Wikipedia

1990–91 New York Knicks season

The 1990–91 NBA season was the 45th season for the New York Knicks in the National Basketball Association.[3] During the off-season, the Knicks signed free agent John Starks, who played in the Continental Basketball Association the previous season.[4][5][6] The team changed their on-court leadership early in the season, as head coach Stu Jackson was fired, and replaced with John MacLeod after 15 games.[7][8][9]

1990–91 New York Knicks season
Head coach
General manager
OwnersParamount Communications, Inc.
ArenaMadison Square Garden
Results
Record39–43 (.476)
PlaceDivision: 3rd (Atlantic)
Conference: 8th (Eastern)
Playoff finishFirst round
(lost to Bulls 0–3)
Stats at Basketball Reference
Local media
TelevisionMSG Network
(Marv Albert, John Andariese)[1]
RadioWFAN
(Jim Karvellas, Walt Frazier)[2]
< 1989–90 1991–92 >

After a 6–3 start to the regular season, the Knicks lost eight of their next nine games, and held a 20–27 record at the All-Star break.[10] However, the team recovered to a 34–33 record near the end of the season, but then went 5–10 in their last 15 games.[11] The Knicks finished in third place in the Atlantic Division with a 39–43 record, and earned the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference for the NBA playoffs.[12]

Patrick Ewing averaged 26.6 points, 11.2 rebounds and 3.2 blocks per game, leading the Knicks in both scoring and blocks;[13] he was named to the All-NBA Second Team, and was selected for the 1991 NBA All-Star Game in Charlotte, North Carolina.[12][14][15][16] In addition, Kiki Vandeweghe finished second on the team in scoring, averaging 16.3 points per game, while Gerald Wilkins provided them with 13.8 points per game, and Charles Oakley averaged 11.2 points and led the Knicks with 12.1 rebounds per game.[13] Meanwhile, Maurice Cheeks replaced Mark Jackson as the Knicks' starting point guard this season; Cheeks contributed 7.8 points, 5.7 assists and 1.7 steals per game, while Jackson contributed 8.8 points and 6.3 assists per game off the bench.[13] Also off the bench, Starks provided the Knicks with 7.6 points and 3.3 assists per game, three-point specialist Trent Tucker contributed 7.1 points per game, and Kenny Walker averaged 4.3 points and 2.9 rebounds per game.[13]

In the Eastern Conference First Round of the 1991 NBA playoffs, the Knicks were swept in three straight games by Michael Jordan and the eventual NBA champion Chicago Bulls;[17][18][19][20] the Knicks had suffered a 41-point margin in a 126–85 Game 1 road loss to the Bulls at the Chicago Stadium.[21][22][23][11] The Bulls would reach the 1991 NBA Finals and defeat the Los Angeles Lakers in five games, winning their first-ever NBA championship.[24][25][26][27]

The Knicks finished ninth in the NBA in home-game attendance, with an attendance of 654,962 at Madison Square Garden during the regular season.[12][13] Following the season, Cheeks was traded to the Atlanta Hawks,[28][29][30] and Tucker was dealt to the Phoenix Suns.[31][32]

For the season, the Knicks slightly redesigned their uniforms, replacing their alternate "NY" logo on the left leg of their shorts with their current primary logo. These uniforms remained in use until 1992.[33][34]

NBA draft

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Main article: 1990 NBA draft
Round Pick Player Position Nationality School/Club Team
1 17 Jerrod Mustaf PF/C   United States Maryland

Roster

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1990–91 New York Knicks roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Player Height Weight DOB From
G 1 Maurice Cheeks 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1956–09–08 West Texas A&M
C 33 Patrick Ewing 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1962–08–05 Georgetown
G 14 Greg Grant 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m) 140 lb (64 kg) 1966–08–29 TCNJ
G 13 Mark Jackson 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1965–04–01 St. John's
F 32 Jerrod Mustaf 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 238 lb (108 kg) 1969–10–28 Maryland
F 34 Charles Oakley 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1963–12–18 Virginia Union
G 23 Brian Quinnett 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 235 lb (107 kg) 1966–05–30 Washington State
G 3 John Starks 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1965–08–10 Oklahoma State
G 6 Trent Tucker 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 193 lb (88 kg) 1959–12–20 Minnesota
F 55 Kiki Vandeweghe 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1958–08–01 UCLA
F 7 Kenny Walker 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1964–08–18 Kentucky
C 45 Eddie Lee Wilkins 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1962–05–07 Gardner–Webb
G 21 Gerald Wilkins 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1963–09–11 Chattanooga
Head coach
Assistant(s)
Legend
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  •   Injured

