1990–91 Phoenix Suns season

The 1990–91 Phoenix Suns season was the 23rd season for the Phoenix Suns in the National Basketball Association.[1] For the season opener, the Suns traveled to Japan to play their first two games 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.[2] The Suns got off to an 8–7 start early into the season as they traded Eddie Johnson to the Seattle SuperSonics for Xavier McDaniel. The Suns would post a 7-game winning streak as they won 17 of their next 21 games, ending the season finishing third in the Pacific Division with a 55–27 record. They would face the Jazz again in the first round of the playoffs, losing in four games to the 5th-seeded team.[3]

1990–91 Phoenix Suns season
Head coachCotton Fitzsimmons
General managerJerry Colangelo
OwnersJerry Colangelo
ArenaArizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
Results
Record55–27 (.671)
PlaceDivision: 3rd (Pacific)
Conference: 4th (Western)
Playoff finishWest First Round
(eliminated 1-3)
Stats @ Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionKUTP
ASPN
RadioKTAR

Kevin Johnson and Tom Chambers were both selected for the 1991 NBA All-Star Game. Johnson led the Suns with 22.2 points, 10.1 assists and 2.1 steals per game. He was also selected to the All-NBA Second Team. Following the season, McDaniel was traded to the New York Knicks.

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  Yugoslavia 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.[4] Rights to Miloš Babić were traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers for the rights of Stefano Rusconi.

Roster
Phoenix Suns roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos.#Nat.NameHeightWeightDOB (Y-M-D)From
C 2 Carroll, Joe Barry 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1958-07-24 Purdue
F 23 Ceballos, Cedric 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1969-08-02 Cal State Fullerton
F/C 24 Chambers, Tom 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1959-06-21 Utah
G 14 Hornacek, Jeff 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1963-05-03 Iowa State
G 7 Johnson, Kevin 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1966-03-04 California
G 32 Knight, Negele 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1967-03-06 Dayton
C 28 Lang, Andrew 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 245 lb (111 kg) 1966-06-28 Arkansas
F 51 Lockhart, Ian 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1967-06-25 Tennessee
G/F 9 Majerle, Dan 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1965-09-09 Central Michigan
F 35 McDaniel, Xavier 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 1963-06-04 Wichita State
F 45 Nealy, Ed 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 238 lb (108 kg) 1960-02-19 Kansas State
F 34 Perry, Tim 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1965-06-04 Temple
F 31 Rambis, Kurt 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 213 lb (97 kg) 1958-02-25 Santa Clara
C 41 West, Mark 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1960-11-05 Old Dominion
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured

Pre-season
1990 Pre-season Game Log: 7-1
#DateOpponentScoreLocationRecord
1October 11Denver NuggetsW 186-123Arizona State University Activity Center1-0[5]
2October 16Utah JazzW 98-92Salt Palace2-0[6]
3October 18Cleveland CavaliersW 111-103Arizona State University Activity Center3-0[7]
4October 20Golden State WarriorsW 128-124El Paso, Texas4-0[8]
5October 23Cleveland CavaliersW 119-114Richfield Coliseum5-0[9]
6October 24Milwaukee BucksL 112-116Arizona State University Activity Center5-1[10]
7October 26Indiana PacersW 109-107Market Square Arena6-1[11]
8October 27Chicago BullsW 117-110Chicago Stadium7-1[4]

Regular season

Season standings
Pacific Division W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-Portland Trail Blazers6319.768—36–527–1418-10
x-Los Angeles Lakers5824.707533–825-1619-9
x-Phoenix Suns5527.671832–923-1817–11
x-Golden State Warriors4438.5371930–1114–2713–15
x-Seattle SuperSonics4141.5002228-1313–2812-16
Los Angeles Clippers3151.3783223–188-3310-18
Sacramento Kings2557.3053824-171–409–19
y – clinched division title
x – clinched playoff spot
# Western Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1 z-Portland Trail Blazers6319.768–
2 y-San Antonio Spurs5527.6718
3 x-Los Angeles Lakers5824.7075
4 x-Phoenix Suns5527.6718
5 x-Utah Jazz5428.6599
6 x-Houston Rockets5230.63411
7 x-Golden State Warriors4438.53719
8 x-Seattle SuperSonics4141.50022
9 Orlando Magic3151.37832
10 Los Angeles Clippers3151.37832
11 Minnesota Timberwolves2953.35434
12 Dallas Mavericks2854.34135
13 Sacramento Kings2557.30538
14 Denver Nuggets2062.24443
z – clinched division title
y – clinched division title
x – clinched playoff spot

