1989–90 Philadelphia 76ers season explained

Team:Philadelphia 76ers
End Year:1990
Division Win:yes
Wins:53
Losses:29
Division:Atlantic
Division Place:1
Conf Place:2
Coach:Jim Lynam
Gm:John Nash
Owner:Harold Katz
Arena:The Spectrum
Playoffs:Conference semifinals
(lost to Bulls 1–4)
Bbr Team:PHI
Television:
Radio:WIP

The 1989–90 NBA season was the 76ers 41st season in the National Basketball Association, and 27th season in Philadelphia.[1] During the off-season, the Sixers acquired Rick Mahorn from the expansion Minnesota Timberwolves, who selected him in the 1989 NBA expansion draft.[2] [3] [4] Mahorn, who won a championship with the Detroit Pistons last year, joined Charles Barkley and Mike Gminski to form a formidable front court. The team also acquired Johnny Dawkins from the San Antonio Spurs,[5] [6] [7] [8] who teamed with second-year star Hersey Hawkins in the backcourt. After a mediocre 18–16 start to the season, the Sixers would win twelve consecutive games, then hold a 30–18 record at the All-Star break,[9] and post an 8-game winning streak near the end of the season. They won the Atlantic Division title compiling a 53–29 record, defeating the Boston Celtics by just one game.[10]

Barkley averaged 25.2 points, 11.5 rebounds and 1.9 steals per game, and was named to the All-NBA First Team, and selected for the 1990 NBA All-Star Game,[11] [12] [13] [14] [15] while Hawkins averaged 18.5 points and 1.6 steals per game, and Dawkins provided the team with 14.3 points, 7.4 assists and 1.5 steals per game. In addition, sixth man Ron Anderson contributed 11.9 points per game off the bench, while Gminski provided with 13.7 points, 8.5 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game, and Mahorn averaged 10.8 points and 7.6 rebounds per game, and was named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team.[16]

In the Eastern Conference First Round of the playoffs, the Sixers would win a hard-fought five game series over the Cleveland Cavaliers,[17] [18] [19] [20] then would lose in the Eastern Conference Semi-finals to the Chicago Bulls four games to one.[21] [22] [23] [24]

Barkley also finished second in the league's MVP voting behind Magic Johnson. Barkley received more first-place votes (38 of the 92 cast) than Johnson (27), but totaled only 614 points compared to Johnson's 636.[25] [26] [27] [28] [29] This was the only time in NBA history where the player with the most first-place votes for MVP did not get the award.[30] [31]

Draft picks

See main article: 1989 NBA draft.

RoundPickPlayerPositionNationalitySchool/Club Team
1 19 SF Louisville
2 44 PF Hawaii
2 54 SG Georgia

Regular season

Season standings

z - clinched division title

y - clinched division title

x - clinched playoff spot

Record vs. opponents

1989-90 NBA Records
width=100TeamATLBOSCHACHICLEDALDENDETGSWHOUINDLACLALMIAMILMINNJNNYKORLPHIPHOPORSACSASSEAUTAWAS
Atlanta1–3 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
Boston3–1 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
Charlotte0–2 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
Chicago5–0 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
Cleveland3–2 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
Dallas2–0 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
Denver1–1 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
Detroit2–3 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 State0–2 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
Houston0–2 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
Indiana3–2 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. Clippers1–1 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. Lakers2–0 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
Miami0–4 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
Milwaukee2–3 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
Minnesota1–1 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 Jersey2–2 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 York3–1 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
Orlando0–5 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
Philadelphia2–2 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
Phoenix2–0 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
Portland1–1 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
Sacramento1–1 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 Antonio1–1 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
Seattle1–1 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
Utah1–1 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
Washington2–2 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

