During the offseason, the Knicks hired Stu Jackson as their new head coach. The team got off to a solid start, winning 20 of their first 27 games, while posting a nine-game winning streak. At midseason, the Knicks traded second-year guard Rod Strickland to the San Antonio Spurs for 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 was selected for the 1990 NBA All-Star Game.