Record vs. opponents
1990–91 NBA records
Team ATL BOS CHA CHI CLE DAL DEN DET GSW HOU IND LAC LAL MIA MIL MIN NJN NYK ORL PHI PHO POR SAC SAS SEA UTA WAS
Atlanta —3–11–41–43–22–01–10–51–11–14–12–01–14–02–31–13–13–11–10–40–21–12–02–01–11–12–2
Boston 1–3—3–12–23–12–02–02–21–12–02–22–01–14–12–22–04–15–01–12–31–11–12–01–12–01–15–1
Charlotte 4–11–3—0–51–41–10–21–41–10–20–51–10–22–22–31–12–20–42–02–20–20–22–01–10–20–22–2
Chicago 4–12–25–0—5–02–02–03–21–10–24–12–01–14–04–12–03–14–02–01–31–10–22–00–22–02–03–1
Cleveland 2–31–34–10–5—2–01–12–30–20–21–41–11–13–12–31–12–23–12–02–20–20–21–10–21–10–21–3
Dallas 0–20–21–10–20–2—3–10–22–21–32–01–32–20–21–11–42–02–01–41–10–41–32–21–42–20–52–0
Denver 1–10–22–00–21–11–3—0–21–30–50–20–40–40–21–13–21–11–12–30–20–40–43–11–40–41–31–1
Detroit 5–02–24–12–33–22–02–0—1–12–03–22–00–23–12–32–03–11–32–02–20–21–12–00–21–10–23–1
Golden State 1–11–11–11–12–02–23–11–1—2–21–13–22–32–01–13–11–12–02–22–01–32–32–32–23–11–30–2
Houston 1–10–22–02–02–03–15–00–22–2—1–12–21–32–02–05–02–02–03–22–03–10–43–12–32–22–21–1
Indiana 1–42–25–01–44–10–22–02–31–11–1—1–10–22–22–31–13–12–21–11–31–10–22–01–11–12–02–2
L.A. Clippers 0–20–21–10–21–13–14–00–22–32–21–1—0–40–21–13–11–10–21–30–22–31–33–22–22–31–30–2
L.A. Lakers 1–11–12–01–11–12–24–02–03–23–12–04–0—2–00–23–12–01–14–01–13–22–34–03–13–22–22–0
Miami 0–41–42–20–41–32–02–01–30–20–22–22–00–2—0–40–23–31–41–11–40–20–21–10–20–21–13–2
Milwaukee 3–22–23–21–43–21–11–13–21–10–23–21–12–04–0—1–12–24–02–02–21–11–11–11–11–11–13–1
Minnesota 1–10–21–10–21–14–12–30–21–30–51–11–31–32–01–1—1–11–12–22–00–40–43–10–42–21–41–1
New Jersey 1–31–42–21–32–20–21–11–31–10–21–31–10–23–32–21–1—0–51–12–31–10–21–10–21–10–22–3
New York 1–30–54–00–41–30–21–13–10–20–22–22–01–14–10–41–15–0—0–25–10–20–22–01–11–12–03–2
Orlando 1–11–10–20–20–24–13–20–22–22–31–13–10–41–10–22–21–12–0—0–22–20–42–21–31–31–41–1
Philadelphia 4–03–22–23–12–21–12–02–20–20–23–12–01–14–12–20–23–21–52–0—1–11–11–10–21–10–23–2
Phoenix 2–01–12–01–12–04–04–02–03–11–31–13–22–32–01–14–01–12–02–21–1—3–23–11–33–22–22–0
Portland 1–11–12–02–02–03–14–01–13–24–02–03–13–22–01–14–02–02–04–01–12–3—3–22–24–03–12–0
Sacramento 0–20–20–20–21–12–21–30–23–21–30–22–30–41–11–11–31–10–22–21–11–32–3—1–31–41–32–0
San Antonio 0–21–11–12–02–04–14–12–02–23–21–12–21–32–01–14–02–01–13–12–03–12–23–1—3–12–32–0
Seattle 1–10–22–00–21–12–24–01–11–32–21–13–22–32–01–12–21–11–13–11–12–30–44–11–3—1–32–0
Utah 1–11–12–00–22–05–03–12–03–12–20–23–12–21–11–14–12–00–24–12–02–21–33–13–23–1—2–0
Washington 2–21–52–21–33–10–21–11–32–01–12–22–00–22–31–31–13–22–31–12–30–20–20–20–20–20–2—

Playoffs

Game log
1991 playoff game log
First Round: 1–3 (Home: 1–1; Road: 0–2)
1991 playoff schedule

Awards and records

All-Star Game

Awards

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.[12]
  • 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.[13]

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
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

