1990–91 Denver Nuggets season

NBA professional basketball team season August 2023 March 2026 Denver Nuggets 1991 20 62 Midwest 6 13 Paul Westhead Bernie Bickerstaff Bernie Bickerstaff McNichols Sports Arena Did not qualify DEN KWGN-TV Prime Sports Rocky Mountain KOA The 1990–91 Denver Nuggets season was the 15th season for the Denver Nuggets in the National Basketball Association, and their 24th season as a franchise. Denver Nuggets Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/DEN/ August 6, 2026 This was the first time since the 1978–79 season that Alex English was not on the opening day roster; it was also the first since the 1983–84 season that Fat Lever was not on the opening day roster. Season summary Off-season Former Seattle SuperSonics head coach Bernie Bickerstaff took over as the Nuggets' General Manager, and decided it was time to rebuild the team. At the time, the team had the oldest team in the league; the Nuggets made radical changes trading off stars for draft picks. The Nuggets acquired the third overall pick in the 1990 NBA draft from the Miami Heat via trade, Associated Press Nuggets Trade Up in NBA Draft, Getting No. 3 Pick from Miami Los Angeles Times June 22, 1990 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-06-22-sp-479-story.html July 25, 2026 Kjos Les Nuggets Acquire Draft's No. 3 Pick from Miami Deseret News June 23, 1990 https://www.deseret.com/1990/6/23/18867757/nuggets-acquire-draft-s-no-3-pick-from-miami/ July 25, 2026 and selected point guard Chris Jackson out of Louisiana State University; the team also selected small forward Marcus Liberty from the University of Illinois with the 42nd overall pick. Goldaper Sam Nets Make Coleman No. 1 Pick in N.B.A. Draft The New York Times June 28, 1990 https://www.nytimes.com/1990/06/28/sports/nets-make-coleman-no-1-pick-in-nba-draft.html July 10, 2025 Associated Press Clippers Go with Kimble: NBA Draft: Derrick Coleman, as Expected, Is No. 1 Overall with Nets. Clippers Also Grab Michigan's Vaught with 13th Pick Los Angeles Times June 28, 1990 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-06-28-sp-1194-story.html July 10, 2025 1990 NBA Draft Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/draft/NBA_1990.html July 10, 2025 During the off-season, the team acquired Orlando Woolridge from the Los Angeles Lakers, Heisler Mark Lakers Send Woolridge to Denver: Pro Basketball: Trade Nets Second-Round Draft Picks for 1993 and '95, Helps Reduce Payroll Los Angeles Times August 4, 1990 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-08-04-sp-967-story.html November 23, 2022 Nuggets Obtain Woolridge from Lakers United Press International August 3, 1990 https://www.upi.com/Archives/1990/08/03/Nuggets-obtain-Woolridge-from-Lakers/6189649656000/ March 10, 2022 signed free agent Joe Wolf, In Other Sports News...  Telegraph Herald  September 28, 1990  3C  https://books.google.com/books?id=NVxFAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA13&dq=1990+Denver+Nuggets+signed+Joe+Wolf&article_id=3328,6600918&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwibt_Gyo-6VAxVW5MkDHSByNJAQ6AF6BAgLEAM#v=onepage&q&f=false July 25, 2026 acquired rookie power forward, and first-round draft pick Terry Mills out of the University of Michigan from the Milwaukee Bucks, Associated Press A Trading Flurry Uncapped in NBA: Basketball: Ainge Goes to Portland, Schayes to Milwaukee, Pressey to San Antonio, Bol to Philadelphia After Salary Cap Raised by Nearly $2 Million Los Angeles Times August 2, 1990 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-08-02-sp-1396-story.html?_amp=true July 25, 2026 Hente Karl As Salary Cap Rises, Players Fly Around NBA The Washington Post August 2, 1990 https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1990/08/02/as-salary-cap-rises-players-fly-around-nba/95fad02d-0ad3-41df-b07a-f2f7f60f69dc/ July 25, 2026 and acquired rookie power forward Anthony Cook out of the University of Arizona from the Detroit Pistons; Cook previously played overseas in Greece. The Detroit Pistons Traded Forward-Center Anthony...  Los Angeles Times  September 29, 1990  https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-09-29-sp-1235-story.html July 25, 2026 The Nuggets also hired former Loyola Marymount University head coach Paul Westhead as their new coach. Associated Press  Nuggets Unveil Westhead as New Coach: Pro Basketball: Denver Ends the Speculation by Tapping the Loyola Marymount Headman, Who...  