The 1990–91 Atlanta Hawks season was the 42nd season for the Atlanta Hawks in the National Basketball Association, and their 23rd season in Atlanta, Georgia.
Season summary
Off-season The Hawks received the tenth overall pick in the 1990 NBA draft from the Golden State Warriors via trade, and selected point guard Rumeal Robinson from the University of Michigan. During the off-season, the team signed free agent and former All-Star guard Sidney Moncrief, who came out of his retirement after a one-year absence from the NBA; Moncrief previously played for the Milwaukee Bucks, and retired after the 1988–89 season due to knee problems. The team also hired Bob Weiss as their new head coach.
Regular season Under Weiss, and with the addition of Robinson and Moncrief, the Hawks won four of their first five games of the regular season, but then struggled posting a nine-game losing streak afterwards, posting a 4–10 record in November. However, the team soon recovered and played above .500 in winning percentage for the remainder of the season, winning 20 of their next 25 games, including a seven-game winning streak between December and January, and holding a 26–21 record at the All-Star break. The Hawks continued to play around .500 for the remainder of the season, and finished in fourth place in the Central Division with a 43–39 record, earning the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference, and returning to the NBA playoffs after a one-year absence.
Dominique Wilkins averaged 25.9 points, 9.0 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game, and was named to the All-NBA Second Team. In addition, Doc Rivers averaged 15.2 points, 4.3 assists and 1.9 steals per game, while Spud Webb provided the team with 13.4 points, 5.6 assists and 1.6 steals per game, and Kevin Willis provided with 13.1 points and 8.8 rebounds per game. Off the bench, John Battle contributed 13.6 points per game, while Moses Malone played a sixth man role, averaging 10.6 points and 8.1 rebounds per game, Duane Ferrell averaged 6.1 points per game, Robinson provided with 5.6 points and 2.8 assists per game, Moncrief contributed 4.7 points per game, and starting center Jon Koncak averaged 4.1 points and 4.9 rebounds per game.
During the NBA All-Star weekend at the Charlotte Coliseum in Charlotte, North Carolina, Wilkins was selected for the 1991 NBA All-Star Game, as a member of the Eastern Conference All-Star team; he was also selected to participate in the NBA Slam Dunk Contest, but withdrew and was replaced with Blue Edwards of the Utah Jazz. Wilkins finished in eighth place in Most Valuable Player voting, while Malone finished tied in sixth place in Sixth Man of the Year voting, and Webb finished tied in eighth place in Most Improved Player voting.
The Hawks finished 19th in the NBA in home-game attendance, with an attendance of 529,161 at the Omni Coliseum during the regular season.
NBA playoffs In the Eastern Conference First Round of the 1991 NBA playoffs, the Hawks faced off against the 3rd–seeded, and 2-time defending NBA champion Detroit Pistons, who were led by the All-Star trio of Isiah Thomas, Joe Dumars, and Defensive Player of the Year, Dennis Rodman. The Hawks managed to win Game 1 over the Pistons on the road, 103–98 at The Palace of Auburn Hills, but then lost the next two games as the Pistons took a 2–1 series lead. The Hawks won Game 4 over the Pistons at home, 123–111 at the Omni Coliseum to even the series. However, the Hawks lost Game 5 to the Pistons at The Palace of Auburn Hills, 113–81, thus losing in a hard-fought five-game series.
Aftermath Following the season, Rivers was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers on draft day after eight seasons with the Hawks, while Webb was traded to the Sacramento Kings, Malone signed as a free agent with the Milwaukee Bucks, Battle signed with the Cleveland Cavaliers, and Moncrief retired for the second time.
