1989–90 Washington Bullets season

The 1989–90 NBA season was the Bullets' 29th season in the National Basketball Association.^[1] The Bullets had the ninth overall pick in the 1989 NBA draft, and selected Tom Hammonds out of Georgia Tech.^[2][3][4][5] The Bullets got off to a fast start winning five of their first six games. However, they would struggle losing 10 of their next 13 games, but would climb back into playoff connection with a 12–11 record in mid December. However, their playoff hopes faded quickly as they lost 14 of their next 16 games, and held a 18–31 record at the All-Star break.^[6] The Bullets finished fourth in the Atlantic Division with a 31–51 record,^[7]

1989–90 Washington Bullets season
Head coach	Wes Unseld
General manager	Bob Ferry
Owner(s)	Abe Pollin
Arena	Capital Centre (37 games) Baltimore Arena (4 games)
Results
Record	31–51 (.378)
Place	Division: 4th (Atlantic) Conference: 10th (Eastern)
Playoff finish	Did not qualify
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
Television	WDCA Home Team Sports
Radio	WTOP
< 1988–89 1990–91 >

Jeff Malone led the team in scoring averaging 24.3 points per game, while Bernard King averaged 22.3 points per game, and John "Hot Plate" Williams provided the team with 18.2 points, 7.6 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game, but went down with a knee injury after only playing just 18 games.^[8][9][10] In addition, second-year guard Ledell Eackles contributed 13.5 points per game, while Mark Alarie averaged 10.5 points per game, Darrell Walker contributed 9.5 points, 8.8 rebounds, 8.0 assists and 1.7 steals per game, and Charles Jones provided with 6.2 rebounds and 2.4 blocks per game.^[11]

Following the season, Malone was traded to the Sacramento Kings, who then dealt him to the Utah Jazz after seven seasons with the Bullets.^[12][13][14]

Draft picks

Main article: 1989 NBA draft

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	College
1	9	Tom Hammonds	PF	United States	Georgia Tech
2	39	Ed Horton	PF	United States	Iowa
2	41	Doug Roth	C	United States	Tennessee

Roster

1989–90 Washington Bullets roster

Players

Coaches

Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB From F 31 Alarie, Mark 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 217 lb (98 kg) 1963–12–11 Duke G 20 Colter, Steve 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 165 lb (75 kg) 1962–07–24 New Mexico State G 21 Eackles, Ledell 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1966–11–24 New Orleans F 44 Grant, Harvey 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1965–07–04 Oklahoma F 12 Hammonds, Tom 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1967–03–27 Georgia Tech F 32 Horton, Ed 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1967–12–17 Iowa C 23 Jones, Charles 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1957–04–03 Albany State F 30 King, Bernard 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 1956–12–04 Tennessee G 24 Malone, Jeff 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 1961–06–28 Mississippi State C 13 Roth, Doug 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 255 lb (116 kg) 1967–08–24 Tennessee C 50 Turpin, Melvin 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1960–12–28 Kentucky G 5 Walker, Darrell 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1961–03–09 Arkansas F 34 Williams, John   6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 235 lb (107 kg) 1966–10–26 LSU

