspended Injured

Roster notes

• Guard Mike Woodson will serve as an assistant coach for the franchise from 2014 to 2018.
• This is guard Kenny Field's second tour of duty with the franchise after playing the first few months of the season in the CBA. He previously played for the team last season.
• Guard Larry Drew is currently serving as an assistant coach for the franchise since 2020.

Regular season

Season standings

Pacific Division	W	L	PCT	GB	Home	Road	Div
y-Los Angeles Lakers	62	20	.756	–	36–5	26–15	23–7
x-Portland Trail Blazers	53	29	.646	9	33–8	20–21	23–7
x-Seattle SuperSonics	44	38	.537	18	32–9	12–29	19–11
Phoenix Suns	28	54	.341	34	22–19	6–35	11–19
Golden State Warriors	20	62	.244	42	16–25	4–37	7–23
Los Angeles Clippers	17	65	.207	45	14–27	3–38	7–23

#	Western Conference
	Team	W	L	PCT	GB
1	z-Los Angeles Lakers	62	20	.756	–
2	y-Denver Nuggets	54	28	.659	8
3	x-Dallas Mavericks	53	29	.646	9
4	x-Portland Trail Blazers	53	29	.646	9
5	x-Utah Jazz	47	35	.573	15
6	x-Houston Rockets	46	36	.561	16
7	x-Seattle SuperSonics	44	38	.537	18
8	x-San Antonio Spurs	31	51	.378	31
9	Phoenix Suns	28	54	.341	34
10	Sacramento Kings	24	58	.293	38
11	Golden State Warriors	20	62	.244	42
12	Los Angeles Clippers	17	65	.207	45

z - clinched division title

y - clinched division title

x - clinched playoff spot

Record vs. opponents

1987-88 NBA Records
Team	ATL	BOS	CHI	CLE	DAL	DEN	DET	GSW	HOU	IND	LAC	LAL	MIL	NJN	NYK	PHI	PHO	POR	SAC	SAS	SEA	UTA	WAS
Atlanta	–	2–4	2–3	5–1	2–0	1–1	2–4	2–0	1–1	4–2	2–0	0–2	3–3	5–0	3–3	6–0	1–1	0–2	1–1	2–0	2–0	1–1	3–3
Boston	4–2	–	3–3	2–3	2–0	0–2	3–3	2–0	1–1	5–0	2–0	0–2	3–3	5–1	5–1	4–2	2–0	2–0	2–0	2–0	1–1	2–0	5–1
Chicago	3–2	3–3	–	3–3	0–2	1–1	2–4	2–0	2–0	3–3	2–0	1–1	5–1	5–1	3–2	4–2	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	2–0	3–3
Cleveland	1–5	3–2	3–3	–	1–1	1–1	1–5	0–2	1–1	4–2	1–1	1–1	2–4	5–1	2–4	3–2	1–1	1–1	2–0	2–0	1–1	0–2	6–0
Dallas	0–2	0–2	2–0	1–1	–	3–3	1–1	4–1	4–2	2–0	5–0	1–4	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–1	5–0	3–2	5–1	5–1	3–2	3–3	1–1
Denver	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	3–3	–	1–1	4–1	4–2	1–1	5–0	3–2	1–1	2–0	1–1	2–0	3–2	2–3	4–2	5–1	4–1	2–4	2–0
Detroit	4–2	3–3	4–2	5–1	1–1	1–1	–	2–0	1–1	3–3	1–1	0–2	4–2	5–1	4–2	4–1	2–0	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	2–0	3–2
Golden State	0–2	0–2	0–2	2–0	1–4	1–4	0–2	–	0–5	0–2	3–3	0–6	0–2	2–0	0–2	1–1	2–4	1–5	2–3	3–2	1–5	1–4	0–2
Houston	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	2–4	2–4	1–1	5–0	–	2–0	3–2	1–4	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–1	4–1	4–1	4–2	2–4	3–2	3–3	2–0
Indiana	2–4	0–5	3–3	2–4	0–2	1–1	3–3	2–0	0–2	–	1–1	1–1	3–3	6–0	2–3	2–4	2–0	0–2	2–0	2–0	1–1	1–1	2–4
L.A. Clippers	0–2	0–2	0–2	1–1	0–5	0–5	1–1	3–3	2–3	1–1	–	1–5	0–2	0–2	0–2	1–1	2–4	0–6	3–2	0–5	1–5	1–4	0–2
L.A. Lakers	2–0	2–0	1–1	1–1	4–1	2–3	2–0	6–0	4–1	1–1	5–1	–	0–2	2–0	2–0	2–0	5–1	3–3	4–1	5–0	4–2	4–1	1–1
Milwaukee	3–3	3–3	1–5	4–2	0–2	1–1	2–4	2–0	0–2	3–3	2–0	2–0	–	3–2	3–3	2–4	1–1	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–1	4–1
New Jersey	0–5	1–5	1–5	1–5	1–1	0–2	1–5	0–2	1–1	0–6	2–0	0–2	2–3	–	3–3	2–4	1–1	0–2	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	0–6
New York	3–3	1–5	2–3	4–2	1–1	1–1	2–4	2–0	1–1	3–2	2–0	0–2	3–3	3–3	–	3–3	0–2	1–1	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	3–3
Philadelphia	0–6	2–4	2–4	2–3	1–1	0–2	1–4	1–1	1–1	4–2	1–1	0–2	4–2	4–2	3–3	–	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	2–0	3–3
Phoenix	1–1	0–2	0–2	1–1	0–5	2–3	0–2	4–2	1–4	0–2	4–2	1–5	1–1	1–1	2–0	1–1	–	0–6	3–2	2–3	2–4	2–3	0–2
Portland	2–0	0–2	1–1	1–1	2–3	3–2	1–1	5–1	1–4	2–0	6–0	3–3	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	6–0	–	4–1	5–0	3–3	1–4	2–0
Sacramento	1–1	0–2	1–1	0–2	1–5	2–4	0–2	3–2	2–4	0–2	2–3	1–4	0–2	1–1	1–1	1–1	2–3	1–4	–	3–3	1–4	1–5	0–2
San Antonio	0–2	0–2	1–1	0–2	1–5	1–5	1–1	2–3	4–2	0–2	5–0	0–5	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	3–2	0–5	3–3	–	3–2	3–3	0–2
Seattle	0–2	1–1	1–1	1–1	2–3	1–4	1–1	5–1	2–3	1–1	5–1	2–4	1–1	2–0	2–0	1–1	4–2	3–3	4–1	2–3	–	1–4	2–0
Utah	1–1	0–2	0–2	2–0	3–3	4–2	0–2	4–1	3–3	1–1	4–1	1–4	1–1	1–1	1–1	0–2	3–2	4–1	5–1	3–3	4–1	–	2–0
Washington	3–3	1–5	3–3	0–6	1–1	0–2	2–3	2–0	0–2	4–2	2–0	1–1	1–4	6–0	3–3	3–3	2–0	0–2	2–0	2–0	0–2	0–2	—

