1989–90 Miami Heat season

NBA professional basketball team season March 2026 August 2023 Miami Heat 1990 18 64 Atlantic 5 11 Ron Rothstein Lewis Schaffel Ted Arison Billy Cunningham Lewis Schaffel Miami Arena WBFS-TV SportsChannel Florida(Sam Smith, Eric Reid) WQAM(Sam Smith, Eric Reid) Did not qualify MIA The 1989–90 Miami Heat season was the second season for the Miami Heat in the National Basketball Association. Miami Heat Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/MIA/ August 7, 2026 The city of Miami, Florida hosted the NBA All-Star weekend at the Miami Arena this season, which featured the 1990 NBA All-Star Game. Stars Will De-Light Miami Arena Fans Sun Sentinel November 2, 1989 https://www.sun-sentinel.com/1989/11/02/stars-will-de-light-miami-arena-fans/ December 19, 2025 Season summary Off-season After finishing with a league-worst 15–67 record in their inaugural season, the Heat received the fourth overall pick in the 1989 NBA draft, and selected small forward Glen Rice from the University of Michigan, and also selected point guard Sherman Douglas out of Syracuse University with the 28th overall pick. Goldaper Sam Kings Take Ellison First in N.B.A. Draft; Clippers Pick Ferry The New York Times June 28, 1989 https://www.nytimes.com/1989/06/28/sports/kings-take-ellison-first-in-nba-draft-clippers-pick-ferry.html January 13, 2022 McManis Sam The NBA Draft: The Other Teams: Sacramento's Secret Is Out: It's Ellison Los Angeles Times June 28, 1989 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-06-28-sp-4358-story.html December 31, 2022 1989 NBA Draft Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/draft/NBA_1989.html December 31, 2022 During the off-season, the team acquired Tellis Frank from the Golden State Warriors, Heat Gets First Player Via Trade: Ex-No. 1 Frank Sun Sentinel October 3, 1989 https://www.sun-sentinel.com/1989/10/03/heat-gets-first-player-via-trade-ex-no1-frank/ December 19, 2025 Kjos Les Today: the Miami Heat United Press International October 25, 1989 https://www.upi.com/Archives/1989/10/25/Today-the-Miami-Heat/3562625291200/ December 19, 2025 and signed undrafted rookie power forward Terry Davis out of Virginia Union. Heat a Year Older, Hopes to Be Wiser Sun Sentinel November 3, 1989 https://www.sun-sentinel.com/1989/11/03/heat-a-year-older-hopes-to-be-wiser/ December 19, 2025 After playing in the Midwest Division of the Western Conference the previous season, the Heat moved into the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference this season. The Heat Is On: Miami Awarded NBA Franchise Sun Sentinel April 23, 1987 https://www.sun-sentinel.com/1987/04/23/the-heat-is-on-miami-awarded-nba-franchise/ December 19, 2025 Goldaper Sam NBA '89-90: Turnovers, 2 More Teams and Questions The New York Times October 29, 1989 https://www.nytimes.com/1989/10/29/sports/nba-89-90-turnovers-2-more-teams-and-questions.html December 19, 2025 Regular season With the addition of Rice and Douglas, the Heat got off to a 4–7 start to the regular season. However, the team continued to struggle by posting a nine-game losing streak between November and December, and then posting a 13-game losing streak between December and January. The Heat lost six straight games at the end of January, and later on held a 10–39 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 December 19, 2025 The team posted an eight-game losing streak in February, and then posted another nine-game losing streak between March and April, losing 10 of their final 11 games of the season. The Heat finished in fifth place in the Atlantic Division with an 18–64 record, which was a three-game improvement over their inaugural season. 