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1989–90 Phoenix Suns season

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1989–90 Phoenix Suns season
Head coachCotton Fitzsimmons
General managerJerry Colangelo
Owner(s)Jerry Colangelo
ArenaArizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
Results
Record54–28 (.659)
PlaceDivision: 3rd (Pacific)
Conference: 5th (Western)
Playoff finishWestern Conference finals
(lost to Trail Blazers 2–4)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
Television
RadioKTAR
< 1988–89 1990–91 >

The 1989–90 NBA season was the 21st season for the Phoenix Suns in the National Basketball Association.record.[1] Cotton Fitzsimmons was head coach for a club that returned to the Western Conference Finals. All home games were played at Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum. In December, the team traded Armen Gilliam to the Charlotte Hornets in exchange for Kurt Rambis, who won four championships with the Los Angeles Lakers.[2][3][4] The Suns held a 28–17 record at the All-Star break,[5] and finished third in the Pacific Division with a 54–28 record.[6]

Tom Chambers averaged 27.2 points and 7.0 rebounds per game, while last season's Most Improved Player, Kevin Johnson averaged 22.5 points and 11.4 assists per game. Chambers and Johnson were both selected for the 1990 NBA All-Star Game, which was Johnson's first All-Star selection,[7][8][9][10] and were both named to the All-NBA Second Team at season's end. In addition, Jeff Hornacek provided the team with 17.6 points, 5.0 assists and 1.7 steals per game, while sixth man Eddie Johnson provided with 16.9 points per game off the bench, second-year guard Dan Majerle contributed 11.1 points, 5.9 rebounds and 1.4 steals per game also off the bench, and Mark West averaged 10.5 points, 8.9 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per game.[11]

In the Western Conference First Round of the playoffs, the Suns lost Game 1 to the 4th-seeded Utah Jazz,[12][13] but managed to defeat them in five games.[14][15][16][17] In the Western Conference Semi-finals, they upset Magic Johnson and the top-seeded Los Angeles Lakers in five games,[18][19][20][21] but lost to the Portland Trail Blazers four games to two in the Western Conference finals.[22][23][24][25] The Blazers would lose to the defending champion Detroit Pistons in five games in the NBA Finals.[26][27][28][29][30]

The season was also highlighted by Chambers setting a franchise record for points scored in one game, when on February 18, 1990, he scored 56 points in a 131–113 road win over the Golden State Warriors.[31][32] Just over a month later, he would break his own record when he scored 60 against his former team, the Seattle SuperSonics on March 24, 1990, which the Suns won at home, 121–95.[33][34][35] Chambers' record would be broken by Devin Booker on March 24th, 2017 by scoring 70 points against the Boston Celtics,[36] and technically a second time on January 26th, 2024 against the Indiana Pacers with 62 points.[37]

NBA draft

[edit]
Main article: 1989 NBA draft
Round Pick Player Position Nationality College
1 24 Anthony Cook Forward  United States Arizona
2 46 Ricky Blanton Forward  United States Louisiana State
2 51 Mike Morrison Guard  United States Loyola (MD)
2 52 Greg Grant Guard  United States Trenton State

The Suns traded first-round pick Anthony Cook on draft night to the Detroit Pistons for 27th pick Kenny Battle and Micheal Williams. Battle played for a season and a half before being waived in January 1991. Micheal Williams would play six games for the Suns before being waived. The Suns received the 46th pick (Ricky Blanton) from the Chicago Bulls when they traded Craig Hodges for Ed Nealy. Blanton, after knee surgery, sat on the bench for the 89–90 season, and was waived shortly after the start of the 90–91 season. Mike Morrison played sparingly in the 89–90 season, and was traded before the start of the 90–91 season. Greg Grant played the season as a backup to Kevin Johnson, before being released in the 1990 offseason.

