The 1990–91 NBA season was the Bucks' 23rd season in the National Basketball Association .[ 1] During the off-season, the Bucks acquired Frank Brickowski from the San Antonio Spurs , and acquired Danny Schayes from the Denver Nuggets .[ 2] [ 3] [ 4] However, Larry Krystkowiak would miss the entire season with a knee injury.[ 5] [ 6] The Bucks started the season on a strong note winning their first 18 home games on their way to a 25–8 start. However, they would lose ten of their next twelve games, and held a 30–19 record at the All-Star break.[ 7] Sixth man Ricky Pierce and Alvin Robertson were both selected for the 1991 NBA All-Star Game ; it was Pierce's only All-Star appearance.[ 8] [ 9] At midseason, Pierce was traded to the Seattle SuperSonics in exchange for Dale Ellis .[ 10] [ 11] [ 12] [ 13] In April, the team signed free agent and former All-Star forward Adrian Dantley , as Ellis went down with a lower back injury.[ 14] [ 15] [ 16] The Bucks would make their 12th consecutive playoff appearance finishing third in the Central Division with a 48–34 record, while posting a 33–8 home record at the Bradley Center .[ 17]
Ellis played a sixth man role, averaging 19.3 points per game in 21 games, while Jay Humphries averaged 15.2 points, 6.7 assists and 1.6 steals per game, and Robertson provided the team with 13.6 points, 5.7 rebounds, 5.5 assists and led the league with 3.0 steals per game, while being named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team. In addition, Brickowski contributed 12.6 points and 5.7 rebounds per game, while Fred Roberts provided with 10.8 points per game, Schayes provided with 10.6 points and 6.5 rebounds per game, and Jack Sikma contributed 10.4 points and 5.7 rebounds per game.[ 18] Robertson also finished in third place in Defensive Player of the Year voting,[ 19] [ 20] and head coach Del Harris finished tied in fifth place in Coach of the Year voting.[ 21] [ 22]
However, without Ellis in the Eastern Conference First Round of the playoffs , the Bucks were swept by the 5th-seeded Philadelphia 76ers in three straight games.[ 23] [ 24] [ 25] [ 26] This would be their final playoff appearance until 1999 . Following the season, Sikma retired.
1990–91 Milwaukee Bucks roster
Players
Coaches
Pos.
No.
Name
Height
Weight
DOB
From
F
40
Brickowski, Frank
6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
240 lb (109 kg)
1959–08–14
Penn State
G
15
Conner, Lester
6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
180 lb (82 kg)
1959–09–17
Oregon State
F
7
Dantley, Adrian
6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
208 lb (94 kg)
1955–02–28
Notre Dame
F
3
Ellis, Dale
6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
205 lb (93 kg)
1960–08–06
Tennessee
G
20
Grayer, Jeff
6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
200 lb (91 kg)
1965–12–17
Iowa State
G
12
Henson, Steve
5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
177 lb (80 kg)
1968–02–02
Kansas State
G
24
Humphries, Jay
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
185 lb (84 kg)
1962–10–17
Colorado
F
8
Kornet, Frank
6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
225 lb (102 kg)
1967–01–27
Vanderbilt
F
42
Krystkowiak, Larry (IN)
6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
220 lb (100 kg)
1964–09–23
Montana
F
54
Lohaus, Brad
6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)
230 lb (104 kg)
1964–09–29
Iowa
F
31
Roberts, Fred
6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
218 lb (99 kg)
1960–08–14
BYU
G
21
Robertson, Alvin
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
185 lb (84 kg)
1962–07–22
Arkansas
C
10
Schayes, Danny
6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)
235 lb (107 kg)
1959–05–10
Syracuse
C
43
Sikma, Jack
6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)
230 lb (104 kg)
1955–11–14
Illinois Wesleyan
G
11
Stephens, Everette
6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
175 lb (79 kg)
1966–10–21
Purdue
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
(DP) Unsigned draft pick(FA) Free agent(S) Suspended Injured
Forward/center Larry Krystkowiak missed the entire season due to a knee injury, but did play with the team during the playoffs.
