The 1989–90 NBA season was the Nuggets' 14th season in the National Basketball Association, and 23rd season as a franchise. The Nuggets got off to a fast start winning 11 of their first 15 games, on their way to a solid 19–9 start. However, they began to show their age as they barely made the playoffs with a mediocre record of 43–39, fourth in the Midwest Division. At midseason, the team acquired Joe Barry Carroll from the New Jersey Nets, while Fat Lever was selected for the 1990 NBA All-Star Game. In the first round of the playoffs, the Nuggets were swept by the San Antonio Spurs in three straight games. Following the season, an era would come to an end in Denver as head coach Doug Moe was fired, Alex English signed as a free agent with the Dallas Mavericks, while Lever was traded to the Mavericks and Barry Carroll was released.