1990–91 New Jersey Nets season

Nets' 24th season in the National Basketball Association August 2023 March 2026 New Jersey Nets 1991 26 56 Atlantic 5th 12th 12th Bill Fitch Brendan Byrne Arena WWOR-TVSportsChannel New York WNEW Did not qualify NJN thumb|A regular season game between the Nets and the Chicago Bulls at the Brendan Byrne Arena on March 28, 1991 The 1990–91 New Jersey Nets season was the Nets' 24th season in the National Basketball Association, and 15th season in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Brooklyn Nets Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/BRK/ August 8, 2026 Season summary Off-season After finishing with a league-worst 17–65 record the previous season, the Nets won the NBA draft lottery, and selected power forward Derrick Coleman out of Syracuse University with the first overall pick in the 1990 NBA draft. Cotton Anthony Coleman No. 1 to Nets, Then the Guards Go Forward The Washington Post June 28, 1990 https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1990/06/28/coleman-no-1-to-nets-then-the-guards-go-forward/34f2836d-86a4-4763-80e8-8e1441ca6644/ January 3, 2022 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 November 22, 20221990 NBA Draft Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/draft/NBA_1990.html July 2, 2025 During the off-season, the team acquired Reggie Theus from the Orlando Magic. Stutzman Rene Magic Trade Reggie Theus to Nets United Press International June 25, 1990 https://www.upi.com/Archives/1990/06/25/Magic-Trade-Reggie-Theus-to-Nets/3815646286400/ October 11, 2025 Brown Clifton Nets Trade '93 and '95 Draft Picks for Theus The New York Times June 26, 1990 https://www.nytimes.com/1990/06/26/sports/nets-trade-93-and-95-draft-picks-for-theus.html October 11, 2025 Cooper Barry Theus Counts Bitter Numbers, "Damage Control Is $200,000" Orlando Sentinel June 27, 1990 https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/os-xpm-1990-06-27-9006270642-story.html October 11, 2025 For the season, the Nets redesigned their primary logo, which featured the team name "Nets" above a basketball in red, white and blue colors. New Jersey Nets Primary Logo Chris Creamer's SportsLogos.net https://www.sportslogos.net/logos/view/2hh70mg3h40yl41tzfpn3gha2/New_Jersey_Nets/1991/Primary_Logo January 22, 2022 The team also redesigned their home and road uniforms, adding red side panels to their jerseys and shorts. The white home uniforms featured a red and blue trim, while the road uniforms were changed from blue to a light blue-to-white gradient with a red and white trim; the road uniforms would also be known as the "tie-dye" jerseys. New Jersey Nets Home Uniform Chris Creamer's SportsLogos.net https://www.sportslogos.net/logos/view/svj3m3ghvgxvz4m3blxdg6ezs/New_Jersey_Nets/1991/Home_Uniform January 22, 2022 New Jersey Nets Road Uniform Chris Creamer's SportsLogos.net https://www.sportslogos.net/logos/view/16fp32evy983eehxl83e1x83s/New_Jersey_Nets/1991/Road_Uniform January 22, 2022 The team's new primary logo, and new home uniforms would both remain in use until 1997, while the new road uniforms only lasted for just one season, where they would change them to a royal blue color the following season. Regular season With the addition of Coleman and Theus, the Nets continued to struggle losing nine of their first eleven games of the regular season, but managed to win six of their next eight games. However, the team posted an 11-game losing streak between December and January, posted a seven-game losing streak between January and February, and held a 14–34 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 Nets acquired second-year Croatian guard Dražen Petrović from the Portland Trail Blazers, and traded Lester Conner to the Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for Greg Anderson. However, after only just one game with the Nets, Anderson was soon traded to the Denver Nuggets in exchange for rookie power forward, and first-round draft pick Terry Mills. 