1989–90 Cleveland Cavaliers season

NBA professional basketball team season March 2026 August 2023 Cleveland Cavaliers 1990 42 40 Central 4 7 Lenny Wilkens Wayne Embry Gordon Gund George Gund III Richfield Coliseum First round(lost to 76ers 2–3) CLE WOIO SportsChannel Ohio WRMRDyer, Bob January 30, 1988 Cavs End Contract with WWWE Akron Beacon Journal B8 The 1989–90 Cleveland Cavaliers season was the 20th season for the Cleveland Cavaliers in the National Basketball Association. Cleveland Cavaliers Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/CLE/ August 6, 2026 Season summary Off-season During the off-season, the Cavaliers acquired second-year guard Steve Kerr from the Phoenix Suns. Cavs Acquire Steve Kerr United Press International September 5, 1989 https://www.upi.com/Archives/1989/09/05/Cavs-acquire-Steve-Kerr/6877620971200/ November 23, 2022 NBA '89-90: Trading Places The New York Times October 29, 1989 https://www.nytimes.com/1989/10/29/sports/nba-89-90-trading-places.html March 9, 2022 All-Star center Brad Daugherty was out for the first half of the regular season due to foot surgery, and only appeared in just 41 games. Sports People: Pro Basketball: Daugherty Injured The New York Times October 10, 1989 https://www.nytimes.com/1989/10/10/sports/sports-people-pro-basketball-daugherty-injured.html December 18, 2025 Hubbard Jan NBA Notes: Injury-Plagued Cavaliers Will Rebound Los Angeles Times November 19, 1989 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-11-19-sp-407-story.html December 18, 2025 Daugherty Says He'll Play Against Miami United Press International January 29, 1990 https://www.upi.com/Archives/1990/01/29/Daugherty-says-hell-play-against-Miami/5132633589200/ December 18, 2025 For the season, the team slightly updated their road uniforms, replacing the team nickname "Cavs" with the city name "Cleveland" on the front of their jerseys; these uniforms would remain in use until 1994. Cleveland Cavaliers Road Uniform Chris Creamer's SportsLogos.net https://www.sportslogos.net/logos/view/hr36uqaaerm1qncfhqbfo4yqh/Cleveland_Cavaliers/1990/Road_Uniform January 22, 2022 Regular season Without Daugherty, the Cavaliers got off to a slow start losing their first four games, on their way to a mediocre 10–16 start to the regular season. Early into the season, the team traded Ron Harper to the Los Angeles Clippers in exchange for rookie power forward, and first-round draft pick Danny Ferry and Reggie Williams; Cavs Trade Harper, Draft Picks to Clippers United Press International November 16, 1989 https://www.upi.com/Archives/1989/11/16/Cavs-trade-Harper-draft-picks-to-Clippers/1747627195600/ November 23, 2022 Associated Press Ferry's Rights Are Traded The New York Times November 17, 1989 https://www.nytimes.com/1989/11/17/sports/ferry-s-rights-are-traded.html November 23, 2022 Howard-Cooper Scott Ferry Is Traded; Benjamin on Board: Deal: The Clippers Give Up Reggie Williams, and Rights to Former Duke Star for Cavaliers' Harper, and Three Draft Picks Los Angeles Times November 17, 1989 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-11-17-sp-1665-story.html November 23, 2022 Ferry was selected by the Clippers out of Duke University as the second overall pick in the 1989 NBA draft, Goldaper Sam Kings Take Ellison First in N.B.A. Draft; Clippers Pick Ferry The New York Times June 28, 1989 https://www.nytimes.com/1989/06/28/sports/kings-take-ellison-first-in-nba-draft-clippers-pick-ferry.html November 23, 2022 McManis Sam The NBA Draft: The Other Teams: Sacramento's Secret Is Out: It's Ellison Los Angeles Times June 28, 1989 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-06-28-sp-4358-story.html