1990–91 New York Knicks season

1990–91 New York Knicks season
Head coach
General manager
OwnersParamount Communications, Inc.
ArenaMadison Square Garden
Results
Record39–43 (.476)
PlaceDivision: 3rd (Atlantic)
Conference: 8th (Eastern)
Playoff finishFirst round
(lost to Bulls 0–3)
Stats at Basketball Reference
Local media
TelevisionMSG Network
(Marv Albert, John Andariese)[1]
RadioWFAN
(Jim Karvellas, Walt Frazier)[2]

The 1990–91 New York Knicks season was the 45th season for the Knicks in the National Basketball Association.[3] During the off-season, the Knicks signed free agent John Starks, who played in the Continental Basketball Association the previous season.[4][5][6] The team changed their on-court leadership early in the season, as head coach Stu Jackson was fired, and replaced with John MacLeod after 15 games.[7][8][9]

The Knicks won six of their first nine games of the regular season, but then lost eight of their next nine games, and later on held a 20–27 record at the All-Star break.[10][11] However, the team recovered to a 34–33 record near the end of the season, but then went 5–10 in their last 15 games.[10] The Knicks finished in third place in the Atlantic Division with a 39–43 record, and earned the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference for the NBA playoffs.[12]

Patrick Ewing averaged 26.6 points, 11.2 rebounds and 3.2 blocks per game, leading the Knicks in both scoring and blocks,[13] as he was named to the All-NBA Second Team.[12] In addition, Kiki Vandeweghe finished second on the team in scoring, averaging 16.3 points per game, while Gerald Wilkins provided them with 13.8 points per game, and Charles Oakley averaged 11.2 points and led the Knicks with 12.1 rebounds per game.[13] Meanwhile, Maurice Cheeks replaced Mark Jackson as the Knicks' starting point guard this season;[14] Cheeks contributed 7.8 points, 5.7 assists and 1.7 steals per game, while Jackson contributed 8.8 points and 6.3 assists per game off the bench.[13] Also off the bench, Starks provided the Knicks with 7.6 points and 3.3 assists per game, three-point specialist Trent Tucker contributed 7.1 points per game, and Kenny Walker averaged 4.3 points and 2.9 rebounds per game.[13]

During the NBA All-Star weekend at the Charlotte Coliseum in Charlotte, North Carolina, Ewing was selected for the 1991 NBA All-Star Game, as a member of the Eastern Conference All-Star team. Ewing scored 18 points along with 10 rebounds and 4 blocks, as the Eastern Conference defeated the Western Conference, 116–114.[15][16][17] Ewing finished in eleventh place in Most Valuable Player voting, and also finished tied in seventh place in Defensive Player of the Year voting.[18]

In the Eastern Conference First Round of the 1991 NBA playoffs, the Knicks faced off against the top–seeded, and Central Division champion Chicago Bulls, who were led by the trio of All-Star guard and Most Valuable Player of the season Michael Jordan, All-Star forward Scottie Pippen, and Horace Grant.[19] In Game 1, the Knicks suffered a 41-point road loss to the Bulls, 126–85 at Chicago Stadium.[20][21][22] After losing Game 2 on the road by a score of 89–79,[23] the Knicks lost Game 3 to the Bulls at home, 103–94 at Madison Square Garden, thus losing the series in a three-game sweep.[24][25][26] The Bulls would advance to the NBA Finals for the first time in franchise history,[27] and defeat the Los Angeles Lakers in five games in the 1991 NBA Finals, winning their first-ever NBA championship.[28][29][30]

The Knicks finished ninth in the NBA in home-game attendance, with an attendance of 654,962 at Madison Square Garden during the regular season.[12][13] Following the season, Cheeks was traded to the Atlanta Hawks,[31][32][33] and Tucker was traded to the Phoenix Suns.[34][35] For the season, the Knicks slightly updated their home and road uniforms, replacing their alternate "NY" logo on the left leg of their shorts with their current primary logo; these uniforms would remain in use until 1992.[36][37]

NBA draft

Round Pick Player Position Nationality College
117Jerrod MustafPF/C United StatesMaryland

Roster

1990–91 New York Knicks roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Player Height Weight DOB From
G 1 Maurice Cheeks 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1956–09–08 West Texas A&M
C 33 Patrick Ewing 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1962–08–05 Georgetown
G 14 Greg Grant 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m) 140 lb (64 kg) 1966–08–29 TCNJ
G 13 Mark Jackson 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1965–04–01 St. John's
F 32 Jerrod Mustaf 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 238 lb (108 kg) 1969–10–28 Maryland
F 34 Charles Oakley 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1963–12–18 Virginia Union
G 23 Brian Quinnett 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 235 lb (107 kg) 1966–05–30 Washington State
G 3 John Starks 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1965–08–10 Oklahoma State
G 6 Trent Tucker 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 193 lb (88 kg) 1959–12–20 Minnesota
F 55 Kiki Vandeweghe 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1958–08–01 UCLA
F 7 Kenny Walker 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1964–08–18 Kentucky
C 45 Eddie Lee Wilkins 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1962–05–07 Gardner–Webb
G 21 Gerald Wilkins 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1963–09–11 Chattanooga
Head coach
Assistant(s)
Legend
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured Injured

