# 1989–90 New York Knicks season

The 1989–90 New York Knicks season was the 44th season for the Knicks in the National Basketball Association. Before the season, owners Gulf+Western reorganized and became Paramount Communications, renaming themselves after the Paramount Pictures film studio.
During the off-season, the Knicks hired Stu Jackson as their new head coach; Jackson previously worked as an assistant coach for the Knicks. The team got off to a solid start, winning 20 of their first 27 games, while posting a nine-game winning streak, and holding a 32–16 record at the All-Star break. At mid-season, the Knicks traded second-year guard Rod Strickland to the San Antonio Spurs in exchange for All-Star guard Maurice Cheeks. However, as they stood at a 39–22 record, they struggled and lost 15 of their final 21 games. The Knicks had a 45–37 record and finished third in the Atlantic Division. The Knicks' fifth-place finish in the Eastern Conference earned them a berth in the NBA playoffs for the third straight year.
Patrick Ewing averaged 28.6 points, 10.9 rebounds and 4.0 blocks per game, and was named to the All-NBA First Team, selected for the 1990 NBA All-Star Game in Miami, Florida, and finished in fifth place in Most Valuable Player voting. In addition, Charles Oakley averaged 14.6 points and 11.9 rebounds per game, while Gerald Wilkins provided the team with 14.5 points per game, and Johnny Newman contributed 12.9 points per game. Kiki Vandeweghe provided with 11.7 points per game, and Mark Jackson averaged 9.9 points, 7.4 assists and 1.3 steals per game.
In the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs, New York trailed 0–2 to Larry Bird and the 4th-seeded Boston Celtics, suffering a 157–128 road loss in Game 2, but managed to win the next three games and the series. The Knicks were then eliminated in the Eastern Conference Semi-finals by the defending champion Detroit Pistons in five games. The Pistons would go on to defeat the Portland Trail Blazers in five games in the NBA Finals, winning their second consecutive championship.
The Knicks finished fifth in the NBA in home-game attendance, with an attendance of 730,432 at Madison Square Garden during the regular season. Following the season, Newman signed as a free agent with the Charlotte Hornets.
For the season, the Knicks slightly changed their primary logo, changing the color of the basketball under the team name from brown to orange; the logo remained in use until 1992.

## Draft picks

| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | School/Club Team |
| 2 | 50 | Brian Quinnett | SF | United States | Washington State |

## Regular season
### Season standings

| Atlantic Divisionvte | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div |
| y-Philadelphia 76ers | 53 | 29 | .646 | – | 34–7 | 19–22 | 19–7 |
| x-Boston Celtics | 52 | 30 | .634 | 1 | 30–11 | 22–19 | 19–7 |
| x-New York Knicks | 45 | 37 | .549 | 8 | 29–12 | 16–25 | 17–9 |
| Washington Bullets | 31 | 51 | .378 | 22 | 20–21 | 11–30 | 10–16 |
| Miami Heat | 18 | 64 | .220 | 35 | 11–30 | 7–34 | 4–22 |
| New Jersey Nets | 17 | 65 | .207 | 36 | 13–28 | 4–37 | 9–17 |
| # | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte |
| # | Team | W | L | PCT | GB |
| 1 | c-Detroit Pistons | 59 | 23 | .720 | – |
| 2 | y-Philadelphia 76ers | 53 | 29 | .646 | 6 |
| 3 | x-Chicago Bulls | 55 | 27 | .671 | 4 |
| 4 | x-Boston Celtics | 52 | 30 | .634 | 7 |
| 5 | x-New York Knicks | 45 | 37 | .549 | 14 |
| 6 | x-Milwaukee Bucks | 44 | 38 | .537 | 15 |
| 7 | x-Cleveland Cavaliers | 42 | 40 | .512 | 17 |
| 8 | x-Indiana Pacers | 42 | 40 | .512 | 17 |
| 9 | Atlanta Hawks | 41 | 41 | .500 | 18 |
| 10 | Washington Bullets | 31 | 51 | .378 | 28 |
| 11 | Miami Heat | 18 | 64 | .220 | 41 |
| 12 | Orlando Magic | 18 | 64 | .220 | 41 |
| 13 | New Jersey Nets | 17 | 65 | .207 | 42 |
    z – clinched division title
    y – clinched division title
    x – clinched playoff spot