Roster

[edit]
1989–90 Phoenix Suns roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB From
G 3 Battle, Kenny 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1964–10–10 Illinois
F 24 Chambers, Tom 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1959–06–21 Utah
G 10 Grant, Greg 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m) 140 lb (64 kg) 1966–08–29 TCNJ
G 14 Hornacek, Jeff 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1963–05–03 Iowa State
F 8 Johnson, Eddie 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1959–05–01 Illinois
G 7 Johnson, Kevin 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1966–03–04 California
C 28 Lang, Andrew 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 245 lb (111 kg) 1966–06–28 Arkansas
G 9 Majerle, Dan 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1965–09–09 Central Michigan
F 40 McGee, Mike 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1959–07–29 Michigan
G 32 Morrison, Mike 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1967–08–16 Loyola (MD)
C 34 Perry, Tim 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1965–06–04 Temple
F 31 Rambis, Kurt 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 213 lb (97 kg) 1958–02–25 Santa Clara
C 41 West, Mark 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1960–11–05 Old Dominion
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured Injured

Roster
Last transaction: March 26, 1990

Regular season

[edit]

Standings

[edit]
Pacific Division
 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
#
Western Conference
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

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 —

Playoffs

[edit]

The Suns entered the postseason as the fifth seed in the Western Conference, opening the playoffs against the fourth-seeded Utah Jazz. With stomach flu limiting All-Star point guard Kevin Johnson to only 9 minutes, the Jazz took game one with a 17-point victory in Salt Lake City. Johnson returned for game two, leading the Suns to an 18-point victory. After splitting two games in Phoenix, the Suns headed back to Salt Lake for the decisive fifth game. Kevin Johnson sealed the game with a last-second jump shot to give the Suns a 104–102 victory.[15]

The Suns would next face-off against the top-seeded Los Angeles Lakers, who finished the season with a league-best 63–19 record. Coach Cotton Fitzsimmons came into game one with an 0–37 record coaching against the Lakers at the Great Western Forum. The Suns had lost 21 consecutive games at the Forum dating back to 1984. They ended the streak with a 104–102 upset, stealing homecourt advantage. Center Mark West led the Suns with 24 points, 16 rebounds and 7 blocks. The Lakers would recover in game two, blowing out the Suns 100–124 to even the series. After winning games three and four in Phoenix, the Suns returned to the Forum with a 3–1 series lead. Despite an early 15-point lead and a 43-point performance from MVP Magic Johnson, the Suns rallied to a 106–103 victory, behind 37 points from Kevin Johnson.[18]

The Suns headed to the Western Conference finals to face the Portland Trail Blazers. Looking to steal homecourt advantage for the third straight series, the Suns fell 98–100 in a closely contested game one. A last second shot from reserve shooting guard Mike McGee was blocked by Blazers guard Danny Young. Game two saw the Suns run to a 22-point lead in the second quarter, finishing the first half leading 59–41. The Blazers launched a furious second-half comeback, tying the game 106–106 after a Terry Porter three-pointer with 28 seconds left. Kevin Johnson was immediately fouled, missing the first free throw and making the second to give the Suns a one-point lead. Porter would give the Blazers the lead after a 14-foot jump shot with 12 seconds left. Suns forward Eddie Johnson missed a 20-foot jumper with 4 seconds left, giving the Blazers a 108–107 victory. The Suns would beat the Blazers by 34 and 12 in games three and four in Phoenix, before the Blazers retook the series lead with a 6-point victory in game five.[38] Fortune turned against the Suns in game six, when Kevin Johnson went down with a hamstring injury at the end of the second quarter. Shooting guard Jeff Hornacek led the team in Johnson's absence, scoring a career playoff high 36 points. The Suns led 109–108 with 55 seconds left in the game. Blazers forward Jerome Kersey blocked a shot by Hornacek and scored a fast-break layup, giving the Blazers a 110–109 lead with 27 seconds left. Looking to regain the lead, Suns forward Tom Chambers had the ball stripped by Buck Williams. Star Clyde Drexler would make two free-throws to put the Blazers up 112–109. Hornacek missed a last-second three-pointer, ending the Suns unlikely playoff run.[22]

