1989–90 Philadelphia 76ers season

Last updated

1989–90   Philadelphia 76ers season
Division champions
Head coach Jim Lynam
General manager John Nash
Owner Harold Katz
Arena The Spectrum
Results
Record53–29 (.646)
PlaceDivision: 1st (Atlantic)
Conference: 2nd (Eastern)
Playoff finish Conference semifinals
(lost to Bulls 1–4)
Stats at Basketball Reference
Local media
Television
Radio WIP
< 1988–89 1990–91 >

The 1989–90 Philadelphia 76ers season was the 41st season for the Philadelphia 76ers in the National Basketball Association, and their 27th season in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. [1] During the off-season, the 76ers acquired Rick Mahorn from the Minnesota Timberwolves expansion team, who selected him in the 1989 NBA expansion draft; [2] [3] [4] Mahorn, who won an NBA championship with the Detroit Pistons last year, joined Charles Barkley and Mike Gminski to form a formidable front court. The team also acquired Johnny Dawkins from the San Antonio Spurs, [5] [6] [7] who teamed with second-year star Hersey Hawkins in the backcourt.

Contents

After a mediocre 18–16 start to the regular season, the 76ers won twelve consecutive games, then held a 30–18 record at the All-Star break, [8] and posted an 8-game winning streak near the end of the season. The team won the Atlantic Division title by finishing with a 53–29 record, defeating the Boston Celtics by just one game, and earning the second seed in the Eastern Conference; [9] it was their first Division title since their championship season in 1983, and their first in the post-Julius Erving era.

Barkley averaged 25.2 points, 11.5 rebounds and 1.9 steals per game, shot .600 in field-goal percentage, and was named to the All-NBA First Team, while Hawkins averaged 18.5 points and 1.6 steals per game, and Dawkins provided the team with 14.3 points, 7.4 assists and 1.5 steals per game. In addition, Gminski provided with 13.7 points, 8.5 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game, while sixth man Ron Anderson contributed 11.9 points per game off the bench, and Mahorn averaged 10.8 points and 7.6 rebounds per game, and was named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team. Off the bench, Derek Smith contributed 8.9 points per game, and Scott Brooks provided with 4.4 points and 2.9 assists per game. [10]

During the NBA All-Star weekend at the Miami Arena in Miami, Florida, Barkley was selected for the 1990 NBA All-Star Game, as a member of the Eastern Conference All-Star team. [11] [12] [13] Barkley also finished in second place in Most Valuable Player voting, behind Magic Johnson of the Los Angeles Lakers; Barkley received more first-place votes (38 of the 92 cast) than Johnson (27), but totaled only 614 points compared to Johnson's 636. [14] [15] [16] This was the only time in NBA history where the player with the most first-place votes for MVP did not get the award. [17] [18] Meanwhile, Hawkins finished in fifth place in Most Improved Player voting, with Smith finishing tied in sixth place, [19] [16] and head coach Jim Lynam finished in second place in Coach of the Year voting, behind Pat Riley of the Lakers. [20] [16]

In the Eastern Conference First Round of the 1990 NBA playoffs, the 76ers faced off against the 7th–seeded Cleveland Cavaliers, who were led by the All-Star trio of Brad Daugherty, Mark Price and Larry Nance. The 76ers won the first two games over the Cavaliers at home at The Spectrum, but then lost the next two games on the road, including a Game 4 loss to the Cavaliers, 108–96 at the Coliseum at Richfield, as the Cavaliers evened the series. The 76ers won Game 5 over the Cavaliers at The Spectrum, 113–97 to win in a hard-fought five-game series. [21] [22] [23]

In the Eastern Conference Semi-finals, the team faced off against the 3rd–seeded Chicago Bulls, who were led by the trio of All-Star guard Michael Jordan, All-Star forward Scottie Pippen, and Horace Grant. The 76ers lost the first two games to the Bulls on the road at the Chicago Stadium, but managed to win Game 3 at home, 118–112 at The Spectrum. However, the 76ers lost the next two games, including a Game 5 road loss to the Bulls at the Chicago Stadium, 117–99, thus losing the series in five games. [24] [25] [26]

Following the season, Smith signed as a free agent with the Boston Celtics, and Brooks was traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Draft picks

RoundPickPlayerPositionNationalitySchool/Club team
119 Kenny Payne SFFlag of the United States (23px).png  United States Louisville
244 Reggie Cross PFFlag of the United States (23px).png  United States Hawaii
254 Toney Mack SGFlag of the United States (23px).png  United States Georgia