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 December 15, 2021 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 Nets lost 12 of their final 16 games of the season, and finished in fifth place in the Atlantic Division with a 26–56 record; 1990–91 New Jersey Nets Schedule and Results Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams//1991_games.html February 3, 2022 the team missed the NBA playoffs for the fifth consecutive year. Theus averaged 18.6 points and 4.7 assists per game, while Coleman averaged 18.4 points, 10.3 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game, and was named the NBA Rookie of the Year, and was also named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team. Bondy Filip  Basketball: With Rookie Award Won, Marketing of Coleman Begins  The New York Times  May 7, 1991  https://www.nytimes.com/1991/05/07/sports/basketball-with-rookie-award-won-marketing-of-coleman-begins.html December 8, 2025 Associated Press  Coleman Named NBA's Rookie of the Year  Deseret News  May 7, 1991  https://www.deseret.com/1991/5/7/18919434/coleman-named-nba-s-rookie-of-the-year/ December 8, 2025 NBA & ABA Rookie of the Year Award Winners Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/awards/roy.html December 31, 2022 In addition, second-year guard Mookie Blaylock provided the team with 14.1 points, 6.1 assists and 2.3 steals per game, while Chris Morris contributed 13.2 points, 6.6 rebounds and 1.7 steals per game, and Sam Bowie provided with 12.9 points, 7.7 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game. Meanwhile, Petrović averaged 12.6 points per game in 43 games after the trade, second-year forward Derrick Gervin contributed 7.6 points per game, Chris Dudley provided with 7.1 points, 8.4 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game, and Jack Haley averaged 5.6 points and 4.6 rebounds per game. 1990–91 New Jersey Nets Roster and Stats Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/NJN/1991.html February 3, 2022 The Nets finished 24th in the NBA in home-game attendance, with an attendance of 480,786 at the Brendan Byrne Arena during the regular season, which was the fourth-lowest in the league. 1990–91 NBA Season Summary Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/leagues/NBA_1991.html February 24, 2026 Aftermath Following the season, Theus retired after only one season with the Nets, and Gervin and Haley were both released to free agency. Draft picks 1990 NBA draft Round Pick Player Position Nationality College 1 1 Derrick Coleman PF United States Syracuse 1 22 Tate George SG United States Connecticut Roster New Jersey Nets 1990–91 #0C479D #FFFFFF #EC0044 #FFFFFF 10 Mookie Blaylock G 6 0 180 1967-03-20 Oklahoma 31 Sam Bowie C 7 1 235 1961-03-17 Kentucky 35 Jud Buechler F 6 6 220 1968-06-19 Arizona 44 Derrick Coleman F 6 10 230 1967-06-21 Syracuse 22 Chris Dudley C 6 11 235 1965-02-22 Yale 12 Tate George G 6 5 190 1968-05-29 Connecticut 30 Derrick Gervin F 6 8 200 1963-03-28 Texas-San Antonio 54 Jack Haley basketball F/C 6 10 240 1964-01-27 UCLA 6 Roy Hinson F 6 9 210 1961-05-02 Rutgers 5 Terry Mills basketball F 6 10 230 1967-12-21 Michigan 34 Chris Morris basketball F 6 8 210 1966-01-20 Auburn 3 Dražen Petrović G 6 5 195 1964-10-22 SFR Yugoslavia 24 Reggie Theus G 6 7 190 1957-10-13 UNLV Bill Fitch Rick Carlisle Tom Newell Regular season Season standings NJN y – clinched division title x – clinched playoff spot NJN z – clinched division title y – clinched division title x – clinched playoff spot Schedule Game Date Opponent Result High Ponts High Rebounds High Assists Arena Record 1 November 2 @ Indiana L 81–100 0–1 2 November 3 @ Philadelphia L 110–112 0–2 3 November 6 @ Charlotte L 105–113 0–3 4 November 8 Miami W 114–103 1–3 5 November 10 Boston L 91–105 1–4 6 November 12 Washington L 92–97 1–5 7 November 14 Milwaukee W 112–95 2–5 8 November 16 Detroit L 96–105 2–6 9 November 17 @ Milwaukee L 99–111 2–7 10 November 20 @ Seattle L 88–105 2–8 11 November 21 @ L.A. Clippers L 90–99 2–9 12 