The Minnesota Timberwolves played their first game at the Target Center. They had played their first season at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome while Target Center was being built.
The NBA on NBC began (replacing The NBA on CBS) when the National Broadcasting Company signed a 4 year, US$600 million deal with the NBA. The relationship lasted 12 years (concluding at the end of the 2001-02 NBA season), until The NBA on ABC returned in 2002-03.
On December 30, the last game of 1990, Scott Skiles of Orlando recorded 30 assists in a game against the Denver Nuggets to set a new NBA record.
The Utah Jazz played their final season at the Salt Palace.
The flagrant foul was instituted.
For the first time since 1981, the Los Angeles Lakers were not the Number 1 seed in the Western Conference. However they still reached the NBA Finals by upsetting the heavily favored Portland Trail Blazers in six games. They would go on to lose to the Chicago Bulls in five games, their last NBA Finals appearance until 2000.
During the season, all NBA teams sport patches featuring the American flag on their warmups as an honor to the American soldiers fighting during the Persian Gulf War.
Standings[]
By division[]
Eastern Conference
Atlantic Division v •d •e
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
Central Division v •d •e
W
L
PCT
GB
Home
Road
Div
y-Chicago Bulls
61
21
.744
—
35–6
26–15
25–5
x-Detroit Pistons
50
32
.610
11
32–9
18–23
19-11
x-Milwaukee Bucks
48
34
.585
13
33–8
15–26
16–14
x-Atlanta Hawks
43
39
.524
18
29–12
14–27
11–19
x-Indiana Pacers
41
41
.500
20
29-12
12–29
15-15
Cleveland Cavaliers
33
49
.402
28
23–18
10–31
11-19
Charlotte Hornets
26
56
.317
35
12–24
9–32
8–22
Western Conference
Midwest Division v •d •e
W
L
PCT
GB
Home
Road
Div
y-San Antonio Spurs
55
27
.671
—
33–8
22–19
20–8
x-Utah Jazz
54
28
.659
1
36–5
18–23
21-7
x-Houston Rockets
52
30
.634
3
31-10
21–20
20-8
Orlando Magic
31
51
.378
24
24-17
7–34
13–15
Minnesota Timberwolves
29
53
.354
26
21-20
8-33
9-19
Dallas Mavericks
28
54
.341
27
20-21
8–33
7-21
Denver Nuggets
20
62
.244
35
17-24
3-38
8–20
Pacific Division v •d •e
W
L
PCT
GB
Home
Road
Div
y-Portland Trail Blazers
63
19
.768
—
36–5
27–14
18-10
x-Los Angeles Lakers
58
24
.707
5
33–8
25-16
19-9
x-Phoenix Suns
55
27
.671
8
32–9
23-18
17–11
x-Golden State Warriors
44
38
.537
19
30–11
14–27
13–15
x-Seattle SuperSonics
41
41
.500
22
28-13
13–28
12-16
Los Angeles Clippers
31
51
.378
32
23–18
8-33
10-18
Sacramento Kings
25
57
.305
38
24-17
1–40
9–19
By conference[]
#
Eastern Conference v •d •e
Team
W
L
PCT
GB
1
z-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
11
Charlotte Hornets
26
56
.317
35
12
Miami Heat
24
58
.293
37
#
Western Conference v •d •e
Team
W
L
PCT
GB
1
z-Portland Trail Blazers
63
19
.768
–
2
y-San Antonio Spurs
55
27
.671
8
3
x-Los Angeles Lakers
58
24
.707
5
4
x-Phoenix Suns
55
27
.671
8
5
x-Utah Jazz
54
28
.659
9
6
x-Houston Rockets
52
30
.634
11
7
x-Golden State Warriors
44
38
.537
19
8
x-Seattle SuperSonics
41
41
.500
22
9
Orlando Magic
31
51
.378
32
10
Los Angeles Clippers
31
51
.378
32
11
Minnesota Timberwolves
29
53
.354
34
12
Dallas Mavericks
28
54
.341
35
13
Sacramento Kings
25
57
.305
38
14
Denver Nuggets
20
62
.244
43
Notes
z – clinched home court advantage for the conference playoffs
y – clinched division title
x – clinched playoff spot
Statistics leaders[]
Category
Player
Team
Stat
Points per game
Michael Jordan
Chicago Bulls
31.5
Rebounds per game
David Robinson
San Antonio Spurs
13.0
Assists per game
John Stockton
Utah Jazz
14.2
Steals per game
Alvin Robertson
Milwaukee Bucks
3.0
Blocks per game
Hakeem Olajuwon
Houston Rockets
3.9
FG%
Buck Williams
Portland Trail Blazers
60.2
FT%
Reggie Miller
Indiana Pacers
91.8
3FG%
Jim Les
Sacramento Kings
46.1
NBA awards[]
Most Valuable Player: Michael Jordan, Chicago Bulls
Rookie of the Year: Derrick Coleman, New Jersey Nets
Defensive Player of the Year: Dennis Rodman, Detroit Pistons
Sixth Man of the Year: Detlef Schrempf, Indiana Pacers
