1989–90 Houston Rockets season

Rockets' 23rd season in the National Basketball Association March 2026 August 2023 Houston Rockets 1990 41 41 Midwest 5 8 Don Chaney Steve Patterson Charlie Thomas The Summit KTXHHome Sports Entertainment KTRH First round(lost to Lakers 1–3) HOU The 1989–90 Houston Rockets season was the 23rd season for the Houston Rockets in the National Basketball Association, and their 19th season in Houston, Texas, United States. Houston Rockets Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/HOU/ August 6, 2026 Season summary Off-season During the off-season, the Rockets signed free agents John Lucas and Larry Smith. Luna Richard Rockets Sign Larry Smith United Press International July 11, 1989 https://www.upi.com/Archives/1989/07/11/Rockets-sign-Larry-Smith/3090616132800/ July 5, 2025 Names in the News Los Angeles Times July 12, 1989 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-07-12-sp-3562-story.html July 5, 2025 Regular season With the addition of Smith, the Rockets got off to a 9–6 start to the regular season, but then struggled holding a 12–18 record as of December 30, 1989. However, the team managed to win seven of their next nine games, and later on held a 22–25 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 At mid-season, the team acquired second-year guard Vernon Maxwell from the San Antonio Spurs. 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 Goldaper Sam Notebook: Spurs on Brink of Record Turnabout The New York Times March 27, 1990 https://www.nytimes.com/1990/03/27/sports/notebook-spurs-on-brink-of-record-turnabout.html December 15, 2021 Luna Richard Maxwell Proves Key Acquisition for Rockets United Press International May 2, 1990 https://www.upi.com/Archives/1990/05/02/Maxwell-proves-key-acquisition-for-Rockets/8991641620800/ December 30, 2022 With the addition of Maxwell, the Rockets posted a six-game winning streak in March, and continued to play around .500 in winning percentage for the remainder of the season, finishing in fifth place in the Midwest Division with a 41–41 record; 1989–90 Houston Rockets Schedule and Results Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/HOU/1990_games.html December 9, 2021 the team won a tie-breaker over the Seattle SuperSonics for the eighth seed in the Western Conference, Rockets Land a Berth The New York Times April 23, 1990 https://www.nytimes.com/1990/04/23/sports/rockets-land-a-berth.html January 19, 2022 Hafner Dan NBA Roundup: Rockets Get Last Spot, Lakers in 1st Round Los Angeles Times April 23, 1990 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-04-23-sp-265-story.html November 23, 2022 and qualified for the NBA playoffs for the sixth consecutive year. Akeem Olajuwon averaged 24.3 points, 14.0 rebounds, 2.1 steals and 4.6 blocks per game, and was named to the All-NBA Second Team, and to the NBA All-Defensive First Team. In addition, Otis Thorpe averaged 17.1 points and 9.0 rebounds per game, while Mitchell Wiggins averaged 15.5 points and 1.3 steals per game, Buck Johnson provided the team with 14.8 points and 1.3 steals per game, and Sleepy Floyd contributed 12.2 points and 7.3 assists per game. Off the bench, Mike Woodson contributed 6.5 points per game, while Lucas provided with 5.8 points and 4.9 assists per game, and Smith averaged 3.0 points and 6.1 rebounds per game. 1989–90 Houston Rockets Roster and Stats Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/HOU/1990.html December 15, 2021 During the NBA All-Star weekend at the Miami Arena in Miami, Florida, Olajuwon was selected for the 1990 NBA All-Star Game, as a member of the Western Conference All-Star