1990–91 New Jersey Nets season
Nets' 24th season in the National Basketball Association
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The 1990–91 New Jersey Nets season was the Nets' 24th season in the National Basketball Association, and 15th season in East Rutherford, New Jersey.[1]
| 1990–91 New Jersey Nets season | |
|---|---|
| Head coach | Bill Fitch |
| Arena | Brendan Byrne Arena |
| Results | |
| Record | 26–56 (.317) |
| Place | Division: 5th (Atlantic) Conference: 12th (Eastern) |
| Playoff finish | Did not qualify |
Stats at Basketball Reference | |
| Local media | |
| Television | WWOR-TV SportsChannel New York |
| Radio | WNEW |

Season summary
Off-season
After finishing with a league-worst 17–65 record the previous season, the Nets won the NBA draft lottery, and selected power forward Derrick Coleman out of Syracuse University with the first overall pick in the 1990 NBA draft.[2][3][4] During the off-season, the team acquired Reggie Theus from the Orlando Magic.[5][6][7]
For the season, the Nets redesigned their primary logo, which featured the team name "Nets" above a basketball in red, white and blue colors.[8] The team also redesigned their home and road uniforms, adding red side panels to their jerseys and shorts. The white home uniforms featured a red and blue trim, while the road uniforms were changed from blue to a light blue-to-white gradient with a red and white trim; the road uniforms would also be known as the "tie-dye" jerseys.[9][10]
The team's new primary logo, and new home uniforms would both remain in use until 1997, while the new road uniforms only lasted for just one season, where they would change them to a royal blue color the following season.
Regular season
With the addition of Coleman and Theus, the Nets continued to struggle losing nine of their first eleven games of the regular season, but managed to win six of their next eight games. However, the team posted an 11-game losing streak between December and January, posted a seven-game losing streak between January and February, and held a 14–34 record at the All-Star break.[11] At mid-season, the Nets acquired second-year Croatian guard Dražen Petrović from the Portland Trail Blazers, and traded Lester Conner to the Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for Greg Anderson. However, after only just one game with the Nets, Anderson was soon traded to the Denver Nuggets in exchange for rookie power forward, and first-round draft pick Terry Mills.[12][13][14] The Nets lost 12 of their final 16 games of the season, and finished in fifth place in the Atlantic Division with a 26–56 record;[15] the team missed the NBA playoffs for the fifth consecutive year.[1]
Theus averaged 18.6 points and 4.7 assists per game, while Coleman averaged 18.4 points, 10.3 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game, and was named the NBA Rookie of the Year, and was also named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team.[16][17][18] In addition, second-year guard Mookie Blaylock provided the team with 14.1 points, 6.1 assists and 2.3 steals per game, while Chris Morris contributed 13.2 points, 6.6 rebounds and 1.7 steals per game, and Sam Bowie provided with 12.9 points, 7.7 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game. Meanwhile, Petrović averaged 12.6 points per game in 43 games after the trade, second-year forward Derrick Gervin contributed 7.6 points per game, Chris Dudley provided with 7.1 points, 8.4 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game, and Jack Haley averaged 5.6 points and 4.6 rebounds per game.[19]
The Nets finished 24th in the NBA in home-game attendance, with an attendance of 480,786 at the Brendan Byrne Arena during the regular season, which was the fourth-lowest in the league.[19][20]
Aftermath
Following the season, Theus retired after only one season with the Nets, and Gervin and Haley were both released to free agency.
Draft picks
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | College |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Derrick Coleman | PF | Syracuse | |
