1990–91 Utah Jazz season

NBA professional basketball team season March 2026 August 2023 Utah Jazz 1991 54 28 Midwest 2 5 Jerry Sloan Tim Howells Larry H. Miller Salt Palace Conference semifinals(lost to Trail Blazers 1–4) UTA KSTU Prime Sports Intermountain West KALL The 1990–91 Utah Jazz season was the 17th season for the Utah Jazz in the National Basketball Association, and their 12th season in Salt Lake City, Utah. Utah Jazz Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/UTA/ August 10, 2026 Season summary Off-season During the off-season, the Jazz acquired former All-Star guard Jeff Malone from the Washington Bullets in a three-team trade. Associated Press Bullets Get Pervis Ellison in Three-Way Trade: Pro Basketball: Jeff Malone Goes to Jazz, with Hansen and Leckner Going to Sacramento. Nets Deal for Theus, Meaning They Will Probably Pick Coleman Los Angeles Times June 26, 1990 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-06-26-sp-595-story.html December 15, 2021 Aldridge David Bullets Trade Malone in 3-Team Deal for Ellison The Washington Post June 26, 1990 https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1990/06/26/bullets-trade-malone-in-3-team-deal-for-ellison/dca3921a-84f4-47c9-97d8-eb065716ba18/ September 5, 2022 Brady Jim Bullets, Jazz, Kings Make Three-Way Deal United Press International June 25, 1990 https://www.upi.com/Archives/1990/06/25/Bullets-Jazz-Kings-make-three-way-deal/7287646286400/ November 22, 2022 Regular season Early into the regular season, the Jazz traveled overseas to Tokyo, Japan to play their first two games against the Phoenix Suns at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium; this marked the first time that two teams in U.S. professional sports played a regular season game outside of North America. Suns and Jazz to Play in Tokyo United Press International May 28, 1990 https://www.upi.com/Archives/1990/05/28/Suns-and-Jazz-to-play-in-Tokyo/3471643867200/ November 22, 2022 Associated Press NBA 1990-91: NBA Enters a New World as Suns, Jazz Open Season in Tokyo Los Angeles Times November 2, 1990 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-11-02-sp-3765-story.html March 10, 2022 In the first game on November 2, 1990, the Jazz were the home team and lost to the Suns by a score of 119–96; Karl Malone and John Stockton both posted double-doubles, as Malone finished with 33 points and 10 rebounds, while Stockton contributed 16 points and 12 assists. Associated Press  Chambers Scores 38 to Lead Suns to Easy Victory Over Jazz in Tokyo  Los Angeles Times  November 3, 1990  https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-11-03-sp-3088-story.html March 18, 2026 Rock Brad  Suns Handle Jazz Easily, 119-96  Deseret News  November 3, 1990  https://www.deseret.com/1990/11/3/18889175/suns-handle-jazz-easily-119-96-br/ March 18, 2026 Phoenix Suns at Utah Jazz Box Score, November 2, 1990 Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/199011020UTA.html March 18, 2026 In the second game on November 3, the Jazz were the road team and defeated the Suns by a score of 102–101; Karl Malone posted a double-double of 29 points and 14 rebounds, while Stockton added 15 points, and Thurl Bailey contributed 15 points and 9 rebounds. Rock Brad  Different Results Give Jazz Varied Outlooks About Japanese Lingo  Deseret News  November 5, 1990  https://www.deseret.com/1990/11/5/18889621/different-results-give-jazz-varied-outlooks-about-japanese-lingo-br/ March 18, 2026 Jazz Escape Tokyo with Split vs. Suns  The Prescott Courier  November 5, 1990  10A  https://books.google.com/books?id=tZJKAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA6&dq=1990+Phoenix+Suns+Utah+Jazz+102-101&article_id=6859,1287204&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjZ2Le89amTAxUpnGoFHcddLYkQ6AF6BAgIEAM#v=onepage&q=1990%20Phoenix%20Suns%20Utah%20Jazz%20102-101&f=false March 18, 2026 Utah Jazz at Phoenix Suns Box Score, November 3, 1990 Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/199011030PHO.html March 18, 2026 Both games had an attendance