The 1989–90 NBA season was the Jazz's 16th season in the National Basketball Association , and 11th season in Salt Lake City, Utah .[ 1] The Jazz got off to a fast start early into the season by winning seven of their first eight games.[ 2] They continued to play solid basketball winning 11 of their 14 games in January, including a nine-game winning streak, and holding a 33–14 record at the All-Star break.[ 3] The Jazz finished with an impressive 55–27 record, second in the Midwest Division.[ 4] They made their seventh consecutive trip to the playoffs.[ 5]
Karl Malone averaged 31.0 points, 11.1 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game, and was named to the All-NBA First Team, and also finished in fourth place in Most Valuable Player voting.[ 6] [ 7] Meanwhile, John Stockton averaged 17.2 points, led the league in assists for the third year in a row averaging 14.5 assists, and contributed 2.7 steals per game, and was selected to the All-NBA Second Team. In addition, Thurl Bailey provided the team with 14.2 points and 5.0 rebounds per game, while Darrell Griffith and top draft pick Blue Edwards both contributed 8.9 points per game each, with Edwards being named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team, and Mark Eaton provided with 7.3 rebounds and led the team with 2.5 blocks per game.[ 8]
Both Malone and Stockton were selected for the 1990 NBA All-Star Game . However, Malone threatened to boycott the All-Star Game, after A.C. Green of the Los Angeles Lakers was voted to be the starting power forward for the Western Conference instead of Malone.[ 9] [ 10] [ 11] [ 12] Malone did not play in the All-Star Game due to an ankle injury, despite playing all 82 games this season.[ 13] [ 14] [ 15] [ 16] [ 17] In the Western Conference First Round of the playoffs , the Jazz won Game 1 against the 5th-seeded Phoenix Suns ,[ 18] [ 19] but lost the series in five games.[ 20] [ 21] [ 22] [ 23] Following the season, Bob Hansen was traded to the Sacramento Kings in an off-season three team trade.[ 24] [ 25]
One notable highlight of the season was Malone scoring a career-high of 61 points in a 144–96 home win over the Milwaukee Bucks on January 27, 1990.[ 26] [ 27] [ 28] [ 29]
1989–90 Utah Jazz roster
Players
Coaches
Pos.
No.
Name
Height
Weight
DOB
From
F
41
Bailey, Thurl
6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)
215 lb (98 kg)
1961–04–07
NC State
C
40
Brown, Mike
6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
257 lb (117 kg)
1963–07–19
George Washington
F
24
Brown, Raymond
6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
220 lb (100 kg)
1965–07–05
Idaho
C
53
Eaton, Mark
7 ft 4 in (2.24 m)
275 lb (125 kg)
1957–01–24
UCLA
G/F
30
Edwards, Blue
6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
200 lb (91 kg)
1965–10–31
East Carolina
G
35
Griffith, Darrell
6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
190 lb (86 kg)
1958–06–16
Louisville
G
20
Hansen, Bob
6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
190 lb (86 kg)
1961–01–18
Iowa
G
15
Johnson, Eric
6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
205 lb (93 kg)
1966–02–07
Nebraska
C
45
Leckner, Eric
6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)
265 lb (120 kg)
1966–05–27
Wyoming
F
32
Malone, Karl
6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
250 lb (113 kg)
1963–07–24
Louisiana Tech
G
11
Rudd, Delaney
6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
180 lb (82 kg)
1962–11–08
Wake Forest
G
12
Stockton, John
6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
170 lb (77 kg)
1962–03–26
Gonzaga
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
(DP) Unsigned draft pick(FA) Free agent(S) Suspended Injured
Roster Last transaction: February 16, 1990
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
—
1989–90 game log Total: 55–27 (home: 36–5; road: 19–22)
November: 8–4 (home: 7–2; road: 1–2)
December: 11–5 (home: 7–1; road: 4–4)
January: 11–3 (home: 7–0; road: 4–3)
February: 9–4 (home: 5–0; road: 4–4)
March: 11–4 (home: 6–1; road: 5–3)
April: 5–7 (home: 4–1; road: 1–6)
1989–90 schedule
1990 playoff game log
First Round: 2–3 (home: 1–2; road: 1–1)
1990 schedule
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(February 2013 )
^ 1989-90 Utah Jazz
^ "Utah Jazz at Minnesota Timberwolves Box Score, November 21, 1989" . Basketball-Reference . Retrieved January 19, 2022 .