Game log

[edit]
1990 playoff game log
First Round: 3–2 (home: 1–1; road: 2–1)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Series
1 April 27 @ Utah L 96–113 Dan Majerle (23) Kurt Rambis (9) Jeff Hornacek (6) Salt Palace
12,616 		0–1
2 April 29 @ Utah W 105–87 Kevin Johnson (22) Mark West (21) Kevin Johnson (7) Salt Palace
12,616 		1–1
3 May 2 Utah W 120–105 Kevin Johnson (29) Mark West (10) Kevin Johnson (12) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
14,487 		2–1
4 May 4 Utah L 94–105 Eddie Johnson (33) Mark West (11) Kevin Johnson (13) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
14,487 		2–2
5 May 6 @ Utah W 104–102 Tom Chambers (32) Mark West (11) Kevin Johnson (9) Salt Palace
12,616 		3–2
Conference semifinals: 4–1 (home: 2–0; road: 2–1)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Series
1 May 8 @ L.A. Lakers W 104–102 Tom Chambers (26) Mark West (16) Kevin Johnson (12) Great Western Forum
17,505 		1–0
2 May 10 @ L.A. Lakers L 100–124 Jeff Hornacek (18) five players tied (5) Kevin Johnson (12) Great Western Forum
17,505 		1–1
3 May 12 L.A. Lakers W 117–103 Tom Chambers (34) Chambers, K. Johnson (7) Kevin Johnson (8) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
14,487 		2–1
4 May 13 L.A. Lakers W 114–101 Kevin Johnson (30) Mark West (15) Kevin Johnson (16) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
14,487 		3–1
5 May 15 @ L.A. Lakers W 106–103 Kevin Johnson (37) Mark West (16) Kevin Johnson (8) Great Western Forum
17,505 		4–1
Conference finals: 2–4 (home: 2–1; road: 0–3)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Series
1 May 21 @ Portland L 98–100 Tom Chambers (29) Mark West (12) Kevin Johnson (11) Memorial Coliseum
12,884 		0–1
2 May 23 @ Portland L 107–108 Tom Chambers (28) Tom Chambers (14) Kevin Johnson (8) Memorial Coliseum
12,884 		0–2
3 May 25 Portland W 123–89 Tom Chambers (24) Andrew Lang (10) Kevin Johnson (12) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
14,487 		1–2
4 May 27 Portland W 119–107 Kevin Johnson (28) Mark West (12) Kevin Johnson (17) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
14,487 		2–2
5 May 29 @ Portland L 114–120 Kevin Johnson (28) Tom Chambers (13) Kevin Johnson (14) Memorial Coliseum
12,884 		2–3
6 May 31 Portland L 109–112 Jeff Hornacek (36) Kurt Rambis (12) Hornacek, K. Johnson (6) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
14,487 		2–4
1990 schedule

Player statistics

[edit]
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

Season

[edit]
Player GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Kenny Battle 59 8 12.4 .547 .250 .671 2.1 0.6 .6 .2 4.1
Tom Chambers 81 81 37.6 .501 .279 .861 7.0 2.3 1.1 .6 27.2
Armon Gilliam* 16 7 16.7 .430 . .696 4.4 0.5 .4 .3 8.9
Greg Grant 67 3 10.1 .384 .188 .661 0.9 2.5 .5 .0 3.1
Jeff Hornacek 67 60 34.0 .536 .408† .856 4.7 5.0 1.7 .2 17.6
Eddie Johnson 64 4 28.3 .453 .380 .917^ 3.8 1.7 .5 .2 16.9
Kevin Johnson 74 74 37.6 .499 .195 .838 3.6 11.4 1.3 .2 22.5
Andrew Lang 74 0 13.7 .557 . .653 3.7 0.3 .3 1.8 3.5
Tim Legler 11 0 7.5 .379 .000 1.000^ 0.7 0.5 .2 .0 2.5
Dan Majerle 73 23 30.7 .424 .238 .762 5.9 2.6 1.4 .4 11.1
Mike McGee 14 7 20.0 .483 .348 .476 2.6 1.1 .6 .1 7.3
Mike Morrison 36 1 4.3 .338 .286 .800 0.6 0.3 .1 .0 2.0
Tim Perry 60 18 10.2 .513 1.000† .589 2.5 0.3 .4 .4 4.2
Kurt Rambis* 58 45 25.1 .514 .000 .722 7.0 1.8 1.2 .5 5.4
Mark West 82 79 29.3 .625 . .691 8.9 0.5 .4 2.2 10.5
Micheal Williams* 6 0 4.3 .200 . .500 0.2 0.7 .0 .0 0.8

* – Stats with the Suns.
† – Minimum 25 three-pointers made.
^ – Minimum 125 free throws made.