Reference

Playoffs

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 1| April 26| Cleveland| W 111–106| Charles Barkley (38)| Charles Barkley (21)| Johnny Dawkins (9)| Spectrum
15,319| 1–0|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 2| April 29| Cleveland| W 107–101| Charles Barkley (32)| Rick Mahorn (9)| Johnny Dawkins (11)| Spectrum
18,168| 2–0|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 3| May 1| @ Cleveland| L 95–122| Hersey Hawkins (19)| Charles Barkley (11)| Johnny Dawkins (7)| Richfield Coliseum
16,317| 2–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 4| May 3| @ Cleveland| L 96–108| Charles Barkley (23)| Barkley, Mahorn (11)| Johnny Dawkins (10)| Richfield Coliseum
17,106| 2–2|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 5| May 5| Cleveland| W 113–97| Hersey Hawkins (39)| Charles Barkley (19)| Johnny Dawkins (14)| Spectrum
18,168| 3–2|-|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 1| May 7| @ Chicago| L 85–96| Charles Barkley (30)| Charles Barkley (20)| three players tied (4)| Chicago Stadium
18,676| 0–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 2| May 9| @ Chicago| L 96–101| Hersey Hawkins (23)| Charles Barkley (19)| Johnny Dawkins (13)| Chicago Stadium
18,676| 0–2|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 3| May 11| Chicago| W 118–112| Charles Barkley (34)| Charles Barkley (20)| Charles Barkley (8)| Spectrum
18,168| 1–2|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 4| May 13| Chicago| L 101–111| Hersey Hawkins (26)| Charles Barkley (13)| Hersey Hawkins (6)| Spectrum
18,168| 1–3|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 5| May 16| @ Chicago| 99–117| Ron Anderson (20)| Charles Barkley (13)| Johnny Dawkins (15)| Chicago Stadium
18,676| 1–4|-

Player statistics

Regular season

PlayerGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
78 3 26.8 .451 .143 .838 3.8 1.8 .9 .2 11.9
79 79 39.1 .600 .217 .749 11.5 3.9 1.9 .6 25.2
72 1 13.5 .431 .392 .877 .9 2.9 .7 .0 4.4
23 0 4.8 .456 .200 .786 .4 .4 .0 .0 3.2
81 81 35.4 .489 .333 .861 3.0 7.4 1.5 .1 14.3
9 0 9.0 .333 .500 .250 .6 2.9 .4 .0 1.1
81 81 32.8 .457 .176 .821 8.5 1.6 .5 1.3 13.7
82 82 34.8 .460 .420 .888 3.7 3.2 1.6 .3 18.5
2 0 5.0 .500 .0 .0 .0 .0 1.0
75 66 30.3 .497 .222 .715 7.6 1.3 .6 1.4 10.8
38 1 8.3 .418 .000 .467 1.6 .2 .1 .5 2.4
35 4 6.2 .435 .400 .889 .7 .3 .2 .2 3.3
3 0 6.0 .000 .000 .0 .7 .3 .3 .0
75 7 18.7 .508 .444 .699 2.3 1.5 .5 .3 8.9
56 0 10.6 .429 .333 .510 2.4 .3 .4 .2 2.2
17 5 15.2 .429 1.000 .892 2.1 .5 .6 .1 7.3

Playoffs

PlayerGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
10 0 25.6 .430 .600 .967 3.7 1.4 .4 .0 11.2
10 10 41.9 .543 .333 .602 15.5 4.3 .8 .7 24.7
9 0 11.0 .316 .429 .667 .9 1.8 .3 .0 2.3
4 0 2.3 .333 .3 .0 .0 .0 1.0
10 10 38.6 .461 .000 .837 2.2 9.3 1.7 .2 14.2
10 10 34.2 .487 .000 .933 5.4 1.1 .8 2.3 12.8
10 10 41.5 .497 .389 .937 3.1 3.6 1.2 .7 23.5
10 10 34.2 .430 .000 .769 7.0 1.0 .7 .8 9.4
4 0 4.5 .143 1.0 .0 .3 .3 .5
3 0 3.3 .400 .000 1.000 .7 .0 .0 .0 2.0
1 0 15.0 .625 .000 .500 .0 1.0 1.0 .0 11.0
9 0 9.9 .389 .500 1.7 .4 .2 .1 2.1