Draft picks
Round Pick Player Position Nationality College 1 10 Rumeal Robinson PG Michigan 2 36 Trevor Wilson SF UCLA 2 41 Steve Bardo SG Illinois
Roster
Regular season
Season standings
y – clinched division title x – clinched playoff spot
z – clinched division title y – clinched division title x – clinched playoff spot
Game logs
Regular season
| 1 | November 2 | Orlando | W 115–111 | D. Wilkins (32) | K. Willis (11) | D. Wilkins,R. Robinson (8) | Omni Coliseum13,593 | 1–0 |- | 2 | November 3 | Indiana | W 121–120 | D. Wilkins (30) | M. Malone (14) | R. Robinson (10) | Omni Coliseum10,330 | 2–0 |- | 3 | November 6 | @ Sacramento | W 102–85 | D. Wilkins (24) | K. Willis (9) | D. Wilkins (6) | ARCO Arena17,014 | 3–0 |- | 4 | November 9 | @ Golden State | L 128–143 | D. Wilkins (21) | K. Willis (10) | M. Malone (6) | Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena15,025 | 3–1 |- | 5 | November 10 | @ L.A. Clippers | W 112–94 | G. Rivers (23) | K. Willis (16) | G. Rivers (9) | Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena13,228 | 4–1 |- | 6 | November 13 | Cleveland | L 128–143 | D. Wilkins (27) | K. Willis (13) | M. Malone (6) | Omni Coliseum15,025 | 4–2 |- | 7 | November 14 | @ Philadelphia | L 104–112 | K. Willis (28) | M. Malone (13) | J. Battle (5) | The Spectrum13,613 | 4–3 |- | 8 | November 16 | Charlotte | L 109–119 | D. Wilkins (27) | K. Willis (11) | J. Battle (6) | Omni Coliseum11,042 | 4–4 |- | 9 | November 17 | @ Detroit | L 83–91 | J. Battle (16) | K. Willis (10) | A. Webb (5) | The Palace of Auburn Hills21,454 | 4–5 |- | 10 | November 20 | @ Charlotte | L 121–128 | D. Wilkins (29) | D. Wilkins (10) | D. Wilkins (7) | Charlotte Coliseum23,901 | 4–6 |- | 11 | November 21 | @ Milwaukee | L 93–105 | M. Malone (22) | K. Willis (10) | D. Wilkins (6) | Bradley Center15,279 | 4–7 |- | 12 | November 24 | Philadelphia | L 121–124 | D. Wilkins (39) | M. Malone (11) | A. Webb (14) | Omni Coliseum15,594 | 4–8 |- | 13 | November 27 | Detroit | L 97–120 | K. Willis,A. Webb (16) | K. Willis (8) | A. Webb (4) | Omni Coliseum13,718 | 4–9 |- | 14 | November 30 | Cleveland | L 93–101 | D. Wilkins (25) | D. Wilkins (11) | A. Webb (7) | Omni Coliseum11,996 | 4–10
| 15 | December 4 | @ Houston | W 113–110 | G. Rivers (26) | D. Wilkins, M. Malone, J. Koncak (7) | A. Webb (8) | The Summit13,578 | 5–10 |- | 16 | December 5 | @ San Antonio | W 110–108 | G. Rivers (25) | K. Willis (8) | G. Rivers (7) | HemisFair Arena15,908 | 6–10 |- | 17 | December 7 | Milwaukee | L 103–104 | G. Rivers (24) | T. McCormick (8) | G. Rivers, A. Webb (5) | Omni Coliseum9,586 | 6–11 |- | 18 | December 8 | New York | W 99–86 | D. Wilkins (26) | G. Rivers, J. Koncak (9) | D. Wilkins (8) | Omni Coliseum14,142 | 7–11 |- | 19 | December 12 | @ Miami | W 118–93 | D. Wilkins (28) | D. Wilkins (14) | A. Webb (11) | Miami Arena15,008 | 8–11 |- | 20 | December 13 | New Jersey | W 106–97 | D. Wilkins (23) | K. Willis, M. Malone (10) | J. Battle (7) | Omni Coliseum9,107 | 9–11 |- | 21 | December 15 | Washington | W 125–113 | J. Battle (28) | K. Willis (8) | G. Rivers (6) | Omni Coliseum10,830 | 10–11 |- | 22 | December 17 | @ Cleveland | W 109–98 | D. Wilkins (32) | J. Koncak (13) | G. Rivers (10) | Coliseum at Richfield11,822 | 11–11 |- | 23 | December 20 | Utah | W 105–87 | D. Wilkins (20) | K. Willis (11) | A. Webb (7) | Omni Coliseum10,504 | 12–11 |- | 24 | December 21 | @ Detroit | L 87–113 | J. Battle (22) | D. Wilkins (7) | T. Wilson, R. Robinson (3) | The Palace of Auburn Hills21,454 | 12–12 |- | 25 | December 23 | @ Boston | L 104–132 | J. Battle (16) | D. Ferrell (10) | T. Wilson, J. Koncak, G. Rivers, J. Battle (3) | Boston Garden14,890 | 12–13 |- | 26 | December 26 | @ New Jersey | W 113–111 | K. Willis (26) | K. Willis (15) | D. Wilkins, J. Battle (4) | Brendan Byrne Arena11,455 | 13–13 |- | 27 | December 28 | Boston | W 131–114 | G. Rivers (36) | M. Malone (9) | A. Webb (8) | Omni Coliseum16,390 | 14–13 |- | 28 | December 29 | Golden State | W 134–130 | D. Wilkins (45) | D. Wilkins (14) | A. Webb (13) | Omni Coliseum11,860 | 15–13
