# 1989–90 Washington Bullets season

The 1989–90 NBA season was the Bullets' 29th season in the National Basketball Association. The Bullets had the ninth overall pick in the 1989 NBA draft, and selected Tom Hammonds out of Georgia Tech. The Bullets got off to a fast start winning five of their first six games. However, they would struggle losing 10 of their next 13 games, but would climb back into playoff connection with a 12–11 record in mid December. However, their playoff hopes faded quickly as they lost 14 of their next 16 games, and held a 18–31 record at the All-Star break. The Bullets finished fourth in the Atlantic Division with a 31–51 record,
Jeff Malone led the team in scoring averaging 24.3 points per game, while Bernard King averaged 22.3 points per game, and John "Hot Plate" Williams provided the team with 18.2 points, 7.6 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game, but went down with a knee injury after only playing just 18 games. In addition, second-year guard Ledell Eackles contributed 13.5 points per game, while Mark Alarie averaged 10.5 points per game, Darrell Walker contributed 9.5 points, 8.8 rebounds, 8.0 assists and 1.7 steals per game, and Charles Jones provided with 6.2 rebounds and 2.4 blocks per game.
Following the season, Malone was traded to the Sacramento Kings, who then dealt him to the Utah Jazz after seven seasons with the Bullets.

## Draft picks

| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | College |
| 1 | 9 | Tom Hammonds | PF | United States | Georgia Tech |
| 2 | 39 | Ed Horton | PF | United States | Iowa |
| 2 | 41 | Doug Roth | C | United States | Tennessee |

## 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
### Regular season

1989–90 game log Total: 31–51 (Home: 20–21; Road: 11–30) :
November: 7–9 (home: 4–2; road: 3–7)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
1
November 3
@ Charlotte
W 116–96
Charlotte Coliseum
1–0
2
November 4
Detroit
L 93–95
Capital Centre
1–1
3
November 7
@ Atlanta
W 118–114
The Omni
2–1
4
November 8
Boston
W 112–103
Capital Centre
3–1
5
November 10
Cleveland (at Baltimore, Maryland)
W 100–92
Baltimore Arena
4–1
6
November 12
@ Portland
W 104–95
Memorial Coliseum
5–1
7
November 13
@ Utah
L 93–106
Salt Palace
5–2
8
November 15
@ Denver
L 98–109
McNichols Sports Arena
5–3
9
November 16
@ Seattle
L 98–111
Seattle Center Coliseum
5–4
10
November 18
@ Phoenix
L 107–118
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
5–5
11
November 19
@ L.A. Lakers
L 115–120
Great Western Forum
5–6
12
November 21
Milwaukee
W 97–91
Capital Centre
6–6
13
November 24
@ Philadelphia
L 108–121
The Spectrum
6–7
14
November 25
Miami
W 107–88
Capital Centre
7–7
15
November 28
@ Cleveland
L 91–92
Richfield Coliseum
7–8
16
November 29
Atlanta
L 104–111
Capital Centre
7–9 :
December: 5–7 (home: 5–4; road: 0–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
17
December 1
Philadelphia (at Baltimore, Maryland)
W 107–90
Baltimore Arena
8–9
18
December 2
Utah
L 98–100
Capital Centre
8–10
19
December 6
@ Detroit
L 107–115
The Palace of Auburn Hills
8–11
20
December 9
L.A. Lakers
W 103–101
Capital Centre
9–11
21
December 14
Charlotte
W 105–101
Capital Centre
10–11
22
December 16
Dallas
W 112–108
Capital Centre
11–11
23
December 19
Minnesota
W 112–99
Capital Centre
12–11
24
December 20
@ Philadelphia
L 111–118
The Spectrum
12–12
25
December 22
New York
L 112–122
Capital Centre
12–13
26
December 26
@ New Jersey
L 94–101
Brendan Byrne Arena
12–14
27
December 27
San Antonio
L 97–107
Capital Centre
12–15
28
December 30
Chicago
L 112–117 (OT)
Capital Centre
12–16 :
January: 3–13 (home: 2–4; road: 1–9)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
29
January 2
New Jersey
W 110–96
Capital Centre
13–26
30
January 3
@ Boston
L 101–120
Boston Garden
13–17
31
January 5
@ Cleveland
L 107–119
Richfield Coliseum
13–18
32
January 6
Boston
L 88–102
Capital Centre
13–19
33
January 9
@ New York
L 127–131 (OT)
Madison Square Garden
13–20
34
January 11
@ Miami
W 100–89
Miami Arena
14–20
35
January 13
Philadelphia
L 101–120
Capital Centre
14–21
36
January 15
Miami
L 105–111
Capital Centre
14–22
37
January 17
@ New Jersey
L 106–115
Brendan Byrne Arena
14–23
38
January 18
Milwaukee
L 112–115
Capital Centre
14–24
39
January 20
@ Houston
L 107–127
The Summit
14–25
40
January 22
@ San Antonio
L 115–124
HemisFair Arena
14–26
41
January 23
@ Dallas
L 105–129
Reunion Arena
14–27
42
January 25
Boston
W 112–103
Capital Centre
15–27
43
January 27
@ Philadelphia
L 101–125
The Spectrum
15–28
44
January 31
@ Detroit
L 109–133
The Palace of Auburn Hills
15–29 :
February: 7–6 (home: 4–3; road: 3–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
45
February 2
Sacramento
W 108–99
Capital Centre
16–29
46
February 3
Seattle
L 92–94
Capital Centre
16–30
47
February 5
Golden State
W 135–129
Capital Centre
17–30
48
February 6
@ Miami
W 118–100
Miami Arena
18–30
49
February 8
L.A. Clippers
L 103–105
Capital Centre
18–31
50
February 13
@ Sacramento
L 98–106
ARCO Arena
18–32
51
February 15
@ Golden State
L 107–113
Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena
18–33
52
February 16
@ L.A. Clippers
W 118–112 (OT)
Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena
19–33
53
February 18
Indiana (at Baltimore, Maryland)
W 116–97
Baltimore Arena
20–33
54
February 20
@ Atlanta
W 110–107
The Omni
21–33
55
February 22
New York
L 110–119
Capital Centre
21–34
56
February 24
Orlando
W 141–124
Capital Centre
22–34
57
February 27
@ Minnesota
L 88–104
Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome
22–35 :
March: 5–9 (home: 3–5; road: 2–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
58
March 1
Detroit
L 85–99
Capital Centre
22–36
59
March 3
@ Orlando
W 132–128 (2OT)
Orlando Arena
23–36
60
March 6
@ Indiana
L 98–113
Market Square Arena
23–37
61
March 7
Phoenix
L 111–113
Capital Centre
23–38
62
March 9
@ Boston (at Hartford, Connecticut)
W 115–108
Hartford Civic Center
24–38
63
March 10
Portland
L 113–116
Capital Centre
24–39
64
March 15
@ Milwaukee
L 91–96
Bradley Center
24–40
65
March 17
Atlanta (at Baltimore, Maryland)
L 92–119
Baltimore Arena
24–41
66
March 20
@ Chicago
L 97–122
Chicago Stadium
24–42
67
March 21
New Jersey
W 136–106
Capital Centre
25–42
68
March 24
Philadelphia
L 112–114 (OT)
Capital Centre
25–43
69
March 27
@ New York
L 100–119
Madison Square Garden
25–44
70
March 28
Denver
W 113–99
Capital Centre
26–44
71
March 30
Orlando
W 143–115
Capital Centre
27–44 :
April: 4–6 (home: 2–3; road: 2–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
72
April 1
@ New Jersey
W 105–97
Brendan Byrne Arena
28–44
73
April 4
New York
L 107–118
Capital Centre
28–45
74
April 6
Houston
W 121–110
Capital Centre
29–45
75
April 7
@ Milwaukee
L 100–110
Bradley Center
29–46
76
April 10
@ Indiana
L 105–107
Market Square Arena
29–47
77
April 12
Cleveland
L 100–102
Capital Centre
29–48
78
April 14
Chicago
W 113–103
Capital Centre
30–48
79
April 17
@ Orlando
W 129–127
Orlando Arena
31–48
80
April 19
@ Chicago
L 117–120
Chicago Stadium
31–49
81
April 20
@ Miami
L 112–117
Miami Arena
31–50
82
April 22
Indiana
L 117–127
Capital Centre
31–51 :
1989–90 schedule :