November 23, 2022 1989 NBA Draft Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/draft/NBA_1989.html December 31, 2022 but refused to play for them as he went to play overseas in Italy. Howard-Cooper Scott Clippers Left High and Dry: Ferry Takes Italian Route Los Angeles Times August 2, 1989 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-08-02-sp-517-story.html November 23, 2022 Steadman John Danny Ferry's Great Adventure: It's Basketball, Italian Style Los Angeles Times September 3, 1989 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-09-03-sp-2340-story.html November 23, 2022 At mid-season, the team traded Chris Dudley to the New Jersey Nets, Goldaper Sam Knicks Trade Strickland to Spurs for Cheeks The New York Times February 22, 1990 https://www.nytimes.com/1990/02/22/sports/knicks-trade-strickland-to-spurs-for-cheeks.html November 23, 2022 Associated Press NBA Wednesday's Trades: Cheeks Dealt for Strickland; Carroll to Nuggets Los Angeles Times February 22, 1990 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-02-22-sp-1768-story.html November 23, 2022 and released Williams to free agency; Williams later on signed with the San Antonio Spurs. The Cavaliers struggled playing below .500 in winning percentage for the first half of the season, holding a 21–25 record at the All-Star break, NBA Games Played on February 8, 1990 Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/index.fcgi?month=2&day=8&year=1990 November 23, 2022 but played above .500 for the remainder of the season, winning 10 of their final 13 games, included a six-game winning streak to close the season. The Cavaliers finished in fourth place in the Central Division with a mediocre 42–40 record, and earned the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference. 1989–90 Cleveland Cavaliers Schedule and Results Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/CLE/1990_games.html December 9, 2021 Mark Price averaged 19.6 points, 9.1 assists and 1.6 steals per game, and led the Cavaliers with 152 three-point field goals, while Daugherty averaged 16.8 points and 9.1 rebounds per game, and Larry Nance provided the team with 16.3 points, 8.3 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per game. In addition, sixth man Hot Rod Williams provided with 16.8 points, 8.1 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per game, while Craig Ehlo contributed 13.6 points, 5.4 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 1.6 steals per game, along with 104 three-point field goals. Meanwhile, rookie small forward, and second-round draft pick Chucky Brown averaged 7.3 points per game, Kerr contributed 6.7 points and 3.2 assists per game, and shot .507 in three-point field-goal percentage, and Winston Bennett provided with 6.1 points and 3.4 rebounds per game. 1989–90 Cleveland Cavaliers Roster and Stats Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/CLE/1990.html February 4, 2022 During the NBA All-Star weekend at the Miami Arena in Miami, Florida, Price and Ehlo both participated in the NBA Three-Point Shootout. NBA All-Star Weekend The Hour February 9, 1990 32 https://books.google.com/books?id=jSBJAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA17&dq=1990+NBA+long+distance+shootout+roster&article_id=5995,1340443&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiz4_vxrJ-QAxWa6ckDHUiUEScQ6AF6BAgPEAM#v=onepage&q=1990%20NBA%20long%20distance%20shootout%20roster&f=false October 12, 2025 NBA & ABA All-Star Game Contest Winners Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/allstar/contest.html October 12, 2025 Despite a stellar season, Price was not selected for the 1990 NBA All-Star Game. 1990 NBA All-Star Game: East 130, West 113 Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/allstar/NBA_1990.html January 9, 2026 Hot Rod Williams finished tied in third place in Sixth Man of the Year voting. 