1989–90 Portland Trail Blazers season
| 1989–90 Portland Trail Blazers season | |
|---|---|
Conference champions | |
| Head coach | Rick Adelman |
| Arena | Memorial Coliseum |
| Results | |
| Record | 59–23 (.720) |
| Place | Division: 2nd (Pacific) Conference: 3rd (Western) |
| Playoff finish | NBA Finals (lost to Pistons 1–4) |
Stats at Basketball Reference | |
| Local media | |
| Television | KOIN Northwest Cable Sports |
| Radio | KEX |
The 1989–90 Portland Trail Blazers season was the 20th season for the Portland Trail Blazers in the National Basketball Association.[1] During the off-season, the Trail Blazers acquired All-Star forward Buck Williams from the New Jersey Nets,[2][3][4] and signed free agent Wayne Cooper.[5][6] The team also selected power forward Clifford Robinson from the University of Connecticut with the 36th overall pick in the 1989 NBA draft.[7][8][9] Croatian rookie shooting guard Dražen Petrović, who was drafted by the Trail Blazers as the 60th overall pick in the 1986 NBA draft, and previous played overseas in Europe, made his debut in the NBA this season.[10]
With the addition of Williams, Robinson and Petrović, the Trail Blazers got off to a 5–3 start to the regular season, and then posted a seven-game winning streak afterwards. The team posted another seven-game winning streak in January, and later on held a 33–13 record at the All-Star break.[11] The Trail Blazers posted a 10-game winning streak in March,[12] and won eight of their final nine games of the season, finishing in second place in the Pacific Division with a 59–23 record, earning the third seed in the Western Conference, and qualifying for their eighth consecutive trip to the NBA playoffs.[13][14]
Clyde Drexler averaged 23.3 points, 6.9 rebounds, 5.9 assists and 2.0 steals per game, and was named to the All-NBA Third Team. In addition, Terry Porter averaged 17.6 points, 9.1 assists and 1.9 steals per game, while Kevin Duckworth provided the team with 16.2 points and 6.2 rebounds, Jerome Kersey contributed 16.0 points, 8.4 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game, and Williams provided with 13.6 points and 9.8 rebounds per game, and was named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team. Off the bench, Robinson averaged 9.1 points and 3.8 rebounds per game, while Petrović contributed 7.6 points per game, Danny Young provided with 4.7 points and 2.8 assists per game, and Cooper averaged 3.8 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game.[15]
During the NBA All-Star weekend at the Miami Arena in Miami, Florida, Drexler was selected for the 1990 NBA All-Star Game, as a member of the Western Conference All-Star team.[16][17][18] Williams finished tied in tenth place in Most Valuable Player voting, while Drexler finished in twelfth place,[19] and head coach Rick Adelman finished in third place in Coach of the Year voting.[20][19]
In the Western Conference First Round of the 1990 NBA playoffs, the Trail Blazers faced off against the 6th–seeded Dallas Mavericks, a team that featured All-Star guard Rolando Blackman, Derek Harper, Roy Tarpley and Sam Perkins. The Trail Blazers won the first two games over the Mavericks at home at the Memorial Coliseum, and took a 2–0 series lead. In Game 3, on the road at the Reunion Arena, and despite losing Williams to an eye injury, and then losing Duckworth to a right hand injury, the Trail Blazers defeated the Mavericks, 106–92 to win the series in a three-game sweep; it was the first time that the Trail Blazers won an NBA playoff series since the 1984–85 season.[21][22][23]
In the Western Conference Semi-finals, the team faced off against the 2nd–seeded, and Midwest Division champion San Antonio Spurs, who were led by All-Star center, and Rookie of the Year, David Robinson, All-Star forward Terry Cummings, and second-year star Willie Anderson. Despite starting the series without Duckworth due to his hand injury, the Trail Blazers managed to win the first two games over the Spurs at the Memorial Coliseum, before losing the next two games on the road at the HemisFair Arena. The Trail Blazers won Game 5 over the Spurs at the Memorial Coliseum in double-overtime, 138–132, but then lost Game 6 at the HemisFair Arena, 112–97 as the Spurs evened the series. With the return of Duckworth, the Trail Blazers won Game 7 over the Spurs at the Memorial Coliseum in overtime, 108–105 to win in a hard-fought seven-game series.[24][25][26]