Roster
Updated: January 23, 1991

Regular season

Season standings

Atlantic Division
 W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-Boston Celtics5626.683—35–621–2020-6
x-Philadelphia 76ers4438.5371229-1215-2614-12
x-New York Knicks3943.4761721-2018-2317–9
Washington Bullets3052.3662621-209-3210-16
New Jersey Nets2656.3173020-216–358-18
Miami Heat2458.2933218-236-359-17
y – clinched division title
x – clinched playoff spot
#
Eastern Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1 c-Chicago Bulls6121.744–
2 y-Boston Celtics5626.6835
3 x-Detroit Pistons5032.61011
4 x-Milwaukee Bucks4834.58513
5 x-Philadelphia 76ers4438.53717
6 x-Atlanta Hawks4339.52418
7 x-Indiana Pacers4141.50020
8 x-New York Knicks3943.47622
9 Cleveland Cavaliers3349.40228
10 Washington Bullets3052.36631
11 New Jersey Nets2656.31735
12 Charlotte Hornets2656.31735
13 Miami Heat2458.29337
z – clinched division title
y – clinched division title
x – clinched playoff spot

Game log

Playoffs

1991 playoff game log
First Round: 0–3 (home: 0–1; road: 0–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Series
1 April 25 @ Chicago L 85–126 Kiki VanDeWeghe (19) Charles Oakley (11) Maurice Cheeks (7) Chicago Stadium
18,676		 0–1
2 April 28 @ Chicago L 79–89 Patrick Ewing (24) Ewing, Oakley (10) Trent Tucker (3) Chicago Stadium
18,676		 0–2
3 April 30 Chicago L 94–103 Ewing, VanDeWeghe (20) Patrick Ewing (14) Maurice Cheeks (7) Madison Square Garden
18,021		 0–3
1991 schedule

Player statistics

Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field-goal percentage  3P%  3-point field-goal percentage  FT%  Free-throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game

Regular season

Player GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Maurice Cheeks 766428.3.499.250.8142.35.71.7.17.8
Patrick Ewing 818138.3.514.000.74511.23.01.03.226.6
Greg Grant 2204.9.370.333.833.5.9.4.01.2
Stuart Gray 804.6.3331.0001.3.0.0.11.4
Mark Jackson 722122.2.492.255.7312.76.3.8.18.8
Jerrod Mustaf 62513.3.465.000.6442.7.6.2.24.3
Charles Oakley 767436.0.516.000.78412.12.7.8.211.2
Brian Quinnett 68514.9.459.349.7222.1.8.3.24.7
John Starks 611019.2.439.290.7522.13.31.0.37.6
Trent Tucker 651318.4.440.418.6301.61.7.7.17.1
Kiki VanDeWeghe 757232.3.494.362.8992.41.5.6.116.3
Kenny Walker 54814.3.435.000.7802.9.2.3.64.3
Eddie Lee Wilkins 6819.8.447.000.5672.6.2.3.14.1
Gerald Wilkins 685631.8.473.209.8203.04.01.2.313.8

Playoffs

Player GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Maurice Cheeks 3333.7.609.333.5003.05.31.0.310.0
Patrick Ewing 3336.7.400.77810.02.0.31.716.7
Mark Jackson 3012.0.333.02.7.3.3.7
Jerrod Mustaf 307.3.800.8001.7.0.0.34.0
Charles Oakley 3333.3.476.50010.31.0.7.37.7
Brian Quinnett 3012.0.500.333.31.0.3.03.0
John Starks 309.3.4001.0001.02.0.0.02.0
Trent Tucker 3222.0.360.4001.0004.03.0.3.08.0
Kiki VanDeWeghe 3333.0.406.600.8802.71.3.3.017.0
Kenny Walker 3010.3.5001.0002.3.7.3.33.3
Eddie Lee Wilkins 1013.0.667.5002.0.0.0.09.0
Gerald Wilkins 3126.0.368.2861.0002.71.71.7.310.7

Source:[13]

