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1989–90 Chicago Bulls season

The 1989–90 NBA season was the Bulls' 24th season in the National Basketball Association.[1] Despite their solid playoff run last year, the Bulls fired head coach Doug Collins and replaced him with assistant Phil Jackson,[2][3][4][5] and received the sixth pick in the 1989 NBA draft, which they used to select Stacey King from the University of Oklahoma.[6][7][8][9] Under Jackson, the Bulls held a 28–19 record at the All-Star break,[10] finished the regular season second in the Central Division with a 55–27 record,[11] averaging 109.5 points per game.

Michael Jordan averaged 33.6 points, 6.9 rebounds, 6.3 assists and 2.8 steals per game, was named to the All-NBA First Team, and NBA All-Defensive First Team, and finished in third place in Most Valuable Player voting,[12][13][14][15] while Scottie Pippen continued to show improvement averaging 16.5 points, 6.7 rebounds, 5.4 assists and 2.6 steals per game. Jordan and Pippen were both selected for the 1990 NBA All-Star Game, which was Pippen's first ever All-Star appearance.[16][17][18][19] In addition, Horace Grant provided the team with 13.4 points and 7.9 rebounds per game, while Bill Cartwright contributed 11.4 points and 6.5 rebounds per game, John Paxson contributed 10.0 points per game, and King was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team.[20]

In the playoffs, the Bulls defeated the Milwaukee Bucks three games to one in the Eastern Conference First Round,[21][22][23][24] then defeated the Philadelphia 76ers four games to one in the Eastern Conference Semi-finals.[25][26][27][28] They advanced to the Eastern Conference finals before losing a seven-game series to the eventual back-to-back champion Detroit Pistons, who they faced and lost against in last season's Eastern Conference finals.[29][30][31][32] The Pistons would go on to defeat the Portland Trail Blazers in five games in the NBA Finals, winning their second consecutive championship.[33][34][35][36][37]

On March 28, 1990, Jordan scored a career-high of 69 points in a 117–113 road win over the Cleveland Cavaliers in overtime,[38][39][40][41][42] the highest scoring output by an NBA player since David Thompson's 73 points on April 9, 1978, against the Detroit Pistons. Jordan also finished third in MVP voting behind Charles Barkley and Magic Johnson.[43][44] In the summer of 1997, Jordan admitted that he went off for 69 points after the Cavaliers' fans cheered when Jordan was fouled hard by Hot Rod Williams, with Jordan lying on the ground in pain. Jordan stated, "I think the game I had against Cleveland, when I had 69, that was strictly off of anger and disappointment. Earlier in the first quarter, when I think I got a hard foul from Hot Rod and I—you know, I fell the wrong way, and I was really in pain. And the whole crowd cheered! And that right there pissed me off, because they (were) more in tune to winning than someone’s health. And that kind of got me fired up. That’s when I went crazy."[45]

On February 14, 1990, before a game against the expansion Orlando Magic, Jordan's number 23 jersey was stolen from the Bulls' locker room at the Orlando Arena; Jordan had to wear a number 12 jersey, and scored 49 points as the Bulls lost to the Magic in overtime, 135–129.[46][47][48][49]

Draft picks

Roster

Regular season

Season standings

z – clinched division title
y – clinched division title
x – clinched playoff spot