In the Western Conference Finals, the Trail Blazers then faced off against the 5th–seeded Phoenix Suns, who were led by the quartet of All-Star forward Tom Chambers, All-Star guard Kevin Johnson, Jeff Hornacek, and sixth man Eddie Johnson. The Trail Blazers took a 2–0 series lead over the Suns, but then lost the next two games on the road, including a Game 4 loss to the Suns at the Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum, 119–107. With the series tied at 2–2, the Trail Blazers won Game 5 over the Suns at home, 120–114 at the Memorial Coliseum,[27][28][29] and then won Game 6 at the Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum, 112–109 to win the series in six games, and advance to the NBA Finals for the second time in franchise history, and for the first time since their championship season of 1976–77.[30][31][32]
In the 1990 NBA Finals, the Trail Blazers faced off against the top–seeded, and defending NBA champion Detroit Pistons, who were led by the All-Star trio of Isiah Thomas, Joe Dumars, and Defensive Player of the Year, Dennis Rodman. After losing Game 1 to the Pistons on the road, 105–99 at The Palace of Auburn Hills,[33][34][35] the Trail Blazers won Game 2 on the road in overtime, 106–105 to even the series.[36][37][38] However, the Trail Blazers lost their next three home games, including a Game 5 loss to the Pistons at the Memorial Coliseum, 92–90, thus losing the series in five games, as the Pistons won their second consecutive NBA championship.[39][40][41]
The Trail Blazers finished 20th in the NBA in home-game attendance, with an attendance of 528,132 at the Memorial Coliseum during the regular season.[15][42]
Draft picks
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | School/Club team |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 22 | Byron Irvin | G | United States | Missouri |
| 2 | 36 | Clifford Robinson | PF/C | United States | Connecticut |
Roster
| Players | Coaches | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Head coach
Assistant(s)
Legend
|
Regular season
Season standings
| W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| y-Los Angeles Lakers | 63 | 19 | .768 | – | 37–4 | 26–15 | 22–6 |
| x-Portland Trail Blazers | 59 | 23 | .720 | 4 | 35–6 | 24–17 | 20–8 |
| x-Phoenix Suns | 54 | 28 | .659 | 9 | 32–9 | 22–19 | 20–8 |
| Seattle SuperSonics | 41 | 41 | .500 | 22 | 30–11 | 11–30 | 11–17 |
| Golden State Warriors | 37 | 45 | .451 | 26 | 27–14 | 10–31 | 11–17 |
| Los Angeles Clippers | 30 | 52 | .366 | 33 | 20–21 | 10–31 | 7–21 |
| Sacramento Kings | 23 | 59 | .280 | 40 | 16–25 | 7–34 | 7–21 |
| # | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team | W | L | PCT | GB | |
| 1 | z-Los Angeles Lakers | 63 | 19 | .768 | – |
| 2 | y-San Antonio Spurs | 56 | 26 | .683 | 7 |
| 3 | x-Portland Trail Blazers | 59 | 23 | .720 | 4 |
| 4 | x-Utah Jazz | 55 | 27 | .671 | 8 |
| 5 | x-Phoenix Suns | 54 | 28 | .659 | 9 |
| 6 | x-Dallas Mavericks | 47 | 35 | .573 | 16 |
| 7 | x-Denver Nuggets | 43 | 39 | .524 | 20 |
| 8 | x-Houston Rockets | 41 | 41 | .500 | 22 |
| 9 | Seattle SuperSonics | 41 | 41 | .500 | 22 |
| 10 | Golden State Warriors | 37 | 45 | .451 | 26 |
| 11 | Los Angeles Clippers | 30 | 52 | .366 | 33 |
| 12 | Sacramento Kings | 23 | 59 | .280 | 40 |
| 13 | Minnesota Timberwolves | 22 | 60 | .268 | 41 |
| 14 | Charlotte Hornets | 19 | 63 | .232 | 44 |
- z – clinched division title
- y – clinched division title
- x – clinched playoff spot
Game log
| 1989–90 game log | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
November
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December
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January
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February
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March
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April
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| 1989–90 schedule | |||||||||
Playoffs
Player statistics
