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1990–91 Phoenix Suns season
NBA team season
NBA team season
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| team | Phoenix Suns |
| end_year | 1991 |
| wins | 55 |
| losses | 27 |
| division | Pacific |
| division_place | 3 |
| conf_place | 4 |
| coach | Cotton Fitzsimmons |
| gm | Jerry Colangelo |
| owner | Jerry Colangelo |
| arena | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum |
| playoffs | [First round](1991-nba-playoffs-bracket) |
| (lost to [Jazz](1990-91-utah-jazz-season) 1–3) | |
| bbr_team | PHO |
| radio | KTAR |
(lost to Jazz 1–3)
- KUTP
- ASPN The 1990–91 Phoenix Suns season was the 23rd season for the Phoenix Suns in the National Basketball Association. For the season opener, the Suns traveled overseas to Japan to play their first two games of the regular season against the Utah Jazz at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium, making history by being the two first teams in U.S. professional sports to play a regular season game outside of North America.
The Suns got off to an 8–7 start early into the season as they traded sixth man Eddie Johnson to the Seattle SuperSonics in exchange for Xavier McDaniel. The Suns would post a 7-game winning streak as they won 17 of their next 21 games, holding a 30–16 record at the All-Star break, and ending the season finishing in third place in the Pacific Division with a 55–27 record, and earning the fourth seed in the Western Conference.
Kevin Johnson led the Suns with 22.2 points, 10.1 assists and 2.1 steals per game, and was named to the All-NBA Second Team, while Tom Chambers averaged 19.9 points and 6.4 rebounds per game, and Jeff Hornacek provided the team with 16.9 points, 5.1 assists and 1.4 steals per game. In addition, McDaniel averaged 15.8 points and 7.2 rebounds per game in 66 games after the trade, and sixth man Dan Majerle contributed 13.6 points and 5.4 rebounds per game off the bench, and was named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team. Also off the bench, second-round draft pick Cedric Ceballos contributed 8.2 points per game, while starting center Mark West averaged 7.7 points, 6.9 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per game, and also shot .647 in field-goal percentage, second-round draft pick Negele Knight contributed 5.3 points and 3.0 assists per game, and Andrew Lang provided with 4.9 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per game.
During the NBA All-Star weekend at the Charlotte Coliseum in Charlotte, North Carolina, Chambers and Kevin Johnson were both selected for the 1991 NBA All-Star Game, as members of the Western Conference All-Star team; it was Chambers' fourth and final All-Star appearance. Kevin Johnson also finished in seventh place in Most Valuable Player voting, while Majerle finished in second place in Sixth Man of the Year voting, behind Detlef Schrempf of the Indiana Pacers; Majerle finished with 37 first-place votes, while Schrempf had 38.
In the Western Conference First Round of the 1991 NBA playoffs, and for the second consecutive year, the Suns faced off against the 5th–seeded Jazz, who were led by the trio of All-Star forward Karl Malone, All-Star guard John Stockton, and Jeff Malone. The Suns suffered a Game 1 home loss to the Jazz by a 39-point margin, 129–90 at the Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum, but managed to win Game 2 at home, 102–92 to even the series. However, the Suns lost the next two games to the Jazz, including a Game 4 road loss at the Delta Center, 101–93, as the team lost the series in four games.
Following the season, McDaniel was traded to the New York Knicks after only one season with the Suns.
Draft picks
Main article: 1990 NBA draft
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | College |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 21 | Jayson Williams | Forward | United States | St. John's |
| 2 | 31 | Negele Knight | Guard | United States | Dayton |
| 2 | 48 | Cedric Ceballos | Forward | United States | Cal State Fullerton |
| 2 | 50 | Miloš Babić | Center | Tennessee Tech |
First round pick Jayson Williams did not reach an agreement with team president Jerry Colangelo over his rookie contract, and after months of discussion Phoenix sent him to the Philadelphia 76ers in exchange for a conditional first round selection in the 1994 NBA draft. Rights to Miloš Babić were traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers for the rights of Stefano Rusconi.