Los Angeles Times  September 7, 1990  https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-09-07-sp-892-story.html July 24, 2026 Westhead Takes Over Nuggets  United Press International  September 7, 1990  https://www.upi.com/Archives/1990/09/07/Westhead-takes-over-Nuggets/5764652680000/ July 24, 2026 Regular season Westhead brought in his run-and-gun strategy known as "The System", which broke several offensive records at Loyola Marymount; he ordered his players to shoot the ball every six seconds after gaining possession. Kahn Mike  Nuggets Are Scoring More, Winning Less: Pro Basketball: Denver Is Still Seeking Results Under the Free-Wheeling Offense of First-Year Coach Paul Westhead  Los Angeles Times  November 11, 1990  https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-11-11-sp-6037-story.html July 24, 2026 Cooper Barry  High-Tech, Run-and-Gun Offense Is Running Amok for Nuggets  The Baltimore Sun  January 6, 1991  https://www.baltimoresun.com/1991/01/06/high-tech-run-and-gun-offense-is-running-amok-for-nuggets/ July 24, 2026 Schreiber Harlan  Revisiting the Westhead Nuggets  Hoops Analyst  January 11, 2022  https://hoopsanalyst.com/revisiting-the-westhead-nuggets/ July 25, 2026 However, his plan backfired as the Nuggets struggled losing their first seven games of the regular season, and then later on posted an eight-game losing streak between December and January. The team managed to post a six-game winning streak between January and February, and held a 14–31 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 February 24, 2026 At mid-season, the team signed free agent Reggie Williams, who was previously released by the San Antonio Spurs. Associated Press  Spurs Waive Pair  The Hour  December 26, 1990  34  https://books.google.com/books?id=ugYhAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA18&dq=1990+San+Antonio+Spurs+waived+Reggie+Williams&article_id=2941,3906711&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiFudiPpO6VAxUR48kDHYIhBgQQ6AF6BAgPEAM#v=onepage&q&f=false July 25, 2026 Transactions  The Daily Union  January 7, 1991  10  https://books.google.com/books?id=IqJEAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA6&dq=1991+Denver+Nuggets+signed+Reggie+Williams&article_id=2705,351801&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjx1q2xoe6VAxX44MkDHentGnEQ6AF6BAgPEAM#v=onepage&q&f=false July 25, 2026 In a three-team trade, the team traded Walter Davis to the Portland Trail Blazers, and traded Mills to the New Jersey Nets in exchange for Greg Anderson. Shain Jeff  Nets Acquire Petrovic, Mills  United Press International  January 23, 1991  https://www.upi.com/Archives/1991/01/23/Nets-acquire-Petrovic-Mills/3848664606800/ December 8, 2025 Curry Jack Basketball: Nets Obtain Petrovic and Look Out for No. 1 The New York Times January 24, 1991 https://www.nytimes.com/1991/01/24/sports/basketball-nets-obtain-petrovic-and-look-out-for-no-1.html November 25, 2022 Associated Press Trail Blazers Use 3-Team Trade to Get Walter Davis Los Angeles Times January 24, 1991 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-01-24-sp-1028-story.html November 25, 2022 The Nuggets posted two seven-game losing streaks in February and March, then posted a 10-game losing streak between March and April, and finished in last place in the Midwest Division with a league-worst 20–62 record. 1990–91 Denver Nuggets Schedule and Results Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/DEN/1991_games.html March 10, 2022http://www.sportsecyclopedia.com/nba/denver/nuggets.html Denver Nuggets (1967-Present) May 28, 2008 July 2, 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120702220102/http://www.sportsecyclopedia.com/nba/denver/nuggets.html dead The team failed to qualify for the NBA playoffs for the first time since the 1980–81 season. Michael Adams averaged 26.5 points, 10.0 assists and 2.2 steals per game, and led the Nuggets with 167 three-point field goals, but only shot .394 in field-goal percentage, and .296 in three-point field-goal percentage. In addition, Woolridge averaged 25.1 points and 6.8 rebounds per game, but only played 53 games due to a detached retina in his right eye, Associated Press  Eye Injury Knocks Out Woolridge: NBA: The Nuggets' Top Scorer Will Undergo Surgery for a Detached Retina. He Might Miss Two Months  Los Angeles Times  December 21, 1990  https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-12-21-sp-7202-story.html July 25, 2026 while Williams provided the team with 16.1 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.8 steals per game in 51 games, and Jackson contributed 14.1 points and 3.1 assists per game, and