z - clinched division title
y - clinched division title
x - clinched playoff spot
Record vs. opponents
edit
1990-91 NBA Records
Team
ATL
BOS
CHA
CHI
CLE
DAL
DEN
DET
GSW
HOU
IND
LAC
LAL
MIA
MIL
MIN
NJN
NYK
ORL
PHI
PHO
POR
SAC
SAS
SEA
UTA
WAS
Atlanta
—
3–1
1–4
1–4
3–2
2–0
1–1
0–5
1–1
1–1
4–1
2–0
1–1
4–0
2–3
1–1
3–1
3–1
1–1
0–4
0–2
1–1
2–0
2–0
1–1
1–1
2–2
Boston
1–3
—
3–1
2–2
3–1
2–0
2–0
2–2
1–1
2–0
2–2
2–0
1–1
4–1
2–2
2–0
4–1
5–0
1–1
2–3
1–1
1–1
2–0
1–1
2–0
1–1
5–1
Charlotte
4–1
1–3
—
0–5
1–4
1–1
0–2
1–4
1–1
0–2
0–5
1–1
0–2
2–2
2–3
1–1
2–2
0–4
2–0
2–2
0–2
0–2
2–0
1–1
0–2
0–2
2–2
Chicago
4–1
2–2
5–0
—
5–0
2–0
2–0
3–2
1–1
0–2
4–1
2–0
1–1
4–0
4–1
2–0
3–1
4–0
2–0
1–3
1–1
0–2
2–0
0–2
2–0
2–0
3–1
Cleveland
2–3
1–3
4–1
0–5
—
2–0
1–1
2–3
0–2
0–2
1–4
1–1
1–1
3–1
2–3
1–1
2–2
3–1
2–0
2–2
0–2
0–2
1–1
0–2
1–1
0–2
1–3
Dallas
0–2
0–2
1–1
0–2
0–2
—
3–1
0–2
2–2
1–3
2–0
1–3
2–2
0–2
1–1
1–4
2–0
2–0
1–4
1–1
0–4
1–3
2–2
1–4
2–2
0–5
2–0
Denver
1–1
0–2
2–0
0–2
1–1
1–3
—
0–2
1–3
0–5
0–2
0–4
0–4
0–2
1–1
3–2
1–1
1–1
2–3
0–2
0–4
0–4
3–1
1–4
0–4
1–3
1–1
Detroit
5–0
2–2
4–1
2–3
3–2
2–0
2–0
—
1–1
2–0
3–2
2–0
0–2
3–1
2–3
2–0
3–1
1–3
2–0
2–2
0–2
1–1
2–0
0–2
1–1
0–2
3–1
Golden State
1–1
1–1
1–1
1–1
2–0
2–2
3–1
1–1
—
2–2
1–1
3–2
2–3
2–0
1–1
3–1
1–1
2–0
2–2
2–0
1–3
2–3
2–3
2–2
3–1
1–3
0–2
Houston
1–1
0–2
2–0
2–0
2–0
3–1
5–0
0–2
2–2
—
1–1
2–2
1–3
2–0
2–0
5–0
2–0
2–0
3–2
2–0
3–1
0–4
3–1
2–3
2–2
2–2
1–1
Indiana
1–4
2–2
5–0
1–4
4–1
0–2
2–0
2–3
1–1
1–1
—
1–1
0–2
2–2
2–3
1–1
3–1
2–2
1–1
1–3
1–1
0–2
2–0
1–1
1–1
2–0
2–2
L.A. Clippers
0–2
0–2
1–1
0–2
1–1
3–1
4–0
0–2
2–3
2–2
1–1
—
0–4
0–2
1–1
3–1
1–1
0–2
1–3
0–2
2–3
1–3
3–2
2–2
2–3
1–3
0–2
L.A. Lakers
1–1
1–1
2–0
1–1
1–1
2–2
4–0
2–0
3–2
3–1
2–0
4–0
—
2–0
0–2
3–1
2–0
1–1
4–0
1–1
3–2
2–3
4–0
3–1
3–2
2–2
2–0
Miami
0–4
1–4
2–2
0–4
1–3
2–0
2–0
1–3
0–2
0–2
2–2
2–0
0–2
—
0–4
0–2
3–3
1–4
1–1
1–4
0–2
0–2
1–1
0–2
0–2
1–1
3–2
Milwaukee
3–2
2–2
3–2
1–4
3–2
1–1
1–1
3–2
1–1
0–2
3–2
1–1
2–0
4–0
—
1–1
2–2
4–0
2–0
2–2
1–1
1–1
1–1
1–1
1–1
1–1
3–1
Minnesota
1–1
0–2
1–1
0–2
1–1
4–1
2–3
0–2
1–3
0–5
1–1
1–3
1–3
2–0
1–1
—
1–1
1–1
2–2
2–0
0–4
0–4
3–1
0–4
2–2
1–4
1–1
New Jersey
1–3
1–4
2–2
1–3
2–2
0–2
1–1
1–3
1–1
0–2
1–3
1–1
0–2
3–3
2–2
1–1
—
0–5
1–1
2–3
1–1
0–2
1–1
0–2
1–1
0–2
2–3
New York
1–3
0–5
4–0
0–4
1–3
0–2
1–1
3–1
0–2
0–2
2–2
2–0
1–1
4–1
0–4
1–1
5–0
—
0–2
5–1
0–2
0–2
2–0
1–1
1–1
2–0
3–2
Orlando
1–1
1–1
0–2
0–2
0–2
4–1
3–2
0–2
2–2
2–3
1–1
3–1
0–4
1–1
0–2
2–2
1–1
2–0
—
0–2
2–2
0–4
2–2
1–3
1–3
1–4
1–1
Philadelphia
4–0
3–2
2–2
3–1
2–2
1–1
2–0
2–2
0–2
0–2
3–1
2–0
1–1
4–1
2–2
0–2
3–2
1–5
