1990–91 Cleveland Cavaliers season

1990–91 Cleveland Cavaliers season
Head coachLenny Wilkens
General managerWayne Embry
Owners
ArenaRichfield Coliseum
Results
Record33–49 (.402)
PlaceDivision: 6th (Central)
Conference: 10th (Eastern)
Playoff finishDid not qualify
Stats at Basketball Reference
Local media
Television
RadioWWWE[1]

The 1990–91 Cleveland Cavaliers season was the 21st season for the Cleveland Cavaliers in the National Basketball Association.[2] After playing overseas in Italy the previous season, Danny Ferry made his debut in the NBA, signing a contract with the Cavaliers; the Cavaliers had acquired Ferry from the Los Angeles Clippers, who selected him as the second overall pick in the 1989 NBA draft.[3][4] During the off-season, the team signed free agent Gerald Paddio.[5]

With the addition of Ferry, the Cavaliers lost their first two games of the regular season, but then won six of their next seven games, and held a 9–7 record at the end of November. However, after only just 16 games, Mark Price sustained a torn ACL in his left knee, and was out for the remainder of the season,[6][7][8] while sixth man Hot Rod Williams only played just 43 games due to a left foot injury.[9][10][11] In December, the team re-signed free agent Darnell Valentine as their starting point guard in Price's absence,[12][13] and also signed undrafted rookie small forward Henry James.[14]

Without Price and Williams, and after a 10–8 start to the season, the Cavaliers struggled falling below .500 in winning percentage, losing 17 of their next 18 games, posting a six-game losing streak in December, and then posting an 11-game losing streak between December and January, as the team held a 15–32 record at the All-Star break.[15] However, the team played above .500 for the remainder of the season, winning eight of their eleven games in April, including a four-game winning streak to close the season. The Cavaliers finished in sixth place in the Central Division with a disappointing 33–49 record, and failed to qualify for the NBA playoffs.[16]

Brad Daugherty averaged 21.6 points and 10.9 rebounds per game, while Larry Nance averaged 19.2 points, 8.6 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game, and Price provided the team with 16.9 points, 10.4 assists and 2.6 steals per game. In addition, Williams provided with 11.7 points, 6.7 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game, while Craig Ehlo contributed 10.1 points, 4.6 assists and 1.5 steals per game, and Valentine contributed 9.4 points, 5.4 assists and 1.5 steals per game. Meanwhile, Ferry averaged 8.6 points and 3.5 rebounds per game, second-year forward Chucky Brown provided with 8.5 points per game, James contributed 8.1 points per game in 37 games, Paddio averaged 7.2 points per game, John Morton provided with 5.4 points and 3.7 assists per game, and Steve Kerr contributed 4.8 points and 2.3 assists per game.[17]

During the NBA All-Star weekend at the Charlotte Coliseum in Charlotte, North Carolina, Daugherty was selected for the 1991 NBA All-Star Game, as a member of the Eastern Conference All-Star team.[18][19][20] The Cavaliers finished twelfth in the NBA in home-game attendance, with an attendance of 623,735 at the Coliseum at Richfield during the regular season.[17][21] Following the season, Valentine and Paddio were both released to free agency.

Draft picks

Main article: 1990 NBA draft
Round Pick Player Position Nationality School/Club team
2 52 Stefano Rusconi Center  Italy Ranger Varese