Playoffs

[edit]
Player GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Kenny Battle 8 4.3 .308 . 1.000 0.6 0.0 .0 .0 1.1
Tom Chambers 16 38.3 .425 .263 .879 6.7 1.9 .4 .4 22.2
Greg Grant 7 6.7 .450 .333 . 0.9 1.4 .3 .0 1.4
Jeff Hornacek 16 36.4 .511 .250 .932 3.9 4.6 1.5 .0 18.6
Eddie Johnson 16 21.1 .450 .395 .787 3.6 1.1 .6 .2 12.3
Kevin Johnson 16 36.4 .479 .182 .821 3.3 10.6 1.6 .0 21.3
Andrew Lang 12 7.8 .667 . .571 1.7 0.2 .2 .8 1.3
Dan Majerle 16 29.9 .487 .333 .785 5.1 2.1 1.2 .1 12.6
Mike McGee 10 4.4 .350 .429 .250 0.4 0.2 .1 .1 1.8
Tim Perry 11 9.1 .520 . .444 1.9 0.2 .3 .5 3.1
Kurt Rambis 16 24.1 .444 .000 .679 7.7 1.4 .5 .5 4.2
Mark West 16 34.0 .577 . .540 10.3 0.3 .2 2.6 11.1

Awards and honors

[edit]

Week/Month

[edit]
  • Tom Chambers was named Player of the Week for games played February 5 through February 18.
  • Kevin Johnson was named Player of the Week for games played March 12 through March 18.

All-Star

[edit]
  • Tom Chambers was selected as a reserve for the Western Conference in the All-Star Game. Chambers finished 9th in voting among Western Conference forwards with 64,028 votes.
  • Kevin Johnson was selected as a reserve for the Western Conference in the All-Star Game. Johnson finished 6th in voting among Western Conference guards with 78,812 votes.

Season

[edit]

Transactions

[edit]

Trades

[edit]
June 27, 1989 To Detroit Pistons
United States Anthony Cook 		To Phoenix Suns
United States Kenny Battle
United States Micheal Williams
September 5, 1989 To Cleveland Cavaliers
United States Steve Kerr 		To Phoenix Suns
1993 second-round draft pick (United States Mark Buford)
October 5, 1989 To Chicago Bulls
United States Ed Nealy 		To Phoenix Suns
1996 second-round draft pick
December 13, 1989 To Charlotte Hornets
United States Armen Gilliam 		To Phoenix Suns
United States Kurt Rambis
1990 second-round draft pick (United States Negele Knight)
1991 second-round draft pick (United States Chad Gallagher)

Free agents

[edit]

Additions

[edit]
Date Player Contract Former Team
August 24, 1989 Steve Kerr Undisclosed Phoenix Suns
March 21, 1990 Tim Legler Signed two ten-day contracts Omaha Racers
March 26, 1990 Mike McGee Signed for rest of season New Jersey Nets

Subtractions

[edit]
Date Player Reason Left New Team
June 15, 1989 Tyrone Corbin Expansion Draft Minnesota Timberwolves
September 21, 1989 Kenny Gattison Waived Charlotte Hornets
November 6, 1989 T. R. Dunn Free agent Denver Nuggets
December 12, 1989 Micheal Williams Waived Charlotte Hornets
April 10, 1990 Tim Legler Ten-day contract expired Denver Nuggets

