1989–90 Houston Rockets season

The 1989–90 NBA season was the Rockets' 23rd season in the National Basketball Association, and 19th season in the city of Houston.[1] After a 9–6 start to the season, the Rockets would struggle posting a 12–18 record as they entered the New Year. However, they would manage to win seven of their next nine games, holding a 22–25 record at the All-Star break.[2] At midseason, the team acquired Vernon Maxwell from the San Antonio Spurs,[3][4][5] as they continued to play .500 basketball for the rest of the season. The Rockets finished fifth in the Midwest Division with a 41–41 record,[6] winning a tie-breaker over the Seattle SuperSonics for the #8 seed in the Western Conference.[7][8]

1989–90 Houston Rockets season
Head coachDon Chaney
General managerSteve Patterson
Owner(s)Charlie Thomas
ArenaThe Summit
Results
Record41–41 (.500)
PlaceDivision: 5th (Midwest)
Conference: 8th (Western)
Playoff finishFirst round
(lost to Lakers 1–3)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionKTXH
Home Sports Entertainment
RadioKTRH

Akeem Olajuwon led the Rockets with 24.3 points, 14.0 rebounds and 4.6 blocks per game, and was named to the All-NBA Second Team, the NBA All-Defensive First Team, and was selected for the 1990 NBA All-Star Game.[9][10] In addition, Otis Thorpe averaged 17.1 points and 9.0 rebounds per game, while Mitchell Wiggins averaged 15.5 points per game, Buck Johnson provided the team with 14.8 points and 1.3 steals per game, and Sleepy Floyd contributed 12.2 points and 7.3 assists per game.[11] Olajuwon also finished in seventh place in Most Valuable Player voting,[12] and in second place in Defensive Player of the Year voting.[13][14][15]

However, in the Western Conference First Round of the playoffs, the Rockets lost to the top-seeded Los Angeles Lakers in four games.[16][17][18][19] Following the season, Wiggins was released to free agency, and John Lucas and Tim McCormick were both traded to the Atlanta Hawks.[20][21][22]

Draft picks
Main article: 1989 NBA draft

The Rockets had no draft picks in 1989.

Roster
1989–90 Houston Rockets roster
Players Coaches
Pos.No.NameHeightWeightDOBFrom
G 25 Bowie, Anthony 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1963–11–09 Oklahoma
F 44 Caldwell, Adrian 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 265 lb (120 kg) 1966–07–04 Lamar
G 9 Dinkins, Byron 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 170 lb (77 kg) 1967–06–15 Charlotte
G 21 Floyd, Sleepy 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 170 lb (77 kg) 1960–03–06 Georgetown
F 1 Johnson, Buck 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1964–01–03 Alabama
G 32 Lloyd, Lewis 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 1959–02–22 Drake
G 10 Lucas, John 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1953–10–31 Maryland
G 11 Maxwell, Vernon 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1965–09–12 Florida
C 40 McCormick, Tim 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1962–03–10 Michigan
C 34 Olajuwon, Akeem 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 255 lb (116 kg) 1963–01–21 Houston
F 13 Smith, Larry 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1958–01–18 Alcorn State
F 33 Thorpe, Otis 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1962–08–05 Providence
G 23 Wiggins, Mitchell 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1959–09–28 Florida State
G 42 Woodson, Mike 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1958–03–24 Indiana
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured Injured

Roster
Last transaction: March 19, 1990

Regular season

Season standings
Midwest Division
 W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-San Antonio Spurs 5626.683–34–722–1919–9
x-Utah Jazz 5527.671136–519–2221–7
x-Dallas Mavericks 4735.573930–1117–2417–11
x-Denver Nuggets 4339.5241328–1315–2615–13
x-Houston Rockets 4141.5001531–1010–3113–15
Minnesota Timberwolves 2260.2683417–245–366–22
Charlotte Hornets 1963.2323713–286–357–21
#
Western Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1 z-Los Angeles Lakers6319.768–
2 y-San Antonio Spurs5626.6837
3 x-Portland Trail Blazers5923.7204
4 x-Utah Jazz5527.6718
5 x-Phoenix Suns5428.6599
6 x-Dallas Mavericks4735.57316
7 x-Denver Nuggets4339.52420
8 x-Houston Rockets4141.50022
9 Seattle SuperSonics4141.50022
10 Golden State Warriors3745.45126
11 Los Angeles Clippers3052.36633
12 Sacramento Kings2359.28040
13 Minnesota Timberwolves2260.26841
14 Charlotte Hornets1963.23244
z – clinched division title
y – clinched division title
x – clinched playoff spot