| 29 | January 2 | L.A. Clippers | W 120–107 | D. Wilkins (35) | D. Wilkins (16) | G. Rivers (11) | Omni Coliseum8,733 | 16–13 |- | 30 | January 4 | Indiana | W 111–96 | D. Wilkins (36) | M. Malone (11) | G. Rivers, R. Robinson (5) | Omni Coliseum10,124 | 17–13 |- | 31 | January 5 | Minnesota | W 117-112 (OT) | J. Battle (27) | K. Willis (19) | J. Koncak (7) | Omni Coliseum10,988 | 18–13 |- | 32 | January 8 | San Antonio | W 109–98 | D. Wilkins (40) | K. Willis (9) | G. Rivers (10) | Omni Coliseum12,608 | 19–13 |- | 33 | January 11 | @ Chicago | L 96–99 | D. Wilkins (23) | D. Wilkins (12) | J. Battle (7) | Chicago Stadium18,676 | 19–14 |- | 34 | January 12 | @ New York | L 92–99 | D. Wilkins (22) | G. Rivers (8) | G. Rivers, R. Robinson (6) | Madison Square Garden17,457 | 19–15 |- | 35 | January 14 | New York | W 96–82 | D. Wilkins (26) | D. Wilkins (16) | J. Battle, S. Moncrief (4) | Omni Coliseum12,612 | 20–15 |- | 36 | January 15 | @ Indiana | W 117–106 | D. Wilkins (28) | D. Wilkins (12) | J. Battle (8) | Market Square Arena9,531 | 21–15 |- | 37 | January 18 | Chicago | W 114–105 | D. Wilkins (34) | M. Malone (12) | G. Rivers (5) | Omni Coliseum16,390 | 22–15 |- | 38 | January 19 | New Jersey | W 114–84 | K. Willis (24) | K. Willis (17) | A. Webb (6) | Omni Coliseum15,758 | 23–15 |- | 39 | January 22 | Miami | W 118–107 | K. Willis (29) | K. Willis (10) | G. Rivers,A. Webb,D. Wilkins (7) | Omni Coliseum10,440 | 24–15 |- | 40 | January 23 | @ Washington | L 99–104 | D. Wilkins (27) | D. Wilkins (13) | G. Rivers (7) | Capital Centre9,830 | 24–16 |- | 41 | January 26 | @ Seattle | L 102–103 | D. Wilkins (43) | D. Wilkins (10) | A. Webb (9) | Seattle Center Coliseum12,792 | 24–17 |- | 42 | January 28 | @ Portland | L 111–116 | D. Wilkins (34) | K. Willis (10) | A. Webb (11) | Memorial Coliseum12,884 | 24–18 |- | 43 | January 29 | @ Utah | L 105–116 | D. Wilkins (24) | D. Wilkins (14) | A. Webb (4) | Salt Palace12,616 | 24–19 |- | 44 | January 31 | @ L.A. Lakers | L 103–116 | D. Wilkins (19) | M. Malone (9) | G. Rivers (4) | Great Western Forum17,505 | 24–20
| 45 | February 2 | @ Denver | L 125–126 | D. Wilkins (34) | D. Wilkins (12) | D. Wilkins (7) | McNichols Sports Arena14,683 | 24–21 |- | 46 | February 5 | Cleveland | W 118–114 | D. Wilkins (40) | D. Wilkins (13) | G. Rivers (12) | Omni Coliseum11,354 | 25–21 |- | 47 | February 7 | Charlotte | W 127–114 | M. Malone (25) | J. Koncak (11) | A. Webb (6) | Omni Coliseum10,671 | 26–21 |- | 48 | February 12 | @ Chicago | L 113–122 | D. Wilkins (37) | D. Wilkins,M.Malone (11) | A. Webb (9) | Chicago Stadium18,595 | 26–22 |- | 49 | February 13 | @ New Jersey | L 106–140 | D. Wilkins (24) | K. Willis (8) | A. Webb (3) | Brendan Byrne Arena10,583 | 26–23 |- | 50 | February 16 | Seattle | W 122–113 | D. Wilkins (36) | D. Wilkins (10) | A. Webb (14) | Omni Coliseum15,924 | 27–23 |- | 51 | February 19 | @ New York | W 110–102 | D. Wilkins (32) | M. Malone (13) | G. Rivers (9) | Madison Square Garden13,791 | 28–23 |- | 52 | February 20 | @ New York | L 89–97 | D. Wilkins (19) | M. Malone (10) | A. Webb (6) | The Palace of Auburn Hills21,454 | 28–24 |- | 53 | February 22 | L.A. Lakers | W 111–102 | D. Wilkins (34) | M. Malone (13) | A. Webb (6) | Omni Coliseum16,371 | 29–24 |- | 54 | February 23 | Dallas | W 122–107 | D. Wilkins (31) | D. Wilkins (14) | A. Webb (7) | Omni Coliseum12,376 | 30–24 |- | 55 | February 23 | Sacramento | W 96–88 | D. Wilkins (31) | D. Wilkins (19) | J. Battle (4) | Omni Coliseum10,461 | 31–24 |- | 56 | February 27 | @ Philadelphia | L 103–107 | D. Wilkins (26) | M. Malone (17) | A. Webb (10) | The Spectrum16,121 | 31–25 |- | 57 | February 28 | Portland | W 117–109 | J. Battle (26) | D. Wilkins (14) | G. Rivers (8) | Omni Coliseum14,297 | 32–25
| 58 | March 3 | @ Milwaukee | W 115–106 | D. Wilkins (25) | D. Wilkins,M. Malone (11) | A. Webb (5) | Bradley Center16,341 | 33–25 |- | 59 | March 5 | Denver | W 139–127 | A. Webb (32) | D. Wilkins (18) | J. Battle (5) | Omni Coliseum13,500 | 34–25 |- | 60 | March 7