Roster
Updated: January 23, 1991

Regular season

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Season standings

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Atlantic Division
 W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-Boston Celtics 56 26 .683 — 35–6 21–20 20-6
x-Philadelphia 76ers 44 38 .537 12 29-12 15-26 14-12
x-New York Knicks 39 43 .476 17 21-20 18-23 17–9
Washington Bullets 30 52 .366 26 21-20 9-32 10-16
New Jersey Nets 26 56 .317 30 20-21 6–35 8-18
Miami Heat 24 58 .293 32 18-23 6-35 9-17
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

Record vs. opponents

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1990–91 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 — 3–1 1–4 1–4 3–2 2–0 1–1 0–5 1–1 1–1 4–1 2–0 1–1 4–0 2–3 1–1 3–1 3–1 1–1 0–4 0–2 1–1 2–0 2–0 1–1 1–1 2–2
Boston 1–3 — 3–1 2–2 3–1 2–0 2–0 2–2 1–1 2–0 2–2 2–0 1–1 4–1 2–2 2–0 4–1 5–0 1–1 2–3 1–1 1–1 2–0 1–1 2–0 1–1 5–1
Charlotte 4–1 1–3 — 0–5 1–4 1–1 0–2 1–4 1–1 0–2 0–5 1–1 0–2 2–2 2–3 1–1 2–2 0–4 2–0 2–2 0–2 0–2 2–0 1–1 0–2 0–2 2–2
Chicago 4–1 2–2 5–0 — 5–0 2–0 2–0 3–2 1–1 0–2 4–1 2–0 1–1 4–0 4–1 2–0 3–1 4–0 2–0 1–3 1–1 0–2 2–0 0–2 2–0 2–0 3–1
Cleveland 2–3 1–3 4–1 0–5 — 2–0 1–1 2–3 0–2 0–2 1–4 1–1 1–1 3–1 2–3 1–1 2–2 3–1 2–0 2–2 0–2 0–2 1–1 0–2 1–1 0–2 1–3
Dallas 0–2 0–2 1–1 0–2 0–2 — 3–1 0–2 2–2 1–3 2–0 1–3 2–2 0–2 1–1 1–4 2–0 2–0 1–4 1–1 0–4 1–3 2–2 1–4 2–2 0–5 2–0
Denver 1–1 0–2 2–0 0–2 1–1 1–3 — 0–2 1–3 0–5 0–2 0–4 0–4 0–2 1–1 3–2 1–1 1–1 2–3 0–2 0–4 0–4 3–1 1–4 0–4 1–3 1–1
Detroit 5–0 2–2 4–1 2–3 3–2 2–0 2–0 — 1–1 2–0 3–2 2–0 0–2 3–1 2–3 2–0 3–1 1–3 2–0 2–2 0–2 1–1 2–0 0–2 1–1 0–2 3–1
Golden State 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–0 2–2 3–1 1–1 — 2–2 1–1 3–2 2–3 2–0 1–1 3–1 1–1 2–0 2–2 2–0 1–3 2–3 2–3 2–2 3–1 1–3 0–2
Houston 1–1 0–2 2–0 2–0 2–0 3–1 5–0 0–2 2–2 — 1–1 2–2 1–3 2–0 2–0 5–0 2–0 2–0 3–2 2–0 3–1 0–4 3–1 2–3 2–2 2–2 1–1
Indiana 1–4 2–2 5–0 1–4 4–1 0–2 2–0 2–3 1–1 1–1 — 1–1 0–2 2–2 2–3 1–1 3–1 2–2 1–1 1–3 1–1 0–2 2–0 1–1 1–1 2–0 2–2
