1989–90 New Jersey Nets season

The 1989–90 New Jersey Nets season was the Nets' 23rd season in the National Basketball Association, and 14th season in East Rutherford, New Jersey.^[1] The Nets decided to start the rebuilding process by acquiring Sam Bowie from the Portland Trail Blazers on draft day.^[2][3][4] Under new head coach Bill Fitch, they started the season winning their first two games, but went on to lose eleven of their next twelves games, including a nine-game losing streak. At midseason, the team acquired Chris Dudley from the Cleveland Cavaliers.^[5][6] The Nets struggled all season long posting a 14-game losing streak between January and February, and losing eleven consecutive games in March. They lost their final seven games of the season, finishing last place in the Atlantic Division with a league worst record at 17–65.^[7] Following the season, Dennis Hopson was traded to the Chicago Bulls.^[8][9]

1989–90 New Jersey Nets season
Head coach	Bill Fitch
Arena	Brendan Byrne Arena
Results
Record	17–65 (.207)
Place	Division: 6th (Atlantic) Conference: 13th (Eastern)
Playoff finish	Did not qualify
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
Television	WWOR-TV SportsChannel New York (Steve Albert, Bill Raftery, Jim Spanarkel)
Radio	WNEW (Howard David, Jim Spanarkel, Mike O'Koren)
< 1988–89 1990–91 >

Draft picks

Main article: 1989 NBA draft

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	College
1	12	Mookie Blaylock	PG	United States	Oklahoma
2	32	Stanley Brundy	F	United States	DePaul

Roster

1989–90 New Jersey Nets roster

Players

Coaches

Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB From G 10 Blaylock, Mookie 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1967-03-20 Oklahoma C 31 Bowie, Sam 7 ft 1 in (2.16 m) 235 lb (107 kg) 1961-03-17 Kentucky F 21 Brundy, Stanley 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1967-11-13 DePaul G 15 Conner, Lester 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1959-09-17 Oregon State C 22 Dudley, Chris 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 235 lb (107 kg) 1965-02-22 Yale F 24 Gervin, Derrick 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1963-03-28 Texas–San Antonio F/C 44 Haley, Jack 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1964-01-27 UCLA F 23 Hinson, Roy  6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1961-05-02 Rutgers G/F 2 Hopson, Dennis 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1965-04-22 Ohio State F/C 42 Mason, Anthony 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 250 lb (113 kg) 1966-12-14 Tennessee State G/F 34 Morris, Chris 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1966-01-20 Auburn G 7 Myers, Pete 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1963-09-15 Little Rock F/C 33 Shackleford, Charles 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1966-04-22 NC State G/F 45 Short, Purvis 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1957-07-02 Jackson State G 5 Wood, Leon 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1962-03-25 Cal State Fullerton

Head coach Bill Fitch Assistant coach(es) Butch Beard Rick Carlisle Legend (DP) Unsigned draft pick (FA) Free agent (S) Suspended Injured Roster

Regular season

Season standings

Atlantic Division v t e	W	L	PCT	GB	Home	Road	Div
y-Philadelphia 76ers	53	29	.646	–	34–7	19–22	19–7
x-Boston Celtics	52	30	.634	1	30–11	22–19	19–7
x-New York Knicks	45	37	.549	8	29–12	16–25	17–9
Washington Bullets	31	51	.378	22	20–21	11–30	10–16
Miami Heat	18	64	.220	35	11–30	7–34	4–22
New Jersey Nets	17	65	.207	36	13–28	4–37	9–17

#	Eastern Conference v t e
	Team	W	L	PCT	GB
1	c-Detroit Pistons	59	23	.720	–
2	y-Philadelphia 76ers	53	29	.646	6
3	x-Chicago Bulls	55	27	.671	4
4	x-Boston Celtics	52	30	.634	7
5	x-New York Knicks	45	37	.549	14
6	x-Milwaukee Bucks	44	38	.537	15
7	x-Cleveland Cavaliers	42	40	.512	17
8	x-Indiana Pacers	42	40	.512	17
9	Atlanta Hawks	41	41	.500	18
10	Washington Bullets	31	51	.378	28
11	Miami Heat	18	64	.220	41
12	Orlando Magic	18	64	.220	41
13	New Jersey Nets	17	65	.207	42

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	–	1–3	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
Boston	3–1	–	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
Charlotte	0–2	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
Chicago	5–0	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
Cleveland	3–2	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
Dallas	2–0	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
Denver	1–1	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
Detroit	2–3	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 State	0–2	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
Houston	0–2	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
Indiana	3–2	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. Clippers	1–1	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. Lakers	2–0	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
Miami	0–4	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
Milwaukee	2–3	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
Minnesota	1–1	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 Jersey	2–2	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 York	3–1	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
Orlando	0–5	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
Philadelphia	2–2	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
Phoenix	2–0	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
Portland	1–1	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
Sacramento	1–1	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 Antonio	1–1	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
Seattle	1–1	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
Utah	1–1	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
Washington	2–2	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

