The 1998–99 Los Angeles Clippers season was the 29th season for the Los Angeles Clippers in the National Basketball Association, and their 15th season in Los Angeles, California. Due to a lockout, the regular season began on February 5, 1999, and was cut from 82 games to 50. This was also the team's final season in which they played their home games at the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, and played occasional home games at the Arrowhead Pond in Anaheim, California.

Season summary

Off-season The Clippers won the NBA draft lottery, and selected center Michael Olowokandi out of Pacific University with the first overall pick in the 1998 NBA draft. During the off-season, the team signed free agents Sherman Douglas, and undrafted rookie small forward Tyrone Nesby, and hired Chris Ford as their new head coach.

Regular season However, under Ford and despite the addition of Olowokandi, Nesby and Douglas, the Clippers struggled suffering a dreadful 17-game losing streak to start the regular season. The team's 0–17 record tied the 1988–89 Miami Heat for the then-worst start in NBA history, and would later on be tied by the 2014–15 Philadelphia 76ers; the record would eventually be surpassed by the 2009–10 New Jersey Nets, and the 2015–16 Philadelphia 76ers, who both lost their first 18 games of the regular season. At mid-season, the Clippers signed second-year guard Troy Hudson in March. The Clippers posted a six-game losing streak between March and April, which led to a dreadful 3–30 record as of April 6, 1999, and then lost their final six games of the season, finishing in last place in the Pacific Division with an awful 9–41 record. The Clippers tied the 1972–73 Philadelphia 76ers for the fourth-lowest win total for a season behind the 1998–99 Vancouver Grizzlies, the 2011–12 Charlotte Bobcats, and the 1947–48 Providence Steamrollers.

Second-year forward Maurice Taylor showed improvement becoming the team's starting power forward, averaging 16.8 points and 5.3 rebounds per game, while Lamond Murray played a sixth man role off the bench, averaging 12.2 points per game, and three-point specialist Eric Piatkowski contributed 10.5 points per game, and led the Clippers with 65 three-point field goals. In addition, Nesby provided the team with 10.1 points and 1.5 steals per game, while Olowokandi averaged 8.9 points and 7.9 rebounds per game, and was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team, and Douglas contributed 8.2 points and 4.1 assists per game, but only played 30 games due to injury. Meanwhile, Darrick Martin contributed 8.0 points and 3.9 assists per game, Rodney Rogers provided with 7.4 points per game off the bench, Hudson contributed 6.8 points and 3.7 assists per game in 25 games, and Lorenzen Wright averaged 6.6 points and 7.5 rebounds per game.

Taylor finished in seventh place in Most Improved Player voting. For the sixth consecutive year, the Clippers finished last in the NBA in home-game attendance, with an attendance of 256,568 at the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena during the regular season, which was 29th in the league.

Aftermath Following the season, Murray was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers after five seasons with the Clippers, while Rogers signed as a free agent with the Phoenix Suns, and Wright was traded to the Atlanta Hawks. Meanwhile, Douglas re-signed with his former team, the New Jersey Nets, Martin signed with the Sacramento Kings, and Pooh Richardson was released to free agency.

Draft picks

Round Pick Player Position Nationality College 1 1 Michael Olowokandi C Pacific 1 22 Brian Skinner PF Baylor

Roster

Roster Notes Point guard Scott Brooks was on the injured reserve list due to a knee injury, missed the entire regular season, and never played for the Clippers.

Regular season

Season standings

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

Game log

Player statistics

PlayerGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG Maurice Taylor 46 45 32.7 46.1 16.7 72.8 5.3 1.5 0.3 0.616.8 Lamond Murray 50 13 26.3 39.1 33.0 80.3 3.9 1.2 1.2 0.412.2 Eric Piatkowski 49 38 25.3 43.2 39.4 86.3 2.9 1.1 0.9 0.110.5 Tyrone Nesby 50 36 25.8 44.9 36.5 78.2 3.5 1.6 1.5 0.410.1 Michael Olowokandi 45 36 28.4 43.1 0.0 48.3 7.9 0.6 0.6 1.28.9 Sherman Douglas 30 19 28.1 43.8 0.0 63.2 1.9 4.1 0.9 0.18.2 Darrick Martin 37 25 25.4 36.7 29.2 80.3 1.3 3.9 1.2 0.18.0 James Robinson 14 0 20.0 39.8 26.7 74.1 1.9 1.3 1.0 0.27.6 Rodney Rogers 47 7 20.6 44.1 28.6 67.3 3.8 1.6 1.0 0.57.4 Troy Hudson 25 6 21.0 40.0 31.9 89.5 2.2 3.7 0.4 0.16.8 Lorenzen Wright 48 15 23.6 45.8 0.0 69.2 7.5 0.7 0.5 0.86.6 Brian Skinner 21 0 12.3 46.5 0.0 60.6 2.5 0.0 0.5 0.64.1 Charles Smith 23 10 13.8 36.1 21.2 43.8 1.0 0.6 0.7 0.63.7 Pooh Richardson 11 0 11.8 33.3 0.0 100.0 1.2 2.7 0.4 0.02.5 Keith Closs 15 0 5.8 52.2 0.0 80.0 1.7 0.0 0.2 0.62.1Stojko Vrankovic206.025.00.00.03.00.00.00.01.0

Player statistics citation:

Injuries and surgeries Player Injury Date Injury Type Scott Brooks January 30, 1999 Strained right MCL

Transactions The Clippers have been involved in the following transactions during the 1998–1999 season.

Re-signed Player Signed Contract Darrick Martin January 22, 1999 One-year deal

Trades No trades occurred for this team during this season.

Free agents

Additions

Player Signed Former team Scott Brooks January 21 Cleveland Cavaliers Tyrone Nesby January 21 Sioux Falls Skyforce (CBA) Sherman Douglas February 4 New Jersey Nets Troy Hudson March 23 Sioux Falls Skyforce (CBA)

Subtractions Player Left New team James Collins free agency, July 1 LaCrosse Bobcats (CBA) Isaac Austin free agency, January 21 Orlando Magic Loy Vaught free agency, January 22 Detroit Pistons Scott Brooks waived, February 19 Los Angeles Stars (ABA) James Robinson waived, March 18 Minnesota Timberwolves

Player Transactions Citation:

See also 1998-99 NBA season

References