1989–90 NBA Awards Voting Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/awards/awards_1990.html December 7, 2025 The Cavaliers finished eighth in the NBA in home-game attendance, with an attendance of 695,710 at the Coliseum at Richfield during the regular season. 1989–90 NBA Season Summary Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/leagues/NBA_1990.html February 24, 2026 NBA playoffs In the Eastern Conference First Round of the 1990 NBA playoffs, the Cavaliers faced off against the 2nd–seeded, and Atlantic Division champion Philadelphia 76ers, who were led by All-Star forward Charles Barkley, second-year star Hersey Hawkins, and Johnny Dawkins. The Cavaliers lost the first two games to the 76ers on the road at The Spectrum, but managed to win the next two games at home, which included a Game 4 win over the 76ers at the Coliseum at Richfield, 108–96 to even the series. Keim Bob  Cavaliers 108, Sixers 96  United Press International  May 3, 1990  https://www.upi.com/Archives/1990/05/03/Cavaliers-108-Sixers-96/3043641707200/ June 27, 2026 Associated Press  Cavaliers Even Series with 76ers  The Gettysburg Times  May 4, 1990  B  https://books.google.com/books?id=yk4yAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA7&dq=1990+Cleveland+Cavaliers+Philadelphia+76ers+108-96+brad+daugherty+34+points&article_id=3672,318471&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjNmbDS3KeVAxVMlmoFHcNDJz4Q6AF6BAgKEAM#v=onepage&q=1990%20Cleveland%20Cavaliers%20Philadelphia%2076ers%20108-96%20brad%20daugherty%2034%20points&f=false June 27, 2026 1990 NBA Eastern Conference First Round Game 4: Philadelphia 76ers at Cleveland Cavaliers Box Score, May 3, 1990 Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/199005030CLE.html June 27, 2026 However, the Cavaliers lost Game 5 to the 76ers at The Spectrum, 113–97, thus losing in a hard-fought five-game series. Brown Clifton Pro Basketball: 76ers Go to Round 2 by Beating Cavs The New York Times May 6, 1990 https://www.nytimes.com/1990/05/06/sports/pro-basketball-76ers-go-to-round-2-by-beating-cavs.html December 9, 2021 Associated Press Hawkins, 76ers Oust Cavaliers: NBA Playoffs: Guard, Team Make Up for Poor Showing in Postseason Play Last Year, 113-97 Los Angeles Times May 6, 1990 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-05-06-sp-403-story.html December 31, 2022 1990 NBA Eastern Conference First Round: Cavaliers vs. 76ers Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/1990-nba-eastern-conference-first-round-cavaliers-vs-76ers.html April 9, 2023 Aftermath The team's season roster is featured in the video games NBA 2K16,Lelinwalla, Mark (September 11, 2015). "'NBA 2K16': All The Classic Teams Announced". Tech Times. Retrieved April 16, 2016. and NBA 2K17. Draft picks 1989 NBA draft Round Pick Player Position Nationality School/Club team 1 25 John Morton Guard Seton Hall 2 43 Chucky Brown Forward NC State Roster Cleveland Cavaliers 1989–90 #003EA4 white #DE3C2F white 20 Winston Bennett F 6 7 210 1965–02–09 Kentucky 52 Chucky Brown F 6 7 214 1968–02–29 North Carolina State 33 Derrick Chievous F 6 7 195 1967–07–03 Missouri 43 Brad Daugherty basketball C 7 0 245 1965–10–19 North Carolina 3 Craig Ehlo G 6 6 180 1961–08–11 Washington State 5 Steve Kerr G 6 3 170 1965–09–27 Arizona 44 Paul Mokeski C 7 0 250 1957–01–03 Kansas 23 John Morton basketball G 6 3 180 1967–05–18 Seton Hall 22 Larry Nance F 6 10 205 1959–02–12 Clemson 25 Mark