Roster

1990–91 Cleveland Cavaliers roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Player Height Weight DOB From
F 00 Miloš Babić 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1968–11–23 Tennessee Tech
F 20 Winston Bennett 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1965–02–09 Kentucky
F 52 Chucky Brown 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 214 lb (97 kg) 1968–02–29 NC State
F 33 Derrick Chievous 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1967–07–03 Missouri
C 43 Brad Daugherty 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 245 lb (111 kg) 1965–10–19 North Carolina
G 3 Craig Ehlo 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1961–08–11 Washington State
F 35 Danny Ferry 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1966–10–17 Duke
F 32 Henry James 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1965–07–29 Saint Mary's
G 5 Steve Kerr 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1965–09–27 Arizona
F 23 John Morton 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1967–05–18 Seton Hall
F 22 Larry Nance 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 1959–02–12 Clemson
F 24 Gerald Paddio 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 1965–04–21 UNLV
G 25 Mark Price 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 170 lb (77 kg) 1964–02–15 Georgia Tech
G 1 Darnell Valentine 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 183 lb (83 kg) 1959–02–03 Kansas
C 18 Hot Rod Williams 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1962–08–09 Tulane
Head coach
Assistant(s)
Legend
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured

Roster
Updated: January 21, 1991

Regular season

Season standings

Central Division
 W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-Chicago Bulls 61 21 .744 — 35–6 26–15 25–5
x-Detroit Pistons 50 32 .610 11 32–9 18–23 19–11
x-Milwaukee Bucks 48 34 .585 13 33–8 15–26 16–14
x-Atlanta Hawks 43 39 .524 18 29–12 14–27 11–19
x-Indiana Pacers 41 41 .500 20 29–12 12–29 15–15
Cleveland Cavaliers 33 49 .402 28 23–18 10–31 11–19
Charlotte Hornets 26 56 .317 35 17–24 9–32 8–22
y - clinched division title
x - clinched playoff spot
#
Eastern Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1 c-Chicago Bulls 61 21 .744 –
2 y-Boston Celtics 56 26 .683 5
3 x-Detroit Pistons 50 32 .610 11
4 x-Milwaukee Bucks 48 34 .585 13
5 x-Philadelphia 76ers 44 38 .537 17
6 x-Atlanta Hawks 43 39 .524 18
7 x-Indiana Pacers 41 41 .500 20
8 x-New York Knicks 39 43 .476 22
9 Cleveland Cavaliers 33 49 .402 28
10 Washington Bullets 30 52 .366 31
11 New Jersey Nets 26 56 .317 35
12 Charlotte Hornets 26 56 .317 35
13 Miami Heat 24 58 .293 37
z - clinched division title
y - clinched division title
x - clinched playoff spot

Game log

1990–91 game log
Total: 33–49 (Home: 23–18; Road: 10–31)
November: 9–7 (home: 5–2; road: 4–5)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
7 November 13, 1990 @ Atlanta W 121–104 The Omni
10,645 		4–3
16 November 30, 1990 @ Atlanta W 101–93 The Omni
11,996 		9–7
December: 2–10 (home: 2–6; road: 0–4)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
24 December 17, 1990 Atlanta L 98–109 Richfield Coliseum
11,622 		10–14
January: 3–11 (home: 2–3; road: 1–8)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
February: 6–7 (home: 5–4; road: 1–3)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
46 February 5, 1991 @ Atlanta L 114–118 The Omni
11,354 		15–31
March: 5–10 (home: 3–1; road: 2–9)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
April: 8–3 (home: 6–1; road: 2–2)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
76 April 9, 1991 Atlanta L 98–104 Richfield Coliseum
15,235 		28–48
1990–91 schedule

