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1990–91 Phoenix Suns Season

The 1990–91 Phoenix Suns season was the 23rd season for the Phoenix Suns in the National Basketball Association.

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. 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. 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, and ending the season finishing third in the Pacific Division with a 55–27 record.

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 >

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, 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.

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. Following the season, McDaniel was traded to the New York Knicks.

Draft picks

Round Pick Player Position Nationality College
1 21 Jayson Williams Forward 1990–91 Phoenix Suns Season  United States St. John's
2 31 Negele Knight Guard 1990–91 Phoenix Suns Season  United States Dayton
2 48 Cedric Ceballos Forward 1990–91 Phoenix Suns Season  United States Cal State Fullerton
2 50 Miloš Babić Center 1990–91 Phoenix Suns Season  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. 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 From
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
  • 1990–91 Phoenix Suns Season  Injured

Roster
Last transaction: January 26, 1991

Pre-season

1990 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
2 October 16 Utah Jazz W 98-92 Salt Palace 2-0
3 October 18 Cleveland Cavaliers W 111-103 Arizona State University Activity Center 3-0
4 October 20 Golden State Warriors W 128-124 El Paso, Texas 4-0
5 October 23 Cleveland Cavaliers W 119-114 Richfield Coliseum 5-0
6 October 24 Milwaukee Bucks L 112-116 Arizona State University Activity Center 5-1
7 October 26 Indiana Pacers W 109-107 Market Square Arena 6-1
8 October 27 Chicago Bulls W 117-110 Chicago Stadium 7-1

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)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
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.
  • 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.

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

Free agency

Players Lost

Released

Waived

Free agency

Trades

September 28, 1990 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 To Phoenix Suns
Xavier McDaniel 		To Seattle SuperSonics
Eddie Johnson
    Conditional first round picks for 1991 and 1994

See also

References

Tags:

1990–91 Phoenix Suns Season Draft picks1990–91 Phoenix Suns Season Roster1990–91 Phoenix Suns Season Pre-season1990–91 Phoenix Suns Season Regular season1990–91 Phoenix Suns Season Playoffs1990–91 Phoenix Suns Season Awards and records1990–91 Phoenix Suns Season InjuriesMissed games1990–91 Phoenix Suns Season Player statistics1990–91 Phoenix Suns Season Transactions1990–91 Phoenix Suns Season

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