Price G 6 0 170 1964–02–15 Georgia Tech 30 Tree Rollins C 7 1 235 1955–06–16 Clemson 18 Hot Rod Williams F/C 6 11 215 1962–08–09 Tulane Lenny Wilkens Dick Helm Brian Winters https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/CLE/1990.html February 26, 1990 Regular season Season standings CLE CLE Notes z, y – division champions x – clinched playoff spot 1989-90 NBA Season Summary - Basketball-Reference.com Game log Cleveland Cavaliers 1990 #1d427b white Total: 42–40 (home: 27–14; road: 15–26) Cleveland Cavaliers November yes #F45A24 #1C427C 5 2 1 5 |- | 1 || November 3, 1989 || @ Chicago |- | 2 || November 4, 1989 || @ Indiana |- | 3 || November 8, 1989 || Orlando |- | 4 || November 10, 1989 || @ Washington(at Baltimore, MD) |- | 5 || November 11, 1989 || Boston |- | 6 || November 14, 1989 || @ New Jersey |- | 7 || November 15, 1989 || Golden State |- | 8 || November 17, 19898:00 pm EST || Atlanta | W 131–125 (OT) | Ehlo (31) | Williams (14) | Price (10) | Richfield Coliseum16,135 | 4–4 |- | 9 || November 22, 1989 || New York |- | 10 || November 24, 1989 || @ Detroit |- | 11 || November 25, 1989 || Houston |- | 12 || November 28, 1989 || Washington |- | 13 || November 29, 1989 || @ Philadelphia Cleveland Cavaliers December #F45A24 #1C427C 3 4 2 5 |- | 14 || December 1, 1989 || @ Boston |- | 15 || December 2, 1989 || Minnesota |- | 16 || December 5, 1989 || Utah |- | 17 || December 7, 1989 || @ L.A. Clippers |- | 18 || December 9, 1989 || @ Sacramento |- | 19 || December 11, 1989 || @ Utah |- | 20 || December 13, 1989 || Milwaukee |- | 21 || December 15, 1989 || Seattle |- | 22 || December 20, 1989 || Denver |- | 23 || December 22, 1989 || @ Milwaukee |- | 24 || December 25, 19893:30 pm EST || @ Atlanta | L 104–115 | Williams, Williams (17) | Ehlo,Nance (8) | Price (11) | The Omni13,357 | 10–14 |- | 25 || December 27, 1989 || Detroit |- | 26 || December 28, 1989 || @ Charlotte |- | 27 || December 30, 1989 || Phoenix Cleveland Cavaliers January #F45A24 #1C427C 3 3 5 4 |- | 28 || January 3, 1990 || Chicago |- | 29 || January 5, 1990 || Washington |- | 30 || January 6, 1990 || @ Orlando |- | 31 || January 10, 1990 || Milwaukee |- | 32 || January 12, 1990 || @ Philadelphia |- | 33 || January 13, 1990 || New Jersey |- | 34 || January 15, 1990 || San Antonio |- | 35 || January 17, 1990 || @ Houston |- | 36 || January 19, 1990 || @ San Antonio |- | 37 || January 20, 1990 || @ Dallas |- | 38 || January 23, 1990 || Philadelphia |- | 39 || January 24, 19907:30 pm EST || @ Atlanta | L 86–103 | Price (20) | Keys,Nance (6) | Price (7) | The Omni14,220 | 16–23 |- | 40 || January 26, 1990 || @ Minnesota |- | 41 || January 27, 1990 || @ Indiana |- | 42 || January 30, 1990 || @ Miami Cleveland Cavaliers February #F45A24 #1C427C 6 3 0 3 |- | 43 || February 3, 1990 || Detroit |- | 44 || February 5, 1990 || L.A. Clippers |- | 45 || February 6, 1990 || @ Detroit |- | 46 || February 8, 1990 || Miami |- style="text-align:center;" | colspan="9" style="background:#bbcaff;"|All-Star Break |- | 47 || February 14, 1990 || Indiana |- | 48 || February 16, 19908:00 pm EST || Atlanta | W 109–101 | Nance (30) | Daugherty (14) | Price (9) | Richfield Coliseum18,988 | 22–26 |- | 49 || February 17, 1990 || @ New York |- | 50 || February 19, 1990 || Dallas |- | 51 || February 21, 1990 || Portland |- | 52 || February 23, 1990 || Orlando |- | 53 || February 25, 1990 || Charlotte |- | 54 || February 27, 1990 || @ Portland Cleveland Cavaliers March #F45A24 #1C427C 5 1 3 7 |- | 55 || March 1, 1990 || @ Denver |- | 56 || March 2, 1990 || @ L.A. Lakers |- | 57 || March 4, 1990 || @ Phoenix |- | 58 || March 6, 1990 || @ Seattle |- | 59 || March 8, 