Player stats

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% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Brad Daugherty 76 76 38.8 52.4 0.0 75.1 10.9 3.3 1.0 0.6 21.6
Larry Nance 80 78 36.6 52.4 25.0 80.3 8.6 3.0 0.8 2.5 19.2
Mark Price 16 16 35.7 49.7 34.0 95.2 2.8 10.4 2.6 0.1 16.9
Hot Rod Williams 43 14 30.1 46.3 0.0 65.2 6.7 2.3 0.8 1.6 11.7
Craig Ehlo 82 68 33.7 44.5 32.9 67.9 4.7 4.6 1.5 0.4 10.1
Darnell Valentine 65 60 28.3 46.4 24.0 83.1 2.6 5.4 1.5 0.2 9.4
Danny Ferry 81 2 20.5 42.8 29.9 81.6 3.5 1.8 0.5 0.3 8.6
Chucky Brown 74 51 20.1 52.4 0.0 70.1 2.9 1.1 0.4 0.3 8.5
Henry James 37 4 13.6 44.1 40.0 72.2 2.1 0.9 0.4 0.1 8.1
Gerald Paddio 70 22 16.9 41.9 25.0 79.6 1.7 1.3 0.3 0.1 7.2
John Morton 66 2 18.3 43.8 33.3 81.3 1.6 3.7 0.9 0.3 5.4
Steve Kerr 57 4 15.9 44.4 45.2 84.9 0.6 2.3 0.5 0.1 4.8
Winston Bennett 27 13 12.4 37.4 0.0 74.5 2.4 1.0 0.3 0.1 4.3
Mike Woodson 4 0 11.5 21.7 0.0 100.0 0.5 1.3 0.0 0.3 2.8
Derrick Chievous 18 0 6.1 37.0 0.0 56.3 1.0 0.1 0.2 0.1 2.4
Milos Babic 12 0 4.3 31.6 0.0 58.3 0.8 0.3 0.1 0.1 1.6

Player statistics citation:[17]

References

  1. ^ Pluto, Terry (October 23, 1990). "Phoenix Suns vs. Cavaliers". Akron Beacon Journal. p. D3 - Sports.
  2. ^ "1990-91 Cleveland Cavaliers".
  3. ^ "Ferry Wants to Talk with Cavs Soon". United Press International. May 10, 1990. Retrieved November 22, 2022.
  4. ^ "Ferry Joins the Cavaliers". The New York Times. Associated Press. June 2, 1990. Retrieved November 22, 2022.
  5. ^ "Cavalry Obtains Guard Paddio". The Oklahoman. May 2, 1992. Retrieved December 19, 2025.
  6. ^ "Cleveland's Mark Price Injured, Lost for Season". Greensboro. December 3, 1990. Retrieved November 22, 2022.
  7. ^ "Price Injury Confirmed". United Press International. December 3, 1990. Retrieved November 22, 2022.
  8. ^ "Cleveland's Price Says Injury Won't Alter His Style". Deseret News. December 11, 1990. Retrieved January 17, 2022.
  9. ^ "Hot Rod Williams Out for Four to Six Weeks". United Press International. November 19, 1990. Retrieved December 19, 2025.
  10. ^ "Cavaliers 94, Heat 78". United Press International. February 12, 1991. Retrieved March 10, 2022.
  11. ^ Alridge, David (March 11, 1991). "Reality Undercuts Bullets' Overachievers". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 22, 2022.
  12. ^ Goldaper, Sam (December 4, 1990). "King Renegotiates His Own Contract". The New York Times. Retrieved December 19, 2025.
  13. ^ "Cavs to Sign Woodson". United Press International. December 12, 1990. Retrieved November 22, 2022.
  14. ^ Sorensen, Mike (January 19, 1991). "Jazz Get Tough in O.T. to Win". Deseret News. Retrieved December 19, 2025.
  15. ^ "NBA Games Played on February 7, 1991". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved November 22, 2022.
  16. ^ "1990–91 Cleveland Cavaliers Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved January 17, 2022.
  17. ^ a b c "1990–91 Cleveland Cavaliers Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
  18. ^ Barnard, Bill (February 10, 1991). "The Show of Shows for Magic: NBA: For Laker Guard, Making His 10th Appearance, Each and Every All-Star Game Is a Special Occasion". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 10, 2025.
  19. ^ "1991 NBA All-Star Recap". NBA.com. NBA.com Staff. September 13, 2021. Retrieved July 10, 2025.
  20. ^ "1991 NBA All-Star Game: East 116, West 114". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved January 17, 2022.
  21. ^ "1990–91 NBA Season Summary". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved February 24, 2026.
  22. ^ "CLIPPERS: Clippers History". Archived from the original on March 4, 2008. Retrieved March 12, 2008.
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