1990–91 Phoenix Suns season

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1990–91 Phoenix Suns season
Head coachCotton Fitzsimmons
General managerJerry Colangelo
Owner(s)Jerry Colangelo
ArenaArizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
Results
Record55–27 (.671)
PlaceDivision: 3rd (Pacific)
Conference: 4th (Western)
Playoff finishFirst Round
(Lost to Jazz 1–3)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
Television
RadioKTAR
< 1989–90 1991–92 >

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]

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[]

1990–91 Phoenix Suns roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB (YYYY-MM-DD) From
C 2 Carroll, Joe Barry 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1958-07-24 Purdue
SF 23 Ceballos, Cedric 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1969-08-02 Cal State Fullerton
PF 24 Chambers, Tom (C) 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1959-06-21 Utah
SG 14 Hornacek, Jeff 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1963-05-03 Iowa State
PG 7 Johnson, Kevin (C) 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1966-03-04 California
PG 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
SF 51 Lockhart, Ian 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1967-06-25 Tennessee
SF 9 Majerle, Dan 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1965-09-09 Central Michigan
SF 35 McDaniel, Xavier 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 1963-06-04 Wichita State
PF 45 Nealy, Ed 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 238 lb (108 kg) 1960-02-19 Kansas State
C 34 Perry, Tim 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1965-06-04 Temple
PF 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 Injured

Roster
Last transaction: January 26, 1991

Pre-season[]

hide1990 Pre-season Game Log: 7-1
# Date Opponent Score Location Record
1 October 11 Denver Nuggets W 186-123 Arizona State University Activity Center 1-0[5]
2 October 16 Utah Jazz W 98-92 Salt Palace 2-0[6]
3 October 18 Cleveland Cavaliers W 111-103 Arizona State University Activity Center 3-0[7]
4 October 20 Golden State Warriors W 128-124 El Paso, Texas 4-0[8]
5 October 23 Cleveland Cavaliers W 119-114 Richfield Coliseum 5-0[9]
6 October 24 Milwaukee Bucks L 112-116 Arizona State University Activity Center 5-1[10]
7 October 26 Indiana Pacers W 109-107 Market Square Arena 6-1[11]
8 October 27 Chicago Bulls W 117-110 Chicago Stadium 7-1[4]

Regular season[]

Season standings[]