team; Howard-Cooper Scott NBA All-Star Game: Entire Family Is Back Together...Almost Los Angeles Times February 11, 1990 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-02-11-sp-1107-story.html November 23, 2022 NBA.com Staff 1990 NBA All-Star Recap NBA.com September 13, 2021 https://www.nba.com/news/history-all-star-recap-1990 November 15, 2023 1990 NBA All-Star Game: East 130, West 113 Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/allstar/NBA_1990.html December 9, 2021 he finished in seventh place in Most Valuable Player voting, McManis Sam 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 May 22, 1990 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-05-22-sp-203-story.html November 23, 2022 1989–90 NBA Awards Voting Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/awards/awards_1990.html February 4, 2022 and also finished in second place in Defensive Player of the Year voting, behind Dennis Rodman of the Detroit Pistons. Associated Press Dennis Rodman NBA Defensive Player of Year Los Angeles Times May 7, 1990 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-05-07-sp-318-story.html November 23, 2022 The Rockets finished eleventh in the NBA in home-game attendance, with an attendance of 649,702 at The Summit 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 Western Conference First Round of the 1990 NBA playoffs, the Rockets faced off against the top–seeded, and Pacific Division champion Los Angeles Lakers, who were led by the quartet of All-Star guard, and Most Valuable Player of the Year, Magic Johnson, All-Star forward James Worthy, Byron Scott, and All-Star forward A.C. Green. The Rockets lost the first two games to the Lakers on the road at the Great Western Forum, but managed to win Game 3 at home, 114–108 at The Summit. 1990 NBA Western Conference First Round Game 3: Los Angeles Lakers at Houston Rockets Box Score, May 1, 1990 Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/199005010HOU.html June 30, 2026 However, the Rockets lost Game 4 to the Lakers at home, 109–88, thus losing the series in four games. Associated Press Worthy Helps Lakers Eliminate Rockets The New York Times May 4, 1990 https://www.nytimes.com/1990/05/04/sports/worthy-helps-lakers-eliminate-rockets.html December 9, 2021 McManis Sam Now Lakers Don't Have to Run for Cover, 109-88: NBA Playoffs: Pep Talk by Riley, Move to Straight-Up Defense Bear Fruit as Los Angeles Wins Playoff Series Los Angeles Times May 4, 1990 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-05-04-sp-268-story.html September 20, 2022 1990 NBA Western Conference First Round: Rockets vs. Lakers Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/1990-nba-western-conference-first-round-rockets-vs-lakers.html April 9, 2023 Aftermath Following the season, Wiggins was released to free agency, and Lucas and Tim McCormick were both traded to the Atlanta Hawks. Sports People: Pro Basketball: Rockets Obtain Smith The New York Times September 28, 1990 https://www.nytimes.com/1990/09/28/sports/sports-people-pro-basketball-rockets-obtain-smith.html December 31, 2022 Rockets Trade Lucas, Get 2 Hawks Los Angeles Times September 28, 1990 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-09-28-sp-1253-story.html December 31, 2022 Draft picks 1989 NBA draft The Rockets had no draft picks in 1989. Roster Houston Rockets 1989–90 #B50000 #FFFFFF #FFBF00 #000000 25 Anthony Bowie G 6 6 190 1963–11–09 Oklahoma 44 Adrian Caldwell F 6 8 265 1966–07–04 Lamar 9 Byron Dinkins G 6 1 170 1967–06–15 Charlotte 21 Sleepy Floyd G 6 3 170 1960–03–06 Georgetown 1 Buck Johnson basketball F 6 7 190 1964–01–03 Alabama 32 Lewis