1989–90 Denver Nuggets season explained

The 1989–90 NBA season was the Nuggets' 14th season in the National Basketball Association, and 23rd season as a franchise.[1] The Nuggets got off to a fast start winning 11 of their first 15 games, on their way to a solid 19–9 start, and holding a 26–20 record at the All-Star break.[2] At midseason, the team acquired Joe Barry Carroll from the New Jersey Nets.[3] [4] However, they began to show their age as they barely made the playoffs with a mediocre record of 43–39, fourth in the Midwest Division.[5]

Fat Lever averaged 18.3 points, 9.3 rebounds, 6.5 assists and 2.1 steals per game, and was selected for the 1990 NBA All-Star Game,[6] [7] [8] [9] while Alex English averaged 17.9 points per game, and sixth man Walter Davis provided the team with 17.5 points per game off the bench. In addition, Michael Adams contributed 15.5 points, 6.3 assists and 1.5 steals per game, while Blair Rasmussen provided with 12.4 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game, and Danny Schayes averaged 10.4 points and 6.5 rebounds per game.[10]

In the Western Conference First Round of the playoffs, the Nuggets were swept by the San Antonio Spurs in three straight games.[11] [12] [13] [14] Following the season, an era would come to an end in Denver as head coach Doug Moe was fired,[15] [16] while English signed as a free agent with the Dallas Mavericks,[17] [18] [19] Lever was traded to the Mavericks,[20] [21] [22] Schayes signed with the Milwaukee Bucks,[23] [24] and Barry Carroll was released to free agency.

Draft picks

See main article: 1989 NBA draft.

RoundPickPlayerPositionNationalitySchool/Club Team
1 15 SG Stanford
2 42 SG McNeese State
2 47 SF Alabama-Birmingham

