1990–91 New York Knicks season

The '''[[1990–91 NBA season]]''' was the 45th season for the [[New York Knicks]] in the [[National Basketball Association]].<ref>{{cite web|title=New York Knicks|publisher=Basketball-Reference|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/NYK/|accessdate=September 10, 2018}}</ref> During the off-season, the Knicks signed free agent [[John Starks (basketball)|John Starks]], who played in the [[Continental Basketball Association]] the previous season.<ref>{{cite news | last = Brown | first = Clifton | title = Many Questions Await Knicks as Camp Opens | work = The New York Times | date = October 2, 1999 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/1990/10/02/sports/many-questions-await-knicks-as-camp-opens.html | access-date = March 21, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | last = Brown | first = Clifton | title = Overlooked No More, Starks Gives Knicks a Lift | work = The New York Times | date = December 13, 1990 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/1990/12/13/sports/overlooked-no-more-starks-gives-knicks-a-lift.html | access-date = September 5, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Longman |first=Jere |title=Manhattan's Matador John Starks Was Killing Time. Now He's Killing the Bulls |work=The Philadelphia Inquirer |date=May 27, 1993 |url=http://articles.philly.com/1993-05-27/sports/25964070_1_starks-first-john-starks-chicago-coach-phil-jackson |accessdate=June 16, 2017 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150922014030/http://articles.philly.com/1993-05-27/sports/25964070_1_starks-first-john-starks-chicago-coach-phil-Jackson |archivedate=September 22, 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The team changed their on-court leadership early in the [[1990–91 NBA season|season]], as head coach [[Stu Jackson]] was fired, and replaced with [[John MacLeod (basketball)|John MacLeod]] after 15 games.<ref>{{cite news | agency = Associated Press | title = Jackson Out, MacLeod In with Knicks: NBA: New York, Off to a 7–8 Start, Fires its Second-Year Coach | work = Los Angeles Times | date = December 3, 1990 | url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-12-03-sp-4462-story.html | access-date = March 21, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title = Knicks Fire Jackson | publisher = United Press International | date = December 3, 1990 | url = https://www.upi.com/Archives/1990/12/03/Knicks-fire-Jackson/3687660200400/ | access-date = April 23, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Brown|first=Clifton|title=Jackson Is Let Go in a Surprise Move by the Knicks|work=The New York Times|date=December 4, 1990|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/12/04/sports/college-basketball-jackson-is-let-go-in-a-surprise-move-by-the-knicks.html|access-date=February 1, 2016}}</ref>

The '''[[1990–91 NBA season]]''' was the 45th season for the [[New York Knicks]] in the [[National Basketball Association]].<ref>{{cite web|title=New York Knicks|publisher=Basketball-Reference|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/NYK/|accessdate=September 10, 2018}}</ref> During the off-season, the Knicks signed free agent [[John Starks (basketball)|John Starks]], who played in the [[Continental Basketball Association]] the previous season.<ref>{{cite news | last = Brown | first = Clifton | title = Many Questions Await Knicks as Camp Opens | work = The New York Times | date = October 2, 1999 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/1990/10/02/sports/many-questions-await-knicks-as-camp-opens.html | access-date = March 21, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | last = Brown | first = Clifton | title = Overlooked No More, Starks Gives Knicks a Lift | work = The New York Times | date = December 13, 1990 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/1990/12/13/sports/overlooked-no-more-starks-gives-knicks-a-lift.html | access-date = September 5, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Longman |first=Jere |title=Manhattan's Matador John Starks Was Killing Time. Now He's Killing the Bulls |work=The Philadelphia Inquirer |date=May 27, 1993 |url=http://articles.philly.com/1993-05-27/sports/25964070_1_starks-first-john-starks-chicago-coach-phil-jackson |accessdate=June 16, 2017 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150922014030/http://articles.philly.com/1993-05-27/sports/25964070_1_starks-first-john-starks-chicago-coach-phil-Jackson |archivedate=September 22, 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The team changed their on-court leadership early in the [[1990–91 NBA season|season]], as head coach [[Stu Jackson]] was fired, and replaced with [[John MacLeod (basketball)|John MacLeod]] after 15 games.<ref>{{cite news | agency = Associated Press | title = Jackson Out, MacLeod In with Knicks: NBA: New York, Off to a 7–8 Start, Fires its Second-Year Coach | work = Los Angeles Times | date = December 3, 1990 | url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-12-03-sp-4462-story.html | access-date = March 21, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title = Knicks Fire Jackson | publisher = United Press International | date = December 3, 1990 | url = https://www.upi.com/Archives/1990/12/03/Knicks-fire-Jackson/3687660200400/ | access-date = April 23, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Brown|first=Clifton|title=Jackson Is Let Go in a Surprise Move by the Knicks|work=The New York Times|date=December 4, 1990|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/12/04/sports/college-basketball-jackson-is-let-go-in-a-surprise-move-by-the-knicks.html|access-date=February 1, 2016}}</ref>

After a 6–3 start to the regular season, the Knicks lost eight of their next nine games, and held a 20–27 record at the All-Star break.<ref>{{cite web | title = NBA Games Played on February 7, 1991 | publisher = Basketball-Reference | url = https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/index.fcgi?month=2&day=7&year=1991 | access-date = November 21, 2022}}</ref> However, the team recovered to a 34–33 record near the end of the season, but then went 5–10 in their last 15 games.<ref name="schedule">{{cite web | title = 1990–91 New York Knicks Schedule and Results | publisher = Basketball-Reference | url = https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/NYK/1991_games.html | access-date = July 30, 2016}}</ref> The Knicks finished in third place in the [[Atlantic Division (NBA)|Atlantic Division]] with a 39–43 record, and earned the #8 seed in the [[Eastern Conference (NBA)|Eastern Conference]] for the [[NBA playoffs]].<ref name="summary">{{cite web | title = 1990–91 NBA Season Summary | publisher = Basketball-Reference | url = https://www.basketball-reference.com/leagues/NBA_1991.html | access-date = December 14, 2024}}</ref>