Record vs. opponents
1989-90 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 —1–32–00–52–30–21–13–22–02–02–31–10–24–03–21–12–21–35–02–20–21–11–11–11–11–12–2
Boston 3–1—2–02–23–11–11–12–21–12–01–31–10–25–02–21–15–14–14–03–21–10–22–01–12–01–12–3
Charlotte 0–20–2—0–21–11–33–20–22–21–41–12–20–41–10–22–21–11–11–10–21–30–41–30–50–40–50–2
Chicago 5–02–22–0—5–02–01–11–42–01–12–31–11–14–04–12–03–13–13–22–22–01–11–11–11–10–23–1
Cleveland 3–21–31–10–5—0–20–21–41–10–23–21–11–14–03–21–14–02–24–12–21–11–12–01–11–11–13–1
Dallas 2–01–13–10–22–0—2–31–13–14–12–03–10–42–01–14–12–01–12–01–11–30–43–13–22–21–31–1
Denver 1–11–12–31–12–03–2—0–22–24–10–22–20–42–01–15–02–01–12–01–11–32–24–01–32–20–41–1
Detroit 2–32–22–04–14–11–12–0—1–11–14–11–11–13–13–22–04–04–05–01–32–01–12–01–11–11–14–0
Golden State 0–21–12–20–21–11–32–21–1—2–21–13–11–42–01–13–12–00–22–01–10–52–23–21–32–32–21–1
Houston 0–20–24–11–12–01–41–41–12–2—1–12–22–21–11–12–21–11–12–01–12–21–34–02–22–23–21–1
Indiana 3–23–11–13–22–30–22–01–41–11–1—0–20–23–13–21–14–01–34–10–41–11–11–11–11–11–13–1
L.A. Clippers 1–11–12–21–11–11–32–21–11–32–22–0—1–40–21–13–12–00–22–00–20–40–52–30–43–20–41–1
L.A. Lakers 2–02–04–01–11–14–04–01–14–12–22–04–1—2–01–14–02–02–01–11–13–12–35–02–24–02–21–1
Miami 0–40–51–10–40–40–20–21–30–21–11–32–00–2—2–21–11–41–53–10–50–20–21–10–20–21–12–3
Milwaukee 2–32–22–01–42–31–11–12–31–11–12–31–11–12–2—2–04–02–25–01–31–11–11–11–12–00–23–1
Minnesota 1–11–12–20–21–11–40–50–21–32–21–11–30–41–10–2—1–11–11–11–10–41–32–21–41–30–51–1
New Jersey 2–21–51–11–30–40–20–20–40–21–10–40–20–24–10–41–1—1–41–31–40–20–21–10–20–20–22–3
New York 3–11–41–11–32–21–11–10–42–01–13–12–00–25–12–21–14–1—2–22–31–10–22–01–11–11–15–0
Orlando 0–50–41–12–31–40–20–20–50–20–21–40–21–11–30–51–13–12–2—2–20–20–21–11–10–21–10–4
Philadelphia 2–22–32–02–22–21–11–13–11–11–14–02–01–15–03–11–14–13–22–2—1–11–11–11–11–11–15–1
Phoenix 2–01–13–10–21–13–13–10–25–02–21–14–01–32–01–14–02–01–12–01–1—2–35–00–43–23–12–0
Portland 1–12–04–01–11–14–02–21–12–23–11–15–03–22–01–13–12–02–02–01–13–2—4–03–13–22–21–1
Sacramento 1–10–23–11–10–21–30–40–22–30–41–13–20–51–11–12–21–10–21–11–10–50–4—0–42–21–31–1
San Antonio 1–11–15–01–11–12–33–11–13–12–21–14–02–22–01–14–12–01–11–11–14–01–34–0—3–13–22–0
Seattle 1–10–24–01–11–12–22–21–13–22–21–12–30–42–00–23–12–01–12–01–12–32–32–21–3—1–32–0
Utah 1–11–15–02–01–13–14–01–12–22–31–14–02–21–12–05–02–01–11–11–11–32–23–12–33–1—2–0
Washington 2–23–22–01–31–31–11–10–41–11–11–31–11–13–21–31–13–20–54–01–50–21–11–10–20–20–2—

