1990–91 New York Knicks season

The 1990–91 New York Knicks season was the 45th season for the Knicks in the National Basketball Association.^[3] In the off-season, the Knicks signed free agent John Starks, who played in the Continental Basketball Association the previous season.^[4][5][6] The Knicks changed their on-court leadership early in the season, as head coach Stu Jackson was fired, and replaced with John MacLeod after 15 games.^[7][8][9] After a 6–3 start to the season, the Knicks lost eight of their next nine games, and held a 20–27 record at the All-Star break.^[10] They recovered to a 34–33 record near the end of the season, but then went 5–10 in their last 15 games.^[11] New York finished in third place in the Atlantic Division with a 39–43 record, and earned the #8 seed in the Eastern Conference for the NBA playoffs.^[12]

1990–91 New York Knicks season
Head coach	Stu Jackson (fired) (7–8) John MacLeod (32–35)
General manager	Al Bianchi Dave Checketts Ernie Grunfeld
Owners	Paramount Communications, Inc.
Arena	Madison Square Garden
Results
Record	39–43 (.476)
Place	Division: 3rd (Atlantic) Conference: 8th (Eastern)
Playoff finish	First round (lost to Bulls 0–3)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
Television	MSG Network (Marv Albert, John Andariese)[1]
Radio	WFAN (Jim Karvellas, Walt Frazier)[2]
< 1989–90 1991–92 >

Patrick Ewing led the Knicks with 26.6 points, averaged 11.2 rebounds and led them with 3.2 blocks per game. He was named to the All-NBA Second Team, and was selected for the 1991 NBA All-Star Game.^{[13][14][12][15]} Kiki Vandeweghe finished second on the team in scoring, averaging 16.3 points per game, while Gerald Wilkins provided them with 13.8 points per game, and Charles Oakley led the team with 12.1 rebounds per game. Mark Jackson led the team with 6.3 assists per game, playing most of the season off the bench as backup point guard behind Maurice Cheeks.^[15]

In the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs, the Knicks were swept in three straight games by Michael Jordan and the eventual NBA champion Chicago Bulls.^{[12][16][17][18][19]} The Knicks had suffered a 41-point margin in a 126–85 Game 1 road loss to the Bulls.^{[20][21][22][11]} The Bulls would reach the NBA Finals and defeat the Los Angeles Lakers in five games, winning their first-ever championship.^{[23][24][25][26][27]}

Following the season, Cheeks was traded to the Atlanta Hawks,^[28][29][30] and Trent Tucker was dealt to the Phoenix Suns.^[31][32] For the season, the Knicks slightly redesigned their uniforms, replacing their alternate "NY" logo on the left leg of their shorts with their current primary logo. These uniforms remained in use until 1992.^[33][34]

NBA draft

Main article: 1990 NBA draft

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	School/Club Team
1	17	Jerrod Mustaf	PF/C	United States	Maryland

Roster

1990–91 New York Knicks roster

Players

Coaches

Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB From G 1 Cheeks, Maurice 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1956–09–08 West Texas A&M C 33 Ewing, Patrick 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1962–08–05 Georgetown G 14 Grant, Greg 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m) 140 lb (64 kg) 1966–08–29 TCNJ G 13 Jackson, Mark 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1965–04–01 St. John's F 32 Mustaf, Jerrod 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 238 lb (108 kg) 1969–10–28 Maryland F 34 Oakley, Charles 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1963–12–18 Virginia Union G 23 Quinnett, Brian 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 235 lb (107 kg) 1966–05–30 Washington State G 3 Starks, John 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1965–08–10 Oklahoma State G 6 Tucker, Trent 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 193 lb (88 kg) 1959–12–20 Minnesota F 55 Vandeweghe, Kiki 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1958–08–01 UCLA F 7 Walker, Kenny 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1964–08–18 Kentucky C 45 Wilkins, Eddie Lee 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1962–05–07 Gardner–Webb G 21 Wilkins, Gerald 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1963–09–11 Chattanooga

Head coach Stu Jackson (fired) John MacLeod Assistant coach(es) Ernie Grunfeld Bob Salmi Paul Silas Jeff Van Gundy Legend (DP) Unsigned draft pick (FA) Free agent (S) Suspended Injured Roster Last transaction: January 23, 1991