Roster
- Cotton Fitzsimmons
- Lionel Hollins
- Scotty Robertson
- Paul Westphal | access-date = January 26, 1991
Pre-season
| 1990 Pre-season game log: 7–1 |
|---|
| **#** |
| 1 |
| 2 |
| 3 |
| 4 |
| 5 |
| 6 |
| 7 |
| 8 |
Regular season
Season standings
:y – clinched division title :x – clinched playoff spot
:z – clinched division title :y – clinched division title :x – clinched playoff spot
Game log
Playoffs
Game log
|- | 1 | April 25 | Utah | L 90–129 | Negele Knight (18) | Jeff Hornacek (5) | Kevin Johnson (6) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 14,487
| 0–1 |
|---|
| 2 |
| April 27 |
| Utah |
| W 102–92 |
| Jeff Hornacek (25) |
| Andrew Lang (8) |
| Kevin Johnson (12) |
| Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum |
| 14,487 |
| 1–1 |
| - |
| 3 |
| April 30 |
| @ Utah |
| L 98–107 |
| Tom Chambers (26) |
| Jeff Hornacek (10) |
| Kevin Johnson (10) |
| Salt Palace |
| 12,616 |
| 1–2 |
| - |
| 4 |
| May 2 |
| @ Utah |
| L 93–101 |
| Jeff Hornacek (30) |
| Tom Chambers (7) |
| Kevin Johnson (11) |
| Salt Palace |
| 12,616 |
| 1–3 |
| - |
Awards and records
All-Star Game
- Tom Chambers and Kevin Johnson were selected to play in the 1991 NBA All-Star Game, their fourth and second appearances respectively.
Awards
- Kevin Johnson was selected to the All-NBA Second Team, and finished seventh in Most Valuable Player voting.
- Dan Majerle was selected to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team, and finished second in Sixth Man of the Year voting.
Records
- In a game against the Denver Nuggets on November 10, 1990, the Suns broke the NBA scoring record for a team in a half, by finishing the first two quarters ahead 107–67.
- In Game 1 of the Western Conference First Round against the Utah Jazz, Phoenix suffered their worst playoff loss in franchise history up to that point, by losing 129–90.
Injuries/Missed games
- 10/30/90: Ricky Blanton: Viral infection; placed on injured list until waived on November 14
- 10/30/90: Negele Knight: Pulled hamstring; placed on injured list until November 21
- 10/30/90: Andrew Lang: Leg stress fracture; placed on injured list until November 16
- 11/03/90: Jeff Hornacek: Sore neck; did not play
- 11/07/90: Jeff Hornacek: Sore neck; did not play
- 11/16/90: Ian Lockhart: Knee, ankle injuries: placed on injured list for rest of season
- 11/21/90: Tim Perry: Sprained ankle; placed on injured list until December 5
- 12/05/90: Andrew Lang: Bruised arm; placed on injured list until December 26
- 12/26/90: Kenny Battle: Sprained ankle; placed on injured list until waived on January 23
- 01/02/91: Tom Chambers: Pulled hamstring; did not play
- 01/04/91: Tom Chambers: Pulled hamstring; did not play
- 01/05/91: Tom Chambers: Pulled hamstring; did not play
- 01/27/91: Joe Barry Carroll: Placed on suspended list until February 19
- 01/27/91: Kurt Rambis: Sprained ankle; placed on injured list until February 5
- 02/19/91: Tim Perry: Knee tendinitis; placed on injured list until March 17
- 03/17/91: Joe Barry Carroll: Sore hamstring; placed on injured list until April 21
