1989–90 Chicago Bulls season

Updated on Jan 19, 2024

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Record 55–27 (.671) Period 1989 – 1990 Owner Jerry Reinsdorf Televisions FSN Chicago, WGN-TV		Head coach Phil Jackson Arena Chicago Stadium Radio WMVP
Place Division: 2nd (Central) Conference: 3rd (Eastern) Playoff finish East Conference Finals (Eliminated by Pistons 3–4) Similar 1988–89 Chicago Bulls sea, 1985–86 Chicago Bulls sea, 1990–91 Chicago Bulls sea, 1966–67 Chicago Bulls sea, 1996–97 Chicago Bulls sea

The 1989–90 NBA season was the Bulls' 24th season in the National Basketball Association. Despite their solid playoff run last year, the Bulls fired head coach Doug Collins and replaced him with Phil Jackson. Under Jackson, the Bulls finished the regular season with a 55–27 record, averaging 109.5 points per game and being led by Michael Jordan's league-leading 33.6 ppg. Clinching second place in the Central Division and a third seed in the playoffs, the Bulls defeated the Milwaukee Bucks three games to one in the first round, then defeated the Philadelphia 76ers four games to one in the semifinals. They advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals before losing a seven-game series to the eventual champion Detroit Pistons.

On March 28, 1990, Jordan scored a career-high 69 points against the Cleveland Cavaliers, the highest scoring output by an NBA player since David Thompson's 73 points on April 9, 1978, against the Detroit Pistons. Scottie Pippen made his first All-Star appearance as he was selected for the 1990 NBA All-Star Game along with Jordan.

Depth chart

C – Bill Cartwright

PF – Horace Grant

SF – Scottie Pippen

SG – Michael Jordan

PG – John Paxson

Season standings

z – clinched division title y – clinched division title x – clinched playoff spot

East First Round

(3) Chicago Bulls vs. (6) Milwaukee Bucks: Bulls win series 3-1

Game 1 @ Chicago Stadium, Chicago (April 27): Chicago 111, Milwaukee 97

Game 2 @ Chicago Stadium, Chicago (April 29): Chicago 109, Milwaukee 102

Game 3 @ Bradley Center, Milwaukee (May 1): Milwaukee 119, Chicago 112

Game 4 @ Bradley Center, Milwaukee (May 3): Chicago 110, Milwaukee 86

Last Playoff Meeting: 1985 Eastern Conference First Round (Milwaukee won 3-1)

East Conference Semifinals

(2) Philadelphia 76ers vs. (3) Chicago Bulls: Bulls win series 4-1

Game 1 @ Chicago Stadium, Chicago (May 7): Chicago 96, Philadelphia 85

Game 2 @ Chicago Stadium, Chicago (May 9): Chicago 101, Philadelphia 96

Game 3 @ The Spectrum, Philadelphia (May 11): Philadelphia 118, Chicago 112

Game 4 @ The Spectrum, Philadelphia (May 13): Chicago 111, Philadelphia 101

Game 5 @ Chicago Stadium, Chicago (May 16): Chicago 117, Philadelphia 99

Last Playoff Meeting: Not available (first playoff meeting)

East Conference Finals

(1) Detroit Pistons vs. (3) Chicago Bulls: Pistons win series 4-3

Game 1 @ The Palace of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills (May 20): Detroit 86, Chicago 77

Game 2 @ The Palace of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills (May 22): Detroit 102, Chicago 93

Game 3 @ Chicago Stadium, Chicago (May 26): Chicago 107, Detroit 102

Game 4 @ Chicago Stadium, Chicago (May 28): Chicago 108, Detroit 101

Game 5 @ The Palace of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills (May 30): Detroit 97, Chicago 83

Game 6 @ Chicago Stadium, Chicago (June 1): Chicago 109, Detroit 91

Game 7 @ The Palace of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills (June 3): Detroit 93, Chicago 74

Last Playoff Meeting: 1989 Eastern Conference Finals (Detroit won 4-3)

Awards and records

Craig Hodges, NBA All-Star Weekend Three-Point Shootout Winner

Michael Jordan, All-NBA First Team

Michael Jordan, NBA All-Defensive First Team

Stacey King, NBA All-Rookie Team 2nd Team

Michael Jordan, NBA All-Star Game

Scottie Pippen, NBA All-Star Game

References

1989–90 Chicago Bulls season Wikipedia

(Text) CC BY-SA

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