Regular season

Season standings

z - clinched division title

y - clinched division title

x - clinched playoff spot

Record vs. opponents

1989-90 NBA Records
width=100TeamATLBOSCHACHICLEDALDENDETGSWHOUINDLACLALMIAMILMINNJNNYKORLPHIPHOPORSACSASSEAUTAWAS
Atlanta– 1–3 2–0 0–5 2–3 0–2 1–1 3–2 2–0 2–0 2–3 1–1 0–2 4–0 3–2 1–1 2–2 1–3 5–0 2–2 0–2 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–2
Boston3–1 – 2–0 2–2 3–1 1–1 1–1 2–2 1–1 2–0 1–3 1–1 0–2 5–0 2–2 1–1 5–1 4–1 4–0 3–2 1–1 0–2 2–0 1–1 2–0 1–1 2–3
Charlotte0–2 0–2 – 0–2 1–1 1–3 3–2 0–2 2–2 1–4 1–1 2–2 0–4 1–1 0–2 2–2 1–1 1–1 1–1 0–2 1–3 0–4 1–3 0–5 0–4 0–5 0–2
Chicago5–0 2–2 2–0 – 5–0 2–0 1–1 1–4 2–0 1–1 2–3 1–1 1–1 4–0 4–1 2–0 3–1 3–1 3–2 2–2 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 0–2 3–1
Cleveland3–2 1–3 1–1 0–5 – 0–2 0–2 1–4 1–1 0–2 3–2 1–1 1–1 4–0 3–2 1–1 4–0 2–2 4–1 2–2 1–1 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 3–1
Dallas2–0 1–1 3–1 0–2 2–0 – 2–3 1–1 3–1 4–1 2–0 3–1 0–4 2–0 1–1 4–1 2–0 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–3 0–4 3–1 3–2 2–2 1–3 1–1
Denver1–1 1–1 2–3 1–1 2–0 3–2 – 0–2 2–2 4–1 0–2 2–2 0–4 2–0 1–1 5–0 2–0 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–3 2–2 4–0 1–3 2–2 0–4 1–1
Detroit2–3 2–2 2–0 4–1 4–1 1–1 2–0 – 1–1 1–1 4–1 1–1 1–1 3–1 3–2 2–0 4–0 4–0 5–0 1–3 2–0 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 4–0
Golden State0–2 1–1 2–2 0–2 1–1 1–3 2–2 1–1 – 2–2 1–1 3–1 1–4 2–0 1–1 3–1 2–0 0–2 2–0 1–1 0–5 2–2 3–2 1–3 2–3 2–2 1–1
Houston0–2 0–2 4–1 1–1 2–0 1–4 1–4 1–1 2–2 – 1–1 2–2 2–2 1–1 1–1 2–2 1–1 1–1 2–0 1–1 2–2 1–3 4–0 2–2 2–2 3–2 1–1
Indiana3–2 3–1 1–1 3–2 2–3 0–2 2–0 1–4 1–1 1–1 – 0–2 0–2 3–1 3–2 1–1 4–0 1–3 4–1 0–4 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 3–1
L.A. Clippers1–1 1–1 2–2 1–1 1–1 1–3 2–2 1–1 1–3 2–2 2–0 – 1–4 0–2 1–1 3–1 2–0 0–2 2–0 0–2 0–4 0–5 2–3 0–4 3–2 0–4 1–1
L.A. Lakers2–0 2–0 4–0 1–1 1–1 4–0 4–0 1–1 4–1 2–2 2–0 4–1 – 2–0 1–1 4–0 2–0 2–0 1–1 1–1 3–1 2–3 5–0 2–2 4–0 2–2 1–1
Miami0–4 0–5 1–1 0–4 0–4 0–2 0–2 1–3 0–2 1–1 1–3 2–0 0–2 – 2–2 1–1 1–4 1–5 3–1 0–5 0–2 0–2 1–1 0–2 0–2 1–1 2–3
Milwaukee2–3 2–2 2–0 1–4 2–3 1–1 1–1 2–3 1–1 1–1 2–3 1–1 1–1 2–2 – 2–0 4–0 2–2 5–0 1–3 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–0 0–2 3–1
Minnesota1–1 1–1 2–2 0–2 1–1 1–4 0–5 0–2 1–3 2–2 1–1 1–3 0–4 1–1 0–2 – 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 0–4 1–3 2–2 1–4 1–3 0–5 1–1
New Jersey2–2 1–5 1–1 1–3 0–4 0–2 0–2 0–4 0–2 1–1 0–4 0–2 0–2 4–1 0–4 1–1 – 1–4 1–3 1–4 0–2 0–2 1–1 0–2 0–2 0–2 2–3
New York3–1 1–4 1–1 1–3 2–2 1–1 1–1 0–4 2–0 1–1 3–1 2–0 0–2 5–1 2–2 1–1 4–1 – 2–2 2–3 1–1 0–2 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 5–0
Orlando0–5 0–4 1–1 2–3 1–4 0–2 0–2 0–5 0–2 0–2 1–4 0–2 1–1 1–3 0–5 1–1 3–1 2–2 – 2–2 0–2 0–2 1–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 0–4
Philadelphia2–2 2–3 2–0 2–2 2–2 1–1 1–1 3–1 1–1 1–1 4–0 2–0 1–1 5–0 3–1 1–1 4–1 3–2 2–2 – 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 5–1
Phoenix2–0 1–1 3–1 0–2 1–1 3–1 3–1 0–2 5–0 2–2 1–1 4–0 1–3 2–0 1–1 4–0 2–0 1–1 2–0 1–1 – 2–3 5–0 0–4 3–2 3–1 2–0
Portland1–1 2–0 4–0 1–1 1–1 4–0 2–2 1–1 2–2 3–1 1–1 5–0 3–2 2–0 1–1 3–1 2–0 2–0 2–0 1–1 3–2 – 4–0 3–1 3–2 2–2 1–1
Sacramento1–1 0–2 3–1 1–1 0–2 1–3 0–4 0–2 2–3 0–4 1–1 3–2 0–5 1–1 1–1 2–2 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 0–5 0–4 – 0–4 2–2 1–3 1–1
San Antonio1–1 1–1 5–0 1–1 1–1 2–3 3–1 1–1 3–1 2–2 1–1 4–0 2–2 2–0 1–1 4–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 4–0 1–3 4–0 – 3–1 3–2 2–0
Seattle1–1 0–2 4–0 1–1 1–1 2–2 2–2 1–1 3–2 2–2 1–1 2–3 0–4 2–0 0–2 3–1 2–0 1–1 2–0 1–1 2–3 2–3 2–2 1–3 – 1–3 2–0
Utah1–1 1–1 5–0 2–0 1–1 3–1 4–0 1–1 2–2 2–3 1–1 4–0 2–2 1–1 2–0 5–0 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–3 2–2 3–1 2–3 3–1 – 2–0
Washington2–2 3–2 2–0 1–3 1–3 1–1 1–1 0–4 1–1 1–1 1–3 1–1 1–1 3–2 1–3 1–1 3–2 0–5 4–0 1–5 0–2 1–1 1–1 0–2 0–2 0–2 —

