[2][3][4][5] This year's Celtics team was severely hindered by the loss of All-Star forward Larry Bird to a heel injury, which required surgery to have bone spurs removed from both heels; Bird only played just six early-season games before being lost to injury, averaging 19.3 points, 6.2 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game.
[15] At mid-season, the team traded Danny Ainge, and second-year forward Brad Lohaus to the Sacramento Kings in exchange for Ed Pinckney, and Joe Kleine.
First-round draft pick Brian Shaw from the University of California, Santa Barbara, provided with 8.6 points and 5.8 assists per game, and was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team, and Jim Paxson also contributed 8.6 points per game off the bench.
The Pistons would reach the NBA Finals for the second consecutive year, and defeat the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers in four straight games, winning their first ever championship.
[34][35][36][37][38] February 23, 1989: Danny Ainge was traded with Brad Lohaus to Sacramento Kings for Joe Kleine & Ed Pinckney