The 1988–89 NBA season was the 76ers 40th season in the NBA and 26th season in Philadelphia. In the 1988 NBA draft, the 76ers selected power forward Charles D. Smith from the University of Pittsburgh with the third overall pick, but then traded him to the Los Angeles Clippers in exchange for shooting guard Hersey Hawkins from Bradley University, as the team needed more backcourt scoring to complement the inside play of Charles Barkley. The team also acquired Ron Anderson from the Indiana Pacers during the off-season. The Sixers would return to the NBA Playoffs after failing to qualify in 1988, holding a 26–20 record at the All-Star break, and finishing second in the Atlantic Division with a 46–36 record. Barkley averaged 25.8 points, 12.5 rebounds and 1.6 steals per game, and was named to the All-NBA First Team, and selected for the 1989 NBA All-Star Game, while Mike Gminski averaged 17.2 points, 9.4 rebounds and 1 3 blocks per game, and Hawkins provided the team with 15.1 points and 1.5 steals per game, and was selected to the NBA All-Rookie First Team. In addition, Anderson played a sixth man role, averaging 16.2 points per game off the bench, while Cliff Robinson provided with 15.1 points and 5.4 rebounds per game, but only played just 14 games due to a knee injury, and Maurice Cheeks contributed 11.6 points, 7.8 assists and 1.5 steals per game. Barkley also finished in sixth place in Most Valuable Player voting, and Anderson finished tied in fourth place in Most Improved Player voting. In the postseason, the Sixers lost an Eastern Conference First Round series to the New York Knicks in a 3–0 sweep. The second game was of note, because the team blew a 10-point lead with approximately 2 minutes left in the game, as Knicks guard Trent Tucker's three-point shot with less than 10 seconds left gave New York the win at home, 107–106. Following the season, Cheeks and David Wingate were both traded to the San Antonio Spurs, and Robinson was released to free agency. Draft picks Roster Regular season Season standings z - clinched division title y - clinched division title x - clinched playoff spot Record vs. opponents Game log Regular season |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 1 | November 4 | L.A. Clippers |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 2 | November 5 | Boston |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 3 | November