Game log

Playoffs

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 1| April 26| @ San Antonio| L 103–119| Todd Lichti (22)| Todd Lichti (13)| Lichti, Adams (8)| HemisFair Arena
15,910| 0–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 2| April 28| @ San Antonio| L 120–129| Fat Lever (26)| Fat Lever (16)| Fat Lever (9)| HemisFair Arena
15,910| 0–2|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 3| May 1| San Antonio| L 120–131| Alex English (24)| Lever, Rasmussen (10)| Fat Lever (8)| McNichols Sports Arena
15,604| 0–3|-

Player statistics

Season

PlayerGPGSMPGFG%3FG%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
79 74 34.1 .402 .366 .850 2.8 6.3 1.5 .0 15.5
†30 27 24.0 .432 .743 6.4 1.8 .9 2.0 11.9
69 0 23.7 .481 .130 .912 2.6 2.2 .9 .1 17.5
65 2 10.1 .454 .000 .667 2.1 .7 .6 .1 1.8
80 80 27.6 .491 .400 .880 3.6 2.8 .6 .3 17.9
81 0 19.8 .452 .194 .743 2.6 2.3 1.0 .4 6.2
†5 0 6.4 .375 .875 .6 .4 .2 .0 2.6
60 7 14.9 .411 .408 .676 1.2 1.9 .8 .0 3.5
71 14 14.9 .490 .000 .675 3.1 1.7 .4 .1 5.4
67 46 14.3 .469 .000 .367 5.4 1.6 .8 .3 5.0
79 79 35.8 .443 .414 .804 9.3 6.5 2.1 .2 18.3
79 4 16.8 .486 .000 .747 1.9 1.5 .7 .2 8.0
81 55 24.6 .497 .000 .828 7.3 1.0 .5 1.3 12.4
53 22 22.5 .494 .000 .852 6.5 1.2 .8 .8 10.4

Playoffs

PlayerGPGSMPGFG%3FG%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
3 3 35.0 .382 .300 .875 2.0 6.0 1.3 .0 13.0
3 3 15.3 .563 1.000 3.0 1.0 .3 1.7 6.7
3 0 23.3 .400 .000 1.000 3.0 2.0 .3 .0 14.0
3 0 10.3 2.3 .7 1.3 .3 .0
3 3 25.3 .568 .818 3.0 3.0 .7 .3 19.7
3 0 26.3 .294 .333 1.000 3.3 3.7 1.7 .7 7.0
3 1 10.7 .778 1.000 1.7 1.3 .0 .0 6.0
2 2 7.0 .000 .500 .5 1.0 .0 .0 .5
3 3 37.7 .373 .143 .929 10.7 7.0 2.7 .3 17.3
3 0 23.3 .517 .000 .737 6.0 3.0 .3 .0 14.7
3 0 28.0 .396 .900 8.7 .3 .7 1.3 15.7