of 10,111 fans at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium. With the addition of Jeff Malone, the Jazz struggled losing six of their first nine games of the regular season, but then won eleven of their next twelve games, which included a six-game winning streak in December. The team posted another six-game winning streak between December and January, and later on held a 30–16 record at the All-Star break. NBA Games Played on February 7, 1991 Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/index.fcgi?month=2&day=7&year=1991 November 21, 2022 The Jazz won eight of their final eleven games of the season, and finished in second place in the Midwest Division with a 54–28 record, earning the fifth seed in the Western Conference; 1990–91 Utah Jazz Schedule and Results Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/UTA/1991_games.html October 16, 2021 the team qualified for the NBA playoffs for the eighth consecutive year. Karl Malone averaged 29.0 points and 11.8 rebounds per game, and was named to the All-NBA First Team, while Jeff Malone finished second on the team in scoring with 18.6 points per game, and Stockton provided the team with 17.2 points, 14.2 assists and 2.9 steals per game, and was named to the All-NBA Third Team, and to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team. In addition, Bailey provided with 12.4 points and 5.0 rebounds per game, while second-year guard Blue Edwards contributed 9.3 points per game, Darrell Griffith contributed 5.7 points per game, Mark Eaton averaged 5.1 points, 8.3 rebounds and 2.4 blocks per game, and Mike Brown provided with 4.8 points and 4.1 rebounds per game. 1990–91 Utah Jazz Roster and Stats Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/UTA/1991.html October 16, 2021 During the NBA All-Star weekend at the Charlotte Coliseum in Charlotte, North Carolina, Karl Malone and Stockton were both selected for the 1991 NBA All-Star Game, as members of the Western Conference All-Star team, Barnard Bill The Show of Shows for Magic: NBA: For Laker Guard, Making His 10th Appearance, Each and Every All-Star Game Is a Special Occasion Los Angeles Times February 10, 1991 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-02-10-sp-1467-story.html July 10, 2025 NBA.com Staff 1991 NBA All-Star Recap NBA.com September 13, 2021 https://www.nba.com/news/history-all-star-recap-1991 July 10, 2025 1991 NBA All-Star Game: East 116, West 114 Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/allstar/NBA_1991.html December 2, 2021 while Edwards participated in the NBA Slam Dunk Contest. Associated Press All-Star Saturday Participants The Hour February 9, 1991 22 https://books.google.com/books?id=dwchAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA12&dq=1991+NBA+slam+dunk+roster&article_id=1433,1155810&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj00tPUuZyQAxXfnCYFHVURH0AQ6AF6BAgLEAM#v=onepage&q=1991%20NBA%20slam%20dunk%20roster&f=false October 11, 2025 NBA & ABA All-Star Game Contest Winners Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/allstar/contest.html October 11, 2025 Karl Malone also finished in fifth place in Most Valuable Player voting, while Stockton finished in twelfth place; Smith Sam Jordan MVP by a Landslide Chicago Tribune May 21, 1991 https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1991-05-21-9102150595-story.html November 22, 2022 1990–91 NBA Awards Voting Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/awards/awards_1991.html January 3, 2022 Stockton also finished tied in seventh place in Defensive Player of the Year voting, and Bailey finished tied in sixth place in Sixth Man of the Year voting. The Jazz finished 22nd in the NBA in home-game attendance, with an attendance of 514,751 at the Salt Palace during the regular season. 