L.A. Clippers 0–2 0–2 1–1 0–2 1–1 3–1 4–0 0–2 2–3 2–2 1–1 — 0–4 0–2 1–1 3–1 1–1 0–2 1–3 0–2 2–3 1–3 3–2 2–2 2–3 1–3 0–2
L.A. Lakers 1–1 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 2–2 4–0 2–0 3–2 3–1 2–0 4–0 — 2–0 0–2 3–1 2–0 1–1 4–0 1–1 3–2 2–3 4–0 3–1 3–2 2–2 2–0
Miami 0–4 1–4 2–2 0–4 1–3 2–0 2–0 1–3 0–2 0–2 2–2 2–0 0–2 — 0–4 0–2 3–3 1–4 1–1 1–4 0–2 0–2 1–1 0–2 0–2 1–1 3–2
Milwaukee 3–2 2–2 3–2 1–4 3–2 1–1 1–1 3–2 1–1 0–2 3–2 1–1 2–0 4–0 — 1–1 2–2 4–0 2–0 2–2 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 3–1
Minnesota 1–1 0–2 1–1 0–2 1–1 4–1 2–3 0–2 1–3 0–5 1–1 1–3 1–3 2–0 1–1 — 1–1 1–1 2–2 2–0 0–4 0–4 3–1 0–4 2–2 1–4 1–1
New Jersey 1–3 1–4 2–2 1–3 2–2 0–2 1–1 1–3 1–1 0–2 1–3 1–1 0–2 3–3 2–2 1–1 — 0–5 1–1 2–3 1–1 0–2 1–1 0–2 1–1 0–2 2–3
New York 1–3 0–5 4–0 0–4 1–3 0–2 1–1 3–1 0–2 0–2 2–2 2–0 1–1 4–1 0–4 1–1 5–0 — 0–2 5–1 0–2 0–2 2–0 1–1 1–1 2–0 3–2
Orlando 1–1 1–1 0–2 0–2 0–2 4–1 3–2 0–2 2–2 2–3 1–1 3–1 0–4 1–1 0–2 2–2 1–1 2–0 — 0–2 2–2 0–4 2–2 1–3 1–3 1–4 1–1
Philadelphia 4–0 3–2 2–2 3–1 2–2 1–1 2–0 2–2 0–2 0–2 3–1 2–0 1–1 4–1 2–2 0–2 3–2 1–5 2–0 — 1–1 1–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 0–2 3–2
Phoenix 2–0 1–1 2–0 1–1 2–0 4–0 4–0 2–0 3–1 1–3 1–1 3–2 2–3 2–0 1–1 4–0 1–1 2–0 2–2 1–1 — 3–2 3–1 1–3 3–2 2–2 2–0
Portland 1–1 1–1 2–0 2–0 2–0 3–1 4–0 1–1 3–2 4–0 2–0 3–1 3–2 2–0 1–1 4–0 2–0 2–0 4–0 1–1 2–3 — 3–2 2–2 4–0 3–1 2–0
Sacramento 0–2 0–2 0–2 0–2 1–1 2–2 1–3 0–2 3–2 1–3 0–2 2–3 0–4 1–1 1–1 1–3 1–1 0–2 2–2 1–1 1–3 2–3 — 1–3 1–4 1–3 2–0
San Antonio 0–2 1–1 1–1 2–0 2–0 4–1 4–1 2–0 2–2 3–2 1–1 2–2 1–3 2–0 1–1 4–0 2–0 1–1 3–1 2–0 3–1 2–2 3–1 — 3–1 2–3 2–0
Seattle 1–1 0–2 2–0 0–2 1–1 2–2 4–0 1–1 1–3 2–2 1–1 3–2 2–3 2–0 1–1 2–2 1–1 1–1 3–1 1–1 2–3 0–4 4–1 1–3 — 1–3 2–0
Utah 1–1 1–1 2–0 0–2 2–0 5–0 3–1 2–0 3–1 2–2 0–2 3–1 2–2 1–1 1–1 4–1 2–0 0–2 4–1 2–0 2–2 1–3 3–1 3–2 3–1 — 2–0
Washington 2–2 1–5 2–2 1–3 3–1 0–2 1–1 1–3 2–0 1–1 2–2 2–0 0–2 2–3 1–3 1–1 3–2 2–3 1–1 2–3 0–2 0–2 0–2 0–2 0–2 0–2 —