- 04/05/91: Kevin Johnson: Strained hamstring; did not play
- 04/05/91: Dan Majerle: Injured hip; did not play
- 04/07/91: Kevin Johnson: Strained hamstring; did not play
- 04/07/91: Dan Majerle: Injured hip: did not play
- 04/09/91: Tom Chambers: Back spasms; did not play
- 04/09/91: Kevin Johnson: Strained hamstring; did not play
- 04/09/91: Dan Majerle: Spinal nerve irritation; did not play
- 04/12/91: Tom Chambers: Back spasms; did not play
- 04/12/91: Kevin Johnson: Strained hamstring; did not play
- 04/12/91: Dan Majerle: Spinal nerve irritation; did not play
- 04/14/91: Tom Chambers: Back spasms; did not play
- 04/14/91: Kevin Johnson: Strained hamstring; did not play
- 04/14/91: Dan Majerle: Spinal nerve irritation; did not play
- 04/21/91: Tim Perry: Knee tendinitis; placed on injured list for rest of season
Player statistics
Season
| Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| * | 16 | 4 | 16.4 | .442 | .000 | .690 | 3.3 | 0.9 | 1.2 | .4 | 6.0 |
| 11 | 0 | 8.7 | .361 | . | .917^ | 2.2 | 1.0 | .1 | .7 | 3.4 | |
| 63 | 0 | 11.6 | .487 | .167 | .663 | 2.4 | 0.6 | .3 | .1 | 8.2 | |
| 76 | 75 | 32.6 | .437 | .274 | .826 | 6.4 | 2.6 | .9 | .7 | 19.9 | |
| 80 | 77 | 34.2 | .518 | .418 | .897^ | 4.0 | 5.1 | 1.4 | .2 | 16.9 | |
| * | 15 | 0 | 20.8 | .473 | .286 | .724 | 3.1 | 1.1 | .6 | .1 | 13.5 |
| 77 | 76 | 36.0 | .516 | .205 | .843 | 3.5 | 10.1 | 2.1 | .1 | 22.2 | |
| 64 | 6 | 12.4 | .425 | .240 | .602 | 1.1 | 3.0 | .3 | .1 | 5.3 | |
| 63 | 18 | 18.3 | .577 | .000 | .715 | 4.8 | 0.4 | .3 | 2.0 | 4.9 | |
| 1 | 0 | 2.0 | 1.000+ | . | 1.000^ | 0.0 | 0.0 | .0 | .0 | 4.0 | |
| 77 | 7 | 29.6 | .484 | .349 | .762 | 5.4 | 2.8 | 1.4 | .5 | 13.6 | |
| * | 66 | 64 | 31.9 | .503 | .000 | .727 | 7.2 | 2.3 | .8 | .6 | 15.8 |
| 55 | 0 | 10.4 | .464 | .313 | .737 | 2.7 | 0.7 | .4 | .1 | 2.2 | |
| 46 | 2 | 12.8 | .521 | .000 | .614 | 2.7 | 0.6 | .5 | .9 | 4.2 | |
| 62 | 17 | 14.5 | .497 | .000 | .706 | 4.3 | 1.0 | .4 | .2 | 3.6 | |
| 82 | 64 | 23.9 | .647+ | . | .655 | 6.9 | 0.5 | .4 | 2.0 | 7.7 |
- – Stats with the Suns.
- – Minimum 50 games played.
^ – Minimum 125 free throws made.
Playoffs
| Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 0 | 7.5 | .500 | . | .000 | 0.5 | 1.0 | .0 | .5 | 4.0 | |
| 3 | 0 | 8.0 | .583 | . | .333 | 1.7 | 0.7 | .7 | .0 | 5.3 | |
| 4 | 4 | 35.5 | .409 | .000 | .737 | 5.8 | 2.5 | 1.8 | 1.3 | 17.0 | |
| 4 | 4 | 36.3 | .431 | .500 | .929 | 6.3 | 2.0 | .8 | .5 | 18.3 | |
| 4 | 4 | 36.5 | .302 | .143 | .600 | 3.3 | 9.8 | .5 | .3 | 12.8 | |
| 4 | 0 | 14.0 | .500 | .333 | .714 | 1.0 | 2.3 | .3 | .0 | 8.0 | |
| 4 | 0 | 13.8 | .545 | . | .824 | 4.5 | 0.3 | .3 | .8 | 6.5 | |
| 4 | 0 | 27.5 | .375 | .364 | .737 | 3.8 | 1.8 | 1.3 | .3 | 10.5 | |
| 4 | 4 | 25.3 | .415 | .000 | .667 | 3.8 | 1.3 | .0 | .5 | 9.5 | |
| 2 | 0 | 10.0 | .200 | .000 | . | 2.5 | 0.0 | .0 | .0 | 1.0 | |
| 4 | 0 | 13.3 | .400 | . | . | 3.5 | 1.0 | 1.3 | .3 | 1.0 | |
| 4 | 4 | 23.3 | .600 | . | .714 | 4.5 | 0.5 | .5 | 2.5 | 5.8 |
Player statistics citation:
Transactions
| **Players Added** | **Players Lost** |
|---|
Trades
References
References
- "1990-91 Phoenix Suns Roster and Stats {{!".