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jerome Kersey | 82 | 82 | 34.7 | .478 | .150 | .690 | 8.4 | 2.3 | 1.5 | .8 | 16.0 |
| Buck Williams | 82 | 82 | 34.2 | .548 | .000 | .706 | 9.8 | 1.4 | .8 | .5 | 13.6 |
| Kevin Duckworth | 82 | 82 | 30.0 | .478 | .740 | 6.2 | 1.1 | .4 | .4 | 16.2 | |
| Danny Young | 82 | 8 | 17.0 | .421 | .271 | .813 | 1.5 | 2.8 | 1.0 | .0 | 4.7 |
| Clifford Robinson | 82 | 0 | 19.1 | .397 | .273 | .550 | 3.8 | .9 | .6 | .6 | 9.1 |
| Terry Porter | 80 | 80 | 34.8 | .462 | .374 | .892 | 3.4 | 9.1 | 1.9 | .1 | 17.6 |
| Wayne Cooper | 79 | 0 | 14.9 | .454 | .000 | .641 | 4.3 | .6 | .2 | 1.2 | 3.8 |
| Dražen Petrović | 77 | 0 | 12.6 | .485 | .459 | .844 | 1.4 | 1.5 | .3 | .0 | 7.6 |
| Clyde Drexler | 73 | 73 | 36.8 | .494 | .283 | .774 | 6.9 | 5.9 | 2.0 | .7 | 23.3 |
| Mark Bryant | 58 | 0 | 9.7 | .458 | .560 | 2.5 | .2 | .3 | .2 | 2.9 | |
| Byron Irvin | 50 | 2 | 9.8 | .473 | .357 | .670 | 1.5 | .9 | .6 | .0 | 5.2 |
| Nate Johnston† | 15 | 0 | 4.9 | .378 | .000 | .636 | 1.4 | .1 | .2 | .5 | 2.3 |
| Robert Reid† | 12 | 1 | 7.1 | .394 | .333 | .500 | .7 | .7 | .2 | .2 | 2.6 |
Playoffs
| Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clyde Drexler | 21 | 21 | 40.6 | .441 | .220 | .774 | 7.2 | 7.1 | 2.5 | .9 | 21.4 |
| Jerome Kersey | 21 | 21 | 39.6 | .460 | .000 | .715 | 8.3 | 2.1 | 1.6 | 1.0 | 20.7 |
| Terry Porter | 21 | 21 | 38.8 | .464 | .392 | .842 | 2.9 | 7.4 | 1.3 | .1 | 20.6 |
| Buck Williams | 21 | 21 | 37.0 | .508 | .676 | 9.2 | 1.9 | .6 | .3 | 13.0 | |
| Clifford Robinson | 21 | 6 | 18.6 | .358 | .000 | .558 | 4.1 | 1.1 | .9 | 1.1 | 6.5 |
| Danny Young | 21 | 0 | 14.0 | .389 | .379 | .704 | 1.4 | 1.5 | .7 | .1 | 4.1 |
| Dražen Petrović | 20 | 0 | 12.7 | .440 | .313 | .583 | 1.6 | 1.0 | .3 | .0 | 6.1 |
| Wayne Cooper | 18 | 0 | 13.8 | .404 | .526 | 3.9 | .3 | .3 | 1.6 | 2.7 | |
| Kevin Duckworth | 15 | 15 | 30.2 | .439 | .717 | 5.8 | 1.1 | .3 | .6 | 13.1 | |
| Mark Bryant | 13 | 0 | 12.3 | .545 | .750 | 2.2 | .2 | .2 | .2 | 3.2 | |
| Byron Irvin | 4 | 0 | 11.8 | .227 | .833 | 2.0 | 1.3 | .5 | .0 | 3.8 | |
| Nate Johnston | 3 | 0 | 6.3 | .545 | 1.000 | 2.0 | .3 | .3 | .3 | 4.3 |
- † Denotes player spent time with another team in the season. Stats reflect time with the Trail Blazers only.
Player statistics citation:[15]
Awards and records
During the season, Dražen Petrović won the Euroscar, presented by the Italian basketball magazine Superbasket to the top player in Europe. Unlike major NBA awards, the Euroscar is awarded for a player's performance during a calendar year, and also takes into account a player's performances for his national team. In Petrović's case, the award considered his performances in 1989 for Real Madrid and the Yugoslavia national team, as well as the Blazers. This was the second of what would eventually be four Euroscars for Petrović.
Milestones
Transactions
Free agents
| Subtractions | ||
|---|---|---|
| Player | Date signed | New team |
| Steve Johnson | Expansion Draft June 15, 1989 | Minnesota Timberwolves |
References
- ^ 1989–90 Portland Trail Blazers
- ^ Brown, Clifton (June 25, 1989). "PRO-BASKETBALL; Nets Get Bowie for Buck Williams". The New York Times. Retrieved December 9, 2021.
- ^ "Trail Blazers Trade Bowie, No. 12 Pick in Draft to Nets for Buck Williams". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. June 25, 1989. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
- ^ "Blazers Trade Bowie, No. 12 Pick for Williams". Deseret News. Associated Press. June 25, 1989. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
- ^ "THE SIDELINES: Wayne Cooper Signs with Blazers". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. July 24, 1989. Retrieved July 5, 2025.
- ^ "SPORTS PEOPLE: BASKETBALL; Blazers Sign Cooper". The New York Times. July 25, 1989. Retrieved July 5, 2025.
- ^ Goldaper, Sam (June 28, 1989). "Kings Take Ellison First in N.B.A. Draft; Clippers Pick Ferry". The New York Times. Retrieved March 17, 2026.
- ^ McManis, Sam (June 28, 1989). "THE NBA DRAFT: The Other Teams: Sacramento's Secret Is Out: It's Ellison". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 17, 2026.
- ^ "1989 NBA Draft". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved March 17, 2026.
