The 1989–90 NBA season was the Nuggets' 14th season in the National Basketball Association , and 23rd season as a franchise.[ 1] The Nuggets got off to a fast start winning 11 of their first 15 games, on their way to a solid 19–9 start, and holding a 26–20 record at the All-Star break.[ 2] At midseason, the team acquired Joe Barry Carroll from the New Jersey Nets .[ 3] [ 4] However, they began to show their age as they barely made the playoffs with a mediocre record of 43–39, fourth in the Midwest Division.[ 5]
Fat Lever averaged 18.3 points, 9.3 rebounds, 6.5 assists and 2.1 steals per game, and was selected for the 1990 NBA All-Star Game ,[ 6] [ 7] [ 8] [ 9] while Alex English averaged 17.9 points per game, and sixth man Walter Davis provided the team with 17.5 points per game off the bench. In addition, Michael Adams contributed 15.5 points, 6.3 assists and 1.5 steals per game, while Blair Rasmussen provided with 12.4 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game, and Danny Schayes averaged 10.4 points and 6.5 rebounds per game.[ 10]
In the Western Conference First Round of the playoffs, the Nuggets were swept by the San Antonio Spurs in three straight games.[ 11] [ 12] [ 13] [ 14] Following the season, an era would come to an end in Denver as head coach Doug Moe was fired,[ 15] [ 16] while English signed as a free agent with the Dallas Mavericks ,[ 17] [ 18] [ 19] Lever was traded to the Mavericks,[ 20] [ 21] [ 22] Schayes signed with the Milwaukee Bucks ,[ 23] [ 24] and Barry Carroll was released to free agency.
1989–90 Denver Nuggets roster
Players
Coaches
Pos.
No.
Name
Height
Weight
DOB
From
G
14
Adams, Michael
5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
162 lb (73 kg)
1963–01–19
Boston College
C
11
Barry Carroll, Joe
7 ft 0 in (2.13 m)
225 lb (102 kg)
1958–07–24
Purdue
G/F
6
Davis, Walter
6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
193 lb (88 kg)
1954–09–09
North Carolina
G
23
Dunn, T.R.
6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
190 lb (86 kg)
1955–02–01
Alabama
F
2
English, Alex
6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
190 lb (86 kg)
1954–01–05
South Carolina
F
24
Hanzlik, Bill
6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
185 lb (84 kg)
1957–12–06
Notre Dame
F
45
Kempton, Tim
6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
245 lb (111 kg)
1964–01–25
Notre Dame
F
35
Lane, Jerome
6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
230 lb (104 kg)
1966–12–04
Pittsburgh
G
12
Lever, Fat
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
170 lb (77 kg)
1960–08–18
Arizona State
G
21
Lichti, Todd
6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
205 lb (93 kg)
1967–01–08
Stanford
C
41
Rasmussen, Blair
7 ft 0 in (2.13 m)
250 lb (113 kg)
1962–11–13
Oregon
C
34
Schayes, Danny
6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)
235 lb (107 kg)
1959–05–10
Syracuse
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
(DP) Unsigned draft pick(FA) Free agent(S) Suspended Injured
z - clinched division title
y - clinched division title
x - clinched playoff spot
Record vs. opponents
edit
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
—
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(January 2011 )
1990 playoff game log
First round: 0–3 (home: 0–1; road: 0–2)
1990 schedule
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adding to it .
(January 2011 )
^ "1989-90 Denver Nuggets Roster and Stats" . Basketball-Reference.com . Retrieved November 16, 2021 .
^ "NBA Games Played on February 8, 1990" . Basketball-Reference . Retrieved November 23, 2022 .
^ Goldaper, Sam (February 22, 1990). "Knicks Trade Strickland to Spurs for Cheeks" . The New York Times . Retrieved November 23, 2022 .
^ "NBA WEDNESDAY'S TRADES: Cheeks Dealt for Strickland; Carroll to Nuggets" . Los Angeles Times . Associated Press. February 22, 1990. Retrieved November 23, 2022 .
^ "1989–90 Denver Nuggets Schedule and Results" . Basketball-Reference. Retrieved December 9, 2021 .
^ Howard-Cooper, Scott (February 11, 1990). "NBA ALL-STAR GAME: Entire Family Is Back Together--Almost" . Los Angeles Times . Retrieved November 23, 2022 .
^ "Bird, Johnson Return Magic to All-Star Game" . Sun Sentinel . February 11, 1990. Retrieved November 15, 2023 .
^ "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 .
^ "1989–90 Denver Nuggets Roster and Stats" . Basketball-Reference. Retrieved December 14, 2021 .
^ 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 September 20, 2022 .
^ "Spurs 131, Nuggets 120" . United Press International . May 2, 1990. Retrieved December 9, 2021 .
^ "1990 NBA Western Conference First Round Game 3: San Antonio Spurs at Denver Nuggets Box Score, May 1, 1990" . Basketball-Reference . Retrieved December 31, 2022 .
^ "1990 NBA Western Conference First Round: Nuggets vs. Spurs" . Basketball-Reference . Retrieved April 9, 2023 .
^ "SPORTS PEOPLE: PRO BASKETBALL; Doug Moe Dismissed as Coach of Nuggets" . The New York Times . September 7, 1990. Retrieved November 23, 2022 .
^ "Moe Fired as Nuggets Coach" . United Press International . September 6, 1990. Retrieved November 23, 2022 .
^ "Mavericks Will Sign Alex English to Make Up for the Loss of Perkins" . Los Angeles Times . Associated Press. August 15, 1990. Retrieved November 23, 2022 .
^ "Mavericks Sign English to One-Year Deal" . United Press International . August 15, 1990. Retrieved November 23, 2022 .
^ "SPORTS PEOPLE: PRO BASKETBALL; Mavericks Sign English" . The New York Times . August 16, 1990. Retrieved December 15, 2021 .
^ "SPORTS PEOPLE: PRO BASKETBALL; Nuggets Trade Lever to Dallas for 2 Picks" . The New York Times . June 22, 1990. Retrieved December 15, 2021 .
^ "Mavericks Get Lever for a Pair of No. 1 Picks: NBA: Nuggets Receive the Ninth Selection in Next Wednesday's Draft, and a First-Round Choice in 1991" . Los Angeles Times . Associated Press. June 22, 1990. Retrieved November 23, 2022 .
^ "Mavericks Trade Two First-Round Draft Choices to Nuggets for Lever" . United Press International . June 21, 1990. Retrieved November 23, 2022 .
^ "A Trading Flurry Uncapped in NBA: Basketball: Ainge Goes to Portland, Schayes to Milwaukee, Pressey to San Antonio, Bol to Philadelphia After Salary Cap Raised by Nearly $2 Million" . Los Angeles Times . Associated Press. August 2, 1990. Retrieved January 19, 2022 .
^ Hente, Karl (August 2, 1990). "As Salary Cap Rises, Players Fly Around NBA" . The Washington Post . Retrieved November 23, 2022 .