Playoffs
1990 playoff game log
First Round: 1–3 (home: 1–1; road: 0–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Series
1 April 27 @ L.A. Lakers L 89–101 Otis Thorpe (21) Akeem Olajuwon (14) Sleepy Floyd (8) Great Western Forum
17,505		 0–1
2 April 29 @ L.A. Lakers L 100–104 Sleepy Floyd (27) Akeem Olajuwon (11) Sleepy Floyd (8) Great Western Forum
17,505		 0–2
3 May 1 L.A. Lakers W 114–108 Otis Thorpe (27) Otis Thorpe (8) Sleepy Floyd (18) The Summit
16,611		 1–2
4 May 3 L.A. Lakers L 88–109 Akeem Olajuwon (28) Akeem Olajuwon (10) Sleepy Floyd (10) The Summit
16,611		 1–3
1990 schedule

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

NOTE: Please write the players statistics in alphabetical order by last name.

Season
Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG

Playoffs
Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG

Awards and records

See also

References
  1. 1989-90 Houston Rockets
  2. "NBA Games Played on February 8, 1990". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  3. "NBA WEDNESDAY'S TRADES: Cheeks Dealt for Strickland; Carroll to Nuggets". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. February 22, 1990. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  4. Goldaper, Sam (March 27, 1990). "NOTEBOOK; Spurs on Brink of Record Turnabout". The New York Times. Retrieved December 15, 2021.
  5. Luna, Richard (May 2, 1990). "Maxwell Proves Key Acquisition for Rockets". United Press International. Retrieved December 30, 2022.
  6. "1989–90 Houston Rockets Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved December 9, 2021.
  7. "Rockets Land a Berth". The New York Times. April 23, 1990. Retrieved January 19, 2022.
  8. Hafner, Dan (April 23, 1990). "NBA ROUNDUP: Rockets Get Last Spot, Lakers in 1st Round". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  9. Howard-Cooper, Scott (February 11, 1990). "NBA ALL-STAR GAME: Entire Family Is Back Together--Almost". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  10. "1990 NBA All-Star Game: East 130, West 113". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved December 9, 2021.
  11. "1989–90 Houston Rockets Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved December 15, 2021.
  12. McManis, Sam (May 22, 1990). "Magic Repeats in MVP Vote; Barkley Is 2nd: Pro Basketball: Johnson Is the First Back-to-Back Winner Since Larry Bird. Michael Jordan Finishes a Close Third". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  13. "Dennis Rodman NBA Defensive Player of Year". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. May 7, 1990. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  14. Shook, Richard L. (May 7, 1990). "Pistons' Rodman Voted Defensive Player of Year". United Press International. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  15. "1989–90 NBA Awards Voting". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved February 4, 2022.
  16. Luna, Richard (May 3, 1990). "Lakers 109, Rockets 88". United Press International. Retrieved December 31, 2022.
  17. "Worthy Helps Lakers Eliminate Rockets". The New York Times. Associated Press. May 4, 1990. Retrieved December 9, 2021.
  18. McManis, Sam (May 4, 1990). "Now Lakers Don't Have to Run for Cover, 109-88: NBA Playoffs: Pep Talk by Riley, Move to Straight-Up Defense Bear Fruit as Los Angeles Wins Playoff Series". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
  19. "1990 NBA Western Conference First Round: Rockets vs. Lakers". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved April 9, 2023.
  20. "SPORTS PEOPLE: PRO BASKETBALL; Rockets Obtain Smith". The New York Times. September 28, 1990. Retrieved December 31, 2022.
  21. "Rockets Trade Lucas, Get 2 Hawks". Los Angeles Times. September 28, 1990. Retrieved December 31, 2022.
  22. "Rockets, Hawks Work Deal". Deseret News. September 28, 1990. Retrieved December 31, 2022.
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