The 1990–91 NBA season was the 21st season of the National Basketball Association in Cleveland, Ohio .[ 2] After playing in Italy the previous season, Danny Ferry would make his debut in the NBA, signing a contract with the Cavaliers.[ 3] [ 4] However, a year after overcoming injuries to make the playoffs, the Cavaliers were utterly destroyed by injuries again, as Mark Price only played just 16 games due to a torn ACL in his left knee, averaging 16.9 points, 10.4 assists and 2.6 steals per game,[ 5] [ 6] [ 7] and sixth man Hot Rod Williams only played just 43 games due to a foot injury.[ 8] [ 9] The team re-signed free agent Darnell Valentine in December as their starting point guard in Price's absence.[ 10]
The Cavaliers played around .500 early into the season, but as they stood at a 10–8 start, they struggled and lost 16 of their next 17 games, including an 11-game losing streak, and held a 15–32 record at the All-Star break.[ 11] Despite winning eight out of eleven games in April, the Cavaliers were unable to make the playoffs , finishing 6th in the Central Division with a disappointing 33–49 record.[ 12]
Brad Daugherty led the team with 21.6 points and 10.9 rebounds per game, and was selected for the 1991 NBA All-Star Game ,[ 13] [ 14] while Larry Nance averaged 19.2 points, 8.6 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game, and Williams provided the team with 11.7 points, 6.7 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game. In addition, Craig Ehlo provided with 10.1 points, 4.6 assists and 1.5 steals per game, while Valentine contributed 9.4 points, 5.4 assists and 1.5 steals per game, Ferry provided with 8.6 points and 3.5 rebounds per game off the bench, and second-year forward Chucky Brown contributed 8.5 points per game.[ 15] Following the season, Valentine was released to free agency.
1990–91 Cleveland Cavaliers roster
Players
Coaches
Pos.
No.
Name
Height
Weight
DOB
From
F
00
Babić, Miloš
7 ft 0 in (2.13 m)
240 lb (109 kg)
1968–11–23
Tennessee Tech
F
20
Bennett, Winston
6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
210 lb (95 kg)
1965–02–09
Kentucky
F
52
Brown, Chucky
6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
214 lb (97 kg)
1968–02–29
NC State
F
33
Chievous, Derrick
6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
195 lb (88 kg)
1967–07–03
Missouri
C
43
Daugherty, Brad
7 ft 0 in (2.13 m)
245 lb (111 kg)
1965–10–19
North Carolina
G
3
Ehlo, Craig
6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
180 lb (82 kg)
1961–08–11
Washington State
F
35
Ferry, Danny
6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
230 lb (104 kg)
1966–10–17
Duke
F
32
James, Henry
6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
220 lb (100 kg)
1965–07–29
Saint Mary's
G
5
Kerr, Steve
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
175 lb (79 kg)
1965–09–27
Arizona
F
23
Morton, John
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
180 lb (82 kg)
1967–05–18
Seton Hall
F
22
Nance, Larry
6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
205 lb (93 kg)
1959–02–12
Clemson
F
24
Paddio, Gerald
6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
205 lb (93 kg)
1965–04–21
UNLV
G
25
Price, Mark
6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
170 lb (77 kg)
1964–02–15
Georgia Tech
G
1
Valentine, Darnell
6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
183 lb (83 kg)
1959–02–03
Kansas
C
18
Williams, Hot Rod
6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)
215 lb (98 kg)
1962–08–09
Tulane
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
(DP) Unsigned draft pick(FA) Free agent(S) Suspended Injured
Roster Last transaction: January 21, 1991
y - clinched division title
x - clinched playoff spot
z - clinched division title
y - clinched division title
x - clinched playoff spot
Record vs. opponents
edit
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
—
1990–91 game log Total: 33–49 (Home: 23–18; Road: 10–31)
November: 9–7 (home: 5–2; road: 4–5)
December: 2–10 (home: 2–6; road: 0–4)
January: 3–11 (home: 2–3; road: 1–8)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location Attendance
Record
February: 6–7 (home: 5–4; road: 1–3)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location Attendance
Record
46
February 5, 1991
@ Atlanta
L 114–118
The Omni 11,354
15–31
March: 5–10 (home: 3–1; road: 2–9)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location Attendance
Record
April: 8–3 (home: 6–1; road: 2–2)
1990–91 schedule
Player Statistics Citation:[ 15]
^ Pluto, Terry (October 23, 1990). "Phoenix Suns vs. Cavaliers". Akron Beacon Journal . p. D3 - Sports.
^ "1990-91 Cleveland Cavaliers" .
^ "Ferry Wants to Talk with Cavs Soon" . United Press International . May 10, 1990. Retrieved November 22, 2022 .
^ "Ferry Joins the Cavaliers" . The New York Times . Associated Press. June 2, 1990. Retrieved November 22, 2022 .
^ "Cleveland's Mark Price Injured, Lost for Season" . Greensboro . December 3, 1990. Retrieved November 22, 2022 .
^ "Price Injury Confirmed" . United Press International . December 3, 1990. Retrieved November 22, 2022 .
^ "Cleveland's Price Says Injury Won't Alter His Style" . Deseret News . December 11, 1990. Retrieved January 17, 2022 .
^ "Cavaliers 94, Heat 78" . United Press International . February 12, 1991. Retrieved March 10, 2022 .
^ Alridge, David (March 11, 1991). "Reality Undercuts Bullets' Overachievers" . The Washington Post . Retrieved November 22, 2022 .
^ "Cavs to Sign Woodson" . United Press International . December 12, 1990. Retrieved November 22, 2022 .
^ "NBA Games Played on February 7, 1991" . Basketball-Reference . Retrieved November 22, 2022 .
^ "1990–91 Cleveland Cavaliers Schedule and Results" . Basketball-Reference. Retrieved January 17, 2022 .
^ Smith, Sam (January 30, 1991). "Pippen Bypassed for All-Star Team" . Chicago Tribune . Retrieved November 22, 2022 .
^ "1991 NBA All-Star Game: East 116, West 114" . Basketball-Reference . Retrieved January 17, 2022 .
^ a b "1990–91 Cleveland Cavaliers Roster and Stats" . Basketball-Reference. Retrieved February 3, 2022 .
^ "CLIPPERS: Clippers History" . Archived from the original on March 4, 2008. Retrieved March 12, 2008 .