Head coach Wes Unseld Assistant coach(es) Bill Blair Jeff Bzdelik 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: 31–51 (Home: 20–21; Road: 11–30)
November: 7–9 (home: 4–2; road: 3–7) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 1 November 3 @ Charlotte W 116–96^[permanent dead link] Charlotte Coliseum 1–0 2 November 4 Detroit L 93–95 Capital Centre 1–1 3 November 7 @ Atlanta W 118–114 The Omni 2–1 4 November 8 Boston W 112–103 Capital Centre 3–1 5 November 10 Cleveland (at Baltimore, Maryland) W 100–92 Baltimore Arena 4–1 6 November 12 @ Portland W 104–95 Memorial Coliseum 5–1 7 November 13 @ Utah L 93–106 Salt Palace 5–2 8 November 15 @ Denver L 98–109 McNichols Sports Arena 5–3 9 November 16 @ Seattle L 98–111^[permanent dead link] Seattle Center Coliseum 5–4 10 November 18 @ Phoenix L 107–118 Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 5–5 11 November 19 @ L.A. Lakers L 115–120 Great Western Forum 5–6 12 November 21 Milwaukee W 97–91 Capital Centre 6–6 13 November 24 @ Philadelphia L 108–121 The Spectrum 6–7 14 November 25 Miami W 107–88 Capital Centre 7–7 15 November 28 @ Cleveland L 91–92 Richfield Coliseum 7–8 16 November 29 Atlanta L 104–111 Capital Centre 7–9
December: 5–7 (home: 5–4; road: 0–3) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 17 December 1 Philadelphia (at Baltimore, Maryland) W 107–90 Baltimore Arena 8–9 18 December 2 Utah L 98–100 Capital Centre 8–10 19 December 6 @ Detroit L 107–115 The Palace of Auburn Hills 8–11 20 December 9 L.A. Lakers W 103–101 Capital Centre 9–11 21 December 14 Charlotte W 105–101^[permanent dead link] Capital Centre 10–11 22 December 16 Dallas W 112–108 Capital Centre 11–11 23 December 19 Minnesota W 112–99^[permanent dead link] Capital Centre 12–11 24 December 20 @ Philadelphia L 111–118 The Spectrum 12–12 25 December 22 New York L 112–122 Capital Centre 12–13 26 December 26 @ New Jersey L 94–101 Brendan Byrne Arena 12–14 27 December 27 San Antonio L 97–107 Capital Centre 12–15 28 December 30 Chicago L 112–117 (OT) Capital Centre 12–16
January: 3–13 (home: 2–4; road: 1–9) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 29 January 2 New Jersey W 110–96 Capital Centre 13–26 30 January 3 @ Boston L 101–120 Boston Garden 13–17 31 January 5 @ Cleveland L 107–119 Richfield Coliseum 13–18 32 January 6 Boston L 88–102 Capital Centre 13–19 33 January 9 @ New York L 127–131 (OT) Madison Square Garden 13–20 34 January 11 @ Miami W 100–89 Miami Arena 14–20 35 January 13 Philadelphia L 101–120 Capital Centre 14–21 36 January 15 Miami L 105–111 Capital Centre 14–22 37 January 17 @ New Jersey L 106–115 Brendan Byrne Arena 14–23 38 January 18 Milwaukee L 112–115 Capital Centre 14–24 39 January 20 @ Houston L 107–127 The Summit 14–25 40 January 22 @ San Antonio L 115–124 HemisFair Arena 14–26 41 January 23 @ Dallas L 105–129 Reunion Arena 14–27 42 January 25 Boston W 112–103 Capital Centre 15–27 43 January 27 @ Philadelphia L 101–125 The Spectrum 15–28 44 January 31 @ Detroit L 109–133 The Palace of Auburn Hills 15–29
February: 7–6 (home: 4–3; road: 3–3) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 45 February 2 Sacramento W 108–99^[permanent dead link] Capital Centre 16–29 46 February 3 Seattle L 92–94^[permanent dead link] Capital Centre 16–30 47 February 5 Golden State W 135–129 Capital Centre 17–30 48 February 6 @ Miami W 118–100 Miami Arena 18–30 49 February 8 L.A. Clippers L 103–105^[permanent dead link] Capital Centre 18–31 50 February 13 @ Sacramento L 98–106^[permanent dead link] ARCO Arena 18–32 51 February 15 @ Golden State L 107–113 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 18–33 52 February 16 @ L.A. Clippers W 118–112 (OT)^[permanent dead link] Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena 19–33 53 February 18 Indiana (at Baltimore, Maryland) W 116–97 Baltimore Arena 20–33 54 February 20 @ Atlanta W 110–107 The Omni 21–33 55 February 22 New York L 110–119^[permanent dead link] Capital Centre 21–34 56 February 24 Orlando W 141–124 Capital Centre 22–34 57 February 27 @ Minnesota L 88–104^[permanent dead link] Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 22–35
March: 5–9 (home: 3–5; road: 2–4) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 58 March 1 Detroit L 85–99 Capital Centre 22–36 59 March 3 @ Orlando W 132–128 (2OT) Orlando Arena 23–36 60 March 6 @ Indiana L 98–113 Market Square Arena 23–37 61 March 7 Phoenix L 111–113 Capital Centre 23–38 62 March 9 @ Boston (at Hartford, Connecticut) W 115–108 Hartford Civic Center 24–38 63 March 10 Portland L 113–116 Capital Centre 24–39 64 March 15 @ Milwaukee L 91–96 Bradley Center 24–40 65 March 17 Atlanta (at Baltimore, Maryland) L 92–119 Baltimore Arena 24–41 66 March 20 @ Chicago L 97–122 Chicago Stadium 24–42 67 March 21 New Jersey W 136–106 Capital Centre 25–42 68 March 24 Philadelphia L 112–114 (OT) Capital Centre 25–43 69 March 27 @ New York L 100–119 Madison Square Garden 25–44 70 March 28 Denver W 113–99 Capital Centre 26–44 71 March 30 Orlando W 143–115 Capital Centre 27–44
April: 4–6 (home: 2–3; road: 2–3) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 72 April 1 @ New Jersey W 105–97 Brendan Byrne Arena 28–44 73 April 4 New York L 107–118 Capital Centre 28–45 74 April 6 Houston W 121–110 Capital Centre 29–45 75 April 7 @ Milwaukee L 100–110 Bradley Center 29–46 76 April 10 @ Indiana L 105–107 Market Square Arena 29–47 77 April 12 Cleveland L 100–102 Capital Centre 29–48 78 April 14 Chicago W 113–103 Capital Centre 30–48 79 April 17 @ Orlando W 129–127 Orlando Arena 31–48 80 April 19 @ Chicago L 117–120 Chicago Stadium 31–49 81 April 20 @ Miami L 112–117 Miami Arena 31–50 82 April 22 Indiana L 117–127 Capital Centre 31–51
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

Awards and records

Transactions

References

1. 1989-90 Washington Bullets
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 November 23, 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. "NBA Games Played on February 8, 1990". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
7. "1989–90 Washington Bullets Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
8. Aldridge, David (December 4, 1989). "Bullets' Williams to Miss Up to 8 Weeks with Knee Injury". The Washington Post. Retrieved December 31, 2022.
9. Aldridge, David (December 8, 1989). "Modern Medicine, Time Are on Williams's Side". The Washington Post. Retrieved December 31, 2022.
10. Aldridge, David (March 15, 1990). "Bullets Don't Expect Williams to Return". The Washington Post. Retrieved December 31, 2022.
11. "1989–90 Washington Bullets Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
12. Brady, Jim (June 25, 1990). "Bullets, Jazz, Kings Make Three-Way Deal". United Press International. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
13. "Bullets Get Pervis Ellison in Three-Way Trade: Pro Basketball: Jeff Malone Goes to Jazz, with Hansen and Leckner Going to Sacramento. Nets Deal for Theus, Meaning They Will Probably Pick Coleman". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. June 26, 1990. Retrieved December 15, 2021.
14. Aldridge, David (June 26, 1990). "Bullets Trade Malone in 3-Team Deal for Ellison". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 23, 2022.

See also

• 1989-90 NBA season