1989–90 Boston Celtics season

The 1989–90 NBA season was the 44th season for the Boston Celtics in the National Basketball Association. With Larry Bird returning after only playing just six games in the 1988–89 season due to heel injuries, and with last year's first round draft pick Brian Shaw leaving the team to play overseas in Italy, the Celtics struggled around .500 during the first month of the season, but would win 11 of their next 15 games, holding a 28–18 record at the All-Star break, finishing second in the Atlantic Division with a solid 52–30 record. The Celtics also qualified for the playoffs for the eleventh consecutive season.

Bird led the way averaging 24.3 points, 9.5 rebounds and 7.5 assists per game, while being named to the All-NBA Second Team, while sixth man Kevin McHale averaged 20.9 points, 8.3 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game, while being named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team, and Robert Parish provided the team with 15.7 points and 10.1 rebounds per game. Bird, McHale and Parish were all selected for the 1990 NBA All-Star Game. In addition, Reggie Lewis contributed 17.0 points per game, and Dennis Johnson provided with 7.1 points and 6.5 assists per game.

In the Eastern Conference First Round of the playoffs, the Celtics looked ready to make a serious run as they jumped out to a 2–0 series lead over the 5th-seeded New York Knicks, with a 157–128 home win in Game 2, which was a playoff record of the most points scored in a game. However, they would collapse as they lost three straight games, losing 3–2 to the Knicks.

Following the season, Johnson retired, and head coach Jimmy Rodgers was fired after coaching the Celtics for two seasons.

Draft picks

Main article: 1989 NBA draft

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	College
1	13	Michael Smith	SF/PF	United States	Brigham Young
2	40	Dino Rađa	PF	Yugoslavia	KK Jugoplastika

Roster

1989–90 Boston Celtics roster

Players

Coaches

Pos.	No.	Name	Height	Weight	DOB	From
G	5	Bagley, John	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)	185 lb (84 kg)	1960–04–23	Boston College
F	33	Bird, Larry	6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)	220 lb (100 kg)	1956–12–07	Indiana State
G/F	34	Gamble, Kevin	6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)	210 lb (95 kg)	1965–11–13	Iowa
G	3	Johnson, Dennis	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)	185 lb (84 kg)	1954–09–18	Pepperdine
C	53	Kleine, Joe	6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)	255 lb (116 kg)	1962–01–04	Arkansas
G	35	Lewis, Reggie	6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)	195 lb (88 kg)	1965–11–21	Northeastern
F	32	McHale, Kevin	6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)	210 lb (95 kg)	1957–12–19	Minnesota
C	00	Parish, Robert	7 ft 0 in (2.13 m)	230 lb (104 kg)	1953–08–30	Centenary
G	4	Paxson, Jim	6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)	200 lb (91 kg)	1957–07–09	Dayton
F	54	Pinckney, Ed	6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)	195 lb (88 kg)	1963–03–27	Villanova
G	13	Smith, Charles	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)	160 lb (73 kg)	1967–11–29	Georgetown
F	11	Smith, Michael	6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)	225 lb (102 kg)	1965–05–19	BYU

Head coach

Jimmy Rodgers

Assistant coach(es)

Legend

(DP) Unsigned draft pick
(FA) Free agent
(S) Suspended
Injured

Regular season

Larry Bird, the Celtics star player, was coming back after surgery to both heels the previous season and later said he never felt the same. Despite the injury, the Celtics were able to rise to 2nd place in the Atlantic Division. By the end of the regular season, the Celtics had scored an average of 110 points per a game, and allowed an average of 106 points per game. During the playoffs against the Knicks that year, the Celtics quickly took the first 2 games of the series, but the New York Knicks would come back and rally to win 3 games in a row, sending the Celtics home.

Season standings

Atlantic Division v t e	W	L	PCT	GB	Home	Road	Div
y-Philadelphia 76ers	53	29	.646	–	34–7	19–22	19–7
x-Boston Celtics	52	30	.634	1	30–11	22–19	19–7
x-New York Knicks	45	37	.549	8	29–12	16–25	17–9
Washington Bullets	31	51	.378	22	20–21	11–30	10–16
Miami Heat	18	64	.220	35	11–30	7–34	4–22
New Jersey Nets	17	65	.207	36	13–28	4–37	9–17

#	Eastern Conference v t e
#	Team	W	L	PCT	GB
1	c-Detroit Pistons	59	23	.720	–
2	y-Philadelphia 76ers	53	29	.646	6
3	x-Chicago Bulls	55	27	.671	4
4	x-Boston Celtics	52	30	.634	7
5	x-New York Knicks	45	37	.549	14
6	x-Milwaukee Bucks	44	38	.537	15
7	x-Cleveland Cavaliers	42	40	.512	17
8	x-Indiana Pacers	42	40	.512	17