After a 6–3 start to the regular season, the Knicks lost eight of their next nine games, and held a 20–27 record at the All-Star break.<ref>{{cite web | title = NBA Games Played on February 7, 1991 | publisher = Basketball-Reference | url = https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/index.fcgi?month=2&day=7&year=1991 | access-date = November 21, 2022}}</ref> However, the team recovered to a 34–33 record near the end of the season, but then went 5–10 in their last 15 games.<ref name="schedule">{{cite web | title = 1990–91 New York Knicks Schedule and Results | publisher = Basketball-Reference | url = https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/NYK/1991_games.html | access-date = July 30, 2016}}</ref> The Knicks finished in third place in the [[Atlantic Division (NBA)|Atlantic Division]] with a 39–43 record, and earned the eighth seed in the [[Eastern Conference (NBA)|Eastern Conference]] for the [[NBA playoffs]].<ref name="summary">{{cite web | title = 1990–91 NBA Season Summary | publisher = Basketball-Reference | url = https://www.basketball-reference.com/leagues/NBA_1991.html | access-date = December 14, 2024}}</ref>

[[Patrick Ewing]] averaged 26.6 points, 11.2 rebounds and 3.2 blocks per game, leading the Knicks in both scoring and blocks; he was named to the [[All-NBA Team|All-NBA Second Team]], and was selected for the [[1991 NBA All-Star Game]] in [[Charlotte, North Carolina]].<ref name="summary"/><ref>{{cite news|agency=Associated Press |title=Jordan Leads All-Star Vote Fifth Straight Year |work=Los Angeles Times |date=January 24, 1991 |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-01-24-sp-1324-story.html |access-date=June 29, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|agency=NBA.com Staff |title=1991 NBA All-Star Recap |work=NBA.com |date=September 13, 2021 |url=https://www.nba.com/news/history-all-star-recap-1991 |access-date=June 29, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title = 1991 NBA All-Star Game: East 116, West 114 | publisher = Basketball-Reference | url = https://www.basketball-reference.com/allstar/NBA_1991.html | access-date = December 2, 2021}}</ref><ref name="stats"/> In addition, [[Kiki Vandeweghe]] finished second on the team in scoring, averaging 16.3 points per game, while [[Gerald Wilkins]] provided them with 13.8 points per game, and [[Charles Oakley]] averaged 11.2 points and led the Knicks with 12.1 rebounds per game.<ref name="stats"/> Meanwhile, [[Maurice Cheeks]] replaced [[Mark Jackson (basketball)|Mark Jackson]] as the Knicks' starting point guard this season; Cheeks contributed 7.8 points, 5.7 assists and 1.7 steals per game, while Jackson contributed 8.8 points and 6.3 assists per game off the bench.<ref name="stats"/> Also off the bench, Starks provided the Knicks with 7.6 points and 3.3 assists per game, three-point specialist [[Trent Tucker]] contributed 7.1 points per game, and [[Kenny Walker (basketball)|Kenny Walker]] averaged 4.3 points and 2.9 rebounds per game.<ref name="stats">{{cite web | title = 1990–91 New York Knicks Roster and Stats | publisher = Basketball-Reference | url = https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/NYK/1991.html | access-date = October 30, 2021}}</ref>

[[Patrick Ewing]] averaged 26.6 points, 11.2 rebounds and 3.2 blocks per game, leading the Knicks in both scoring and blocks; he was named to the [[All-NBA Team|All-NBA Second Team]], and was selected for the [[1991 NBA All-Star Game]] in [[Charlotte, North Carolina]].<ref name="summary"/><ref>{{cite news|agency=Associated Press |title=Jordan Leads All-Star Vote Fifth Straight Year |work=Los Angeles Times |date=January 24, 1991 |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-01-24-sp-1324-story.html |access-date=June 29, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|agency=NBA.com Staff |title=1991 NBA All-Star Recap |work=NBA.com |date=September 13, 2021 |url=https://www.nba.com/news/history-all-star-recap-1991 |access-date=June 29, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title = 1991 NBA All-Star Game: East 116, West 114 | publisher = Basketball-Reference | url = https://www.basketball-reference.com/allstar/NBA_1991.html | access-date = December 2, 2021}}</ref><ref name="stats"/> In addition, [[Kiki Vandeweghe]] finished second on the team in scoring, averaging 16.3 points per game, while [[Gerald Wilkins]] provided them with 13.8 points per game, and [[Charles Oakley]] averaged 11.2 points and led the Knicks with 12.1 rebounds per game.<ref name="stats"/> Meanwhile, [[Maurice Cheeks]] replaced [[Mark Jackson (basketball)|Mark Jackson]] as the Knicks' starting point guard this season; Cheeks contributed 7.8 points, 5.7 assists and 1.7 steals per game, while Jackson contributed 8.8 points and 6.3 assists per game off the bench.<ref name="stats"/> Also off the bench, Starks provided the Knicks with 7.6 points and 3.3 assists per game, three-point specialist [[Trent Tucker]] contributed 7.1 points per game, and [[Kenny Walker (basketball)|Kenny Walker]] averaged 4.3 points and 2.9 rebounds per game.<ref name="stats">{{cite web | title = 1990–91 New York Knicks Roster and Stats | publisher = Basketball-Reference | url = https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/NYK/1991.html | access-date = October 30, 2021}}</ref>