November 23 @ Phoenix W 116–114 3–9 13 November 24 @ Golden State W 117–113 4–9 14 November 27 Philadelphia W 98–92 5–9 15 November 28 @ Miami L 79–97 5–10 16 December 1 Orlando W 111–92 6–10 17 December 4 Seattle W 106–102 7–10 18 December 7 Phoenix L 110–129 7–11 19 December 10 Charlotte W 121–115 8–11 20 December 13 @ Atlanta L 97–106 8–12 21 December 15 New York L 104–125 8–13 22 December 17 Utah L 98–100 8–14 23 December 19 L.A. Clippers W 118–105 9–14 24 December 21 Cleveland W 111–103 10–14 25 December 22 @ New York L 93–106 10–15 26 December 26 Atlanta L 111–113 10–16 27 December 28 Houston L 99–101 10–17 28 December 29 @ Indiana L 105–114 10–18 29 January 4 San Antonio L 89–93 10–19 30 January 5 @ Detroit L 83–99 10–20 31 January 7 Dallas L 87–88 (OT) 10–21 32 January 8 @ Chicago L 102–111 10–22 33 January 12 @ Philadelphia L 99–109 10–23 34 January 13 Portland L 103–116 10–24 35 January 15 Golden State L 111–112 (OT) 10–25 36 January 18 @ Boston W 111–106 11–25 37 January 19 @ Atlanta L 84–114 11–26 38 January 22 @ Charlotte W 92–90 12–26 39 January 23 Chicago W 99–95 13–26 40 January 25 L.A. Lakers L 103–108 13–27 41 January 26 @ Miami W 127–105 14–27 42 January 28 @ Sacramento L 83–101 14–28 43 January 29 @ L.A. Lakers L 89–110 14–29 44 January 31 @ Denver L 119–123 14–30 45 February 2 @ Utah L 103–111 14–31 46 February 4 @ Portland L 102–117 14–32 47 February 6 Miami L 119–134 14–33 48 February 7 @ Washington L 117–124 14–34 49 February 13 Atlanta W 140–106 15–34 50 February 15 Denver W 138–110 16–34 51 February 16 @ Chicago L 87–99 16–35 52 February 19 Sacramento W 97–83 17–35 53 February 22 @ Boston L 99–111 17–36 54 February 23 Philadelphia L 90–103 17–37 55 February 26 Indiana W 129–104 18–37 56 February 28 Milwaukee W 98–93 19–37 57 March 2 New York L 105–115 19–38 58 March 4 @ Dallas L 100–102 19–39 59 March 5 @ Houston L 100–112 19–40 60 March 7 @ San Antonio L 99–111 19–41 61 March 10 @ Miami L 88–101 19–42 62 March 11 @ New York L 85–90 19–43 63 March 14 Detroit W 118–110 20–43 64 March 16 Washington W 110–86 21–43 65 March 17 Charlotte L 108–121 21–44 66 March 20 Minnesota W 118–111 (OT) 22–44 67 March 22 @ Detroit L 93–109 22–45 68 March 23 @ Cleveland L 82–108 22–46 69 March 25 @ Washington L 106–113 22–47 70 March 26 Philadelphia W 98–95 (OT) 23–47 71 March 28 Chicago L 94–128 23–48 72 March 30 New York L 117–130 23–49 73 April 2 Boston L 77–94 23–50 74 April 4 @ Boston L 104–123 23–51 75 April 6 @ Milwaukee L 114–133 23–52 76 April 9 @ Minnesota L 89–109 23–53 77 April 12 Cleveland W 104–103 24–53 78 April 13 @ Cleveland L 98–102 24–54 79 April 16 Indiana L 126–132 24–55 80 April 18 @ Washington W 108–103 25–55 81 April 20 Miami W 118–103 26–55 82 April 21 @ Orlando L 110–120 26–56 Schedule and Results Citation: Player statistics Regular season PlayerGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPGReggie Theus818136.5.468.361.8512.84.71.00.418.6Derrick Coleman746835.2.467.342.73110.32.21.01.318.4Mookie Blaylock727035.9.416.154.7903.56.12.30.614.1Chris Morris796832.3.425.251.7346.62.81.71.213.2Sam Bowie625130.9.434.182.7327.72.40.71.512.9Dražen Petrović43020.5.500.373.8612.11.50.90.012.6Greg Anderson1018.01.0006.01.02.00.08.0Derrick Gervin56413.3.416.250.7892.00.50.30.37.6Chris Dudley612525.6.408.5348.40.60.62.57.1Jack Haley781815.1.469.6194.60.40.30.35.6Terry Mills38214.2.464.000.7053.70.40.50.54.9Roy Hinson9010.1.513.3332.10.40.00.34.6Lester Conner35214.0.523.000.6901.61.71.10.04.1Tate George561110.6.415.000.8000.81.90.40.13.4Jud Buechler741011.6.416.250.6521.90.70.40.23.1Kurk Lee4805.5.268.200.8930.60.70.20.01.4 Player statistics citation: Awards, Records and Honors Derrick Coleman, NBA Rookie of the Year Award Derrick Coleman, NBA All-Rookie Team 1st Team References New Jersey Nets on Database Basketball New Jersey Nets on Basketball Reference New Jersey Nets season Category:New Jersey Nets seasons New Jersey Nets New Jersey Nets Category:20th century in East Rutherford, New Jersey Category:Meadowlands Sports Complex