# 1990–91 Philadelphia 76ers season

The 1990–91 NBA season was the 76ers 42nd season in the National Basketball Association, and 28th season in Philadelphia. During the off-season, the Sixers acquired 7' 7" center Manute Bol from the Golden State Warriors, and signed free agent Ricky Green. The Sixers got off to a 19–8 start to the season, but would lose 10 of their next 16 games. Johnny Dawkins sustained a major knee injury early in the season after only just four games, and was replaced by Green as the team's starting point guard, while Mike Gminski was traded to the Charlotte Hornets in exchange for Armen Gilliam at midseason. However, the team posted a 7-game winning streak between February and March, held a 25–21 record at the All-Star break, and finished second in the Atlantic Division with a record of 44–38, which was nine wins less than the previous season.
Charles Barkley averaged 27.6 points, 10.1 rebounds and 1.6 steals per game, and was named to the All-NBA First Team, while Hersey Hawkins finished second on the team in scoring with 22.1 points, and led them with 2.2 steals per game. Barkley and Hawkins were both selected for the 1991 NBA All-Star Game, in which Barkley was named the game's MVP. In addition, sixth man Ron Anderson provided the team with 14.6 points per game off the bench, while Green contributed 10.0 points and 5.2 assists per game, Rick Mahorn provided with 8.9 points and 7.8 rebounds per game, and Bol led the team with 3.0 blocks per game. Barkley also finished in fourth place in Most Valuable Player voting.
In the playoffs, the Sixers swept the 4th-seeded Milwaukee Bucks, 3–0 in the Eastern Conference First Round, but for the second consecutive year, they would be eliminated by Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls, 4–1 in the Eastern Conference Semi-finals. The Bulls would reach the NBA Finals for the first time, and defeat the Los Angeles Lakers in five games, winning their first ever championship.
This season would be the last playoff appearance for the Sixers until 1999. The seven consecutive seasons in which they did not make the playoffs during this span were more than the franchise had missed in total since their inaugural season of 1950, five (missed playoffs in 1972–1975, and in 1988). Following the season, Mahorn left to play overseas in Italy, and Green retired in 1992 after a brief stint with the Celtics.

## Draft picks

| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | School/Club Team |
| 2 | 32 | Brian Oliver | SG | United States | Georgia Tech |
| 2 | 47 | Derek Strong | PF | United States | Xavier |

## Regular season
### Season standings

| Atlantic Divisionvte | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div |
| y-Boston Celtics | 56 | 26 | .683 | — | 35–6 | 21–20 | 20-6 |
| x-Philadelphia 76ers | 44 | 38 | .537 | 12 | 29-12 | 15-26 | 14-12 |
| x-New York Knicks | 39 | 43 | .476 | 17 | 21-20 | 18-23 | 17–9 |
| Washington Bullets | 30 | 52 | .366 | 26 | 21-20 | 9-32 | 10-16 |
| New Jersey Nets | 26 | 56 | .317 | 30 | 20-21 | 6–35 | 8-18 |
| Miami Heat | 24 | 58 | .293 | 32 | 18-23 | 6-35 | 9-17 |
    y - clinched division title
    x - clinched playoff spot
| # | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte |
| # | Team | W | L | PCT | GB |
| 1 | c-Chicago Bulls | 61 | 21 | .744 | – |
| 2 | y-Boston Celtics | 56 | 26 | .683 | 5 |
| 3 | x-Detroit Pistons | 50 | 32 | .610 | 11 |
| 4 | x-Milwaukee Bucks | 48 | 34 | .585 | 13 |
| 5 | x-Philadelphia 76ers | 44 | 38 | .537 | 17 |
| 6 | x-Atlanta Hawks | 43 | 39 | .524 | 18 |
| 7 | x-Indiana Pacers | 41 | 41 | .500 | 20 |
| 8 | x-New York Knicks | 39 | 43 | .476 | 22 |
| 9 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 33 | 49 | .402 | 28 |
| 10 | Washington Bullets | 30 | 52 | .366 | 31 |
| 11 | New Jersey Nets | 26 | 56 | .317 | 35 |
| 12 | Charlotte Hornets | 26 | 56 | .317 | 35 |
| 13 | Miami Heat | 24 | 58 | .293 | 37 |
    z - clinched division title
    y - clinched division title
    x - clinched playoff spot