| 1 | 22 | Tate George | SG | Connecticut | |
Roster
| Players | Coaches | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Head coach
Assistant(s)
Legend
|
Regular season
Season standings
| W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| y-Boston Celtics | 56 | 26 | .683 | — | 35–6 | 21–20 | 20-6 |
| x-Philadelphia 76ers | 44 | 38 | .537 | 12 | 29-12 | 15-26 | 14-12 |
| x-New York Knicks | 39 | 43 | .476 | 17 | 21-20 | 18-23 | 17–9 |
| Washington Bullets | 30 | 52 | .366 | 26 | 21-20 | 9-32 | 10-16 |
| New Jersey Nets | 26 | 56 | .317 | 30 | 20-21 | 6–35 | 8-18 |
| Miami Heat | 24 | 58 | .293 | 32 | 18-23 | 6-35 | 9-17 |
- y – clinched division title
- x – clinched playoff spot
| # | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team | W | L | PCT | GB | |
| 1 | c-Chicago Bulls | 61 | 21 | .744 | – |
| 2 | y-Boston Celtics | 56 | 26 | .683 | 5 |
| 3 | x-Detroit Pistons | 50 | 32 | .610 | 11 |
| 4 | x-Milwaukee Bucks | 48 | 34 | .585 | 13 |
| 5 | x-Philadelphia 76ers | 44 | 38 | .537 | 17 |
| 6 | x-Atlanta Hawks | 43 | 39 | .524 | 18 |
| 7 | x-Indiana Pacers | 41 | 41 | .500 | 20 |
| 8 | x-New York Knicks | 39 | 43 | .476 | 22 |
| 9 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 33 | 49 | .402 | 28 |
| 10 | Washington Bullets | 30 | 52 | .366 | 31 |
| 11 | New Jersey Nets | 26 | 56 | .317 | 35 |
| 12 | Charlotte Hornets | 26 | 56 | .317 | 35 |
| 13 | Miami Heat | 24 | 58 | .293 | 37 |
- z – clinched division title
- y – clinched division title
- x – clinched playoff spot
Schedule
| Game | Date | Opponent | Result | High Ponts | High Rebounds | High Assists | Arena | Record |
| 1 | November 2 | @ Indiana | L 81–100 | 0–1 | ||||
| 2 | November 3 | @ Philadelphia | L 110–112 | 0–2 | ||||
| 3 | November 6 | @ Charlotte | L 105–113 | 0–3 | ||||
| 4 | November 8 | Miami | W 114–103 | 1–3 | ||||
| 5 | November 10 | Boston | L 91–105 | 1–4 | ||||
| 6 | November 12 | Washington | L 92–97 | 1–5 | ||||
| 7 | November 14 | Milwaukee | W 112–95 | 2–5 | ||||
| 8 | November 16 | Detroit | L 96–105 | 2–6 | ||||
| 9 | November 17 | @ Milwaukee | L 99–111 | 2–7 | ||||
| 10 | November 20 | @ Seattle | L 88–105 | 2–8 | ||||
| 11 | November 21 | @ L.A. Clippers | L 90–99 | 2–9 | ||||
| 12 | November 23 | @ Phoenix | W 116–114 | 3–9 | ||||
| 13 | November 24 | @ Golden State | W 117–113 | 4–9 | ||||
| 14 | November 27 | Philadelphia | W 98–92 | 5–9 | ||||
| 15 | November 28 | @ Miami | L 79–97 | 5–10 | ||||
| 16 | December 1 | Orlando | W 111–92 | 6–10 | ||||
| 17 | December 4 | Seattle | W 106–102 | 7–10 | ||||
| 18 | December 7 | Phoenix | L 110–129 | 7–11 | ||||
| 19 | December 10 | Charlotte | W 121–115 | 8–11 | ||||
| 20 | December 13 | @ Atlanta | L 97–106 | 8–12 | ||||
| 21 | December 15 | New York | L 104–125 | 8–13 | ||||
| 22 | December 17 | Utah | L 98–100 | 8–14 | ||||
| 23 | December 19 | L.A. Clippers | W 118–105 | 9–14 | ||||
| 24 | December 21 | Cleveland | W 111–103 | 10–14 | ||||
| 25 | December 22 | @ New York | L 93–106 | 10–15 | ||||
| 26 | December 26 | Atlanta | L 111–113 | 10–16 | ||||
| 27 | December 28 | Houston | L 99–101 | 10–17 | ||||
| 28 | December 29 | @ Indiana | L 105–114 | 10–18 | ||||
| 29 | January 4 | San Antonio | L 89–93 | 10–19 | ||||
| 30 | January 5 | @ Detroit | L 83–99 | 10–20 | ||||
| 31 | January 7 | Dallas | L 87–88 (OT) | 10–21 | ||||
| 32 | January 8 | @ Chicago | L 102–111 | 10–22 | ||||
| 33 | January 12 | @ Philadelphia | L 99–109 | 10–23 | ||||
| 34 | January 13 | Portland | L 103–116 | 10–24 | ||||
| 35 | January 15 | Golden State | L 111–112 (OT) | 10–25 | ||||
| 36 | January 18 | @ Boston | W 111–106 | 11–25 | ||||
| 37 | January 19 | @ Atlanta | L 84–114 | 11–26 | ||||
| 38 | January 22 | @ Charlotte | W 92–90 | 12–26 | ||||
| 39 | January 23 | Chicago | W 99–95 | 13–26 | ||||
| 40 | January 25 | L.A. Lakers | L 103–108 | 13–27 | ||||
| 41 | January 26 | @ Miami | W 127–105 | 14–27 | ||||
| 42 | January 28 | @ Sacramento | L 83–101 | 14–28 | ||||
