1989–90 Miami Heat season

The 1989–90 NBA season was the second season of the Miami Heat in the National Basketball Association (NBA).^[1] In the 1989 NBA draft, the Heat selected Glen Rice from the University of Michigan with the fourth overall pick, and selected Sherman Douglas out of Syracuse University with the 28th overall pick in the second round.^[2][3][4][5] The Heat moved from the Midwest Division of the Western Conference, where they played during the team's inaugural season, to the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. The Heat looked to fix their scoring woes via the draft, but still suffered the pains of an expansion team, posting long losing streaks throughout the entire season. However, they finished fifth in the Atlantic Division with a 3-win improvement from 1988–89 with an 18–64 record.^[6]

1989–90 Miami Heat season
Head coach	Ron Rothstein
General manager	Lewis Schaffel
Owners	Ted Arison Billy Cunningham Lewis Schaffel
Arena	Miami Arena
Results
Record	18–64 (.220)
Place	Division: 5th (Atlantic) Conference: 11th (Eastern)
Playoff finish	Did not qualify
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
Television	WBFS-TV SportsChannel Florida (Sam Smith, Eric Reid)
Radio	WQAM (Sam Smith, Eric Reid)
< 1988–89 1990–91 >

Second-year center Rony Seikaly led the team averaging 16.6 points per game, and was named the 1989–90 NBA Most Improved Player.^[7][8] Despite the awful season, the Heat would only receive the ninth overall pick in the Draft Lottery.

Draft picks

Main article: 1989 NBA draft

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	School/Club Team
1	4	Glen Rice	SF	United States	Michigan
2	28	Sherman Douglas	PG	United States	Syracuse
2	45	Scott Haffner		United States	Evansville

Roster

1989–90 Miami Heat roster

Players

Coaches

Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB From F/C 44 Davis, Terry 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 225 lb (102 kg) –– Virginia Union G 11 Douglas, Sherman 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 180 lb (82 kg) –– Syracuse G 21 Edwards, Kevin 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 190 lb (86 kg) –– DePaul F 32 Frank, Tellis 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 225 lb (102 kg) –– Western Kentucky G 3 Haffner, Scott 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 180 lb (82 kg) –– Evansville F 43 Long, Grant 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 225 lb (102 kg) –– Eastern Michigan F 41 Rice, Glen 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 215 lb (98 kg) –– Michigan F/C 50 Rowinski, Jim 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 250 lb (113 kg) –– Purdue C 4 Seikaly, Rony 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 230 lb (104 kg) –– Syracuse G 2 Sparrow, Rory 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 175 lb (79 kg) –– Villanova G 20 Sundvold, Jon 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 170 lb (77 kg) –– Missouri F 55 Thompson, Billy 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 195 lb (88 kg) –– Louisville

Head coach Ron Rothstein Assistant coach(es) Tony Fiorentino Dave Wohl Legend (DP) Unsigned draft pick (FA) Free agent (S) Suspended   Injured Roster Last transaction: {{{access-date}}}

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

z – clinched division title

y – clinched division title

x – clinched playoff spot

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: 18–64 (home: 11–30; road: 7–34)
November: 4–12 (home: 2–4; road: 2–8) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 1 November 3, 1989 New Jersey L 90–110 Miami Arena 0–1 2 November 4, 1989 @ New York L 99–119 Madison Square Garden 0–2 3 November 7, 1989 @ New Jersey W 83–77 Brendan Byrne Arena 1–2 4 November 8, 1989 @ Philadelphia L 91–115 The Spectrum 1–3 5 November 10, 1989 @ Indiana L 98–102 Market Square Arena 1–4 6 November 11, 1989 Detroit W 88–84 Miami Arena 2–4 7 November 14, 1989 Houston W 101–99 Miami Arena 3–4 8 November 15, 1989 @ Detroit L 94–120 The Palace of Auburn Hills 3–5 9 November 18, 1989 @ Dallas L 99–100 Reunion Arena 3–6 10 November 19, 1989 @ Houston L 94–120 The Summit 3–7 11 November 21, 1989 @ Charlotte W 98–87 Charlotte Coliseum 4–7 12 November 22, 1989 Philadelphia L 103–113 Miami Arena 4–8
December: 3–11 (home: 1–7; road: 2–4) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 17 December 1, 1989 @ New Jersey L 77–101 Brendan Byrne Arena 4–13 20 December 6, 1989 @ Philadelphia L 98–121 The Spectrum 4–16 25 December 19, 1989 New Jersey L 98–100 Miami Arena 7–18 28 December 26, 1989 New York L 94–100 Miami Arena 7–21
January: 2–13 (home: 1–6; road: 1–7) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 39 January 17, 1990 Indiana W 121–111 Miami Arena 9–30 40 January 19, 1990 Philadelphia L 95–102 Miami Arena 9–31 44 January 26, 1990 @ Indiana L 105–115 Market Square Arena 9–35
February: 3–10 (home: 3–5; road: 0–5) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 47 February 5, 1990 @ New York L 107–116 Madison Square Garden 10–37 All-Star Break 52 February 17, 1990 Detroit L 79–97 Miami Arena 10–42 53 February 19, 1990 @ Detroit L 85–94 The Palace of Auburn Hills 10–42 55 February 23, 1990 New York W 128–121 Miami Arena 11–44
March: 5–9 (home: 3–5; road: 2–4) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 62 March 11, 1990 New York L 90–106 Miami Arena 14–48 67 March 20, 1990 Indiana L 98–112 Miami Arena 15–52 68 March 21, 1990 @ Philadelphia L 97–118 The Spectrum 15–53 69 March 23, 1990 Dallas L 103–106 Miami Arena 15–54
April: 1–9 (home: 1–3; road: 0–6) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 76 April 8, 1990 @ New Jersey L 101–102 Brendan Byrne Arena 17–59 79 April 16, 1990 @ New York L 102–119 Madison Square Garden 17–62 80 April 18, 1990 Charlotte L 91–98 Miami Arena 17–63
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

See also

• 1989-90 NBA season

References

1. 1989-90 Miami Heat
2. Goldaper, Sam (June 28, 1989). "Kings Take Ellison First in N.B.A. Draft; Clippers Pick Ferry". The New York Times. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
3. McManis, Sam (June 28, 1989). "THE NBA DRAFT: The Other Teams: Sacramento's Secret Is Out: It's Ellison". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 31, 2022.
4. Cotton, Anthony (June 28, 1989). "Bullets Draft Hammonds". The Washington Post. Retrieved December 31, 2022.
5. "1989 NBA Draft". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved December 31, 2022.
6. "1989–90 Miami Heat Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
7. "NBA & ABA Most Improved Player Award Winners". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved December 31, 2022.
8. "1989–90 Miami Heat Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved January 13, 2022.