### Record vs. opponents

1989–90 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 | — | 1–3 | 2–0 | 0–5 | 2–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 4–0 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 5–0 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 |
| Boston | 3–1 | — | 2–0 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 5–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 4–1 | 4–0 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–3 |
| Charlotte | 0–2 | 0–2 | — | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 3–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 0–5 | 0–4 | 0–5 | 0–2 |
| Chicago | 5–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | — | 5–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–4 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–2 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–1 |
| Cleveland | 3–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 0–5 | — | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 4–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 |
| Dallas | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | — | 2–3 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 0–4 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 3–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 |
| Denver | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–2 | — | 0–2 | 2–2 | 4–1 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 5–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 1–1 |
| Detroit | 2–3 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 4–1 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | — | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 5–0 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 |
| Golden State | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–1 | — | 2–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–4 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–5 | 2–2 | 3–2 | 1–3 | 2–3 | 2–2 | 1–1 |
| Houston | 0–2 | 0–2 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–4 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 2–2 | — | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–2 | 1–1 |
| Indiana | 3–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 2–3 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | — | 0–2 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 4–1 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 |
| L.A. Clippers | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–0 | — | 1–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 0–5 | 2–3 | 0–4 | 3–2 | 0–4 | 1–1 |
| L.A. Lakers | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 4–1 | — | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–3 | 5–0 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 |
| Miami | 0–4 | 0–5 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 0–2 | — | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–4 | 1–5 | 3–1 | 0–5 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–3 |
| Milwaukee | 2–3 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–4 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | — | 2–0 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 5–0 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–1 |
| Minnesota | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–4 | 0–5 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | — | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–4 | 1–3 | 0–5 | 1–1 |
| New Jersey | 2–2 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 4–1 | 0–4 | 1–1 | — | 1–4 | 1–3 | 1–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–3 |
| New York | 3–1 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 5–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 4–1 | — | 2–2 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 5–0 |
| Orlando | 0–5 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 1–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–5 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 0–5 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | — | 2–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–4 |
| Philadelphia | 2–2 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 5–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 3–2 | 2–2 | — | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 5–1 |
| Phoenix | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 5–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | — | 2–3 | 5–0 | 0–4 | 3–2 | 3–1 | 2–0 |
| Portland | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 5–0 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–2 | — | 4–0 | 3–1 | 3–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 |
| Sacramento | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 0–5 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–5 | 0–4 | — | 0–4 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 |
| San Antonio | 1–1 | 1–1 | 5–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 4–0 | — | 3–1 | 3–2 | 2–0 |
| Seattle | 1–1 | 0–2 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 0–4 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 2–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | — | 1–3 | 2–0 |
| Utah | 1–1 | 1–1 | 5–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 5–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–3 | 3–1 | — | 2–0 |
| Washington | 2–2 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 0–5 | 4–0 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | — |

### Game log

1989–90 game log :
November
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord :
December
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord :
January
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord :
February
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord :
March
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord :
April: 4–4 (home: 4–1; road: 0–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord :
1989–90 schedule :

## Playoffs

1990 playoff game log :
First Round: 3–2 (home: 2–0; road: 1–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceSeries
1
April 26
@ Boston
L 105–116
Patrick Ewing (22)
Patrick Ewing (9)
Maurice Cheeks (9)
Boston Garden 14,890
0–1
2
April 28
@ Boston
L 128–157
Patrick Ewing (28)
Charles Oakley (9)
Gerald Wilkins (7)
Boston Garden 14,890
0–2
3
May 2
Boston
W 102–99
Patrick Ewing (33)
Patrick Ewing (19)
Maurice Cheeks (11)
Madison Square Garden 18,212
1–2
4
May 4
Boston
W 135–108
Patrick Ewing (44)
Patrick Ewing (13)
Maurice Cheeks (12)
Madison Square Garden 18,212
2–2
5
May 6
@ Boston
W 121–114
Patrick Ewing (31)
Charles Oakley (17)
Patrick Ewing (10)
Boston Garden 14,890
3–2 :
Conference semifinals: 1–4 (home: 1–1; road: 0–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceSeries
1
May 8
@ Detroit
L 77–112
Patrick Ewing (19)
Eddie Lee Wilkins (8)
Maurice Cheeks (6)
The Palace of Auburn Hills 21,454
0–1
2
May 10
@ Detroit
L 97–104
Gerald Wilkins (24)
Charles Oakley (15)
Maurice Cheeks (8)
The Palace of Auburn Hills 21,454
0–2
3
May 12
Detroit
W 111–103
Patrick Ewing (45)
Charles Oakley (20)
Maurice Cheeks (12)
Madison Square Garden 18,212
1–2
4
May 13
Detroit
L 90–102
Patrick Ewing (30)
Charles Oakley (14)
Cheeks, Jackson (6)
Madison Square Garden 18,212
1–3
5
May 15
@ Detroit
L 84–95
Patrick Ewing (22)
Patrick Ewing (14)
Maurice Cheeks (9)
The Palace of Auburn Hills 21,454
1–4 :
1990 schedule :