Game log

Regular season

1987–88 game log Total: 17–65 (Home: 14–27; Road: 3–38)
November: 0–0 (home: 0–0; road: 0–0) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 4 November 12, 1987 7:30 pm PST @ L.A. Lakers L 82–111 The Forum 15,569 1–3
December: 0–0 (home: 0–0; road: 0–0) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 21 December 19, 1987 7:30 pm PST L.A. Lakers L 97–108 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena 14,417 8–13
January: 0–0 (home: 0–0; road: 0–0) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 32 January 13, 1988 7:30 pm PST L.A. Lakers W 110–109 (OT) Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena 14,906 9–23
February: 0–0 (home: 0–0; road: 0–0) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 42 February 4, 1988 7:30 pm PST L.A. Lakers L 86–117 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena 15,371 10–32 47 February 16, 1988 7:30 pm PST @ L.A. Lakers L 100–119 The Forum 17,505 11–36
March: 0–0 (home: 0–0; road: 0–0) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 54 March 2, 1988 4:30 pm PST @ Detroit L 90–103 Pontiac Silverdome 16,554 12–42 68 March 28, 1988 7:30 pm PST Detroit W 102–100 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena 12,156 15–53
April: 0–0 (home: 0–0; road: 0–0) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 74 April 8, 1988 7:30 pm PDT @ L.A. Lakers L 107–126 The Forum 17,505 16–58
1987–88 schedule

Player statistics

Legend

GP	Games played	GS	Games started	MPG	Minutes per game
FG%	Field-goal percentage	3P%	3-point field-goal percentage	FT%	Free-throw percentage
RPG	Rebounds per game	APG	Assists per game	SPG	Steals per game
BPG	Blocks per game	PPG	Points per game

Player	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3FG%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
Benoit Benjamin
Steve Burtt
Michael Cage
Norris Coleman
Earl Cureton
Quintin Dailey
Larry Drew
Kenny Fields
Lancaster Gordon
Claude Gregory
Greg Kite
Tod Murphy
Martin Nessley
Ken Norman
Michael Phelps
Darnell Valentine
Eric White
Reggie Williams
Joe Wolf
Mike Woodson

Awards, records and milestones

Awards

• Forward/center Michael Cage led the league in rebounding (13.0 rpg)

Transactions

The Clippers were involved in the following transactions during the 1987–88 season.

Trades

No trades occurred for this team.

Free agents

Additions

Player	Signed	Former team

Subtractions

Player	Left	New team