Roster

1989–90 Philadelphia 76ers roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos.No.PlayerHeightWeightDOBFrom
F 20 Ron Anderson 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)215 lb (98 kg)1958–10–15 Fresno State
F 34 Charles Barkley 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)252 lb (114 kg)1963–02–20 Auburn
G 1 Scott Brooks 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)165 lb (75 kg)1965–07–31 UC Irvine
G 7 Lanard Copeland 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)194 lb (88 kg)1965–07–16 Georgia State
G 12 Johnny Dawkins 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)170 lb (77 kg)1963–09–28 Duke
C 42 Mike Gminski 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)250 lb (113 kg)1959–08–03 Duke
G 33 Hersey Hawkins 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)190 lb (86 kg)1966–09–29 Bradley
F 44 Rick Mahorn 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)240 lb (109 kg)1958–09–21 Hampton
C 40 Kurt Nimphius 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)218 lb (99 kg)1958–03–13 Arizona State
F 18 Kenny Payne 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)195 lb (88 kg)1966–11–25 Louisville
F 21 Derek Smith 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)205 lb (93 kg)1961–11–01 Louisville
F 45 Bob Thornton 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)225 lb (102 kg)1962–07–10 UC Irvine
Head coach
Assistant(s)
Legend
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injury icon 2.svg Injured

Roster
Updated: January 15, 1990

Regular season

Season standings

Atlantic Division
W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-Philadelphia 76ers 5329.646–34–719–2219–7
x-Boston Celtics 5230.634130–1122–1919–7
x-New York Knicks 4537.549829–1216–2517–9
Washington Bullets 3151.3782220–2111–3010–16
Miami Heat 1864.2203511–307–344–22
New Jersey Nets 1765.2073613–284–379–17
#
Eastern Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1c-Detroit Pistons 5923.720–
2y-Philadelphia 76ers 5329.6466
3x-Chicago Bulls 5527.6714
4x-Boston Celtics 5230.6347
5x-New York Knicks 4537.54914
6x-Milwaukee Bucks 4438.53715
7x-Cleveland Cavaliers 4240.51217
8x-Indiana Pacers 4240.51217
9 Atlanta Hawks 4141.50018
10 Washington Bullets 3151.37828
11 Miami Heat 1864.22041
12 Orlando Magic 1864.22041
13 New Jersey Nets 1765.20742
z - clinched division title
y - clinched division title
x - clinched playoff spot

Game log

Reference

Playoffs

1990 playoff game log
First Round: 3–2 (home: 3–0; road: 0–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Series
1April 26 Cleveland W 111–106 Charles Barkley (38) Charles Barkley (21) Johnny Dawkins (9) Spectrum
15,319		1–0
2April 29 Cleveland W 107–101 Charles Barkley (32) Rick Mahorn (9) Johnny Dawkins (11) Spectrum
18,168		2–0
3May 1@ Cleveland L 95–122 Hersey Hawkins (19) Charles Barkley (11) Johnny Dawkins (7) Richfield Coliseum
16,317		2–1
4May 3@ Cleveland L 96–108 Charles Barkley (23) Barkley, Mahorn (11) Johnny Dawkins (10) Richfield Coliseum
17,106		2–2
5May 5 Cleveland W 113–97 Hersey Hawkins (39) Charles Barkley (19) Johnny Dawkins (14) Spectrum
18,168		3–2
Conference semifinals: 1–4 (home: 1–1; road: 0–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Series
1May 7@ Chicago L 85–96 Charles Barkley (30) Charles Barkley (20)three players tied (4) Chicago Stadium
18,676		0–1
2May 9@ Chicago L 96–101 Hersey Hawkins (23) Charles Barkley (19) Johnny Dawkins (13) Chicago Stadium
18,676		0–2
3May 11 Chicago W 118–112 Charles Barkley (34) Charles Barkley (20) Charles Barkley (8) Spectrum
18,168		1–2
4May 13 Chicago L 101–111 Hersey Hawkins (26) Charles Barkley (13) Hersey Hawkins (6) Spectrum
18,168		1–3
5May 16@ Chicago 99–117 Ron Anderson (20) Charles Barkley (13) Johnny Dawkins (15) Chicago Stadium
18,676		1–4
1990 schedule

Player statistics

Legend
  GPGames 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

PlayerGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
Ron Anderson 78326.8.451.143.8383.81.8.9.211.9
Charles Barkley 797939.1.600.217.74911.53.91.9.625.2
Scott Brooks 72113.5.431.392.877.92.9.7.04.4
Lanard Copeland 2304.8.456.200.786.4.4.0.03.2
Johnny Dawkins 818135.4.489.333.8613.07.41.5.114.3
Corey Gaines 909.0.333.500.250.62.9.4.01.1
Mike Gminski 818132.8.457.176.8218.51.6.51.313.7
Hersey Hawkins 828234.8.460.420.8883.73.21.6.318.5
Lewis Lloyd †205.0.500.0.0.0.01.0
Rick Mahorn 756630.3.497.222.7157.61.3.61.410.8
Kurt Nimphius 3818.3.418.000.4671.6.2.1.52.4
Kenny Payne 3546.2.435.400.889.7.3.2.23.3
Dexter Shouse 306.0.000.000.0.7.3.3.0
Derek Smith 75718.7.508.444.6992.31.5.5.38.9
Bob Thornton 56010.6.429.333.5102.4.3.4.22.2
Jay Vincent †17515.2.4291.000.8922.1.5.6.17.3