Game log

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Playoffs

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1991 playoff game log
First Round: 0–3 (home: 0–1; road: 0–2)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Series
1 April 25 @ Chicago L 85–126 Kiki VanDeWeghe (19) Charles Oakley (11) Maurice Cheeks (7) Chicago Stadium
18,676 		0–1
2 April 28 @ Chicago L 79–89 Patrick Ewing (24) Ewing, Oakley (10) Trent Tucker (3) Chicago Stadium
18,676 		0–2
3 April 30 Chicago L 94–103 Ewing, VanDeWeghe (20) Patrick Ewing (14) Maurice Cheeks (7) Madison Square Garden
18,021 		0–3
1991 schedule

Player statistics

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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

Regular season

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Player GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Maurice Cheeks 76 64 28.3 .499 .250 .814 2.3 5.7 1.7 .1 7.8
Patrick Ewing 81 81 38.3 .514 .000 .745 11.2 3.0 1.0 3.2 26.6
Greg Grant 22 0 4.9 .370 .333 .833 .5 .9 .4 .0 1.2
Stuart Gray 8 0 4.6 .333 1.000 1.3 .0 .0 .1 1.4
Mark Jackson 72 21 22.2 .492 .255 .731 2.7 6.3 .8 .1 8.8
Jerrod Mustaf 62 5 13.3 .465 .000 .644 2.7 .6 .2 .2 4.3
Charles Oakley 76 74 36.0 .516 .000 .784 12.1 2.7 .8 .2 11.2
Brian Quinnett 68 5 14.9 .459 .349 .722 2.1 .8 .3 .2 4.7
John Starks 61 10 19.2 .439 .290 .752 2.1 3.3 1.0 .3 7.6
Trent Tucker 65 13 18.4 .440 .418 .630 1.6 1.7 .7 .1 7.1
Kiki VanDeWeghe 75 72 32.3 .494 .362 .899 2.4 1.5 .6 .1 16.3
Kenny Walker 54 8 14.3 .435 .000 .780 2.9 .2 .3 .6 4.3
Eddie Lee Wilkins 68 1 9.8 .447 .000 .567 2.6 .2 .3 .1 4.1
Gerald Wilkins 68 56 31.8 .473 .209 .820 3.0 4.0 1.2 .3 13.8

Playoffs

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Player GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Maurice Cheeks 3 3 33.7 .609 .333 .500 3.0 5.3 1.0 .3 10.0
Patrick Ewing 3 3 36.7 .400 .778 10.0 2.0 .3 1.7 16.7
Mark Jackson 3 0 12.0 .333 .0 2.7 .3 .3 .7
Jerrod Mustaf 3 0 7.3 .800 .800 1.7 .0 .0 .3 4.0
Charles Oakley 3 3 33.3 .476 .500 10.3 1.0 .7 .3 7.7
Brian Quinnett 3 0 12.0 .500 .333 .3 1.0 .3 .0 3.0
John Starks 3 0 9.3 .400 1.000 1.0 2.0 .0 .0 2.0
Trent Tucker 3 2 22.0 .360 .400 1.000 4.0 3.0 .3 .0 8.0
Kiki VanDeWeghe 3 3 33.0 .406 .600 .880 2.7 1.3 .3 .0 17.0
Kenny Walker 3 0 10.3 .500 1.000 2.3 .7 .3 .3 3.3
Eddie Lee Wilkins 1 0 13.0 .667 .500 2.0 .0 .0 .0 9.0
Gerald Wilkins 3 1 26.0 .368 .286 1.000 2.7 1.7 1.7 .3 10.7

Player Statistics Citation:[13]