Record vs. opponents

Schedule

Playoffs

Player statistics

Regular season

Playoffs

Awards and records

Transactions

References

  1. ^ "1989-90 Chicago Bulls Roster and Stats".
  2. ^ "Collins Conflicts with Krause, Reinsdorf Told; Jackson Leads for Job". United Press International. July 7, 1989. Retrieved January 31, 2023.
  3. ^ Brunelli, Richard (July 7, 1989). "Jackson Leading Candidate for Bulls' Job". United Press International. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  4. ^ Smith, Sam (July 10, 1989). "Phil Jackson Gets the Chicago Bulls Coaching Job in 1989". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved September 22, 2022.
  5. ^ "Bulls Elevate Phil Jackson to Head Coach". The New York Times. Associated Press. July 11, 1989. Retrieved December 15, 2021.
  6. ^ 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.
  7. ^ McManis, Sam (June 28, 1989). "THE NBA DRAFT: The Other Teams: Sacramento's Secret Is Out: It's Ellison". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 22, 2022.
  8. ^ Cotton, Anthony (June 28, 1989). "Bullets Draft Hammonds". The Washington Post. Retrieved December 31, 2022.
  9. ^ "1989 NBA Draft". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved December 31, 2022.
  10. ^ "NBA Games Played on February 8, 1990". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  11. ^ "1989–90 Chicago Bulls Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved December 9, 2021.
  12. ^ McManis, Sam (May 22, 1990). "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. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  13. ^ Florence, Mal (May 23, 1990). "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. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  14. ^ "SPORTS PEOPLE: PRO BASKETBALL; M.V.P. Controversy". The New York Times. May 23, 1990. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  15. ^ "1989–90 NBA Awards Voting". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  16. ^ Howard-Cooper, Scott (February 11, 1990). "NBA ALL-STAR GAME: Entire Family Is Back Together--Almost". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  17. ^ "Bird, Johnson Return Magic to All-Star Game". Sun Sentinel. February 11, 1990. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
  18. ^ "1990 NBA All-Star Recap". NBA.com. NBA.com Staff. September 13, 2021. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
  19. ^ "1990 NBA All-Star Game: East 130, West 113". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved December 9, 2021.
  20. ^ "1989–90 Chicago Bulls Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved December 14, 2021.
  21. ^ "Bulls Go to Next Round: NBA Playoffs: Chicago Plays Tough Inside and Clinches Series in Milwaukee, 110-86". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. May 4, 1990. Retrieved December 31, 2022.
  22. ^ Smith, Sam (May 4, 1990). "Bulls Get Tough, K.O. the Bucks". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  23. ^ "Bulls, Lakers Move Along in NBA Playoffs". Deseret News. Associated Press. May 4, 1990. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
  24. ^ "1990 NBA Eastern Conference First Round: Bucks vs. Bulls". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved April 9, 2023.
  25. ^ Brown, Clifton (May 17, 1990). "Jordan and Bulls Have a Date with Pistons". The New York Times. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  26. ^ Wilbon, Michael (May 17, 1990). "Bulls Send 76ers Packing". The Washington Post. Retrieved December 31, 2022.
  27. ^ "Bulls Shut Door on Sixers, 117-99". Tampa Bay Times. May 17, 1990. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
  28. ^ "1990 NBA Eastern Conference Semifinals: 76ers vs. Bulls". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved April 9, 2023.
  29. ^ Goldaper, Sam (June 4, 1990). "Piston Defense Reigns Supreme". The New York Times. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  30. ^ Howard-Cooper, Scott (June 4, 1990). "Pistons: Job Still to Be Done: Pro Basketball: Detroit Finishes Chicago, 93-74, But the Celebration Is Muted, Because NBA Final Series with Portland Is Ahead". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  31. ^ Harris, John (June 4, 1990). "Pistons Bury Bulls with Early Flurry in 93-74 Victory". Deseret News. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
  32. ^ "1990 NBA Eastern Conference Finals: Bulls vs. Pistons". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved April 9, 2023.
  33. ^ Barnes, Mike (June 14, 1990). "Pistons 92, Trail Blazers 90". United Press International. Retrieved December 30, 2022.
  34. ^ Brown, Clifton (June 15, 1990). "Pistons Rally to Repeat as N.B.A. Champions". The New York Times. Retrieved September 22, 2022.
  35. ^ 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 September 22, 2022.
  36. ^ Aldridge, David (June 15, 1990). "In Final Second, Pistons Win Second Finals". The Washington Post. Retrieved September 22, 2022.
  37. ^ "1990 NBA Finals: Trail Blazers vs. Pistons". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved April 9, 2023.
  38. ^ "Basketball; 69 Points for Jordan". The New York Times. Associated Press. March 29, 1990. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  39. ^ "Among Jordan's Great Games, This Was It". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. March 29, 1990. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  40. ^ "Jordan Gets 69 Points in OT Win". The Washington Post. March 29, 1990. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  41. ^ Smith, Sam (March 29, 1990). "Jordan Pours in 69". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  42. ^ "Chicago Bulls at Cleveland Cavaliers Box Score, March 28, 1990". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved April 9, 2023.
  43. ^ "1989–90 NBA Awards Voting". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved December 15, 2021.
  44. ^ "M.V.P. Controversy". The New York Times. May 23, 1990. Retrieved January 19, 2022.
  45. ^ Ashish Mathur (August 2, 2021). "Michael Jordan Scored Career-High 69 Points Against Cavs Because Fans Cheered After He Got Hurt: 'That Right There Pissed Me Off, That's When I Went Crazy'". Sportscasting. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
  46. ^ Povtak, Tim (February 15, 1990). "Orlando Thief Gets Jordan's Number". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved January 19, 2022.
  47. ^ Cooper, Barry (February 15, 1990). "Magic Steal One from Bulls Despite Jordan's 49, Fired-Up Orlando Wins in OT, 135-129". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  48. ^ Harris, John (February 15, 1990). "Magic Tops Bulls in OT, 135-129; Orlando Overcomes Jordan's 49 Behind Catledge, Theus and Skiles". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  49. ^ "Orlando Magic Reveal Real Story of Michael Jordan No. 12 Jersey Game". NBC Sports. April 21, 2020. Retrieved November 23, 2022.