Awards and records

See also

Notes and References

  1. https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/PHI/1990.html 1989-90 Philadelphia 76ers
  2. News: Mahorn Traded to 76ers . The New York Times . October 28, 1989 . December 15, 2021.
  3. News: Mahorn Is Traded to 76ers . Los Angeles Times . October 28, 1989 . November 23, 2022.
  4. Web site: 1989 NBA Expansion Draft . Basketball-Reference . February 10, 2022.
  5. News: Cialini . Joe . 76ers Trade Cheeks to Spurs . United Press International . August 28, 1989 . November 23, 2022.
  6. News: SPORTS PEOPLE: BASKETBALL; 76ers Trade Cheeks . The New York Times . August 29, 1989 . December 15, 2021.
  7. News: 76ers Send Cheeks to Spurs in 5-Man Deal . Los Angeles Times . August 29, 1989 . June 22, 2023.
  8. News: Sixers Send Cheeks to Spurs . Deseret News . August 29, 1989 . November 23, 2022.
  9. News: NBA Games Played on February 8, 1990 . Basketball-Reference . November 23, 2022.
  10. Web site: 1989–90 Philadelphia 76ers Schedule and Results. Basketball-Reference. December 9, 2021.
  11. News: Howard-Cooper . Scott . NBA ALL-STAR GAME: Entire Family Is Back Together--Almost . Los Angeles Times . February 11, 1990 . November 23, 2022.
  12. News: Brown . Clifton . For Johnson, Honor and Awe . The New York Times . February 12, 1990 . November 23, 2022.
  13. News: Howard-Cooper . Scott . East Stars Put It Together, But Magic Has Hardware: Pro Basketball: Laker Guard Earns MVP in Losing Effort as Rest of His West Teammates Are Shut Down, 130-113 . Los Angeles Times . February 12, 1990 . November 23, 2022.
  14. News: NBA.com Staff . 1990 NBA All-Star Recap . NBA.com . September 13, 2021 . November 15, 2023.
  15. Web site: 1990 NBA All-Star Game: East 130, West 113 . Basketball-Reference . December 9, 2021.
  16. Web site: 1989–90 Philadelphia 76ers Roster and Stats. Basketball-Reference. December 14, 2021.
  17. News: Cialini . Joe . Philadelphia 113, Cleveland 97 . United Press International . May 5, 1990 . September 20, 2022.
  18. News: Brown . Clifton . PRO BASKETBALL; 76ers Go to Round 2 by Beating Cavs . The New York Times . May 6, 1990 . December 9, 2021.
  19. News: Associated Press . Hawkins, 76ers Oust Cavaliers: NBA Playoffs: Guard, Team Make Up for Poor Showing in Postseason Play Last Year, 113-97 . Los Angeles Times . May 6, 1990 . December 31, 2022.
  20. Web site: 1990 NBA Eastern Conference First Round: Cavaliers vs. 76ers . Basketball-Reference . April 9, 2023.
  21. News: Brown . Clifton . Jordan and Bulls Have a Date with Pistons . The New York Times . May 17, 1990 . December 7, 2021.
  22. News: Wilbon . Michael . Bulls Send 76ers Packing . The Washington Post . May 17, 1990 . December 31, 2022.
  23. News: Bulls Shut Door on Sixers, 117-99 . Tampa Bay Times . May 17, 1990 . September 20, 2022.
  24. Web site: 1990 NBA Eastern Conference Semifinals: 76ers vs. Bulls . Basketball-Reference . April 9, 2023.
  25. News: McManis . Sam . Magic Repeats in MVP Vote; Barkley Is 2nd: Pro Basketball: Johnson Is the First Back-to-Back Winner Since Larry Bird. Michael Jordan Finishes a Close Third . Los Angeles Times . May 22, 1990 . November 23, 2022.
  26. News: Florence . Mal . MVP Voting Is the Closest in 10 Years: Pro Basketball: Magic Johnson Wins It Again, Although Barkley Gets More First-Place Votes. Jordan Finishes Third . Los Angeles Times . May 23, 1990 . November 23, 2022.
  27. News: SPORTS PEOPLE: PRO BASKETBALL; M.V.P. Controversy . The New York Times . May 23, 1990 . November 23, 2022.
  28. News: NBA MVP & ABA Most Valuable Player Award Winners . Basketball-Reference . December 31, 2022.
  29. News: 1989–90 NBA Awards Voting . Basketball-Reference . November 23, 2022.
  30. Web site: Andrew Lynch. The 2016-17 MVP race is spectacular, but it's not the best ever. Fox Sports. March 31, 2017. October 4, 2021.
  31. Web site: David Schoenfield. The List: Most controversial MVPs. ESPN. October 4, 2021.