## Player statistics
### Regular season

| Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
| Greg Butler | 13 | 0 | 2.5 | .250 | | .000 | .7 | .1 | .0 | .0 | .5 |
| Maurice Cheeks$^†$ | 31 | 13 | 24.3 | .579 | .429 | .877 | 2.4 | 4.9 | 1.4 | .2 | 7.9 |
| Patrick Ewing | 82 | 82 | 38.6 | .551 | .250 | .775 | 10.9 | 2.2 | 1.0 | 4.0 | 28.6 |
| Stuart Gray$^†$ | 19 | 0 | 4.9 | .235 | .000 | .875 | .7 | .1 | .2 | .1 | .8 |
| Mark Jackson | 82 | 69 | 29.6 | .437 | .267 | .727 | 3.9 | 7.4 | 1.3 | .0 | 9.9 |
| Pete Myers$^†$ | 24 | 0 | 8.7 | .333 | .000 | .516 | 1.2 | 1.5 | .6 | .1 | 1.9 |
| Johnny Newman | 80 | 69 | 28.5 | .476 | .317 | .799 | 2.4 | 2.3 | 1.2 | .3 | 12.9 |
| Charles Oakley | 61 | 61 | 36.0 | .524 | .000 | .761 | 11.9 | 2.4 | 1.0 | .3 | 14.6 |
| Brian Quinnett | 31 | 0 | 6.2 | .328 | .000 | .667 | .9 | .4 | .1 | .1 | 1.3 |
| Rod Strickland$^†$ | 51 | 0 | 20.0 | .440 | .286 | .638 | 2.5 | 4.3 | 1.4 | .2 | 8.4 |
| Trent Tucker | 81 | 2 | 21.3 | .417 | .388 | .767 | 2.1 | 2.1 | .9 | .1 | 8.2 |
| Kiki VanDeWeghe | 22 | 13 | 25.6 | .442 | .526 | .917 | 2.4 | 1.9 | .7 | .1 | 11.7 |
| Kenny Walker | 68 | 21 | 23.5 | .531 | .400 | .723 | 5.0 | .7 | .5 | .8 | 7.9 |
| Eddie Lee Wilkins | 79 | 0 | 12.3 | .455 | .000 | .605 | 3.4 | .2 | .2 | .2 | 4.7 |
| Gerald Wilkins | 82 | 80 | 31.8 | .457 | .312 | .803 | 4.5 | 4.0 | 1.2 | .3 | 14.5 |

### Playoffs

| Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
| Maurice Cheeks | 10 | 10 | 38.8 | .481 | .000 | .903 | 3.9 | 8.5 | 1.7 | .2 | 12.8 |
| Patrick Ewing | 10 | 10 | 39.5 | .521 | .500 | .823 | 10.5 | 3.1 | 1.3 | 2.0 | 29.4 |
| Stuart Gray | 4 | 0 | 3.0 | .400 | | | 2.0 | .0 | .3 | .0 | 1.0 |
| Mark Jackson | 9 | 0 | 9.0 | .419 | .000 | .727 | .6 | 2.3 | .2 | .0 | 3.8 |
| Johnny Newman | 10 | 0 | 23.1 | .447 | .400 | .755 | 2.1 | 1.0 | .9 | .3 | 11.7 |
| Charles Oakley | 10 | 8 | 33.6 | .512 | 1.000 | .654 | 11.0 | 2.7 | 1.1 | .2 | 12.1 |
| Brian Quinnett | 3 | 0 | 5.3 | .500 | 1.000 | | 2.7 | .7 | .0 | .0 | 1.7 |
| Trent Tucker | 10 | 0 | 17.8 | .400 | .370 | 1.000 | 1.4 | 2.0 | 1.0 | .0 | 6.0 |
| Kiki VanDeWeghe | 10 | 10 | 23.6 | .419 | .462 | .800 | 1.2 | 1.4 | .5 | .2 | 7.6 |
| Kenny Walker | 10 | 2 | 15.4 | .552 | .000 | .643 | 2.5 | .6 | .0 | .4 | 4.1 |
| Eddie Lee Wilkins | 7 | 0 | 7.7 | .500 | | .545 | 1.6 | .0 | .3 | .0 | 3.4 |
| Gerald Wilkins | 10 | 10 | 31.9 | .460 | .250 | .818 | 3.6 | 5.2 | 1.4 | .1 | 14.6 |
* $^†$ Denotes player spent time with another team in the season. Stats reflect time with the Knicks only.

## Awards and records

* Patrick Ewing, All-NBA First Team