### Record vs. opponents

1990-91 NBA Records :
| Team | ATL | BOS | CHA | CHI | CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GSW | HOU | IND | LAC | LAL | MIA | MIL | MIN | NJN | NYK | ORL | PHI | PHO | POR | SAC | SAS | SEA | UTA | WAS |
| Atlanta | — | 3–1 | 1–4 | 1–4 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–5 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 |
| Boston | 1–3 | — | 3–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 4–1 | 5–0 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 5–1 |
| Charlotte | 4–1 | 1–3 | — | 0–5 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–5 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 |
| Chicago | 4–1 | 2–2 | 5–0 | — | 5–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 |
| Cleveland | 2–3 | 1–3 | 4–1 | 0–5 | — | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–3 |
| Dallas | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | — | 3–1 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–4 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–4 | 2–2 | 0–5 | 2–0 |
| Denver | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | — | 0–2 | 1–3 | 0–5 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 1–4 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 1–1 |
| Detroit | 5–0 | 2–2 | 4–1 | 2–3 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | — | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–1 |
| Golden State | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | — | 2–2 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 2–3 | 2–3 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 0–2 |
| Houston | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 5–0 | 0–2 | 2–2 | — | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 5–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 2–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 |
| Indiana | 1–4 | 2–2 | 5–0 | 1–4 | 4–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | — | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 |
| L.A. Clippers | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 2–2 | 1–1 | — | 0–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 1–3 | 3–2 | 2–2 | 2–3 | 1–3 | 0–2 |
| L.A. Lakers | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 | — | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 2–3 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 3–2 | 2–2 | 2–0 |
| Miami | 0–4 | 1–4 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | — | 0–4 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 1–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–2 |
| Milwaukee | 3–2 | 2–2 | 3–2 | 1–4 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 | — | 1–1 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 |
| Minnesota | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 2–3 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 0–5 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | — | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 1–4 | 1–1 |
| New Jersey | 1–3 | 1–4 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 2–2 | 1–1 | — | 0–5 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–3 |
| New York | 1–3 | 0–5 | 4–0 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 5–0 | — | 0–2 | 5–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–2 |
| Orlando | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 4–1 | 3–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | — | 0–2 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–4 | 1–1 |
| Philadelphia | 4–0 | 3–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 3–2 | 1–5 | 2–0 | — | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–2 |
| Phoenix | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | — | 3–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 3–2 | 2–2 | 2–0 |
| Portland | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 2–3 | — | 3–2 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 2–0 |
| Sacramento | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 3–2 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–3 | — | 1–3 | 1–4 | 1–3 | 2–0 |
| San Antonio | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–1 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | — | 3–1 | 2–3 | 2–0 |
| Seattle | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 0–4 | 4–1 | 1–3 | — | 1–3 | 2–0 |
| Utah | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 5–0 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 3–2 | 3–1 | — | 2–0 |
| Washington | 2–2 | 1–5 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | — |

### Game log
## Playoffs

1991 playoff game log :
First Round: 3–0 (home: 1–0; road: 2–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceSeries
1
April 25
@ Milwaukee
W 99–90
Hersey Hawkins (25)
Barkley, Mahorn (8)
Charles Barkley (5)
Bradley Center 13,587
1–0
2
April 27
@ Milwaukee
W 116–112 (OT)
Ron Anderson (24)
Charles Barkley (13)
Charles Barkley (10)
Bradley Center 15,623
2–0
3
April 30
Milwaukee
W 121–100
Charles Barkley (30)
Charles Barkley (12)
Hawkins, Barkley (6)
Spectrum 16,239
3–0 :
Conference semifinals: 1–4 (home: 1–1; road: 0–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceSeries
1
May 4
@ Chicago
L 92–105
Charles Barkley (34)
Charles Barkley (11)
Hawkins, Anderson (3)
Chicago Stadium 18,676
0–1
2
May 6
@ Chicago
L 100–112
Hersey Hawkins (30)
Charles Barkley (9)
Hersey Hawkins (7)
Chicago Stadium 18,676
0–2
3
May 10
Chicago
W 99–97
Hersey Hawkins (29)
Armen Gilliam (11)
Barkley, Turner (7)
Spectrum 18,168
1–2
4
May 12
Chicago
L 85–101
Charles Barkley (25)
Charles Barkley (14)
Charles Barkley (6)
Spectrum 17,514
1–3
5
May 14
@ Chicago
L 95–100
Charles Barkley (30)
Charles Barkley (8)
Charles Barkley (7)
Chicago Stadium 18,676
1–4 :
1991 schedule :