2–0
—
1–1
1–1
1–1
0–2
1–1
0–2
3–2
Phoenix
2–0
1–1
2–0
1–1
2–0
4–0
4–0
2–0
3–1
1–3
1–1
3–2
2–3
2–0
1–1
4–0
1–1
2–0
2–2
1–1
—
3–2
3–1
1–3
3–2
2–2
2–0
Portland
1–1
1–1
2–0
2–0
2–0
3–1
4–0
1–1
3–2
4–0
2–0
3–1
3–2
2–0
1–1
4–0
2–0
2–0
4–0
1–1
2–3
—
3–2
2–2
4–0
3–1
2–0
Sacramento
0–2
0–2
0–2
0–2
1–1
2–2
1–3
0–2
3–2
1–3
0–2
2–3
0–4
1–1
1–1
1–3
1–1
0–2
2–2
1–1
1–3
2–3
—
1–3
1–4
1–3
2–0
San Antonio
0–2
1–1
1–1
2–0
2–0
4–1
4–1
2–0
2–2
3–2
1–1
2–2
1–3
2–0
1–1
4–0
2–0
1–1
3–1
2–0
3–1
2–2
3–1
—
3–1
2–3
2–0
Seattle
1–1
0–2
2–0
0–2
1–1
2–2
4–0
1–1
1–3
2–2
1–1
3–2
2–3
2–0
1–1
2–2
1–1
1–1
3–1
1–1
2–3
0–4
4–1
1–3
—
1–3
2–0
Utah
1–1
1–1
2–0
0–2
2–0
5–0
3–1
2–0
3–1
2–2
0–2
3–1
2–2
1–1
1–1
4–1
2–0
0–2
4–1
2–0
2–2
1–3
3–1
3–2
3–1
—
2–0
Washington
2–2
1–5
2–2
1–3
3–1
0–2
1–1
1–3
2–0
1–1
2–2
2–0
0–2
2–3
1–3
1–1
3–2
2–3
1–1
2–3
0–2
0–2
0–2
0–2
0–2
0–2
—
1990–91 game log Total: 48–34 (home: 0–0; road: 0–0)
November: 2–1 (home: 1–0; road: 1–1)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location Attendance
Record
1
November 2, 1990
@ Detroit
L 104–115
The Palace of Auburn Hills 21,454
0–1
2
November 3, 1990
Minnesota
W 111–93
Bradley Center 15,102
1–1
3
November 6, 1990
@ Miami
W 106–94
Miami Arena 15,008
2–1
4
November 8, 1990
Philadelphia
W 141–111
Jay Humphries (25)
Greg Anderson (9)
Alvin Robertson (12)
Bradley Center 12,476
3–1
5
November 9, 1990
@ Washington
W 108–100
Ricky Pierce (25)
Capital Centre 8,829
4–1
6
November 13, 1990
@ Boston
W 119–91
Bradley Center 15,321
5–1
December: 0–0 (home: 0–0; road: 0–0)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location Attendance
Record
January: 0–0 (home: 0–0; road: 0–0)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location Attendance
Record
February: 0–0 (home: 0–0; road: 0–0)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location Attendance
Record
March: 0–0 (home: 0–0; road: 0–0)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location Attendance
Record
April: 0–0 (home: 0–0; road: 0–0)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location Attendance
Record
1990–91 schedule
1991 playoff game log
First Round: 0–3 (home: 0–1; road: 0–2)
1991 schedule
Player statistics source:[ 18]
Player Transactions Citation:[ 27]
^ 1990-91 Milwaukee Bucks
^ "A Trading Flurry Uncapped in NBA: Basketball: Ainge Goes to Portland, Schayes to Milwaukee, Pressey to San Antonio, Bol to Philadelphia After Salary Cap Raised by Nearly $2 Million" . Los Angeles Times . Associated Press. August 2, 1990. Retrieved December 15, 2021 .