9	Atlanta Hawks	41	41	.500	18
10	Washington Bullets	31	51	.378	28
11	Miami Heat	18	64	.220	41
12	Orlando Magic	18	64	.220	41
13	New Jersey Nets	17	65	.207	42

Record vs. opponents

1989-90 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	–	1–3	2–0	0–5	2–3	0–2	1–1	3–2	2–0	2–0	2–3	1–1	0–2	4–0	3–2	1–1	2–2	1–3	5–0	2–2	0–2	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	2–2
Boston	3–1	–	2–0	2–2	3–1	1–1	1–1	2–2	1–1	2–0	1–3	1–1	0–2	5–0	2–2	1–1	5–1	4–1	4–0	3–2	1–1	0–2	2–0	1–1	2–0	1–1	2–3
Charlotte	0–2	0–2	–	0–2	1–1	1–3	3–2	0–2	2–2	1–4	1–1	2–2	0–4	1–1	0–2	2–2	1–1	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–3	0–4	1–3	0–5	0–4	0–5	0–2
Chicago	5–0	2–2	2–0	–	5–0	2–0	1–1	1–4	2–0	1–1	2–3	1–1	1–1	4–0	4–1	2–0	3–1	3–1	3–2	2–2	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	0–2	3–1
Cleveland	3–2	1–3	1–1	0–5	–	0–2	0–2	1–4	1–1	0–2	3–2	1–1	1–1	4–0	3–2	1–1	4–0	2–2	4–1	2–2	1–1	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–1	3–1
Dallas	2–0	1–1	3–1	0–2	2–0	–	2–3	1–1	3–1	4–1	2–0	3–1	0–4	2–0	1–1	4–1	2–0	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–3	0–4	3–1	3–2	2–2	1–3	1–1
Denver	1–1	1–1	2–3	1–1	2–0	3–2	–	0–2	2–2	4–1	0–2	2–2	0–4	2–0	1–1	5–0	2–0	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–3	2–2	4–0	1–3	2–2	0–4	1–1
Detroit	2–3	2–2	2–0	4–1	4–1	1–1	2–0	–	1–1	1–1	4–1	1–1	1–1	3–1	3–2	2–0	4–0	4–0	5–0	1–3	2–0	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–1	4–0
Golden State	0–2	1–1	2–2	0–2	1–1	1–3	2–2	1–1	–	2–2	1–1	3–1	1–4	2–0	1–1	3–1	2–0	0–2	2–0	1–1	0–5	2–2	3–2	1–3	2–3	2–2	1–1
Houston	0–2	0–2	4–1	1–1	2–0	1–4	1–4	1–1	2–2	–	1–1	2–2	2–2	1–1	1–1	2–2	1–1	1–1	2–0	1–1	2–2	1–3	4–0	2–2	2–2	3–2	1–1
Indiana	3–2	3–1	1–1	3–2	2–3	0–2	2–0	1–4	1–1	1–1	–	0–2	0–2	3–1	3–2	1–1	4–0	1–3	4–1	0–4	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	3–1
L.A. Clippers	1–1	1–1	2–2	1–1	1–1	1–3	2–2	1–1	1–3	2–2	2–0	–	1–4	0–2	1–1	3–1	2–0	0–2	2–0	0–2	0–4	0–5	2–3	0–4	3–2	0–4	1–1
L.A. Lakers	2–0	2–0	4–0	1–1	1–1	4–0	4–0	1–1	4–1	2–2	2–0	4–1	–	2–0	1–1	4–0	2–0	2–0	1–1	1–1	3–1	2–3	5–0	2–2	4–0	2–2	1–1
Miami	0–4	0–5	1–1	0–4	0–4	0–2	0–2	1–3	0–2	1–1	1–3	2–0	0–2	–	2–2	1–1	1–4	1–5	3–1	0–5	0–2	0–2	1–1	0–2	0–2	1–1	2–3
Milwaukee	2–3	2–2	2–0	1–4	2–3	1–1	1–1	2–3	1–1	1–1	2–3	1–1	1–1	2–2	–	2–0	4–0	2–2	5–0	1–3	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	2–0	0–2	3–1
Minnesota	1–1	1–1	2–2	0–2	1–1	1–4	0–5	0–2	1–3	2–2	1–1	1–3	0–4	1–1	0–2	–	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	0–4	1–3	2–2	1–4	1–3	0–5	1–1
New Jersey	2–2	1–5	1–1	1–3	0–4	0–2	0–2	0–4	0–2	1–1	0–4	0–2	0–2	4–1	0–4	1–1	–	1–4	1–3	1–4	0–2	0–2	1–1	0–2	0–2	0–2	2–3
New York	3–1	1–4	1–1	1–3	2–2	1–1	1–1	0–4	2–0	1–1	3–1	2–0	0–2	5–1	2–2	1–1	4–1	–	2–2	2–3	1–1	0–2	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–1	5–0
Orlando	0–5	0–4	1–1	2–3	1–4	0–2	0–2	0–5	0–2	0–2	1–4	0–2	1–1	1–3	0–5	1–1	3–1	2–2	–	2–2	0–2	0–2	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	0–4
Philadelphia	2–2	2–3	2–0	2–2	2–2	1–1	1–1	3–1	1–1	1–1	4–0	2–0	1–1	5–0	3–1	1–1	4–1	3–2	2–2	–	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	5–1
Phoenix	2–0	1–1	3–1	0–2	1–1	3–1	3–1	0–2	5–0	2–2	1–1	4–0	1–3	2–0	1–1	4–0	2–0	1–1	2–0	1–1	–	2–3	5–0	0–4	3–2	3–1	2–0
Portland	1–1	2–0	4–0	1–1	1–1	4–0	2–2	1–1	2–2	3–1	1–1	5–0	3–2	2–0	1–1	3–1	2–0	2–0	2–0	1–1	3–2	–	4–0	3–1	3–2	2–2	1–1
Sacramento	1–1	0–2	3–1	1–1	0–2	1–3	0–4	0–2	2–3	0–4	1–1	3–2	0–5	1–1	1–1	2–2	1–1	0–2	1–1	1–1	0–5	0–4	–	0–4	2–2	1–3	1–1
San Antonio	1–1	1–1	5–0	1–1	1–1	2–3	3–1	1–1	3–1	2–2	1–1	4–0	2–2	2–0	1–1	4–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–1	4–0	1–3	4–0	–	3–1	3–2	2–0
Seattle	1–1	0–2	4–0	1–1	1–1	2–2	2–2	1–1	3–2	2–2	1–1	2–3	0–4	2–0	0–2	3–1	2–0	1–1	2–0	1–1	2–3	2–3	2–2	1–3	–	1–3	2–0
Utah	1–1	1–1	5–0	2–0	1–1	3–1	4–0	1–1	2–2	2–3	1–1	4–0	2–2	1–1	2–0	5–0	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–3	2–2	3–1	2–3	3–1	–	2–0
Washington	2–2	3–2	2–0	1–3	1–3	1–1	1–1	0–4	1–1	1–1	1–3	1–1	1–1	3–2	1–3	1–1	3–2	0–5	4–0	1–5	0–2	1–1	1–1	0–2	0–2	0–2	—

