1990–91 Cleveland Cavaliers season

NBA professional basketball team season March 2026 August 2023 Cleveland Cavaliers 1991 33 49 Central 6 10 Lenny Wilkens Wayne Embry Gordon Gund George Gund III Richfield Coliseum Did not qualify CLE SportsChannel Ohio WOIO WWWEPluto, Terry October 23, 1990 Phoenix Suns vs. Cavaliers Akron Beacon Journal D3 - Sports The 1990–91 Cleveland Cavaliers season was the 21st 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 After playing overseas in Italy the previous season, Danny Ferry made his debut in the NBA, signing a contract with the Cavaliers; the Cavaliers had acquired Ferry from the Los Angeles Clippers, who selected him as the second overall pick in the 1989 NBA draft. Ferry Wants to Talk with Cavs Soon United Press International May 10, 1990 https://www.upi.com/Archives/1990/05/10/Ferry-wants-to-talk-with-Cavs-soon/6698642312000/ November 22, 2022 Associated Press Ferry Joins the Cavaliers The New York Times June 2, 1990 https://www.nytimes.com/1990/06/02/sports/ferry-joins-the-cavaliers.html November 22, 2022 During the off-season, the team signed free agent Gerald Paddio. Cavalry Obtains Guard Paddio The Oklahoman May 2, 1992 https://www.oklahoman.com/story/news/1992/05/02/cavalry-obtains-guard-paddio/62494423007/ December 19, 2025 Regular season With the addition of Ferry, the Cavaliers lost their first two games of the regular season, but then won six of their next seven games, and held a 9–7 record at the end of November. However, after only just 16 games, Mark Price sustained a torn ACL in his left knee, and was out for the remainder of the season, Cleveland's Mark Price Injured, Lost for Season Greensboro December 3, 1990 https://greensboro.com/clevelands-mark-price-injured-lost-for-season/article_b6631d8d-1cda-59e5-a066-c0b8ad29634c.html November 22, 2022 Price Injury Confirmed United Press International December 3, 1990 https://www.upi.com/Archives/1990/12/03/Price-injury-confirmed/2421660200400/ November 22, 2022 Cleveland's Price Says Injury Won't Alter His Style Deseret News December 11, 1990 https://www.deseret.com/platform/amp/1990/12/11/18895547/cleveland-s-price-says-injury-won-t-alter-his-style January 17, 2022 while sixth man Hot Rod Williams only played just 43 games due to a left foot injury. Hot Rod Williams Out for Four to Six Weeks United Press International November 19, 1990 https://www.upi.com/Archives/1990/11/19/Hot-Rod-Williams-out-for-four-to-six-weeks/7967658990800/ December 19, 2025 Cavaliers 94, Heat 78 United Press International February 12, 1991 https://www.upi.com/Archives/1991/02/12/Cavaliers-94-Heat-78/7218666334800/ March 10, 2022 Alridge David Reality Undercuts Bullets' Overachievers The Washington Post March 11, 1991 https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1991/03/11/reality-undercuts-bullets-overachievers/78bff506-75e8-4b1b-a8a7-39b030607be4/ November 22, 2022 In December, the team re-signed free agent Darnell Valentine as their starting point guard in Price's absence, Goldaper Sam King Renegotiates His Own Contract The New York Times December 4, 1990 https://www.nytimes.com/1990/12/04/sports/king-renegotiates-his-own-contract.html December 19, 2025 Cavs to Sign Woodson United Press International December 12, 1990 https://www.upi.com/Archives/1990/12/12/Cavs-to-sign-Woodson/4180660978000/ November 22, 2022 and also signed undrafted rookie small forward Henry James. Sorensen Mike Jazz Get Tough in O.T. to Win Deseret News January 19, 1991 https://www.deseret.com/1991/1/19/18901377/jazz-get-tough-in-ot-to-win/ December 19, 2025 Without Price and Williams, and after a 10–8 start to the season, the Cavaliers struggled falling below .500 in winning percentage, losing 17 of their next 18 games, posting a six-game losing streak in December, and then posting an 11-game losing streak between December and January, as the team held a 15–32 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 22, 2022 However, the team played above .500 for the remainder of the season, winning eight of their eleven games in April, including a four-game winning streak to close the season. The Cavaliers finished in sixth place in the Central Division with a disappointing 33–49 record, and failed to qualify for the NBA playoffs. 