- ^ "1986 NBA Draft". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved March 17, 2026.
- ^ "NBA Games Played on February 8, 1990". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
- ^ "Portland Trail Blazers at Houston Rockets Box Score, March 20, 1990". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved March 9, 2022.
- ^ "1989–90 Portland Trail Blazers Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved December 9, 2021.
- ^ "Portland Trail Blazers". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved January 19, 2022.
- ^ a b c "1989–90 Portland Trail Blazers Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved December 14, 2021.
- ^ Howard-Cooper, Scott (February 11, 1990). "NBA ALL-STAR GAME: Entire Family Is Back Together--Almost". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
- ^ "1990 NBA All-Star Recap". NBA.com. NBA.com Staff. September 13, 2021. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
- ^ "1990 NBA All-Star Game: East 130, West 113". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved December 9, 2021.
- ^ a b "1989–90 NBA Awards Voting". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved December 7, 2025.
- ^ "Riley Edges Adelman, Lynam as Sporting News' Top NBA Coach". Deseret News. May 27, 1990. Retrieved December 8, 2025.
- ^ Rabun, Mike (May 1, 1990). "Trail Blazers 106, Mavericks 92". United Press International. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
- ^ Hafner, Dan (May 2, 1990). "Portland Victory Could Prove Costly: NBA Playoffs: Trail Blazers Win at Dallas, But Williams and Duckworth Are Injured. The Pistons and Spurs Also Sweep Their Series". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
- ^ "1990 NBA Western Conference First Round: Mavericks vs. Trail Blazers". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved April 9, 2023.
- ^ "PRO BASKETBALL; Blazers Defeat Spurs in Clincher". The New York Times. Associated Press. May 20, 1990. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
- ^ McManis, Sam (May 20, 1990). "Trail Blazers Cut Spurs Off at Pass in Overtime: NBA Playoffs: Strickland's No-Look Lob Finds No Teammate. Instead, It Helps Send Portland to the Western Conference finals". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
- ^ "1990 NBA Western Conference Semifinals: Spurs vs. Trail Blazers". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved April 9, 2023.
- ^ Barnes, Mike (May 29, 1990). "Portland 120, Phoenix 114". United Press International. Retrieved April 9, 2023.
- ^ Brown, Clifton (May 30, 1990). "Blazers Grab Lead in Series". The New York Times. Retrieved December 15, 2021.
- ^ McManis, Sam (May 30, 1990). "Revived Drexler Helps Fuel Victory by Trail Blazers". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
- ^ Brown, Clifton (June 1, 1990). "Blazers, Overcoming Road Jinx, Reach Final". The New York Times. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
- ^ McManis, Sam (June 1, 1990). "Trail Blazers Take One Away on Road, 112-109: NBA Playoffs: Williams Makes Key Steal. Johnson Misses Second Half as Suns Are Ousted". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
- ^ "1990 NBA Western Conference Finals: Suns vs. Trail Blazers". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved April 9, 2023.
- ^ Brown, Clifton (June 6, 1990). "Portland Tries to Swallow a Bitter Loss". The New York Times. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
- ^ McManis, Sam (June 6, 1990). "Daly Simply Puts Trust in Thomas as Pistons Rally: NBA Finals: Detroit Guard Scores 14 of His 33 Points During a 19-4 Piston Run That Beats Portland, 105-99". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
- ^ Aldridge, David (June 6, 1990). "Thomas Leads, Pistons Follow to 105-99 Game 1 Victory". The Washington Post. Retrieved April 9, 2023.
- ^ Brown, Clifton (June 8, 1990). "BASKETBALL; Drexler Is Confident as Blazers Go Home". The New York Times. Retrieved January 19, 2022.
- ^ Howard-Cooper, Scott (June 8, 1990). "Trail Blazers Get Even for Game 1 Collapse, 106-105: NBA Finals: Drexler's Free Throws Finally Defuse Laimbeer's Bombs in Overtime. The Next Three Games Are in Portland". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
- ^ Aldridge, David (June 8, 1990). "Blazers Win in Overtime". The Washington Post. Retrieved April 9, 2023.
- ^ Brown, Clifton (June 15, 1990). "Pistons Rally to Repeat as N.B.A. Champions". The New York Times. Retrieved October 18, 2017.
- ^ McManis, Sam (June 15, 1990). "Vinnie, Vidi, Vici: Pistons Repeat Feat: NBA Finals: Johnson Hits Game-Winner in Last Second as Detroit Rallies from Seven-Point Deficit for a 92-90 Victory. Thomas Is the Unanimous Choice as MVP". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 9, 2022.
- ^ "1990 NBA Finals: Trail Blazers vs. Pistons". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved April 9, 2023.
- ^ "1989–90 NBA Season Summary". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved February 23, 2026.