1990–91 NBA Season Summary Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/leagues/NBA_1991.html February 23, 2026 NBA playoffs In the Western Conference First Round of the 1991 NBA playoffs, and for the second consecutive year, the Jazz faced off against the 4th–seeded Suns, a team that featured the trio of All-Star guard Kevin Johnson, All-Star forward Tom Chambers, and Jeff Hornacek. The Jazz won Game 1 over the Suns on the road by a 39-point margin, 129–90 at the Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum while shooting .651 in field-goal percentage, Rock Brad  Suns Loss Produces Shrugs, Not Answers  Deseret News  April 26, 1991  https://www.deseret.com/1991/4/26/18917288/suns-loss-produces-shrugs-not-answers/ June 30, 2026 Associated Press  Knicks, Suns Embarrassed, Worst Playoff Losses  The Hour  April 26, 1991  27  https://books.google.com/books?id=zQYhAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA14&dq=1991+Utah+Jazz+Phoenix+Suns+129-90&article_id=1504,3537434&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwis6rCRw6-VAxUGRzABHbIZEyYQ6AF6BAgMEAM#v=onepage&q=1991%20Utah%20Jazz%20Phoenix%20Suns%20129-90&f=false June 30, 2026 1991 NBA Western Conference First Round Game 1: Utah Jazz at Phoenix Suns Box Score, April 25, 1991 Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/199104250PHO.html June 30, 2026 before losing Game 2 on the road by a score of 102–92. 1991 NBA Western Conference First Round Game 2: Utah Jazz at Phoenix Suns Box Score, April 27, 1991 Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/199104270PHO.html June 30, 2026 With the series tied at 1–1, the Jazz won the next two games, which included a Game 4 home win over the Suns, 101–93 at the Salt Palace to win the series in four games. Associated Press Basketball: Utah's Malone Terminates Suns' Season The New York Times May 3, 1991 https://www.nytimes.com/1991/05/03/sports/basketball-utah-s-malone-terminates-suns-season.html September 5, 2022 Whooping It Up Deseret News May 3, 1991 https://www.deseret.com/1991/5/3/18918801/whooping-it-up?_amp=true September 5, 2022 1991 NBA Western Conference First Round: Jazz vs. Suns Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/1991-nba-western-conference-first-round-jazz-vs-suns.html April 10, 2023 In the Western Conference Semi-finals, the team faced off against the top–seeded, and Pacific Division champion Portland Trail Blazers, who were led by the All-Star trio of Clyde Drexler, Terry Porter and Kevin Duckworth. The Jazz lost the first two games to the Trail Blazers on the road at the Memorial Coliseum, but managed to win Game 3 at the Salt Palace, 107–101. 1991 NBA Western Conference Semifinals Game 3: Portland Trail Blazers at Utah Jazz Box Score, May 11, 1991 Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/199105110UTA.html June 30, 2026 However, the Jazz lost the next two games, including a Game 5 loss to the Trail Blazers at the Memorial Coliseum, 103–96, thus losing the series in five games. Associated Press Basketball: Three Teams Advance to Conference Finals: Blazers Take 5 to Chase Jazz The New York Times May 15, 1991 https://www.nytimes.com/1991/05/15/sports/basketball-three-teams-advance-to-conference-finals-blazers-take-5-to-chase-jazz.html October 16, 2021 Howard-Cooper Scott NBA Playoffs: Western Conference Semifinals: Trail Blazers Eliminate Jazz, Look to Lakers Los Angeles Times May 15, 1991 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-05-15-sp-1591-story.html August 27, 2022 1991 NBA Western Conference Semifinals: Jazz vs. Trail Blazers Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/1991-nba-western-conference-semifinals-jazz-vs-trail-blazers.html April 10, 2023 Aftermath This was also the Jazz's final season in which they played their home games at the Salt Palace. Following the season, Griffith was released to free agency and then retired. Sports People: Pro Basketball: Jazz Waives Griffith The New York Times October 22, 1991 https://www.nytimes.com/1991/10/22/sports/sports-people-pro-basketball-jazz-waives-griffith.html January 17, 2022 Rock Brad Griffith, Jazz Part Company Deseret News October 22, 1991 https://www.deseret.com/1991/10/22/18947506/griffith-jazz-part-company November 22, 2022 Draft picks 1990 NBA draft Round Pick Player Position Nationality