## Player statistics
### Regular season

| Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
| Ron Anderson | 82 | 13 | 28.5 | .485 | .209 | .833 | 4.5 | 1.4 | .8 | .2 | 14.6 |
| Charles Barkley | 67 | 67 | 37.3 | .570 | .284 | .722 | 10.1 | 4.2 | 1.6 | .5 | 27.6 |
| Manute Bol | 82 | 6 | 18.6 | .396 | .071 | .585 | 4.3 | .2 | .2 | 3.0 | 1.9 |
| Johnny Dawkins | 4 | 4 | 31.0 | .634 | .250 | .909 | 4.0 | 7.0 | .8 | .0 | 15.8 |
| Mario Elie$^†$ | 3 | 0 | 6.7 | .286 | .500 | .500 | .3 | .3 | .0 | .0 | 2.0 |
| Jim Farmer$^†$ | 2 | 0 | 6.5 | .286 | .000 | 1.000 | 2.5 | .0 | .0 | .0 | 3.0 |
| Armen Gilliam$^†$ | 50 | 50 | 33.9 | .470 | .000 | .816 | 7.3 | 1.6 | .7 | .6 | 15.0 |
| Mike Gminski$^†$ | 30 | 29 | 26.4 | .384 | .125 | .841 | 6.7 | 1.1 | .5 | 1.1 | 9.1 |
| Rickey Green | 79 | 75 | 28.5 | .463 | .222 | .830 | 1.7 | 5.2 | .7 | .1 | 10.0 |
| Tony Harris | 6 | 0 | 6.8 | .250 | .000 | .500 | .2 | .0 | .2 | .0 | 1.7 |
| Hersey Hawkins | 80 | 80 | 38.9 | .472 | .400 | .871 | 3.9 | 3.7 | 2.2 | .5 | 22.1 |
| Dave Hoppen$^†$ | 11 | 0 | 3.9 | .500 | .000 | .667 | .8 | .0 | .1 | .0 | 1.8 |
| Rick Mahorn | 80 | 74 | 30.5 | .467 | .000 | .788 | 7.8 | 1.5 | 1.0 | .7 | 8.9 |
| Brian Oliver | 73 | 4 | 11.0 | .408 | .278 | .732 | 1.1 | 1.2 | .5 | .1 | 3.8 |
| Kenny Payne | 47 | 6 | 9.4 | .360 | .222 | .897 | 1.4 | .3 | .2 | .1 | 3.5 |
| Robert Reid | 3 | 0 | 12.3 | .143 | | | 3.0 | 1.3 | .3 | 1.0 | 1.3 |
| Andre Turner | 70 | 1 | 20.1 | .439 | .364 | .736 | 2.2 | 4.4 | .9 | .0 | 5.9 |
| Jayson Williams | 52 | 1 | 9.8 | .447 | .500 | .661 | 2.1 | .3 | .2 | .1 | 3.5 |

### Playoffs

| Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
| Ron Anderson | 8 | 0 | 27.9 | .398 | .200 | .895 | 2.6 | 2.4 | .8 | .0 | 11.0 |
| Charles Barkley | 8 | 8 | 40.8 | .592 | .100 | .653 | 10.5 | 6.0 | 1.9 | .4 | 24.9 |
| Manute Bol | 8 | 0 | 13.6 | .500 | | .667 | 2.4 | .1 | .1 | 1.5 | 3.0 |
| Armen Gilliam | 8 | 8 | 35.9 | .462 | | .848 | 6.5 | 1.3 | .6 | .8 | 16.9 |
| Rickey Green | 8 | 8 | 24.9 | .436 | .750 | .889 | 1.1 | 2.8 | .9 | .0 | 7.4 |
| Hersey Hawkins | 8 | 8 | 41.1 | .465 | .538 | .937 | 5.8 | 3.4 | 2.5 | 1.3 | 20.9 |
| Dave Hoppen | 3 | 0 | 3.0 | 1.000 | | .000 | 1.0 | .0 | .0 | .0 | 2.0 |
| Rick Mahorn | 8 | 8 | 26.0 | .556 | | .786 | 5.3 | 1.8 | .3 | .5 | 6.4 |
| Brian Oliver | 4 | 0 | 3.8 | .333 | | 1.000 | .0 | .3 | .3 | .0 | 1.5 |
| Robert Reid | 7 | 0 | 5.9 | .333 | .000 | | 1.1 | .3 | .1 | .0 | .9 |
| Andre Turner | 8 | 0 | 23.6 | .438 | .333 | .813 | 1.6 | 4.4 | 1.4 | .0 | 7.3 |
| Jayson Williams | 4 | 0 | 2.5 | .800 | | | 1.0 | .0 | .0 | .0 | 2.0 |
* $^†$ Denotes player spent time with another team in the season. Stats reflect time with the 7ers only.

## Awards and records

* Charles Barkley, All-NBA First Team