Pacific Division
W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-Portland Trail Blazers 63 19 .768 — 36–5 27–14 18-10
x-Los Angeles Lakers 58 24 .707 5 33–8 25-16 19-9
x-Phoenix Suns 55 27 .671 8 32–9 23-18 17–11
x-Golden State Warriors 44 38 .537 19 30–11 14–27 13–15
x-Seattle SuperSonics 41 41 .500 22 28-13 13–28 12-16
Los Angeles Clippers 31 51 .378 32 23–18 8-33 10-18
Sacramento Kings 25 57 .305 38 24-17 1–40 9–19
y – clinched division title
x – clinched playoff spot
# Western Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1 z-Portland Trail Blazers 63 19 .768 –
2 y-San Antonio Spurs 55 27 .671 8
3 x-Los Angeles Lakers 58 24 .707 5
4 x-Phoenix Suns 55 27 .671 8
5 x-Utah Jazz 54 28 .659 9
6 x-Houston Rockets 52 30 .634 11
7 x-Golden State Warriors 44 38 .537 19
8 x-Seattle SuperSonics 41 41 .500 22
9 Orlando Magic 31 51 .378 32
10 Los Angeles Clippers 31 51 .378 32
11 Minnesota Timberwolves 29 53 .354 34
12 Dallas Mavericks 28 54 .341 35
13 Sacramento Kings 25 57 .305 38
14 Denver Nuggets 20 62 .244 43
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 — 3–1 1–4 1–4 3–2 2–0 1–1 0–5 1–1 1–1 4–1 2–0 1–1 4–0 2–3 1–1 3–1 3–1 1–1 0–4 0–2 1–1 2–0 2–0 1–1 1–1 2–2
Boston 1–3 — 3–1 2–2 3–1 2–0 2–0 2–2 1–1 2–0 2–2 2–0 1–1 4–1 2–2 2–0 4–1 5–0 1–1 2–3 1–1 1–1 2–0 1–1 2–0 1–1 5–1
Charlotte 4–1 1–3 — 0–5 1–4 1–1 0–2 1–4 1–1 0–2 0–5 1–1 0–2 2–2 2–3 1–1 2–2 0–4 2–0 2–2 0–2 0–2 2–0 1–1 0–2 0–2 2–2
Chicago 4–1 2–2 5–0 — 5–0 2–0 2–0 3–2 1–1 0–2 4–1 2–0 1–1 4–0 4–1 2–0 3–1 4–0 2–0 1–3 1–1 0–2 2–0 0–2 2–0 2–0 3–1
Cleveland 2–3 1–3 4–1 0–5 — 2–0 1–1 2–3 0–2 0–2 1–4 1–1 1–1 3–1 2–3 1–1 2–2 3–1 2–0 2–2 0–2 0–2 1–1 0–2 1–1 0–2 1–3
Dallas 0–2 0–2 1–1 0–2 0–2 — 3–1 0–2 2–2 1–3 2–0 1–3 2–2 0–2 1–1 1–4 2–0 2–0 1–4 1–1 0–4 1–3 2–2 1–4 2–2 0–5 2–0
Denver 1–1 0–2 2–0 0–2 1–1 1–3 — 0–2 1–3 0–5 0–2 0–4 0–4 0–2 1–1 3–2 1–1 1–1 2–3 0–2 0–4 0–4 3–1 1–4 0–4 1–3 1–1
Detroit 5–0 2–2 4–1 2–3 3–2 2–0 2–0 — 1–1 2–0 3–2 2–0 0–2 3–1 2–3 2–0 3–1 1–3 2–0 2–2 0–2 1–1 2–0 0–2 1–1 0–2 3–1
Golden State 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–0 2–2 3–1 1–1 — 2–2 1–1 3–2 2–3 2–0 1–1 3–1 1–1 2–0 2–2 2–0 1–3 2–3 2–3 2–2 3–1 1–3 0–2
Houston 1–1 0–2 2–0 2–0 2–0 3–1 5–0 0–2 2–2 — 1–1 2–2 1–3 2–0 2–0 5–0 2–0 2–0 3–2 2–0 3–1 0–4 3–1 2–3 2–2 2–2 1–1
Indiana 1–4 2–2 5–0 1–4 4–1 0–2 2–0 2–3 1–1 1–1 — 1–1 0–2 2–2 2–3 1–1 3–1 2–2 1–1 1–3 1–1 0–2 2–0 1–1 1–1 2–0 2–2
L.A. Clippers 0–2 0–2 1–1 0–2 1–1 3–1 4–0 0–2 2–3 2–2 1–1 — 0–4 0–2 1–1 3–1 1–1 0–2 1–3 0–2 2–3 1–3 3–2 2–2 2–3 1–3 0–2
L.A. Lakers 1–1 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 2–2 4–0 2–0 3–2 3–1 2–0 4–0 — 2–0 0–2 3–1 2–0 1–1 4–0 1–1 3–2 2–3 4–0 3–1 3–2 2–2 2–0
Miami 0–4 1–4 2–2 0–4 1–3 2–0 2–0 1–3 0–2 0–2 2–2 2–0 0–2 — 0–4 0–2 3–3 1–4 1–1 1–4 0–2 0–2 1–1 0–2 0–2 1–1 3–2
Milwaukee 3–2 2–2 3–2 1–4 3–2 1–1 1–1 3–2 1–1 0–2 3–2 1–1 2–0 4–0 — 1–1 2–2 4–0 2–0 2–2 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 3–1
Minnesota 1–1 0–2 1–1 0–2 1–1 4–1 2–3 0–2 1–3 0–5 1–1 1–3 1–3 2–0 1–1 — 1–1 1–1 2–2 2–0 0–4 0–4 3–1 0–4 2–2 1–4 1–1
New Jersey 1–3 1–4 2–2 1–3 2–2 0–2 1–1 1–3 1–1 0–2 1–3 1–1 0–2 3–3 2–2 1–1 — 0–5 1–1 2–3 1–1 0–2 1–1 0–2 1–1 0–2 2–3
New York 1–3 0–5 4–0 0–4 1–3 0–2 1–1 3–1 0–2 0–2 2–2 2–0 1–1 4–1 0–4 1–1 5–0 — 0–2 5–1 0–2 0–2 2–0 1–1 1–1 2–0 3–2
Orlando 1–1 1–1 0–2 0–2 0–2 4–1 3–2 0–2 2–2 2–3 1–1 3–1 0–4 1–1 0–2 2–2 1–1 2–0 — 0–2 2–2 0–4 2–2 1–3 1–3 1–4 1–1
Philadelphia 4–0 3–2 2–2 3–1 2–2 1–1 2–0 2–2 0–2 0–2 3–1 2–0 1–1 4–1 2–2 0–2 3–2 1–5 2–0 — 1–1 1–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 0–2 3–2
Phoenix 2–0 1–1 2–0 1–1 2–0 4–0 4–0 2–0 3–1 1–3 1–1 3–2 2–3 2–0 1–1 4–0 1–1 2–0 2–2 1–1 — 3–2 3–1 1–3 3–2 2–2 2–0
Portland 1–1 1–1 2–0 2–0 2–0 3–1 4–0 1–1 3–2 4–0 2–0 3–1 3–2 2–0 1–1 4–0 2–0 2–0 4–0 1–1 2–3 — 3–2 2–2 4–0 3–1 2–0
Sacramento 0–2 0–2 0–2 0–2 1–1 2–2 1–3 0–2 3–2 1–3 0–2 2–3 0–4 1–1 1–1 1–3 1–1 0–2 2–2 1–1 1–3 2–3 — 1–3 1–4 1–3 2–0
San Antonio 0–2 1–1 1–1 2–0 2–0 4–1 4–1 2–0 2–2 3–2 1–1 2–2 1–3 2–0 1–1 4–0 2–0 1–1 3–1 2–0 3–1 2–2 3–1 — 3–1 2–3 2–0
Seattle 1–1 0–2 2–0 0–2 1–1 2–2 4–0 1–1 1–3 2–2 1–1 3–2 2–3 2–0 1–1 2–2 1–1 1–1 3–1 1–1 2–3 0–4 4–1 1–3 — 1–3 2–0
Utah 1–1 1–1 2–0 0–2 2–0 5–0 3–1 2–0 3–1 2–2 0–2 3–1 2–2 1–1 1–1 4–1 2–0 0–2 4–1 2–0 2–2 1–3 3–1 3–2 3–1 — 2–0
Washington 2–2 1–5 2–2 1–3 3–1 0–2 1–1 1–3 2–0 1–1 2–2 2–0 0–2 2–3 1–3 1–1 3–2 2–3 1–1 2–3 0–2 0–2 0–2 0–2 0–2 0–2 —