College 2 33 Walter Palmer C/F Dartmouth Roster Utah Jazz 1990–91 #306 #FFCC00 #087830 #FFFFFF 41 Thurl Bailey F 6 11 215 1961–04–07 North Carolina State 40 Mike Brown basketball, born 1963 C 6 9 257 1963–07–19 George Washington 21 Tony Brown basketball G 6 6 185 1960–07–29 Arkansas 53 Mark Eaton C 7 4 275 1957–01–24 UCLA 30 Blue Edwards F 6 4 200 1965–10–31 East Carolina 35 Darrell Griffith G 6 4 190 1958–06–16 Louisville 24 Jeff Malone G 6 4 205 1961–06–28 Mississippi State 32 Karl Malone F 6 9 250 1963–07–24 Louisiana Tech 33 Walter Palmer basketball C 7 1 215 1968–10–23 Dartmouth 11 Delaney Rudd G 6 2 180 1962–11–08 Wake Forest 12 John Stockton G 6 1 170 1962–03–26 Gonzaga 5 Andy Toolson F 6 6 210 1966–01–19 Brigham Young Jerry Sloan Gordon Chiesa David Fredman Phil Johnson https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/UTA/1991.html April 1, 1991 Regular season Season standings UTA y - clinched division title x - clinched playoff spot UTA z - clinched division title y - clinched division title x - clinched playoff spot Game log January 2011 Playoffs Utah Jazz 1991 yes #36004A #FFFF00 Utah Jazz First Round yes no yes #FFFF00 #36004A 2 0 1 1 |- | 1 | April 25 | @ Phoenix | W 129–90 | Karl Malone (27) | Karl Malone (10) | John Stockton (15) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum14,487 | 1–0 |- | 2 | April 27 | @ Phoenix | L 92–102 | Jeff Malone (23) | Karl Malone (14) | John Stockton (11) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum14,487 | 1–1 |- | 3 | April 30 | Phoenix | W 107–98 | Karl Malone (32) | Mike Brown (11) | John Stockton (12) | Salt Palace12,616 | 2–1 |- | 4 | May 2 | Phoenix | W 101–93 | Karl Malone (38) | Karl Malone (13) | John Stockton (13) | Salt Palace12,616 | 3–1 |- Utah Jazz Conference semifinals no yes #FFFF00 #36004A 1 1 0 3 |- | 1 | May 7 | @ Portland | L 97–117 | John Stockton (23) | Karl Malone (16) | John Stockton (16) | Memorial Coliseum12,884 | 0–1 |- | 2 | May 9 | @ Portland | L 116–118 | Karl Malone (40) | Karl Malone (16) | John Stockton (12) | Memorial Coliseum12,884 | 0–2 |- | 3 | May 11 | Portland | W 107–101 | Karl Malone (30) | Karl Malone (21) | John Stockton (15) | Delta Center12,616 | 1–2 |- | 4 | May 12 | Portland | L 101–104 | Karl Malone (31) | Karl Malone (12) | John Stockton (16) | Delta Center12,616 | 1–3 |- | 5 | May 14 | @ Portland | L 96–103 | Karl Malone (26) | K. Malone, Eaton (8) | John Stockton (14) | Memorial Coliseum12,884 | 1–4 |- UTA 1991 yes Player statistics Season Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPGKarl Malone828240.3.527.286.77011.83.31.11.029.0Jeff Malone696935.7.508.167.9173.02.10.70.118.6John Stockton828237.8.507.345.8362.914.22.90.217.2Thurl Bailey822230.3.458.000.8085.01.50.61.112.4Blue Edwards625626.0.526.250.7013.21.70.90.59.3Darrell Griffith75213.4.391.348.7561.20.50.60.15.7Mark Eaton808032.3.579.6348.30.60.52.45.1Mike Brown82217.0.454.7424.10.60.40.34.8Delaney Rudd82010.7.435.279.8310.82.60.40.04.0Pat Cummings406.5.667.7001.30.00.00.03.8Tony Brown23011.6.364.182.8701.70.60.20.03.4Andy Toolson471510.0.403.375.7581.40.70.30.02.9Walter Palmer2803.0.333.000.6670.80.20.10.11.4Chris Munk1102.6.429.5831.30.10.10.21.2Dan O'Sullivan2104.0.438.6360.80.20.00.01.0 Playoffs Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPGKarl Malone9942.6.455.000.84613.33.21.01.229.7Jeff Malone9939.0.493.000.9173.93.21.00.120.7John Stockton9941.4.537.407.8414.713.82.20.218.2Blue Edwards9926.8.481.500.8003.11.80.90.110.1Mike Brown9024.8.482.8427.30.60.30.19.6Thurl Bailey9025.3.359.8803.61.00.30.77.6Mark Eaton9928.3.516.5836.20.60.11.44.3Darrell Griffith303.0.7140.70.00.00.03.3Delaney Rudd906.4.429.333.5000.21.90.30.02.7Tony Brown407.3.500.5000.80.30.00.02.3Walter Palmer203.0.2500.50.00.00.01.0Andy Toolson202.0.000.0000.00.50.50.00.0 Player statistics citation: Awards and records Karl Malone, All-NBA First Team John Stockton, All-NBA Third Team John Stockton, NBA All-Defensive Second Team Transactions January 2011 References 2 See also 1990-91 NBA season Category:Utah Jazz seasons Utah Utah Utah