Awards and records

Season

References

  1. ↑ The Fourth Estate (PDF). New York Knicks. 2003. p. 331. Retrieved November 19, 2017.
  2. ↑ The Fourth Estate (PDF). New York Knicks. 2003. p. 330. Retrieved November 19, 2017.
  3. ↑ "New York Knicks". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved September 10, 2018.
  4. ↑ Brown, Clifton (October 2, 1999). "Many Questions Await Knicks as Camp Opens". The New York Times. Retrieved March 21, 2023.
  5. ↑ Brown, Clifton (December 13, 1990). "Overlooked No More, Starks Gives Knicks a Lift". The New York Times. Retrieved September 5, 2022.
  6. ↑ Longman, Jere (May 27, 1993). "Manhattan's Matador John Starks Was Killing Time. Now He's Killing the Bulls". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Archived from the original on September 22, 2015. Retrieved June 16, 2017.
  7. ↑ "Jackson Out, MacLeod In with Knicks: NBA: New York, Off to a 7–8 Start, Fires its Second-Year Coach". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. December 3, 1990. Retrieved March 21, 2023.
  8. ↑ "Knicks Fire Jackson". United Press International. December 3, 1990. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
  9. ↑ Brown, Clifton (December 4, 1990). "Jackson Is Let Go in a Surprise Move by the Knicks". The New York Times. Retrieved February 1, 2016.
  10. 1 2 "1990–91 New York Knicks Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved July 30, 2016.
  11. ↑ "Basketball". The Hour. February 9, 1991. p. 22. Retrieved April 4, 2026.
  12. 1 2 3 "1990–91 NBA Season Summary". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved December 14, 2024.
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "1990–91 New York Knicks Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved October 30, 2021.
  14. ↑ Hubbard, Jan (October 7, 1991). "Knicks' Jackson Is Ready to Take Over". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
  15. ↑ "Jordan Leads All-Star Vote Fifth Straight Year". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. January 24, 1991. Retrieved June 29, 2025.
  16. ↑ "1991 NBA All-Star Recap". NBA.com. NBA.com Staff. September 13, 2021. Retrieved June 29, 2025.
  17. ↑ "1991 NBA All-Star Game: East 116, West 114". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
  18. ↑ "1990–91 NBA Awards Voting". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved December 7, 2025.
  19. ↑ "1990–91 Chicago Bulls Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved January 22, 2026.
  20. ↑ Murphy, Robert J. (April 25, 1991). "Bulls 126, Knicks 85". United Press International. Retrieved March 21, 2023.
  21. ↑ Brown, Clifton (April 27, 1991). "Basketball; Looking Up From Bottom, Knicks See a Mountain of Questions". The New York Times. Retrieved March 21, 2023.
  22. ↑ "1991 NBA Eastern Conference First Round Game 1: New York Knicks at Chicago Bulls Box Score, April 25, 1991". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved January 22, 2026.
  23. ↑ "1991 NBA Eastern Conference First Round Game 2: New York Knicks at Chicago Bulls Box Score, April 28, 1991". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved January 22, 2026.
  24. ↑ Schabner, Dean (April 30, 1991). "Bulls 103, Knicks 94". United Press International. Retrieved April 10, 2023.
  25. ↑ Brown, Clifton (May 1, 1991). "Basketball; No-Good-Knicks: Bulls Complete a Playoff Sweep". The New York Times. Retrieved October 16, 2021.
  26. ↑ "1991 NBA Eastern Conference First Round: Knicks vs. Bulls". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved April 10, 2023.
  27. ↑ "Chicago Bulls". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved December 24, 2025.
  28. ↑ Brown, Clifton (June 13, 1991). "Jordan Crowns Career and Bulls Reign in N.B.A." The New York Times. Retrieved December 31, 2022.
  29. ↑ Heisler, Mark (June 13, 1991). "NBA Finals: Lakers vs. Chicago Bulls: Bulls' Decree: Jordan Rules: Game 5: Chicago Wins First Championship by Sweeping at Forum, 108–101, But Depleted Lakers Go Down Fighting". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 22, 2022.
  30. ↑ "1991 NBA Finals: Lakers vs. Bulls". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved April 10, 2023.
  31. ↑ "Knicks Acquire McCormick from Atlanta for Cheeks". United Press International. October 2, 1991. Retrieved November 21, 2022.
  32. ↑ Brown, Clifton (October 3, 1991). "Basketball; Knicks Send Cheeks to Hawks for McCormick". The New York Times. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
  33. ↑ "Knicks Trade Cheeks to the Hawks for McCormick". Los Angeles Times. Staff and Wire Reports. October 3, 1991. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
  34. ↑ Brown, Clifton (October 2, 1991). "Basketball; Knicks Add Firepower by Acquiring McDaniel". The New York Times. Retrieved November 20, 2022.
  35. ↑ "1991–92 NBA Transactions". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved October 30, 2021.
  36. ↑ "New York Knicks Home Uniform". Chris Creamer's SportsLogos.net. Retrieved November 25, 2021.
  37. ↑ "New York Knicks Road Uniform". Chris Creamer's SportsLogos.net. Retrieved November 25, 2021.
  38. ↑ "NBA International Pre-Season and Regular-Season Games". National Basketball Association. Archived from the original on December 3, 2010. Retrieved August 21, 2024.
  39. ↑ "All-NBA & All-ABA Teams". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved November 2, 2013.
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