Lloyd G 6 6 205 1959–02–22 Drake University 10 John Lucas G 6 3 175 1953–10–31 Maryland John Lucas II 11 Vernon Maxwell G 6 4 180 1965–09–12 Florida 40 Tim McCormick C 6 11 240 1962–03–10 Michigan 34 Akeem Olajuwon Hakeem Olajuwon C 7 0 255 1963–01–21 Houston 13 Larry Smith basketball, born 1958 F 6 8 215 1958–01–18 Alcorn State 33 Otis Thorpe F 6 9 225 1962–08–05 Providence 23 Mitchell Wiggins G 6 4 185 1959–09–28 Florida State 42 Mike Woodson G 6 5 195 1958–03–24 Indiana Don Chaney Carroll Dawson John Killilea Rudy Tomjanovich https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/HOU/1990.html March 19, 1990 Regular season Season standings HOU HOU z – clinched division title y – clinched division title x – clinched playoff spot Game log Playoffs Houston Rockets 1990 yes #FF0000 #FFD700 Houston Rockets First Round yes yes no #FFD700 #FF0000 1 1 0 2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 1 | April 27 | @ L.A. Lakers | L 89–101 | Otis Thorpe (21) | Akeem Olajuwon (14) | Sleepy Floyd (8) | Great Western Forum17,505 | 0–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 2 | April 29 | @ L.A. Lakers | L 100–104 | Sleepy Floyd (27) | Akeem Olajuwon (11) | Sleepy Floyd (8) | Great Western Forum17,505 | 0–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 3 | May 1 | L.A. Lakers | W 114–108 | Otis Thorpe (27) | Otis Thorpe (8) | Sleepy Floyd (18) | The Summit16,611 | 1–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 4 | May 3 | L.A. Lakers | L 88–109 | Akeem Olajuwon (28) | Akeem Olajuwon (10) | Sleepy Floyd (10) | The Summit16,611 | 1–3 |- HOU 1990 yes Player statistics Season Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPGAnthony Bowie 66 0 13.9 .406 .286 .741 1.8 1.5 .6 .1 4.3Adrian Caldwell 51 0 6.5 .553 .464 2.1 .1 .2 .4 1.9Derrick Chievous† 41 0 12.0 .506 .375 .701 1.8 .7 .6 .1 6.0Byron Dinkins 33 0 11.0 .404 .111 .867 1.2 2.3 .6 .1 3.5Sleepy Floyd 82 73 32.1 .451 .380 .806 2.4 7.3 1.1 .1 12.2Buck Johnson basketball 82 82 34.5 .495 .118 .759 4.6 3.1 1.3 .8 14.8Lewis Lloyd† 19 0 5.9 .569 .563 .9 .6 .2 .0 3.5John Lucas II 49 18 19.1 .375 .299 .764 1.8 4.9 .9 .0 5.8Vernon Maxwell† 30 10 29.0 .442 .245 .664 2.9 5.0 1.4 .2 12.5Tim McCormick 18 0 6.4 .345 .526 1.5 .2 .2 .1 1.7Chuck Nevitt 3 0 3.0 1.000 1.0 .3 .0 .3 1.3Akeem Olajuwon Hakeem Olajuwon 82 82 38.1 .501 .167 .713 14.0 2.9 2.1 4.6 24.3Larry Smith basketball, born 1958 74 0 17.6 .474 .000 .364 6.1 .9 .8 .4 3.0Otis Thorpe 82 82 35.9 .548 .000 .688 9.0 3.2 .8 .3 17.1Mitchell Wiggins 66 52 28.1 .488 .000 .810 4.3 1.6 1.3 .0 15.5Mike Woodson 61 11 15.9 .395 .293 .721 1.4 1.1 .7 .2 6.5 Playoffs Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPGAnthony Bowie 2 0 2.0 .000 .0 .0 .0 .0 .0Adrian Caldwell 1 0 1.0 .0 .0 .0 .0 .0Sleepy Floyd 4 4 43.0 .469 .250 .647 3.8 10.3 1.3 .3 18.5Buck Johnson basketball 4 4 37.0 .417 .000 .846 4.0 2.3 1.5 .5 12.8Vernon Maxwell 4 4 39.8 .370 .308 .524 3.0 4.3 1.3 .0 19.8Tim McCormick 3 0 7.0 .333 .500 2.7 .0 .0 .0 1.0Akeem Olajuwon Hakeem Olajuwon 4 4 40.3 .443 .706 11.5 2.0 2.5 5.8 18.5Larry Smith basketball, born 1958 4 0 18.3 .750 3.3 1.3 1.0 .0 3.0Otis Thorpe 4 4 41.0 .600 .684 8.3 1.8 1.3 .0 20.0Mitchell Wiggins 4 0 12.8 .467 .667 3.3 .5 .3 .0 4.0Mike Woodson 1 0 6.0 .333 .000 .0 2.0 .0 .0 2.0 Player statistics citation: Awards and records Akeem Olajuwon, All-NBA Second Team Akeem Olajuwon, NBA All-Defensive First Team Transactions List of 1989–90 NBA season transactions See also 1989–90 NBA season References Category:Houston Rockets seasons Houston Category:1989 in sports in Texas Category:1990 in sports in Texas Category:1989 in Houston Category:1990 in Houston