Awards and records

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Season

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Transactions

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References

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  1. ^ The Fourth Estate (PDF). New York Knicks. 2003. p. 331. Retrieved November 19, 2017.
  2. ^ The Fourth Estate (PDF). New York Knicks. 2003. p. 330. Retrieved November 19, 2017.
  3. ^ "New York Knicks". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved September 10, 2018.
  4. ^ Brown, Clifton (October 2, 1999). "Many Questions Await Knicks as Camp Opens". The New York Times. Retrieved March 21, 2023.
  5. ^ Brown, Clifton (December 13, 1990). "Overlooked No More, Starks Gives Knicks a Lift". The New York Times. Retrieved September 5, 2022.
  6. ^ Longman, Jere (May 27, 1993). "Manhattan's Matador John Starks Was Killing Time. Now He's Killing the Bulls". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Archived from the original on September 22, 2015. Retrieved June 16, 2017.
  7. ^ "Jackson Out, MacLeod In with Knicks: NBA: New York, Off to a 7–8 Start, Fires its Second-Year Coach". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. December 3, 1990. Retrieved March 21, 2023.
  8. ^ "Knicks Fire Jackson". United Press International. December 3, 1990. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
  9. ^ Brown, Clifton (December 4, 1990). "Jackson Is Let Go in a Surprise Move by the Knicks". The New York Times. Retrieved February 1, 2016.
  10. ^ "NBA Games Played on February 7, 1991". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved November 21, 2022.
  11. ^ a b "1990–91 New York Knicks Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved July 30, 2016.
  12. ^ a b c "1990–91 NBA Season Summary". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved December 14, 2024.
  13. ^ a b c d e f "1990–91 New York Knicks Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved October 30, 2021.
  14. ^ "Jordan Leads All-Star Vote Fifth Straight Year". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. January 24, 1991. Retrieved June 29, 2025.
  15. ^ "1991 NBA All-Star Recap". NBA.com. NBA.com Staff. September 13, 2021. Retrieved June 29, 2025.
  16. ^ "1991 NBA All-Star Game: East 116, West 114". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
  17. ^ Schabner, Dean (April 30, 1991). "Bulls 103, Knicks 94". United Press International. Retrieved April 10, 2023.
  18. ^ Brown, Clifton (May 1, 1991). "Basketball; No-Good-Knicks: Bulls Complete a Playoff Sweep". The New York Times. Retrieved October 16, 2021.
  19. ^ Smith, Sam (May 1, 1991). "How Sweep It Is! Bulls Beat Knicks". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved August 27, 2022.
  20. ^ "1991 NBA Eastern Conference First Round: Knicks vs. Bulls". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved April 10, 2023.
  21. ^ Murphy, Robert J. (April 25, 1991). "Bulls 126, Knicks 85". United Press International. Retrieved March 21, 2023.
  22. ^ Smith, Sam (April 26, 1991). "No Contest! Bulls 126, Knicks 85". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved March 21, 2023.
  23. ^ Brown, Clifton (April 27, 1991). "Basketball; Looking Up from Bottom, Knicks See a Mountain of Questions". The New York Times. Retrieved March 21, 2023.
  24. ^ Brown, Clifton (June 13, 1991). "Jordan Crowns Career and Bulls Reign in N.B.A." The New York Times. Retrieved December 31, 2022.
  25. ^ Heisler, Mark (June 13, 1991). "NBA Finals: Lakers vs. Chicago Bulls: Bulls' Decree: Jordan Rules: Game 5: Chicago Wins First Championship by Sweeping at Forum, 108–101, But Depleted Lakers Go Down Fighting". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 22, 2022.
  26. ^ Aldridge, David (June 13, 1991). "Jordan, Co. Complete NBA Title Run, 108–101". The Washington Post. Retrieved September 22, 2022.
  27. ^ "1991 NBA Finals: Lakers vs. Bulls". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved April 10, 2023.
  28. ^ "Knicks Acquire McCormick from Atlanta for Cheeks". United Press International. October 2, 1991. Retrieved November 21, 2022.
  29. ^ Brown, Clifton (October 3, 1991). "Basketball; Knicks Send Cheeks to Hawks for McCormick". The New York Times. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
  30. ^ "Knicks Trade Cheeks to the Hawks for McCormick". Los Angeles Times. Staff and Wire Reports. October 3, 1991. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
  31. ^ Brown, Clifton (October 2, 1991). "Basketball; Knicks Add Firepower by Acquiring McDaniel". The New York Times. Retrieved November 20, 2022.
  32. ^ "1991–92 NBA Transactions". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved October 30, 2021.
  33. ^ "New York Knicks Uniform". Chris Creamer's Sports Logos Page – SportsLogos.Net. Retrieved November 25, 2021.
  34. ^ "New York Knicks Uniform". Chris Creamer's Sports Logos Page – SportsLogos.Net. Retrieved November 25, 2021.
  35. ^ "NBA International Pre-Season and Regular-Season Games". National Basketball Association. Archived from the original on December 3, 2010. Retrieved August 21, 2024.
  36. ^ "All-NBA & All-ABA Teams". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved November 2, 2013.
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