Awards and records

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 1989-90 Denver Nuggets Roster and Stats. 2021-11-16. Basketball-Reference.com. en.
  2. News: NBA Games Played on February 8, 1990 . Basketball-Reference . November 23, 2022.
  3. News: Goldaper . Sam . Knicks Trade Strickland to Spurs for Cheeks . The New York Times . February 22, 1990 . November 23, 2022.
  4. News: Associated Press . NBA WEDNESDAY'S TRADES: Cheeks Dealt for Strickland; Carroll to Nuggets . Los Angeles Times . February 22, 1990 . November 23, 2022.
  5. Web site: 1989–90 Denver Nuggets Schedule and Results. Basketball-Reference. December 9, 2021.
  6. News: Howard-Cooper . Scott . NBA ALL-STAR GAME: Entire Family Is Back Together--Almost . Los Angeles Times . February 11, 1990 . November 23, 2022.
  7. News: Bird, Johnson Return Magic to All-Star Game . Sun Sentinel . February 11, 1990 . November 15, 2023.
  8. News: NBA.com Staff . 1990 NBA All-Star Recap . NBA.com . September 13, 2021 . November 15, 2023.
  9. Web site: 1990 NBA All-Star Game: East 130, West 113 . Basketball-Reference . December 9, 2021.
  10. Web site: 1989–90 Denver Nuggets Roster and Stats. Basketball-Reference. December 14, 2021.
  11. News: Hafner . Dan . Portland Victory Could Prove Costly: NBA Playoffs: Trail Blazers Win at Dallas, But Williams and Duckworth Are Injured. The Pistons and Spurs Also Sweep Their Series . Los Angeles Times . May 2, 1990 . September 20, 2022.
  12. News: Spurs 131, Nuggets 120 . United Press International . May 2, 1990 . December 9, 2021.
  13. News: 1990 NBA Western Conference First Round Game 3: San Antonio Spurs at Denver Nuggets Box Score, May 1, 1990 . Basketball-Reference . December 31, 2022.
  14. Web site: 1990 NBA Western Conference First Round: Nuggets vs. Spurs . Basketball-Reference . April 9, 2023.
  15. News: SPORTS PEOPLE: PRO BASKETBALL; Doug Moe Dismissed as Coach of Nuggets . The New York Times . September 7, 1990 . November 23, 2022.
  16. News: Moe Fired as Nuggets Coach . United Press International . September 6, 1990 . November 23, 2022.
  17. News: Associated Press . Mavericks Will Sign Alex English to Make Up for the Loss of Perkins . Los Angeles Times . August 15, 1990 . November 23, 2022.
  18. News: Mavericks Sign English to One-Year Deal . United Press International . August 15, 1990 . November 23, 2022.
  19. News: SPORTS PEOPLE: PRO BASKETBALL; Mavericks Sign English . The New York Times . August 16, 1990 . December 15, 2021.
  20. News: SPORTS PEOPLE: PRO BASKETBALL; Nuggets Trade Lever to Dallas for 2 Picks . The New York Times . June 22, 1990 . December 15, 2021.
  21. News: Associated Press . Mavericks Get Lever for a Pair of No. 1 Picks: NBA: Nuggets Receive the Ninth Selection in Next Wednesday's Draft, and a First-Round Choice in 1991 . Los Angeles Times . June 22, 1990 . November 23, 2022.
  22. News: Mavericks Trade Two First-Round Draft Choices to Nuggets for Lever . United Press International . June 21, 1990 . November 23, 2022.
  23. News: Associated Press . A Trading Flurry Uncapped in NBA: Basketball: Ainge Goes to Portland, Schayes to Milwaukee, Pressey to San Antonio, Bol to Philadelphia After Salary Cap Raised by Nearly $2 Million . Los Angeles Times . August 2, 1990 . January 19, 2022.
  24. News: Hente . Karl . As Salary Cap Rises, Players Fly Around NBA . The Washington Post . August 2, 1990 . November 23, 2022.

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