^ Hente, Karl (August 2, 1990). "As Salary Cap Rises, Players Fly Around NBA" . The Washington Post . Retrieved November 22, 2022 .
^ Goldaper, Sam (November 5, 1990). "N.B.A.; Even Newer Spurs Doing Fine" . The New York Times . Retrieved April 9, 2023 .
^ "THE SIDELINES: Krystkowiak Lost for Season" . Los Angeles Times . Times Wire Services. August 2, 1990. Retrieved November 22, 2022 .
^ "SPORTS PEOPLE: PRO BASKETBALL; Krystkowiak Sidelined" . The New York Times . August 18, 1990. Retrieved March 10, 2022 .
^ "NBA Games Played on February 7, 1991" . Basketball-Reference . Retrieved November 21, 2022 .
^ Smith, Sam (January 30, 1991). "Pippen Bypassed for All-Star Team" . Chicago Tribune . Retrieved November 22, 2022 .
^ "1991 NBA All-Star Game: East 116, West 114" . Basketball-Reference . Retrieved December 2, 2021 .
^ "SPORTS PEOPLE: PRO BASKETBALL; Bucks Trade Pierce for Sonics' Ellis" . The New York Times . February 16, 1991. Retrieved July 26, 2017 .
^ "Bucks Trade Pierce to SuperSonics for Ellis in an Exchange of Guards" . Los Angeles Times . Associated Press. February 16, 1991. Retrieved September 5, 2022 .
^ Peoples, John (February 16, 1991). "Ellis Exits In Trade with Bucks -- Ricky Pierce Newest Sonic in Swap of Unhappy Guards" . The Seattle Times . Retrieved September 5, 2022 .
^ "SuperSonics Trade Ellis to Milwaukee for Pierce" . Deseret News . February 16, 1991. Retrieved April 10, 2023 .
^ "Bucks Sign Dantley" . The New York Times . Associated Press. April 3, 1991. Retrieved September 5, 2022 .
^ "Bucks Replace Injured Ellis by Signing Dantley: NBA: Milwaukee Gets 24.5-Point Career Scorer, But He Hadn't Played at All This Season" . Los Angeles Times . Associated Press. April 3, 1991. Retrieved November 22, 2022 .
^ "Bucks Lose Ellis, Sign Dantley" . United Press International . April 2, 1991. Retrieved November 22, 2022 .
^ "1990–91 Milwaukee Bucks Schedule and Results" . Basketball-Reference. Retrieved October 16, 2021 .
^ a b "1990–91 Milwaukee Bucks Roster and Stats" . Basketball-Reference. Retrieved December 14, 2021 .
^ "SPORTS PEOPLE: PRO BASKETBALL; Rodman Is Named Defensive Player of Year" . The New York Times . May 14, 1991. Retrieved November 22, 2022 .
^ "1990–91 NBA Awards Voting" . Basketball-Reference . Retrieved January 3, 2022 .
^ "Chaney Gets Coaching Award, New Contract" . United Press International . May 23, 1991. Retrieved December 31, 2022 .
^ "Rockets' Chaney Named Coach of Year" . Chicago Tribune . May 24, 1991. Retrieved December 31, 2022 .
^ "BASKETBALL; Barkley and 76ers Complete a Knockout" . The New York Times . Associated Press. May 1, 1991. Retrieved October 16, 2021 .
^ "76ers, Lakers Post Sweeps" . The Washington Post . May 1, 1991. Retrieved April 10, 2023 .
^ Glauber, Bill (May 1, 1991). "76ers Roll Over Bucks, 121-100, to Sweep Series" . The Baltimore Sun . Retrieved September 5, 2022 .
^ "1991 NBA Eastern Conference First Round: 76ers vs. Bucks" . Basketball-Reference . Retrieved April 10, 2023 .
^ "1990–91 Milwaukee Bucks Transactions" . Basketball-Reference. Retrieved October 16, 2021 .