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][3][4][5] 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.[6][7][8][9] 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,[10] and ending the season finishing third in the Pacific Division with a 55–27 record.[11]

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

Kevin Johnson and Tom Chambers were both selected for the 1991 NBA All-Star Game.[12][13] 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 Chambers averaged 19.9 points and 6.4 rebounds per game. In addition, Jeff Hornacek provided the team with 16.9 points, 5.1 assists and 1.4 steals per game, while McDaniel averaged 15.8 points and 7.2 rebounds per game with the Suns after the trade, sixth man Dan Majerle contributed 13.6 points and 5.4 rebounds per game, while being named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team, and Mark West and Andrew Lang both led the team with 2.0 blocks per game each.[14]

In the Western Conference First Round of the playoffs, the Suns faced the Jazz again, and lost in four games to the 5th-seeded team.[15][16][17][18] Following the season, McDaniel was traded to the New York Knicks.[19][20][21]

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.[22] 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.NameHeightWeightDOBFrom
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 24 Chambers, Tom (C) 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 (C) 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
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
C 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 Injured

Roster
Last transaction: January 26, 1991

Pre-season
1990 Pre-season Game Log: 7-1
#DateOpponentScoreLocationRecord
1October 11Denver NuggetsW 186-123Arizona State University Activity Center1-0[23]
2October 16Utah JazzW 98-92Salt Palace2-0[24]
3October 18Cleveland CavaliersW 111-103Arizona State University Activity Center3-0[25]
4October 20Golden State WarriorsW 128-124El Paso, Texas4-0[26]
5October 23Cleveland CavaliersW 119-114Richfield Coliseum5-0[27]
6October 24Milwaukee BucksL 112-116Arizona State University Activity Center5-1[28]
7October 26Indiana PacersW 109-107Market Square Arena6-1[29]
8October 27Chicago BullsW 117-110Chicago Stadium7-1[22]

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 Los Angeles Clippers3151.37832
10 Minnesota Timberwolves2953.35434
11 Dallas Mavericks2854.34135
12 Sacramento Kings2557.30538
13 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—

Game log

Playoffs

Game log
1991 playoff game log
First Round: 1–3 (home: 1–1; road: 0–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Series
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
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.[33]
  • 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.[34]

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[35]

Free agency

 Players Lost ----

Released

Waived

Free agency

Trades
September 28, 1990[37] 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[38] To Phoenix Suns----Xavier McDaniel To Seattle SuperSonics----Eddie Johnson----Conditional first round picks for 1991 and 1994

See also

References
    1. "1990-91 Phoenix Suns Roster and Stats | Basketball-Reference.com".
    2. "Suns and Jazz to Play in Tokyo". United Press International. May 28, 1990. Retrieved November 22, 2022.
    3. Rock, Brad (July 20, 1990). "Jazz Schedule Features Opener Vs. Suns in Tokyo". Deseret News. Retrieved November 22, 2022.
    4. "NBA 1990-91: NBA Enters a New World as Suns, Jazz Open Season in Tokyo". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. November 2, 1990. Retrieved March 10, 2022.
    5. "Sports People; Historical Hoops". The New York Times. November 4, 1990. Retrieved March 10, 2022.
    6. "X Marks Suns' Spot in Trade with Seattle: Pro Basketball: McDaniel to Phoenix. SuperSonics Get Eddie Johnson, Two No. 1 Picks". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. December 8, 1990. Retrieved December 15, 2021.
    7. Peoples, John (December 8, 1990). "Sonics Say So Long to X-Man -- McDaniel Traded to Suns". The Seattle Times. Retrieved September 5, 2022.
    8. "X-Man Traded to Suns for E.J., 2 1st-Round Picks". Deseret News. Associated Press. December 8, 1990. Retrieved November 22, 2022.
    9. "McDaniel Traded for Eddie Johnson". Tampa Bay Times. December 8, 1990. Retrieved April 10, 2023.
    10. "NBA Games Played on February 7, 1991". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved November 21, 2022.
    11. "1990–91 Phoenix Suns Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved October 16, 2021.
    12. Smith, Sam (January 30, 1991). "Pippen Bypassed for All-Star Team". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved November 22, 2022.
    13. "1991 NBA All-Star Game: East 116, West 114". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
    14. "1990–91 Phoenix Suns Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved October 16, 2021.
    15. "BASKETBALL; Utah's Malone Terminates Suns' Season". The New York Times. Associated Press. May 3, 1991. Retrieved September 5, 2022.
    16. "Whooping It Up". Deseret News. May 3, 1991. Retrieved September 5, 2022.
    17. "Jazz 101, Suns 93". United Press International. May 3, 1991. Retrieved April 10, 2023.
    18. "1991 NBA Western Conference First Round: Jazz vs. Suns". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved April 10, 2023.
    19. Brown, Clifton (October 2, 1991). "BASKETBALL; Knicks Add Firepower by Acquiring McDaniel". The New York Times. Retrieved December 15, 2021.
    20. "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. Associated Press. October 2, 1991. Retrieved November 20, 2022.
    21. "Knicks Trade Mustaf for McDaniel". The Washington Post. October 2, 1991. Retrieved November 20, 2022.
    22. Suns Ship Williams for 1st-Round Pick Archived 2011-07-14 at the Wayback Machine, Casa Grande Dispatch, October 29, 1990
    23. Ceballos Sparkles, Suns Scorch Nuggets Archived 2011-07-14 at the Wayback Machine, Casa Grande Dispatch, October 12, 1990
    24. Ceballos Fuels Suns Comeback Archived 2011-07-14 at the Wayback Machine, Casa Grande Dispatch, October 17, 1990
    25. Battle, Suns Sink Cavaliers Archived 2011-07-14 at the Wayback Machine, Casa Grande Dispatch, October 19, 1990
    26. Suns Subdue Warriors, Improve Record to 4-0 Archived 2011-07-14 at the Wayback Machine, Casa Grande Dispatch, October 22, 1990
    27. Suns Overhaul Cavs, Stretch Record to 5-0 Archived 2011-07-14 at the Wayback Machine, Casa Grande Dispatch, October 24, 1990
    28. Scoreboard -- Basketball Archived 2011-07-14 at the Wayback Machine, Casa Grande Dispatch, October 25, 1990
    29. Chambers' Jumper Sinks Pacers Archived 2011-07-14 at the Wayback Machine, Casa Grande Dispatch, October 27, 1990
    30. "1990–91 NBA Awards Voting". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
    31. "SPORTS PEOPLE: PRO BASKETBALL; Schrempf Gets Award". The New York Times. May 1, 1991. Retrieved November 22, 2022.
    32. "Schrempf Nips Majerle as NBA's Top 6th Man". Deseret News. May 1, 1991. Retrieved November 22, 2022.
    33. PRO BASKETBALL; Suns Score 107 in First Half, The New York Times, November 10, 1990
    34. Suns go down big in playoff opener, The Daily Courier, April 26, 1991
    35. Knight, Ceballos sign with Suns, Mohave Daily Miner, September 5, 1990
    36. Bulls lose Nealy to Suns, can't get Davis, Chicago Tribune, July 21, 1990
    37. Bullets Trade Pick For D.C.'s Morrison;Suns Get 1993 Second-Rounder for Guard, The Washington Post, September 29, 1990
    38. Sonics Trade X-Man to Suns, The Hour, December 8, 1990
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