Season
Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Kenny Battle*16416.4.442.000.6903.30.91.2.46.0
Joe Barry Carroll1108.7.361..917^2.21.0.1.73.4
Cedric Ceballos63011.6.487.167.6632.40.6.3.18.2
Tom Chambers767532.6.437.274.8266.42.6.9.719.9
Jeff Hornacek807734.2.518.418.897^4.05.11.4.216.9
Eddie Johnson*15020.8.473.286.7243.11.1.6.113.5
Kevin Johnson777636.0.516.205.8433.510.12.1.122.2
Negele Knight64612.4.425.240.6021.13.0.3.15.3
Andrew Lang631818.3.577.000.7154.80.4.32.04.9
Ian Lockhart102.01.000+.1.000^0.00.0.0.04.0
Dan Majerle77729.6.484.349.7625.42.81.4.513.6
Xavier McDaniel*666431.9.503.000.7277.22.3.8.615.8
Ed Nealy55010.4.464.313.7372.70.7.4.12.2
Tim Perry46212.8.521.000.6142.70.6.5.94.2
Kurt Rambis621714.5.497.000.7064.31.0.4.23.6
Mark West826423.9.647+..6556.90.5.42.07.7

* – Stats with the Suns.
+ – Minimum 50 games played.
^ – Minimum 125 free throws made.

Playoffs
Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Joe Barry Carroll207.5.500..0000.51.0.0.54.0
Cedric Ceballos308.0.583..3331.70.7.7.05.3
Tom Chambers4435.5.409.000.7375.82.51.81.317.0
Jeff Hornacek4436.3.431.500.9296.32.0.8.518.3
Kevin Johnson4436.5.302.143.6003.39.8.5.312.8
Negele Knight4014.0.500.333.7141.02.3.3.08.0
Andrew Lang4013.8.545..8244.50.3.3.86.5
Dan Majerle4027.5.375.364.7373.81.81.3.310.5
Xavier McDaniel4425.3.415.000.6673.81.3.0.59.5
Ed Nealy2010.0.200.000.2.50.0.0.01.0
Kurt Rambis4013.3.400..3.51.01.3.31.0
Mark West4423.3.600..7144.50.5.52.55.8

Transactions
Players Added ----

Draft[14]

Free agency

 Players Lost ----

Released

Waived

Free agency

Trades
September 28, 1990[16]
 To Phoenix Suns----Conditional second round pick for 1993 To Washington Bullets----Mike Morrison
October 28, 1990
 To Phoenix Suns----Conditional first round pick for 1994 To Philadelphia 76ers----Jayson Williams
December 7, 1990[17]
 To Phoenix Suns----Xavier McDaniel To Seattle SuperSonics----Eddie Johnson----Conditional first round picks for 1991 and 1994

See also

References
    1. https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/PHO/1991.html
    2. Suns Set To Begin NBA Slate Archived 2011-07-14 at the Wayback Machine, Casa Grande Dispatch, November 2, 1990
    3. At crunch time, Jazz crunched Suns -- and maybe critics, Deseret News, May 3, 1991
    4. Suns Ship Williams for 1st-Round Pick Archived 2011-07-14 at the Wayback Machine, Casa Grande Dispatch, October 29, 1990
    5. Ceballos Sparkles, Suns Scorch Nuggets Archived 2011-07-14 at the Wayback Machine, Casa Grande Dispatch, October 12, 1990
    6. Ceballos Fuels Suns Comeback Archived 2011-07-14 at the Wayback Machine, Casa Grande Dispatch, October 17, 1990
    7. Battle, Suns Sink Cavaliers Archived 2011-07-14 at the Wayback Machine, Casa Grande Dispatch, October 19, 1990
    8. Suns Subdue Warriors, Improve Record to 4-0 Archived 2011-07-14 at the Wayback Machine, Casa Grande Dispatch, October 22, 1990
    9. Suns Overhaul Cavs, Stretch Record to 5-0 Archived 2011-07-14 at the Wayback Machine, Casa Grande Dispatch, October 24, 1990
    10. Scoreboard -- Basketball Archived 2011-07-14 at the Wayback Machine, Casa Grande Dispatch, October 25, 1990
    11. Chambers' Jumper Sinks Pacers Archived 2011-07-14 at the Wayback Machine, Casa Grande Dispatch, October 27, 1990
    12. PRO BASKETBALL; Suns Score 107 in First Half, The New York Times, November 10, 1990
    13. Suns go down big in playoff opener, The Daily Courier, April 26, 1991
    14. Knight, Ceballos sign with Suns, Mohave Daily Miner, September 5, 1990
    15. Bulls lose Nealy to Suns, can't get Davis, Chicago Tribune, July 21, 1990
    16. Bullets Trade Pick For D.C.'s Morrison;Suns Get 1993 Second-Rounder for Guard, The Washington Post, September 29, 1990
    17. Sonics Trade X-Man to Suns, The Hour, December 8, 1990
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