^ "NBA Games Played on February 8, 1990" . Basketball-Reference . Retrieved November 23, 2022 .
^ "1989–90 Utah Jazz Schedule and Results" . Basketball-Reference. Retrieved December 9, 2021 .
^ "Utah Jazz" . Basketball-Reference . Retrieved January 21, 2022 .
^ 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 .
^ "1989–90 NBA Awards Voting" . Basketball-Reference . Retrieved February 4, 2022 .
^ "1989–90 Utah Jazz Roster and Stats" . Basketball-Reference. Retrieved December 14, 2021 .
^ Barnes, Mike (January 25, 1990). "Green's a Starting All-Star Over Malone" . United Press International . Retrieved November 23, 2022 .
^ McManis, Sam (January 26, 1990). "A.C. Green Boxes Out Unhappy Malone for Starting Berth: NBA All-Stars: Utah Player Says He Will Boycott Game. Magic and Worthy Make It Three Lakers on West Squad" . Los Angeles Times . Retrieved November 23, 2022 .
^ Kragthorpe, Kurt (January 26, 1990). "All-Star Voters Pick Green, and Malone's Angry" . Deseret News . Retrieved November 23, 2022 .
^ Howard-Cooper, Scott (February 11, 1990). "NBA ALL-STAR GAME: Entire Family Is Back Together--Almost" . Los Angeles Times . Retrieved November 23, 2022 .
^ Hafner, Dan (February 9, 1990). "NBA ROUNDUP: New Twist: Malone to Skip All-Star Game Again" . Los Angeles Times . Retrieved November 23, 2022 .
^ Kragthorpe, Kurt (February 10, 1990). "NBA Wants a Look at Hurt Ankle" . Deseret News . Retrieved November 23, 2022 .
^ "Blackman to Replace Injured Karl Malone" . Tampa Bay Times . February 10, 1990. 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 .
^ Howard-Cooper, Scott (April 28, 1990). "Jazz Loses Big Lead, But Still Wins, 113-96" . Los Angeles Times . Retrieved January 19, 2022 .
^ Wakley, Ralph (April 28, 1990). "Jazz 113, Suns 96" . United Press International . Retrieved November 23, 2022 .
^ Wakley, Ralph (May 6, 1990). "Suns 104, Jazz 102" . United Press International . Retrieved December 31, 2022 .
^ "Last-Gasp Jump Shot Sends Suns to Round 2" . The New York Times . Associated Press. May 7, 1990. Retrieved December 7, 2021 .
^ Howard-Cooper, Scott (May 7, 1990). "Suns' Truth Hurts Jazz in Game 5: NBA Playoffs: Kevin Johnson's Last-Second Basket Sets Up a Date with the Lakers for Phoenix, 104-102" . Los Angeles Times . Retrieved September 20, 2022 .
^ "1990 NBA Western Conference First Round: Suns vs. Jazz" . Basketball-Reference . Retrieved April 9, 2023 .
^ "Bullets Get Pervis Ellison in Three-Way Trade: Pro Basketball: Jeff Malone Goes to Jazz, with Hansen and Leckner Going to Sacramento. Nets Deal for Theus, Meaning They Will Probably Pick Coleman" . Los Angeles Times . Associated Press. June 26, 1990. Retrieved December 15, 2021 .
^ Brady, Jim (June 25, 1990). "Bullets, Jazz, Kings Make Three-Way Deal" . United Press International . Retrieved November 23, 2022 .
^ "NBA ROUNDUP: Malone Eloquently States His Case, Scoring 61 Points in Jazz Victory" . Los Angeles Times . Associated Press. January 28, 1990. Retrieved November 23, 2022 .
^ Kragthorpe, Kurt (January 28, 1990). "Malone Scores 61 - Says He'll Play in All-Star Game" . Deseret News . Retrieved November 23, 2022 .
^ "Utah 144, Milwaukee 96" . United Press International . January 28, 1990. Retrieved November 23, 2022 .
^ "Milwaukee Bucks at Utah Jazz Box Score, January 27, 1990" . Basketball-Reference . Retrieved April 9, 2023 .