was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team. Meanwhile, second-year guard Todd Lichti provided with 14.0 points and 1.6 steals per game, but only appeared in just 29 games due to an ankle injury, Blair Rasmussen averaged 12.5 points, 9.7 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game, Jerome Lane provided with 7.5 points and 9.3 rebounds per game, Wolf averaged 7.3 points and 5.4 rebounds per game, Liberty contributed 6.7 points per game, and Cook provided with 5.3 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game. 1990–91 Denver Nuggets Roster and Stats Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/DEN/1991.html December 7, 2025 Adams finished tied in eighth place in Most Improved Player voting. 1990–91 NBA Awards Voting Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/awards/awards_1991.html December 7, 2025 The Nuggets finished last in the NBA in home-game attendance, with an attendance of 438,103 at the McNichols Sports Arena during the regular season, which was 27th in the league. 1990–91 NBA Season Summary Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/leagues/NBA_1991.html February 24, 2026 By season's end, the Nuggets led the league in scoring with 119.9 points per game, but also allowed 130.8 points per game for their opponents; as of 2026, this stands as an NBA record for the most points per game, and most total points allowed by a team during the regular season, according to StatMuse. Most Points Allowed by an NBA Team in a Season https://www.statmuse.com/nba/ask/most-points-allowed-by-an-nba-team-in-a-season live https://archive.today/20250616214506/https://www.statmuse.com/nba/ask/most-points-allowed-by-an-nba-team-in-a-season June 16, 2025 June 16, 2025 StatMuse The Nuggets allowed 100 or more points from their opponents in all 82 regular season games, allowed 130 or more points in 37 games, and allowed 150 or more points in nine games. Notable highlights Two notable games occurred during the regular season. In their season opener on November 2, 1990, the Nuggets lost to the Golden State Warriors at home, 162–158 at the McNichols Sports Arena; both teams combined for a total of 320 points, which broke a record for the highest scoring regulation game in NBA history. Associated Press Pro Basketball: Nuggets Run, Gun and Lose The New York Times November 3, 1990 https://www.nytimes.com/1990/11/03/sports/pro-basketball-nuggets-run-gun-and-lose.html July 25, 2026 Associated Press NBA Roundup: Warriors Survive Nuggets' Pace, 162-158 Los Angeles Times November 3, 1990 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-11-03-sp-3089-story.html July 25, 2026 Golden State Warriors at Denver Nuggets Box Score, November 2, 1990 Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/199011020DEN.html July 25, 2026 Eight days later on November 10, the Nuggets lost to the Phoenix Suns on the road, 173–143 at the Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum. The Suns scored 57 points in the second quarter, held a 107–67 lead over the Nuggets at halftime, and shot .644 in field-goal percentage. The Suns' 173 points tied the 1959 Boston Celtics for the most points scored in a game that did not go into at least one overtime, and did not involve the winning team making a single three-point field goal in Phoenix's case; the Suns only attempted two three-point field goals that did not go in. In addition, the Suns' 57 points broke a record for the most points scored in a quarter, which was 52 by the 1965 Baltimore Bullets. Hafner Dan  NBA Roundup: Suns Tie Record with 173 Against Nuggets  Los Angeles Times  November 11, 1990  https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-11-11-sp-6134-story.html July 24, 2026 Goldaper Sam  N.B.A.: Scoring Marks Fall in Rout by Suns  The New York Times  November 12, 1990  https://www.nytimes.com/1990/11/12/sports/nba-scoring-marks-fall-in-rout-by-suns.html July 24, 2026 Denver Nuggets at Phoenix Suns Box Score, November 10, 1990 Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/199011100PHO.html May 30, 2026 As of 2026, the Suns record-high of 107 points in the first half remains the only game to have a team scoring over 100 points in a half. However, the Nuggets also suffered a preseason loss to the Suns by a score of 186–123; the Suns' 186 points would have tied the scoring record the Detroit Pistons had back in 1983 against the Nuggets themselves had it counted as a regular season game. Suns Destroy Nuggets, 186-123  Deseret News  October 12, 1990  https://www.deseret.com/1990/10/12/18885654/suns-destroy-nuggets-186-123/ July 24, 2026 