## Player statistics
### Regular season

Washington Bullets statistics :
| Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
| Mark Alarie | 82 | 10 | 23.1 | .473 | .204 | .812 | 4.6 | 1.7 | .7 | .5 | 10.5 |
| Steve Colter | 73 | 1 | 13.4 | .478 | .000 | .811 | 2.4 | 2.0 | .6 | .1 | 4.9 |
| Ledell Eackles | 78 | 8 | 21.7 | .439 | .322 | .750 | 2.2 | 2.3 | .6 | .1 | 13.5 |
| Harvey Grant | 81 | 25 | 22.8 | .473 | .000 | .701 | 4.2 | 1.6 | .6 | .5 | 8.2 |
| Tom Hammonds | 61 | 8 | 13.2 | .437 | .000 | .643 | 2.8 | .8 | .2 | .2 | 5.3 |
| Ed Horton | 45 | 10 | 8.3 | .494 | .000 | .609 | 2.4 | .4 | .2 | .1 | 4.5 |
| Charles Jones | 81 | 81 | 27.7 | .508 | | .648 | 6.2 | 1.7 | .6 | 2.4 | 3.2 |
| Bernard King | 82 | 82 | 32.8 | .487 | .130 | .803 | 4.9 | 4.6 | .6 | .1 | 22.4 |
| Jeff Malone | 75 | 74 | 34.2 | .491 | .167 | .877 | 2.7 | 3.2 | .6 | .1 | 24.3 |
| Doug Roth | 42 | 0 | 9.8 | .430 | .000 | .500 | 2.9 | .5 | .2 | .3 | 1.9 |
| Melvin Turpin | 59 | 12 | 13.9 | .526 | .000 | .789 | 3.7 | .5 | .3 | .8 | 4.7 |
| Darrell Walker | 81 | 81 | 35.6 | .454 | .095 | .687 | 8.8 | 8.0 | 1.7 | .4 | 9.5 |
| John Williams | 18 | 18 | 35.1 | .474 | .111 | .774 | 7.6 | 4.7 | 1.2 | .5 | 18.2 |