Regular season

Season standings

Atlantic Division v t e	W	L	PCT	GB	Home	Road	Div
y-Boston Celtics	56	26	.683	—	35–6	21–20	20-6
x-Philadelphia 76ers	44	38	.537	12	29-12	15-26	14-12
x-New York Knicks	39	43	.476	17	21-20	18-23	17–9
Washington Bullets	30	52	.366	26	21-20	9-32	10-16
New Jersey Nets	26	56	.317	30	20-21	6–35	8-18
Miami Heat	24	58	.293	32	18-23	6-35	9-17

y – clinched division title

x – clinched playoff spot

#	Eastern Conference v t e
	Team	W	L	PCT	GB
1	c-Chicago Bulls	61	21	.744	–
2	y-Boston Celtics	56	26	.683	5
3	x-Detroit Pistons	50	32	.610	11
4	x-Milwaukee Bucks	48	34	.585	13
5	x-Philadelphia 76ers	44	38	.537	17
6	x-Atlanta Hawks	43	39	.524	18
7	x-Indiana Pacers	41	41	.500	20
8	x-New York Knicks	39	43	.476	22
9	Cleveland Cavaliers	33	49	.402	28
10	Washington Bullets	30	52	.366	31
11	New Jersey Nets	26	56	.317	35
12	Charlotte Hornets	26	56	.317	35
13	Miami Heat	24	58	.293	37

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

1991 playoff game log
First Round: 0–3 (home: 0–1; road: 0–2) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Series 1 April 25 @ Chicago L 85–126 Kiki VanDeWeghe (19) Charles Oakley (11) Maurice Cheeks (7) Chicago Stadium 18,676 0–1 2 April 28 @ Chicago L 79–89 Patrick Ewing (24) Ewing, Oakley (10) Trent Tucker (3) Chicago Stadium 18,676 0–2 3 April 30 Chicago L 94–103 Ewing, VanDeWeghe (20) Patrick Ewing (14) Maurice Cheeks (7) Madison Square Garden 18,021 0–3
1991 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
Maurice Cheeks	76	64	28.3	.499	.250	.814	2.3	5.7	1.7	.1	7.8
Patrick Ewing	81	81	38.3	.514	.000	.745	11.2	3.0	1.0	3.2	26.6
Greg Grant	22	0	4.9	.370	.333	.833	.5	.9	.4	.0	1.2
Stuart Gray	8	0	4.6	.333		1.000	1.3	.0	.0	.1	1.4
Mark Jackson	72	21	22.2	.492	.255	.731	2.7	6.3	.8	.1	8.8
Jerrod Mustaf	62	5	13.3	.465	.000	.644	2.7	.6	.2	.2	4.3
Charles Oakley	76	74	36.0	.516	.000	.784	12.1	2.7	.8	.2	11.2
Brian Quinnett	68	5	14.9	.459	.349	.722	2.1	.8	.3	.2	4.7
John Starks	61	10	19.2	.439	.290	.752	2.1	3.3	1.0	.3	7.6
Trent Tucker	65	13	18.4	.440	.418	.630	1.6	1.7	.7	.1	7.1
Kiki VanDeWeghe	75	72	32.3	.494	.362	.899	2.4	1.5	.6	.1	16.3
Kenny Walker	54	8	14.3	.435	.000	.780	2.9	.2	.3	.6	4.3
Eddie Lee Wilkins	68	1	9.8	.447	.000	.567	2.6	.2	.3	.1	4.1
Gerald Wilkins	68	56	31.8	.473	.209	.820	3.0	4.0	1.2	.3	13.8

Playoffs

Player	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
Maurice Cheeks	3	3	33.7	.609	.333	.500	3.0	5.3	1.0	.3	10.0
Patrick Ewing	3	3	36.7	.400		.778	10.0	2.0	.3	1.7	16.7
Mark Jackson	3	0	12.0	.333			.0	2.7	.3	.3	.7
Jerrod Mustaf	3	0	7.3	.800		.800	1.7	.0	.0	.3	4.0
Charles Oakley	3	3	33.3	.476		.500	10.3	1.0	.7	.3	7.7
Brian Quinnett	3	0	12.0	.500	.333		.3	1.0	.3	.0	3.0
John Starks	3	0	9.3	.400		1.000	1.0	2.0	.0	.0	2.0
Trent Tucker	3	2	22.0	.360	.400	1.000	4.0	3.0	.3	.0	8.0
Kiki VanDeWeghe	3	3	33.0	.406	.600	.880	2.7	1.3	.3	.0	17.0
Kenny Walker	3	0	10.3	.500		1.000	2.3	.7	.3	.3	3.3
Eddie Lee Wilkins	1	0	13.0	.667		.500	2.0	.0	.0	.0	9.0
Gerald Wilkins	3	1	26.0	.368	.286	1.000	2.7	1.7	1.7	.3	10.7

Awards and records

• The Knicks won the 1990 McDonald's Open by winning games against Italy's Scavolini Pesaro and Yugoslavia's POP 84.^[35]

Season

• Patrick Ewing was named to the All-NBA Second Team^[36]