| 43 | January 29 | @ L.A. Lakers | L 89–110 | 14–29 | ||||
| 44 | January 31 | @ Denver | L 119–123 | 14–30 | ||||
| 45 | February 2 | @ Utah | L 103–111 | 14–31 | ||||
| 46 | February 4 | @ Portland | L 102–117 | 14–32 | ||||
| 47 | February 6 | Miami | L 119–134 | 14–33 | ||||
| 48 | February 7 | @ Washington | L 117–124 | 14–34 | ||||
| 49 | February 13 | Atlanta | W 140–106 | 15–34 | ||||
| 50 | February 15 | Denver | W 138–110 | 16–34 | ||||
| 51 | February 16 | @ Chicago | L 87–99 | 16–35 | ||||
| 52 | February 19 | Sacramento | W 97–83 | 17–35 | ||||
| 53 | February 22 | @ Boston | L 99–111 | 17–36 | ||||
| 54 | February 23 | Philadelphia | L 90–103 | 17–37 | ||||
| 55 | February 26 | Indiana | W 129–104 | 18–37 | ||||
| 56 | February 28 | Milwaukee | W 98–93 | 19–37 | ||||
| 57 | March 2 | New York | L 105–115 | 19–38 | ||||
| 58 | March 4 | @ Dallas | L 100–102 | 19–39 | ||||
| 59 | March 5 | @ Houston | L 100–112 | 19–40 | ||||
| 60 | March 7 | @ San Antonio | L 99–111 | 19–41 | ||||
| 61 | March 10 | @ Miami | L 88–101 | 19–42 | ||||
| 62 | March 11 | @ New York | L 85–90 | 19–43 | ||||
| 63 | March 14 | Detroit | W 118–110 | 20–43 | ||||
| 64 | March 16 | Washington | W 110–86 | 21–43 | ||||
| 65 | March 17 | Charlotte | L 108–121 | 21–44 | ||||
| 66 | March 20 | Minnesota | W 118–111 (OT) | 22–44 | ||||
| 67 | March 22 | @ Detroit | L 93–109 | 22–45 | ||||
| 68 | March 23 | @ Cleveland | L 82–108 | 22–46 | ||||
| 69 | March 25 | @ Washington | L 106–113 | 22–47 | ||||
| 70 | March 26 | Philadelphia | W 98–95 (OT) | 23–47 | ||||
| 71 | March 28 | Chicago | L 94–128 | 23–48 | ||||
| 72 | March 30 | New York | L 117–130 | 23–49 | ||||
| 73 | April 2 | Boston | L 77–94 | 23–50 | ||||
| 74 | April 4 | @ Boston | L 104–123 | 23–51 | ||||
| 75 | April 6 | @ Milwaukee | L 114–133 | 23–52 | ||||
| 76 | April 9 | @ Minnesota | L 89–109 | 23–53 | ||||
| 77 | April 12 | Cleveland | W 104–103 | 24–53 | ||||
| 78 | April 13 | @ Cleveland | L 98–102 | 24–54 | ||||
| 79 | April 16 | Indiana | L 126–132 | 24–55 | ||||
| 80 | April 18 | @ Washington | W 108–103 | 25–55 | ||||
| 81 | April 20 | Miami | W 118–103 | 26–55 | ||||
| 82 | April 21 | @ Orlando | L 110–120 | 26–56 |
Schedule and Results Citation:[15]
Player statistics
| 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 |
Regular season
| Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reggie Theus | 81 | 81 | 36.5 | .468 | .361 | .851 | 2.8 | 4.7 | 1.0 | 0.4 | 18.6 |
| Derrick Coleman | 74 | 68 | 35.2 | .467 | .342 | .731 | 10.3 | 2.2 | 1.0 | 1.3 | 18.4 |
| Mookie Blaylock | 72 | 70 | 35.9 | .416 | .154 | .790 | 3.5 | 6.1 | 2.3 | 0.6 | 14.1 |
| Chris Morris | 79 | 68 | 32.3 | .425 | .251 | .734 | 6.6 | 2.8 | 1.7 | 1.2 | 13.2 |
| Sam Bowie | 62 | 51 | 30.9 | .434 | .182 | .732 | 7.7 | 2.4 | 0.7 | 1.5 | 12.9 |
| Dražen Petrović | 43 | 0 | 20.5 | .500 | .373 | .861 | 2.1 | 1.5 | 0.9 | 0.0 | 12.6 |
| Greg Anderson | 1 | 0 | 18.0 | 1.000 | 6.0 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 8.0 | ||
| Derrick Gervin | 56 | 4 | 13.3 | .416 | .250 | .789 | 2.0 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 7.6 |
| Chris Dudley | 61 | 25 | 25.6 | .408 | .534 | 8.4 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 2.5 | 7.1 | |
| Jack Haley | 78 | 18 | 15.1 | .469 | .619 | 4.6 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 5.6 | |
| Terry Mills | 38 | 2 | 14.2 | .464 | .000 | .705 | 3.7 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 4.9 |
| Roy Hinson | 9 | 0 | 10.1 | .513 | .333 | 2.1 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 4.6 | |
| Lester Conner | 35 | 2 | 14.0 | .523 | .000 | .690 | 1.6 | 1.7 | 1.1 | 0.0 | 4.1 |
| Tate George | 56 | 11 | 10.6 | .415 | .000 | .800 | 0.8 | 1.9 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 3.4 |
| Jud Buechler | 74 | 10 | 11.6 | .416 | .250 | .652 | 1.9 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 3.1 |
| Kurk Lee | 48 | 0 | 5.5 | .268 | .200 | .893 | 0.6 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 1.4 |
Player statistics citation:[19]