Playoffs

PlayerGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
Ron Anderson 10025.6.430.600.9673.71.4.4.011.2
Charles Barkley 101041.9.543.333.60215.54.3.8.724.7
Scott Brooks 9011.0.316.429.667.91.8.3.02.3
Lanard Copeland 402.3.333.3.0.0.01.0
Johnny Dawkins 101038.6.461.000.8372.29.31.7.214.2
Mike Gminski 101034.2.487.000.9335.41.1.82.312.8
Hersey Hawkins 101041.5.497.389.9373.13.61.2.723.5
Rick Mahorn 101034.2.430.000.7697.01.0.7.89.4
Kurt Nimphius 404.5.1431.0.0.3.3.5
Kenny Payne 303.3.400.0001.000.7.0.0.02.0
Derek Smith 1015.0.625.000.500.01.01.0.011.0
Bob Thornton 909.9.389.5001.7.4.2.12.1
  • † Denotes player spent time with another team in the season. Stats reflect time with the 7ers only.

Player statistics citation: [10]

Awards and records

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1989-90 Philadelphia 76ers
  2. ↑ "Mahorn Traded to 76ers". The New York Times. October 28, 1989. Retrieved December 15, 2021.
  3. ↑ "Mahorn Is Traded to 76ers". Los Angeles Times. October 28, 1989. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  4. ↑ "1989 NBA Expansion Draft". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved February 10, 2022.
  5. ↑ Cialini, Joe (August 28, 1989). "76ers Trade Cheeks to Spurs". United Press International. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  6. ↑ "SPORTS PEOPLE: BASKETBALL; 76ers Trade Cheeks". The New York Times. August 29, 1989. Retrieved December 15, 2021.
  7. ↑ "76ers Send Cheeks to Spurs in 5-Man Deal". Los Angeles Times. August 29, 1989. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
  8. ↑ "NBA Games Played on February 8, 1990". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  9. ↑ "1989–90 Philadelphia 76ers Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved December 9, 2021.
  10. 1 2 "1989–90 Philadelphia 76ers Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved December 14, 2021.
  11. ↑ Howard-Cooper, Scott (February 11, 1990). "NBA ALL-STAR GAME: Entire Family Is Back Together--Almost". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  12. ↑ "1990 NBA All-Star Recap". NBA.com. NBA.com Staff. September 13, 2021. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
  13. ↑ "1990 NBA All-Star Game: East 130, West 113". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved December 9, 2021.
  14. ↑ Florence, Mal (May 23, 1990). "MVP Voting Is the Closest in 10 Years: Pro Basketball: Magic Johnson Wins It Again, Although Barkley Gets More First-Place Votes. Jordan Finishes Third". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  15. ↑ "SPORTS PEOPLE: PRO BASKETBALL; M.V.P. Controversy". The New York Times. May 23, 1990. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  16. 1 2 3 "1989–90 NBA Awards Voting". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  17. ↑ Andrew Lynch (March 31, 2017). "The 2016-17 MVP race is spectacular, but it's not the best ever". Fox Sports . Retrieved October 4, 2021.
  18. ↑ David Schoenfield. "The List: Most controversial MVPs". ESPN . Retrieved October 4, 2021.
  19. ↑ "SPORTS PEOPLE: PRO BASKETBALL; Miami's Seikaly Voted Most Improved Player". The New York Times. May 9, 1990. Retrieved December 8, 2025.
  20. ↑ "Riley Edges Adelman, Lynam as Sporting News' Top NBA Coach". Deseret News. May 27, 1990. Retrieved December 8, 2025.
  21. ↑ Brown, Clifton (May 6, 1990). "PRO BASKETBALL; 76ers Go to Round 2 by Beating Cavs". The New York Times. Retrieved December 9, 2021.
  22. ↑ "Hawkins, 76ers Oust Cavaliers: NBA Playoffs: Guard, Team Make Up for Poor Showing in Postseason Play Last Year, 113-97". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. May 6, 1990. Retrieved December 31, 2022.
  23. ↑ "1990 NBA Eastern Conference First Round: Cavaliers vs. 76ers". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved April 9, 2023.
  24. ↑ Brown, Clifton (May 17, 1990). "Jordan and Bulls Have a Date with Pistons". The New York Times. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  25. ↑ Wilbon, Michael (May 17, 1990). "Bulls Send 76ers Packing". The Washington Post. Retrieved December 31, 2022.
  26. ↑ "1990 NBA Eastern Conference Semifinals: 76ers vs. Bulls". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved April 9, 2023.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.