Transactions

References

1. The Fourth Estate (PDF). New York Knicks. 2003. p. 331. Retrieved November 19, 2017.
2. The Fourth Estate (PDF). New York Knicks. 2003. p. 330. Retrieved November 19, 2017.
3. "New York Knicks". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved September 10, 2018.
4. Brown, Clifton (October 2, 1999). "Many Questions Await Knicks as Camp Opens". The New York Times. Retrieved March 21, 2023.
5. Brown, Clifton (December 13, 1990). "Overlooked No More, Starks Gives Knicks a Lift". The New York Times. Retrieved September 5, 2022.
6. Longman, Jere (May 27, 1993). "Manhattan's Matador John Starks Was Killing Time. Now He's Killing the Bulls". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Archived from the original on September 22, 2015. Retrieved June 16, 2017.
7. "Jackson Out, MacLeod In with Knicks: NBA: New York, Off to a 7–8 Start, Fires its Second-Year Coach". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. December 3, 1990. Retrieved March 21, 2023.
8. "Knicks Fire Jackson". United Press International. December 3, 1990. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
9. Brown, Clifton (December 4, 1990). "Jackson Is Let Go in a Surprise Move by the Knicks". The New York Times. Retrieved February 1, 2016.
10. "NBA Games Played on February 7, 1991". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved November 21, 2022.
11. "1990–91 New York Knicks Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved July 30, 2016.
12. "1990–91 NBA Season Summary". Basketball-Reference. Archived from the original on April 24, 2010. Retrieved June 16, 2017.
13. Smith, Sam (January 30, 1991). "Pippen Bypassed for All-Star Team". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved November 22, 2022.
14. "1991 NBA All-Star Game: East 116, West 114". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
15. "1990–91 New York Knicks Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved October 30, 2021.
16. Schabner, Dean (April 30, 1991). "Bulls 103, Knicks 94". United Press International. Retrieved April 10, 2023.
17. Brown, Clifton (May 1, 1991). "Basketball; No-Good-Knicks: Bulls Complete a Playoff Sweep". The New York Times. Retrieved October 16, 2021.
18. Smith, Sam (May 1, 1991). "How Sweep It Is! Bulls Beat Knicks". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved August 27, 2022.
19. "1991 NBA Eastern Conference First Round: Knicks vs. Bulls". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved April 10, 2023.
20. Murphy, Robert J. (April 25, 1991). "Bulls 126, Knicks 85". United Press International. Retrieved March 21, 2023.
21. Smith, Sam (April 26, 1991). "No Contest! Bulls 126, Knicks 85". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved March 21, 2023.
22. Brown, Clifton (April 27, 1991). "Basketball; Looking Up from Bottom, Knicks See a Mountain of Questions". The New York Times. Retrieved March 21, 2023.
23. Barnes, Mike (June 12, 1991). "Bulls Beat Lakers for Title, 108-101". United Press International. Retrieved December 31, 2022.
24. Brown, Clifton (June 13, 1991). "Jordan Crowns Career and Bulls Reign in N.B.A." The New York Times. Retrieved December 31, 2022.
25. Heisler, Mark (June 13, 1991). "NBA Finals: Lakers vs. Chicago Bulls: Bulls' Decree: Jordan Rules: Game 5: Chicago Wins First Championship by Sweeping at Forum, 108–101, But Depleted Lakers Go Down Fighting". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 22, 2022.
26. Aldridge, David (June 13, 1991). "Jordan, Co. Complete NBA Title Run, 108–101". The Washington Post. Retrieved September 22, 2022.
27. "1991 NBA Finals: Lakers vs. Bulls". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved April 10, 2023.
28. "Knicks Acquire McCormick from Atlanta for Cheeks". United Press International. October 2, 1991. Retrieved November 21, 2022.
29. Brown, Clifton (October 3, 1991). "Basketball; Knicks Send Cheeks to Hawks for McCormick". The New York Times. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
30. "Knicks Trade Cheeks to the Hawks for McCormick". Los Angeles Times. Staff and Wire Reports. October 3, 1991. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
31. Brown, Clifton (October 2, 1991). "Basketball; Knicks Add Firepower by Acquiring McDaniel". The New York Times. Retrieved November 20, 2022.
32. "1991–92 NBA Transactions". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved October 30, 2021.
33. "New York Knicks Uniform". Chris Creamer's Sports Logos Page – SportsLogos.Net. Retrieved November 25, 2021.
34. "New York Knicks Uniform". Chris Creamer's Sports Logos Page – SportsLogos.Net. Retrieved November 25, 2021.
35. "NBA International Pre-Season and Regular-Season Games". National Basketball Association. Archived from the original on December 3, 2010. Retrieved August 21, 2024.
36. "All-NBA & All-ABA Teams". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved November 2, 2013.

External links

• 1990–91 New York Knickerbockers Statistics