Regular season

1989–90 game log Total: 17–65 (Home: 13–28; Road: 4–37)
November: 3–11 (home: 1–4; road: 2–7) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 1 November 3, 1989 @ Miami W 110–90 Hopson (19) Shackleford (16) Blaylock, Conner (5) Miami Arena 15,008 1–0 2 November 4, 1989 @ Orlando W 111–106 Hopson (24) Shackleford (12) Blaylock (5) Orlando Arena 15,077 2–0 3 November 7, 1989 Miami L 77–83 Hopson (17) Shackleford (14) Conner (3) Brendan Byrne Arena 11,999 2–1 4 November 9, 1989 @ New York L 105–107 Morris (21) Hopson (9) Blaylock, Morris (6) Madison Square Garden 13,482 2–2 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
December: 5–9 (home: 3–5; road: 2–4) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 15 December 1, 1989 Miami W 101–77 Shackleford (19) Bowie (16) Blaylock (3) Brendan Byrne Arena 10,240 4–11 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 December 19, 1989 @ Miami W 100–98 Hopson (20) Bowie (6) Conner, Morris (5) Miami Arena 15,008 7–15 23 24 25 December 23, 1989 @ New York L 85–94 Hinson, Morris (22) Carroll (10) Conner (6) Madison Square Garden 17,047 7–18 26 27 December 28, 1989 New York L 104–106 Hopson (21) Hinson (12) Blaylock (6) Brendan Byrne Arena 20,049 8–19 28
January: 4–11 (home: 4–3; road: 0–8) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 January 19, 1990 @ Orlando L 105–120 Carroll (22) Carroll (11) Conner (6) Orlando Arena 15,077 12–26 39 40 January 25, 1990 Orlando L 112–117 Shackleford (22) Bowie (11) Conner (6) Brendan Byrne Arena 8,356 12–28 41 42 43
February: 1–11 (home: 1–5; road: 0–6) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 44 45 46 47 All-Star Break 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55
March: 3–13 (home: 3–5; road: 0–8) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 56 57 58 59 60 61 March 10, 1990 @ New York L 91–110 Gervin (24) Haley (11) Myers, Shackleford (5) Madison Square Garden 18,212 15–46 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 March 28, 1990 New York W 106–101 Morris (24) Morris (15) Conner, Myers (6) Brendan Byrne Arena 18,438 16–54 71
April: 1–10 (home: 1–6; road: 0–4) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 72 73 74 75 April 8, 1990 Miami W 102–101 Morris (23) Bowie, Morris (11) Wood (3) Brendan Byrne Arena 7,821 17–58 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 April 22, 1990 Orlando L 102–110 Short (23) Dudley (20) Conner (5) Brendan Byrne Arena 12,248 17–65
1989–90 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

Regular season

Player	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
Mookie Blaylock	50	17	25.3	.371	.225	.778	2.8	4.2	1.6	.3	10.1
Sam Bowie	68	54	32.5	.416	.323	.776	10.1	1.3	.6	1.8	14.7
Stanley Brundy	16	0	8.0	.500		.389	1.6	.2	.4	.3	2.3
Rick Carlisle	5	0	4.2	.143	.000		.0	1.0	.2	.2	.4
Joe Barry Carroll†	46	20	21.8	.393	.000	.794	5.4	.9	.4	1.2	8.8
Lester Conner	82	61	28.7	.414	.154	.804	3.2	4.7	2.1	.1	7.9
Chris Dudley†	27	8	24.9	.441		.305	8.1	.7	.8	1.1	6.1
Derrick Gervin	21	0	16.1	.472	.000	.730	3.1	.4	1.0	.3	12.0
Jack Haley†	56	26	18.3	.394	.000	.661	5.0	.4	.3	.2	6.0
Roy Hinson	25	19	31.7	.507		.869	6.9	.9	.6	1.1	15.0
Dennis Hopson	79	64	32.3	.434	.317	.792	3.5	1.9	1.3	.6	15.8
Jaren Jackson	28	0	5.7	.362	.000	.810	.9	.5	.5	.0	2.4
Anthony Mason	21	0	5.1	.350		.600	1.6	.3	.1	.1	1.8
Chris Morris	80	76	30.6	.422	.316	.722	5.3	1.8	1.6	1.0	14.8
Pete Myers†	28	2	19.4	.411	.000	.725	2.4	3.6	.7	.3	7.1
Charles Shackleford	70	37	22.2	.462	.000	.687	6.8	.8	.6	.5	8.2
Purvis Short	82	24	27.0	.455	.286	.835	3.0	1.8	.8	.2	13.1
Jay Taylor	17	0	6.7	.404	.231	.667	.6	.3	.3	.2	3.0
Leon Wood	28	2	7.1	.327	.190	.875	.4	1.7	.2	.0	1.8

• ^† Denotes player spent time with another team in the season. Stats reflect time with the Nets only.

Awards, records and honors

References

1. 1989–90 New Jersey Nets
2. Brown, Clifton (June 25, 1989). "PRO-BASKETBALL; Nets Get Bowie for Buck Williams". The New York Times. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
3. "Trail Blazers Trade Bowie, No. 12 Pick in Draft to Nets for Buck Williams". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. June 25, 1989. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
4. "Blazers Trade Bowie, No. 12 Pick for Williams". Deseret News. Associated Press. June 25, 1989. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
5. Goldaper, Sam (February 22, 1990). "Knicks Trade Strickland to Spurs for Cheeks". The New York Times. Retrieved December 31, 2022.
6. "NBA WEDNESDAY'S TRADES: Cheeks Dealt for Strickland; Carroll to Nuggets". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. February 22, 1990. Retrieved December 31, 2022.
7. "1989–90 New Jersey Nets Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
8. Brown, Clifton (June 27, 1990). "Nets Continue to Deal, Trading Hopson to Bulls". The New York Times. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
9. "2 Dennis Hopson". Chicago Tribune. November 2, 1990. Retrieved December 6, 2022.

• New Jersey Nets on Database Basketball
• New Jersey Nets on Basketball Reference