1990 || @ Golden State |- | 60 || March 11, 1990 || @ Milwaukee |- | 61 || March 13, 1990 || Philadelphia |- | 62 || March 15, 1990 || L.A. Lakers |- | 63 || March 17, 1990 || Indiana |- | 64 || March 18, 1990 || @ Orlando |- | 65 || March 21, 1990 || @ Boston |- | 66 || March 23, 1990 || @ Chicago |- | 67 || March 24, 1990 || New Jersey |- | 68 || March 26, 1990 || Sacramento |- | 69 || March 28, 1990 || Chicago |- | 70 || March 30, 1990 || @ Miami Cleveland Cavaliers April #F45A24 #1C427C 5 1 4 2 |- | 71 || April 1, 1990 || Indiana |- | 72 || April 3, 1990 || @ New York |- | 73 || April 4, 19907:30 pm EDT || Atlanta | W 101–95 | Daugherty (24) | Daugherty (13) | Price (20) | Richfield Coliseum18,074 | 35–38 |- | 74 || April 6, 1990 || Boston |- | 75 || April 8, 1990 || Detroit |- | 76 || April 11, 1990 || @ Chicago |- | 77 || April 12, 1990 || @ Washington |- | 78 || April 14, 1990 || Miami |- | 79 || April 17, 1990 || @ Milwaukee |- | 80 || April 18, 1990 || @ New Jersey |- | 81 || April 20, 1990 || @ Orlando |- | 82 || April 22, 1990 || New York CLE 1990 Playoffs 1990 NBA Playoffs Cleveland Cavaliers yes 1990 #003EA4 #FFFFFF Cleveland Cavaliers Eastern Conference First Round yes yes #DE3C2F #FFFFFF no 2 0 0 3 |- | 1 | April 28 | @ Philadelphia | L 106–111 | Hot Rod Williams (23) | Hot Rod Williams (10) | Mark Price (12) | Spectrum15,319 | 0–1 |- | 2 | May 1 | @ Philadelphia | L 101–107 | Mark Price (27) | Brad Daugherty (13) | Craig Ehlo (8) | Spectrum18,168 | 0–2 |- | 3 | May 3 | Philadelphia | W 122–95 | Craig Ehlo (25) | Ehlo, Daugherty (10) | Ehlo, Daugherty (9) | Richfield Coliseum16,317 | 1–2 |- | 4 | May 5 | Philadelphia | W 108–96 | Brad Daugherty (34) | Brad Daugherty (9) | Mark Price (18) | Richfield Coliseum17,106 | 2–2 |- | 5 | May 8 | @ Philadelphia | L 97–113 | Brad Daugherty (25) | Hot Rod Williams (13) | Craig Ehlo (5) | Spectrum18,168 | 2–3 |- CLE yes 1990 Player stats Season PlayerGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPGRon Harper7737.444.220.075.66.97.02.01.322.0Mark Price737337.145.940.688.83.49.11.60.119.6Brad Daugherty414035.147.90.070.49.13.20.70.516.8Hot Rod Williams822933.949.30.073.98.12.01.02.016.8Larry Nance625333.351.1100.077.88.32.60.92.016.3Craig Ehlo816435.746.441.968.15.44.61.60.313.6Randolph Keys481318.642.120.074.42.90.80.80.07.6Chucky Brown753517.947.00.076.23.10.70.40.37.3Reggie Williams321216.938.122.273.21.91.20.70.36.8Steve Kerr78521.344.450.786.31.33.20.60.16.7Winston Bennett553418.047.90.066.73.41.00.40.26.1Chris Dudley372218.538.90.033.85.50.50.51.15.0Paul Mokeski38111.842.00.069.42.60.40.20.34.0John Morton37310.929.823.369.40.91.80.50.13.9Derrick Chievous1407.135.70.079.21.10.30.20.13.5Tree Rollins481914.045.60.068.83.20.50.31.12.6Gary Voce104.033.30.00.02.00.00.00.02.0 Playoffs PlayerGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPGBrad Daugherty5537.258.60.069.69.64.00.40.822.8Mark Price5538.452.535.3100.02.88.81.80.220.0Hot Rod Williams5034.855.70.077.39.22.20.41.019.0Craig Ehlo5539.241.933.363.26.46.41.20.013.8Larry Nance5531.857.80.075.04.82.40.62.012.2Winston Bennett5527.048.90.066.74.21.00.60.210.0Derrick Chievous309.360.00.077.81.00.70.30.06.3John Morton204.540.00.0100.00.00.00.00.03.0Tree Rollins3012.733.30.075.02.70.30.70.32.7Steve Kerr5014.628.60.00.01.22.00.80.01.6Paul Mokeski303.350.00.0100.00.70.00.30.31.3 Player statistics citation: Awards and records Awards Records Milestones All-Star Transactions Trades Free agents Development league References External links Cleveland Cavaliers on Database Basketball Cleveland Cavaliers on Basketball Reference Category:Cleveland Cavaliers seasons Cleveland Cleveland Cavaliers Cleveland Cavaliers