- (May 28, 1990). "Suns and Jazz to Play in Tokyo". United Press International.
- (November 2, 1990). "NBA 1990-91: NBA Enters a New World as Suns, Jazz Open Season in Tokyo". Los Angeles Times.
- (November 4, 1990). "Sports People; Historical Hoops". The New York Times.
- (December 8, 1990). "X Marks Suns' Spot in Trade with Seattle: Pro Basketball: McDaniel to Phoenix. SuperSonics Get Eddie Johnson, Two No. 1 Picks". Los Angeles Times.
- Peoples, John. (December 8, 1990). "Sonics Say So Long to X-Man -- McDaniel Traded to Suns". The Seattle Times.
- (December 8, 1990). "X-Man Traded to Suns for E.J., 2 1st-Round Picks". Deseret News.
- "NBA Games Played on February 7, 1991". Basketball-Reference.
- "1990–91 Phoenix Suns Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference.
- "1990–91 Phoenix Suns Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference.
- Barnard, Bill. (February 10, 1991). "The Show of Shows for Magic: NBA: For Laker Guard, Making His 10th Appearance, Each and Every All-Star Game Is a Special Occasion". Los Angeles Times.
- (September 13, 2021). "1991 NBA All-Star Recap". NBA.com.
- "1991 NBA All-Star Game: East 116, West 114". Basketball-Reference.
- "1990–91 NBA Awards Voting". Basketball-Reference.
- (May 1, 1991). "SPORTS PEOPLE: PRO BASKETBALL; Schrempf Gets Award". The New York Times.
- (May 3, 1991). "BASKETBALL; Utah's Malone Terminates Suns' Season". The New York Times.
- (May 3, 1991). "Whooping It Up". Deseret News.
- "1991 NBA Western Conference First Round: Jazz vs. Suns". Basketball-Reference.
- Brown, Clifton. (October 2, 1991). "BASKETBALL; Knicks Add Firepower by Acquiring McDaniel". The New York Times.
- (October 2, 1991). "Riley Gets Wish: Knicks Obtain Suns' McDaniel: Pro Basketball: Phoenix Gets Mustaf, Tucker and Second-Round Draft Picks in 1992 and 1994 for 6-7 Forward". Los Angeles Times.
- (October 2, 1991). "Knicks Trade Mustaf for McDaniel". The Washington Post.
- link. (2011-07-14 , ''Casa Grande Dispatch'', October 29, 1990)
- link. (2011-07-14 , ''Casa Grande Dispatch'', October 12, 1990)
- link. (2011-07-14 , ''Casa Grande Dispatch'', October 17, 1990)
- link. (2011-07-14 , ''Casa Grande Dispatch'', October 19, 1990)
- link. (2011-07-14 , ''Casa Grande Dispatch'', October 22, 1990)
- link. (2011-07-14 , ''Casa Grande Dispatch'', October 24, 1990)
- link. (2011-07-14 , ''Casa Grande Dispatch'', October 25, 1990)
- link. (2011-07-14 , ''Casa Grande Dispatch'', October 27, 1990)
- [https://www.nytimes.com/1990/11/11/sports/pro-basketball-suns-score-107-in-first-half.html PRO BASKETBALL; Suns Score 107 in First Half], ''[[The New York Times]]'', November 10, 1990
- The Daily Courier]]'', April 26, 1991
- Mohave Daily Miner]]'', September 5, 1990
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20121103163747/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/28883918.html?dids=28883918:28883918&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT Bulls lose Nealy to Suns, can't get Davis], ''[[Chicago Tribune]]'', July 21, 1990
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20121104164718/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-1150343.html Bullets Trade Pick For D.C.'s Morrison;Suns Get 1993 Second-Rounder for Guard], ''[[The Washington Post]]'', September 29, 1990
- The Hour]]'', December 8, 1990
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