Game log

Playoffs

1990 playoff game log

First round: 2–3 (home: 2–1; road: 0–2)

Game	Date	Team	Score	High points	High rebounds	High assists	Location Attendance	Series
1	April 26	New York	W 116–105	Larry Bird (24)	Larry Bird (18)	Larry Bird (10)	Boston Garden 14,890	1–0
2	April 28	New York	W 157–128	Kevin McHale (31)	Robert Parish (16)	Larry Bird (16)	Boston Garden 14,890	2–0
3	May 2	@ New York	L 99–102	Larry Bird (31)	Robert Parish (10)	Larry Bird (8)	Madison Square Garden 18,212	2–1
4	May 4	@ New York	L 108–135	Kevin McHale (24)	Larry Bird (8)	Johnson, Bagley (6)	Madison Square Garden 18,212	2–2
5	May 6	New York	L 114–121	Larry Bird (31)	Bird, Parish (9)	Dennis Johnson (10)	Boston Garden 14,890	2–3

1990 schedule

Player statistics

Legend
GP	Games played	GS	Games started	MPG	Minutes per game
FG%	Field-goal percentage	3P%	3-point field-goal percentage	FT%	Free-throw percentage
RPG	Rebounds per game	APG	Assists per game	SPG	Steals per game
BPG	Blocks per game	PPG	Points per game

