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 (C) Team captain (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

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	—

Schedule

Game	Date	Opponent	Result	Nets points	Opponent score	Record	Streak	Notes
1	November 3	at Miami	Win	110	90	1-0	Won 1
2	November 4	at Orlando	Win	111	106	2-0	Won 2
3	November 7	vs Miami	Loss	77	83	2-1	Lost 1
4	November 9	at New York	Loss	105	107	2-2	Lost 2
5	November 10	vs Chicago	Win	117	107	3-2	Won 1
6	November 14	vs Cleveland	Loss	92	103	3-3	Lost 1
7	November 15	at Boston	Loss	92	126	3-4	Lost 2
8	November 18	vs San Antonio	Loss	95	110	3-5	Lost 3
9	November 21	at Seattle	Loss	84	114	3-6	Lost 4
10	November 22	at LA Clippers	Loss	97	106	3-7	Lost 5
11	November 24	at Portland	Loss	99	125	3-8	Lost 6
12	November 25	at Sacramento	Loss	98	112	3-9	Lost 7
13	November 27	at Utah	Loss	68	105	3-10	Lost 8
14	November 29	vs Boston	Loss	95	118	3-11	Lost 9
15	December 1	vs Miami	Win	101	77	4-11	Won 1
16	December 5	at Minnesota	Loss	90	92	4-12	Lost 1
17	December 8	at Houston	Win	99	94	5-12	Won 1
18	December 9	at San Antonio	Loss	92	109	5-13	Lost 1
19	December 12	vs Philadelphia	Win	97	82	6-13	Won 1
20	December 14	vs Indiana	Loss	78	102	6-14	Lost 1
21	December 16	vs LA Lakers	Loss	92	99	6-15	Lost 2
22	December 19	at Miami	Win	100	98	7-15	Won 1
23	December 20	vs Dallas	Loss	78	84	7-16	Lost 1
24	December 22	vs Detroit	Loss	90	96	7-17	Lost 2
25	December 23	at New York	Loss	85	94	7-18	Lost 3
26	December 26	vs Washington	Win	101	94	8-18	Won 1
27	December 28	vs New York	Loss	104	106	8-19	Lost 1
28	December 30	at Detroit	Loss	106	117	8-20	Lost 2
29	January 2	at Washington	Loss	96	110	8-21	Lost 3
30	January 3	vs Milwaukee	Loss	96	110	8-22	Lost 4
31	January 6	at Atlanta	Loss	96	105	8-23	Lost 5
32	January 7	vs Atlanta	Win	98	93	9-23	Won 1
33	January 9	vs Boston	Win	87	78	10-23	Won 2
34	January 11	vs Charlotte	Win	109	101	11-23	Won 3
35	January 13	at Cleveland	Loss	96	98	11-24	Lost 1
36	January 14	vs Portland	Loss	90	99	11-25	Lost 2
37	January 17	vs Washington	Win	115	106	12-25	Won 1
38	January 19	at Orlando	Loss	105	120	12-26	Lost 1
39	January 20	at Philadelphia	Loss	98	108	12-27	Lost 2
40	January 25	vs Orlando	Loss	112	117	12-28	Lost 3
41	January 27	at Chicago	Loss	107	110	12-29	Lost 4
42	January 29	at Dallas	Loss	88	108	12-30	Lost 5
43	January 30	at Phoenix	Loss	95	120	12-31	Lost 6
44	February 1	at Denver	Loss	112	123	12-32	Lost 7
45	February 2	at Golden State	Loss	109	128	12-33	Lost 8
46	February 4	at LA Lakers	Loss	105	121	12-34	Lost 9
47	February 7	vs Utah	Loss	101	108	12-35	Lost 10
48	February 14	at Philadelphia	Loss	112	122	12-36	Lost 11
49	February 15	vs Seattle	Loss	92	103	12-37	Lost 12
50	February 17	vs Denver	Loss	117	126	12-38	Lost 13
51	February 20	at Milwaukee	Loss	102	110	12-39	Lost 14
52	February 21	vs Minnesota	Win	95	93	13-39	Won 1
53	February 23	vs Houston	Loss	115	125	13-40	Lost 1
54	February 25	vs Chicago	Loss	106	107	13-41	Lost 2	OT
55	February 27	at Indiana	Loss	113	118	13-42	Lost 3
56	March 2	at Chicago	Loss	91	112	13-43	Lost 4
57	March 3	vs Atlanta	Win	114	109	14-43	Won 1
58	March 5	vs Sacramento	Win	128	111	15-43	Won 2
59	March 7	vs LA Clippers	Loss	115	119	15-44	Lost 1
60	March 9	vs Detroit	Loss	95	99	15-45	Lost 2
61	March 10	at New York	Loss	91	110	15-46	Lost 3
62	March 12	vs Milwaukee	Loss	104	109	15-47	Lost 4
63	March 16	at Philadelphia	Loss	110	119	15-48	Lost 5
64	March 18	at Boston	Loss	106	122	15-49	Lost 6
65	March 19	vs Philadelphia	Loss	94	108	15-50	Lost 7
66	March 21	at Washington	Loss	106	136	15-51	Lost 8
67	March 23	at Indiana	Loss	109	125	15-52	Lost 9
68	March 24	at Cleveland	Loss	108	115	15-53	Lost 10
69	March 26	at Charlotte	Loss	83	97	15-54	Lost 11
70	March 28	vs New York	Win	106	101	16-54	Won 1
71	March 30	vs Phoenix	Loss	119	126	16-55	Lost 1
72	April 1	vs Washington	Loss	97	105	16-56	Lost 2
73	April 4	at Boston	Loss	106	125	16-57	Lost 3
74	April 6	vs Golden State	Loss	117	123	16-58	Lost 4
75	April 8	vs Miami	Win	102	101	17-58	Won 1
76	April 10	vs Boston	Loss	96	112	17-59	Lost 1
77	April 11	at Detroit	Loss	93	98	17-60	Lost 2
78	April 14	vs Indiana	Loss	113	124	17-61	Lost 3
79	April 17	at Atlanta	Loss	95	118	17-62	Lost 4
80	April 18	vs Cleveland	Loss	93	100	17-63	Lost 5
81	April 21	at Milwaukee	Loss	95	96	17-64	Lost 6
82	April 22	vs Orlando	Loss	102	110	17-65	Lost 7

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

Player	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3FG%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG

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 Basketball Reference