In addition, the Nuggets suffered exhibition games that had the Boston Celtics scoring 172 points (one point shy from their highest mark), and the Atlanta Hawks scoring 194 points (which would have broken the Pistons' scoring record against Denver back in 1983 had it counted as a regular season game, as well as became six points shy from breaking the 200 point barrier that would only be reached properly by the Eastern Conference All-Star team in the 2024 NBA All-Star Game) under blowout losses that Denver had during this time, which became precursors for what was to come for them during this season.https://nbahoopsonline.com/History/Records/Mostpointsbyateam.html Aftermath Following the season, Woolridge was traded to the Detroit Pistons after only one season with the Nuggets, Report: Nuggets May Trade Woolridge to Pistons Tampa Bay Times August 2, 1991 https://www.tampabay.com/archive/1991/08/02/report-nuggets-may-trade-woolridge-to-pistons/ November 23, 2022 Sports People: Pro Basketball: 2 Big Trades for Pistons The New York Times August 14, 1991 https://www.nytimes.com/1991/08/14/sports/sports-people-pro-basketball-2-big-trades-for-pistons.html December 2, 2021 while Adams was traded back to his former team, the Washington Bullets, Sports People: Pro Basketball: Nuggets Trade Adams to Bullets The New York Times June 12, 1991 https://www.nytimes.com/1991/06/12/sports/sports-people-pro-basketball-nuggets-trade-adams-to-bullets.html November 23, 2022 Aldridge David After Proving Them Wrong, Adams Returns to Right Bullets The Washington Post September 28, 1991 https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1991/09/28/after-proving-them-wrong-adams-returns-to-right-bullets/af79ce76-d2f4-48ec-a1d0-a322cdc39815/ November 23, 2022 and Rasmussen was dealt to the Atlanta Hawks. Hawks Acquire Rasmussen  Tampa Bay Times  July 2, 1991  https://www.tampabay.com/archive/1991/07/02/hawks-acquire-rasmussen/ June 5, 2026 NBA draft 1990 NBA draft Round Pick Player Position Nationality School/Club team 1 3 Chris Jackson PG LSU 2 42 Marcus Liberty SF Illinois Roster Denver Nuggets 1990–91 #2C3292 #EFE328 #DC143C #FFFFFF 14 Michael Adams basketball G 5 10 162 1963-01-19 Boston College 33 Cadillac Anderson F 6 10 230 1964-06-22 Houston 5 Kenny Battle G 6 6 210 1964-10-10 Illinois 00 Anthony Cook basketball F 6 9 205 1967-03-19 Arizona 22 Jim Farmer G 6 4 190 1964-09-23 Alabama 3 Chris Jackson Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf G 6 1 162 1969-03-09 LSU 35 Jerome Lane F 6 6 230 1966-12-04 Pittsburgh 30 Marcus Liberty F 6 8 205 1968-10-27 Illinois 21 Todd Lichti G 6 4 205 1967-01-08 Stanford 34 Anthony Mason basketball F 6 7 250 1966-12-14 Tennessee State 41 Blair Rasmussen C 7 0 250 1962-11-13 Oregon 34 Reggie Williams basketball, born 1964 G/F 6 7 190 1964-03-05 Georgetown 0 Orlando Woolridge F 6 9 215 1959-12-16 Notre Dame Paul Westhead Jim Boyle Mike Evans https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/DEN/1991.html March 17, 1991 Regular season Season standings DEN y - clinched division title x - clinched playoff spot DEN z - clinched division title y - clinched division title x - clinched playoff spot Game log October 2020 Player statistics Regular season Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPGMichael Adams666635.5.394.296.8793.910.52.20.126.5Orlando Woolridge535034.4.498.000.7976.82.21.30.425.1Walter Davis391326.8.474.303.9153.22.21.60.118.7Reggie Williams514630.2.444.328.8404.81.71.80.616.1Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf671922.5.413.240.8571.83.10.80.114.1Todd Lichti292529.7.439.298.8553.92.51.60.314.0Blair Rasmussen706933.2.458.400.6779.71.00.71.912.5Jim Farmer25117.7.458.227.7302.51.50.50.110.0Corey Gaines10222.6.400.238.8461.49.11.00.28.3Jerome Lane622522.3.438.250.4119.32.00.80.27.5Terry Mills17016.4.467.000.7275.20.90.90.57.5Joe Wolf743821.5.451.133.8315.41.40.80.47.3Marcus Liberty761815.4.421.298.6302.90.80.60.36.7Kenny Battle40417.1.485.136.7813.11.21.00.36.1Tim Legler10014.8.347.250.8331.81.20.20.05.8Anthony Cook582519.3.417.000.5505.60.40.61.25.3Greg Anderson41216.1.440.5065.80.30.60.95.2Craig Neal10012.5.400.333.5911.63.70.40.04.4Avery Johnson21410.3.426.000.6561.03.70.70.13.8Anthony Mason307.0.500.7501.70.00.30.03.3T.R. Dunn17312.8.447.250.9002.51.40.70.13.1 Player statistics citation: Awards and records Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf, NBA All-Rookie Team 2nd Team Transactions July 2010 References Category:Denver Nuggets seasons Category:1990 in sports in Colorado Category:1991 in sports in Colorado Denver Nuggets