Game log[]

Playoffs[]

Game log[]

1991 playoff game log
First Round: 1–3 (Home: 1–1; Road: 0–2)
1991 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* 16 4 16.4 .442 .000 .690 3.3 0.9 1.2 .4 6.0
Joe Barry Carroll 11 0 8.7 .361 . .917^ 2.2 1.0 .1 .7 3.4
Cedric Ceballos 63 0 11.6 .487 .167 .663 2.4 0.6 .3 .1 8.2
Tom Chambers 76 75 32.6 .437 .274 .826 6.4 2.6 .9 .7 19.9
Jeff Hornacek 80 77 34.2 .518 .418 .897^ 4.0 5.1 1.4 .2 16.9
Eddie Johnson* 15 0 20.8 .473 .286 .724 3.1 1.1 .6 .1 13.5
Kevin Johnson 77 76 36.0 .516 .205 .843 3.5 10.1 2.1 .1 22.2
Negele Knight 64 6 12.4 .425 .240 .602 1.1 3.0 .3 .1 5.3
Andrew Lang 63 18 18.3 .577 .000 .715 4.8 0.4 .3 2.0 4.9
Ian Lockhart 1 0 2.0 1.000+ . 1.000^ 0.0 0.0 .0 .0 4.0
Dan Majerle 77 7 29.6 .484 .349 .762 5.4 2.8 1.4 .5 13.6
Xavier McDaniel* 66 64 31.9 .503 .000 .727 7.2 2.3 .8 .6 15.8
Ed Nealy 55 0 10.4 .464 .313 .737 2.7 0.7 .4 .1 2.2
Tim Perry 46 2 12.8 .521 .000 .614 2.7 0.6 .5 .9 4.2
Kurt Rambis 62 17 14.5 .497 .000 .706 4.3 1.0 .4 .2 3.6
Mark West 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% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Joe Barry Carroll 2 0 7.5 .500 . .000 0.5 1.0 .0 .5 4.0
Cedric Ceballos 3 0 8.0 .583 . .333 1.7 0.7 .7 .0 5.3
Tom Chambers 4 4 35.5 .409 .000 .737 5.8 2.5 1.8 1.3 17.0
Jeff Hornacek 4 4 36.3 .431 .500 .929 6.3 2.0 .8 .5 18.3
Kevin Johnson 4 4 36.5 .302 .143 .600 3.3 9.8 .5 .3 12.8
Negele Knight 4 0 14.0 .500 .333 .714 1.0 2.3 .3 .0 8.0
Andrew Lang 4 0 13.8 .545 . .824 4.5 0.3 .3 .8 6.5
Dan Majerle 4 0 27.5 .375 .364 .737 3.8 1.8 1.3 .3 10.5
Xavier McDaniel 4 4 25.3 .415 .000 .667 3.8 1.3 .0 .5 9.5
Ed Nealy 2 0 10.0 .200 .000 . 2.5 0.0 .0 .0 1.0
Kurt Rambis 4 0 13.3 .400 . . 3.5 1.0 1.3 .3 1.0
Mark West 4 4 23.3 .600 . .714 4.5 0.5 .5 2.5 5.8

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. ^ Jump up to: a b 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. ^ Jump up to: a b 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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