1990–91 Cleveland Cavaliers Schedule and Results Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/CLE/1991_games.html January 17, 2022 Brad Daugherty averaged 21.6 points and 10.9 rebounds per game, while Larry Nance averaged 19.2 points, 8.6 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game, and Price provided the team with 16.9 points, 10.4 assists and 2.6 steals per game. In addition, Williams provided with 11.7 points, 6.7 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game, while Craig Ehlo contributed 10.1 points, 4.6 assists and 1.5 steals per game, and Valentine contributed 9.4 points, 5.4 assists and 1.5 steals per game. Meanwhile, Ferry averaged 8.6 points and 3.5 rebounds per game, second-year forward Chucky Brown provided with 8.5 points per game, James contributed 8.1 points per game in 37 games, Paddio averaged 7.2 points per game, John Morton provided with 5.4 points and 3.7 assists per game, and Steve Kerr contributed 4.8 points and 2.3 assists per game. 1990–91 Cleveland Cavaliers Roster and Stats Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/CLE/1991.html February 3, 2022 During the NBA All-Star weekend at the Charlotte Coliseum in Charlotte, North Carolina, Daugherty was selected for the 1991 NBA All-Star Game, as a member of the Eastern 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 January 17, 2022 The Cavaliers finished twelfth in the NBA in home-game attendance, with an attendance of 623,735 at the Coliseum at Richfield during the regular season. 1990–91 NBA Season Summary Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/leagues/NBA_1991.html February 24, 2026 Aftermath Following the season, Valentine and Paddio were both released to free agency. Draft picks 1990 NBA draft Round Pick Player Position Nationality School/Club team 2 52 Stefano Rusconi Center Ranger Varese 1st round pick (#13) traded to Los Angeles Clippers in Danny Ferry deal.http://www.nba.com/clippers/history/clippers_franchise_records.html#seasonrecaps CLIPPERS: Clippers History 2008-03-12 https://web.archive.org/web/20080304043831/http://www.nba.com/clippers/history/clippers_franchise_records.html#seasonrecaps 2008-03-04 dead Used to draft Loy Vaught. Roster Cleveland Cavaliers 1990–91 #003EA4 white #DE3C2F white 00 Miloš Babić F 7 0 240 1968–11–23 Tennessee Tech 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 35 Danny Ferry F 6 10 230 1966–10–17 Duke 32 Henry James basketball F 6 8 220 1965–07–29 St. Mary's 5 Steve Kerr G 6 3 175 1965–09–27 Arizona 23 John Morton basketball F 6 3 180 1967–05–18 Seton Hall 22 Larry Nance F 6 10 205 1959–02–12 Clemson 24 Gerald Paddio F 6 7 205 1965–04–21 UNLV 25 Mark Price G 6 0 170 1964–02–15 Georgia Tech 1 Darnell Valentine G 6 1 183 1959–02–03 Kansas 18 Hot Rod Williams C 6 11 215 1962–08–09 Tulane Lenny Wilkens Dick Helms Brian Winters https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/CLE/1991.html January 21, 1991 Regular season Season standings CLE y - clinched division title x - clinched playoff spot CLE z - clinched division title y - clinched division title x - clinched playoff spot Game log Cleveland Cavaliers #1d427b white 1991 Total: 33–49 (Home: 23–18; Road: 10–31) yes Cleveland Cavaliers November #F45A24 #1C427C 5 2 4 5 |- | 7 || November 13, 1990 || @ Atlanta | W 121–104 | | | | The Omni10,645 | 4–3 |- | 16 || November 30, 1990 || @ Atlanta | W 101–93 | | | | The Omni11,996 | 9–7 Cleveland Cavaliers December #F45A24 #1C427C 2 6 0 4 |- | 24 || December 17, 1990 || Atlanta | L 98–109 | | | | Richfield Coliseum11,622 | 10–14 Cleveland Cavaliers January #F45A24 #1C427C 2 3 1 8 Cleveland Cavaliers February #F45A24 #1C427C 5 4 1 3 |- | 46 || February 5, 1991 || @ Atlanta | L 114–118 | | | | The Omni11,354 | 15–31 Cleveland Cavaliers March #F45A24 #1C427C 3 1 2 9 Cleveland Cavaliers April #F45A24 #1C427C 6 1 2 2 |- | 76 || April 9, 1991 || Atlanta | L 98–104 | | | | Richfield Coliseum15,235 | 28–48 CLE 1991 Player stats PlayerGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPGBrad Daugherty767638.852.40.075.110.93.31.00.621.6Larry Nance807836.652.425.080.38.63.00.82.519.2Mark Price161635.749.734.095.22.810.42.60.116.9Hot Rod Williams431430.146.30.065.26.72.30.81.611.7Craig Ehlo826833.744.532.967.94.74.61.50.410.1Darnell Valentine656028.346.424.083.12.65.41.50.29.4Danny Ferry81220.542.829.981.63.51.80.50.38.6Chucky Brown745120.152.40.070.12.91.10.40.38.5Henry James37413.644.140.072.22.10.90.40.18.1Gerald Paddio702216.941.925.079.61.71.30.30.17.2John Morton66218.343.833.381.31.63.70.90.35.4Steve Kerr57415.944.445.284.90.62.30.50.14.8Winston Bennett271312.437.40.074.52.41.00.30.14.3Mike Woodson4011.521.70.0100.00.51.30.00.32.8Derrick Chievous1806.137.00.056.31.00.10.20.12.4Milos Babic1204.331.60.058.30.80.30.10.11.6 Player statistics citation: References Cleveland Cavaliers on Database Basketball Category:Cleveland Cavaliers seasons Cleveland Cleve Cleve