1989–90 Miami Heat Schedule and Results Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/MIA/1990_games.html January 13, 2022 Second-year center Rony Seikaly averaged 16.6 points, 10.4 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game, and was named the NBA Most Improved Player of the Year, Associated Press  Heat's Seikaly Gets Improved Player Award  Los Angeles Times  May 8, 1990  https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-05-08-sp-467-story.html December 8, 2025 Sports People: Pro Basketball: Miami's Seikaly Voted Most Improved Player  The New York Times  May 9, 1990  https://www.nytimes.com/1990/05/09/sports/sports-people-pro-basketball-miami-s-seikaly-voted-most-improved-player.html December 8, 2025 NBA & ABA Most Improved Player Award Winners Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/awards/mip.html December 31, 2022 while Douglas averaged 14.3 points, 7.6 assists and 1.8 steals per game, and was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team, and Rice provided the team with 13.6 points and 4.6 rebounds per game, and was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team. In addition, Kevin Edwards contributed 12.0 points and 1.6 steals per game, while Billy Thompson provided with 11.0 points and 7.0 rebounds per game, Frank averaged 9.5 points and 5.0 rebounds per game, and Grant Long provided with 8.5 points and 5.0 rebounds per game. Meanwhile, Jon Sundvold contributed 6.1 points per game, Rory Sparrow provided with 5.9 points and 3.6 assists per game, and Davis averaged 4.7 points and 3.6 rebounds per game. 1989–90 Miami Heat Roster and Stats Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/MIA/1990.html January 13, 2022 During the NBA All-Star weekend at the Miami Arena in Miami, Thompson participated in the NBA Slam Dunk Contest, NBA All-Star Weekend The Hour February 9, 1990 32 https://books.google.com/books?id=jSBJAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA17&dq=1990+NBA+long+distance+shootout+roster&article_id=5995,1340443&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiz4_vxrJ-QAxWa6ckDHUiUEScQ6AF6BAgPEAM#v=onepage&q=1990%20NBA%20long%20distance%20shootout%20roster&f=false October 12, 2025 NBA & ABA All-Star Game Contest Winners Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/allstar/contest.html October 12, 2025 while Sundvold participated in the NBA Three-Point Shootout for the second consecutive year. The Heat finished 14th in the NBA in home-game attendance, with an attendance of 615,328 at the Miami Arena during the regular season. 1989–90 NBA Season Summary Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/leagues/NBA_1990.html February 16, 2026 Aftermath Following the season, Sparrow was traded to the Sacramento Kings, Heat Trades Sparrow, Gets Coles from Kings Sun Sentinel June 28, 1990 https://www.sun-sentinel.com/1990/06/28/heat-trades-sparrow-gets-coles-from-kings/ December 18, 2025 Surprise Messenger The New York Times July 1, 1990 https://www.nytimes.com/1990/07/01/sports/surprise-messenger.html December 18, 2025 and Frank was released to free agency. Draft picks 1989 NBA draft Round Pick Player Position Nationality School/Club team 1 4 Glen Rice SF United States Michigan 2 28 Sherman Douglas PG United States Syracuse 2 45 Scott Haffner United States Evansville Roster Miami Heat 1989–90 #2C2A29 #FFFFFF #DF192C #FFE100 44 Terry Davis basketball F/C 6 9 225 –– Virginia Union 11 Sherman Douglas G 6 0 180 –– Syracuse 21 Kevin Edwards G 6 3 190 –– DePaul 32 Tellis Frank F 6 10 225 –– Western Kentucky 3 Scott Haffner G 6 3 180 –– Evansville 43 Grant Long F 6 8 225 –– Eastern Michigan 41 Glen Rice F 6 7 215 –– Michigan 50 Jim Rowinski F/C 6 8 250 –– Purdue 4 Rony Seikaly C 6 11 230 –– Syracuse 2 Rory Sparrow G 6 2 175 –– Villanova 20 Jon Sundvold G 6 2 170 –– Missouri 55 Billy Thompson basketball F 6 7 195 –– Louisville Ron Rothstein Tony Fiorentino Dave Wohl https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/MIA/1990.html Regular season Season standings MIA MIA z – clinched division title y – clinched division title x – clinched playoff spot Game log Regular season Miami Heat 1990 #000000 #8B0000 Total: 18–64 (home: 11–30; road: 7–34) Miami Heat November yes #8B0000 #000000 2 4 2 8 |- | 1 | November 3 | New Jersey | L 90–110 | | | | Miami Arena | 0–1 |- | 2 | November 4 | @ New York | L 99–119 | | | | Madison Square Garden | 0–2 |- | 3 | November 7 | @ New Jersey | W 83–77 | | | | Brendan Byrne Arena | 1–2 |- | 4 | November 8 | @ Philadelphia | L 91–115 | | | | The Spectrum | 1–3 |- | 5 | November 10 | @ Indiana | L 98–102 | | | | Market Square Arena | 1–4 |- | 6 | November 11 | Detroit | W 88–84 | | | | Miami Arena | 2–4 |- | 7 | November 14 | Houston | W 101–99 | | | | Miami Arena | 3–4 |- | 8 | November 15 | @ Detroit | L 94–120 | | | | The Palace of Auburn Hills | 3–5 |- | 9 | November 18 | @ Dallas | L 99–100 | | | | Reunion Arena | 3–6 |- | 10 | November 19 | @ Houston | L 94–120 | | | | The Summit | 3–7 |- | 11 | November 21 | @ Charlotte | W 98–87 | | | | Charlotte Coliseum | 4–7 |- | 12 | November 22 | Philadelphia | L 103–113 | | | | Miami Arena | 4–8 Miami Heat December #8B0000 #000000 1 7 2 4 |- | 17 | December 1 | @ New Jersey | L 77–101 | | | | Brendan Byrne Arena | 4–13 |- | 20 | December 6 | @ Philadelphia | L 98–121 | | | | The Spectrum | 4–16 |- | 25 | December 19 | New Jersey | L 98–100 | | | | Miami Arena | 7–18 |- | 28 | December 26 | New York | L 94–100 | | | | Miami Arena | 7–21 Miami Heat January #8B0000 #000000 1 6 1 7 |- | 39 | January 17 | Indiana | W 121–111 | | | | Miami Arena | 9–30 |- | 40 | January 19 | Philadelphia | L 95–102 | | | | Miami Arena | 9–31 |- | 44 | January 26 | @ Indiana | L 105–115 | | | | Market Square Arena | 9–35 Miami Heat February #8B0000 #000000 3 5 0 5 |- | 47 | February 5 | @ New York | L 107–116 | | | | Madison Square Garden | 10–37 |- align="center" |colspan="9" bgcolor="#bbcaff"|All-Star Break |- style="background:#cfc;" |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" |- | 52 | February 17 | Detroit | L 79–97 | | | | Miami Arena | 10–42 |- | 53 | February 19 | @ Detroit | L 85–94 | | | | The Palace of Auburn Hills | 10–42 |- | 55 | February 23 | New York | W 128–121 | | | | Miami Arena | 11–44 Miami Heat March #8B0000 #000000 3 5 2 4 |- | 62 | March 11 | New York | L 90–106 | | | | Miami Arena | 14–48 |- | 67 | March 20 | Indiana | L 98–112 | | | | Miami Arena | 15–52 |- | 68 | March 21 | @ Philadelphia | L 97–118 | | | | The Spectrum | 15–53 |- | 69 | March 23 | Dallas | L 103–106 | | | | Miami Arena | 15–54 Miami Heat April #8B0000 #000000 1 3 0 6 |- | 76 | April 8 | @ New Jersey | L 101–102 | | | | Brendan Byrne Arena | 17–59 |- | 79 | April 16 | @ New York | L 102–119 | | | | Madison Square Garden | 17–62 |- | 80 | April 18 | Charlotte | L 91–98 | | | | Miami Arena | 17–63 MIA 1990 Player statistics Ragular season Player POS Position GP Games played GS Games starter MP Minutes played REB Rebounds AST Assists STL Steals BLK Blocks PTS Points MPG Minutes per game RPG Rebounds per game APG Assists per game SPG Steals per game BPG Blocks per game PPG Points per gameRory SparrowPG82 25 1,756 138 298 49 4 487 21.4 1.7 3.6 .6 .0 5.9Sherman DouglasPG 81 66 2,470 206 619 145 10 1,155 30.5 2.5 7.6 1.8 .1 14.3Grant LongPF 81 31 1,856 402 96 91 38 686 22.9 5.0 1.2 1.1 .5 8.5Billy Thompson basketballSF 79 45 2,142 551 166 54 89 867 27.1 7.0 2.1 .7 1.1 11.0Kevin EdwardsSG 78 54 2,211 282 252 125 33 938 28.3 3.6 3.2 1.6 .4 12.0Glen RiceSF 77 60 2,311 352 138 67 27 1,048 30.0 4.6 1.8 .9 .4 13.6Tellis FrankPF 77 39 1,762 385 85 51 27 735 22.9 5.0 1.1 .7 .4 9.5Rony SeikalyC 74 72 2,409 766 78 78 124 1,228 32.6 10.4 1.1 1.1 1.7 16.6Terry Davis basketballPF 63 9 884 229 25 25 28 298 14.0 3.6 .4 .4 .4 4.7Jon SundvoldSG 63 2 867 71 102 25 0 384 13.8 1.1 1.6 .4 .0 6.1Scott HaffnerPG 43 6 559 51 80 13 2 196 13.0 1.2 1.9 .3 .0 4.6Pat CummingsC 37 1 391 93 13 12 4 175 10.6 2.5 .4 .3 .1 4.7Jim RowinskiPF 14 0 112 29 5 1 2 50 8.0 2.1 .4 .1 .1 3.6 See also 1989-90 NBA season References Category:Miami Heat seasons Miami Heat Miami Heat Miami Heat