Player Transactions Citation:[43]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "1989–90 Phoenix Suns".
  2. ^ "Hornets Trade Rambis for Gilliam". Go Upstate. Herald Journal. December 12, 1989. Retrieved December 31, 2022.
  3. ^ "Suns Get Rambis from Hornets". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. December 14, 1989. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  4. ^ Smith, Sam (December 17, 1989). "Pro Basketball". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved March 9, 2022.
  5. ^ "NBA Games Played on February 8, 1990". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  6. ^ "1989–90 Phoenix Suns Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved December 9, 2021.
  7. ^ Howard-Cooper, Scott (February 11, 1990). "NBA ALL-STAR GAME: Entire Family Is Back Together--Almost". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  8. ^ "Bird, Johnson Return Magic to All-Star Game". Sun Sentinel. February 11, 1990. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
  9. ^ "1990 NBA All-Star Recap". NBA.com. NBA.com Staff. September 13, 2021. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
  10. ^ "1990 NBA All-Star Game: East 130, West 113". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved December 9, 2021.
  11. ^ "1989–90 Phoenix Suns Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved December 14, 2021.
  12. ^ Howard-Cooper, Scott (April 28, 1990). "Jazz Loses Big Lead, But Still Wins, 113-96". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
  13. ^ Wakley, Ralph (April 28, 1990). "Jazz 113, Suns 96". United Press International. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  14. ^ Wakley, Ralph (May 6, 1990). "Suns 104, Jazz 102". United Press International. Retrieved December 31, 2022.
  15. ^ a b "Last-Gasp Jump Shot Sends Suns to Round 2". The New York Times. Associated Press. May 7, 1990. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  16. ^ 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.
  17. ^ "1990 NBA Western Conference First Round: Suns vs. Jazz". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved April 9, 2023.
  18. ^ a b Brady, Frank (May 16, 1990). "Suns Rally to Beat Lakers, Earning Trip to West Final". The New York Times. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
  19. ^ McManis, Sam (May 16, 1990). "Lakers Let Season Trickle Away: Game 5: Magic Johnson Scores 43, But the Suns Come Back from 15-Point Deficit to Clinch Series, 106-103". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
  20. ^ "NBA Playoffs: Shocked Lakers Bounced from Playoffs by Johnson-Led Suns". Deseret News. Associated Press. May 16, 1990. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
  21. ^ "1990 NBA Western Conference Semifinals: Suns vs. Lakers". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved April 9, 2023.
  22. ^ a b Brown, Clifton (June 1, 1990). "Blazers, Overcoming Road Jinx, Reach Final". The New York Times. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  23. ^ 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.
  24. ^ Aldridge, David (June 1, 1990). "Portland Eliminates Phoenix". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  25. ^ "1990 NBA Western Conference Finals: Suns vs. Trail Blazers". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved April 9, 2023.
  26. ^ Barnes, Mike (June 14, 1990). "Pistons 92, Trail Blazers 90". United Press International. Retrieved December 30, 2022.
  27. ^ Brown, Clifton (June 15, 1990). "Pistons Rally to Repeat as N.B.A. Champions". The New York Times. Retrieved September 22, 2022.
  28. ^ 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.
  29. ^ Aldridge, David (June 15, 1990). "In Final Second, Pistons Win Second Finals". The Washington Post. Retrieved September 22, 2022.
  30. ^ "1990 NBA Finals: Trail Blazers vs. Pistons". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved April 9, 2023.
  31. ^ "Chambers Has 56 as Suns Top Warriors". The New York Times. Associated Press. February 19, 1990. Retrieved January 19, 2022.
  32. ^ "NBA ROUNDUP: Chambers Scores 56 Points, 40 in Half". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. February 19, 1990. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  33. ^ "Chambers Joins 60-Point Club in Suns' Win Over SuperSonics". Los Angeles Times. March 25, 1990. Retrieved January 19, 2022.
  34. ^ "Phoenix 121, Seattle 95". United Press International. March 25, 1990. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  35. ^ "Suns Media Guide 2009–10" (PDF). Phoenix Suns. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 2, 2010. Retrieved December 17, 2010.
  36. ^ "Celtics 130-120 Suns (Mar 24, 2017)". ESPN.
  37. ^ "Pacers 133-131 Suns (Jan 26, 2024)". ESPN.
  38. ^ Brown, Clifton (May 30, 1990). "Blazers Grab Lead In Series". The New York Times. Retrieved December 15, 2021.
  39. ^ a b "1989–90 NBA Awards Voting". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved February 4, 2022.
  40. ^ "Pierce Wins NBA Sixth Man Award". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. April 30, 1990. Retrieved December 30, 2022.
  41. ^ "Pierce Picks Up Second Sixth Man Award". United Press International. April 30, 1990. Retrieved December 30, 2022.
  42. ^ "Pierce Wins Sixth Man Award for Second Time". Tampa Bay Times. May 1, 1990. Retrieved December 30, 2022.
  43. ^ "1989–90 Phoenix Suns Transactions". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
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