Regular season

Boston Celtics statistics
Player	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
John Bagley	54	17	20.3	.459	.056	.744	1.6	5.5	.7	.1	4.3
Larry Bird	75	75	39.3	.473	.333	.930	9.5	7.5	1.4	.8	24.3
Kevin Gamble	71	10	13.9	.455	.167	.794	1.6	1.7	.4	.1	5.1
Dennis Johnson	75	65	27.1	.434	.042	.843	2.7	6.5	1.1	.2	7.1
Joe Kleine	81	4	16.9	.480	.000	.830	4.4	.6	.2	.3	5.4
Reggie Lewis	79	54	31.9	.496	.267	.808	4.4	2.8	1.1	.8	17.0
Kevin McHale	82	25	33.2	.549	.333	.893	8.3	2.1	.4	1.9	20.9
Robert Parish	79	78	30.3	.580		.747	10.1	1.3	.5	.9	15.7
Jim Paxson	72	25	17.8	.453	.250	.811	1.1	1.9	.5	.1	6.4
Ed Pinckney	77	50	14.1	.542	.000	.773	2.9	.9	.4	.5	4.7
Charles Smith	60	0	8.7	.444	.000	.697	1.2	1.7	.6	.1	2.9
Michael Smith	65	7	9.5	.476	.071	.828	1.5	1.2	.1	.0	5.0
Kelvin Upshaw	14	0	9.4	.308	.400	.667	.9	2.0	.1	.1	2.1

Playoffs

Boston Celtics statistics
Player	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
John Bagley	5	0	14.0	.533	.000	.750	.8	3.4	.8	.2	3.8
Larry Bird	5	5	41.4	.444	.263	.906	9.2	8.8	1.0	1.0	24.4
Kevin Gamble	3	0	2.7	.600			.3	.7	.0	.0	2.0
Dennis Johnson	5	5	32.4	.484	.333	1.000	2.8	5.6	.4	.4	13.8
Joe Kleine	5	0	15.8	.765	.000	.833	2.8	.4	.4	.6	6.2
Reggie Lewis	5	5	40.0	.597	.000	.771	5.0	4.4	1.4	.4	20.2
Kevin McHale	5	5	38.4	.609	.333	.862	7.8	2.6	.4	2.0	22.0
Robert Parish	5	5	34.0	.574		.944	10.0	2.6	1.0	1.4	15.8
Jim Paxson	5	0	12.4	.500	.000	.750	.0	1.4	1.0	.0	3.8
Ed Pinckney	4	0	6.3	.857		.778	1.5	.0	.0	.0	4.8
Charles Smith	3	0	3.0	.500			.3	1.0	.3	.0	.7
Michael Smith	4	0	4.0	.625	.000	1.000	.0	.0	.3	.0	4.3

Awards and records

Transactions

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References

"1989-90 Boston Celtics Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved February 9, 2021.
Brown, Clifton (October 13, 1989). "With Bird Walking Normally, Celtics Prepare to Walk Tall". The New York Times. Retrieved December 15, 2021.
Aldridge, David (October 31, 1989). "Bird Has the Floor, with Motion Being Considered". The Washington Post. Retrieved December 30, 2022.
Eisenberg, John (November 12, 1989). "Boston's Bird Still Scraping Off the Rust: Comeback: Celtics' Star Is Finally Able to Run Up and Down the Court Without Feeling Pain in His Feet". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
Goldaper, Sam (November 27, 1989). "Bird Not Bringing Celtics Much Magic". The New York Times. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
"Celtics' Shaw Reportedly Will Play in Italy". Los Angeles Times. August 10, 1989. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
"Celtics' Shaw Signs with Italian club". United Press International. August 10, 1989. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
"SPORTS PEOPLE: BASKETBALL; Another Up-and-Comer Joins Italian Team". The New York Times. August 11, 1989. Retrieved December 15, 2021.
"NBA Games Played on February 8, 1990". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
^ "1989–90 Boston Celtics Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved December 9, 2021.
"Boston Celtics". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved January 31, 2022.
Howard-Cooper, Scott (February 11, 1990). "NBA ALL-STAR GAME: Entire Family Is Back Together--Almost". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
"Bird, Johnson Return Magic to All-Star Game". Sun Sentinel. February 11, 1990. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
"1990 NBA All-Star Recap". NBA.com. NBA.com Staff. September 13, 2021. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
"1990 NBA All-Star Game: East 130, West 113". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved December 9, 2021.
"1989–90 Boston Celtics Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved December 14, 2021.
Goldaper, Sam (April 29, 1990). "Boston Massacre: Knicks Lose Historically". The New York Times. Retrieved January 19, 2022.
Hafner, Dan (April 29, 1990). "NBA ROUNDUP: Celtics Run Knicks Out of Town, 157-128". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
Aldridge, David (April 29, 1990). "Celtics' 157-128 Win Pushes Knicks to Embarrassing Edge". The Washington Post. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
"1990 NBA Eastern Conference First Round Game 2: New York Knicks at Boston Celtics Box Score, April 28, 1990". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved April 9, 2023.
Goldaper, Sam (May 7, 1990). "Breakthrough in Boston: Knicks Roll, 121-114". The New York Times. Retrieved December 9, 2021.
"Knicks Bury Celtics in the Garden, 121-114: NBA Playoffs: New York Rallies from 2-0 Deficit to Take Best-of-Five Series, Winning in Boston for First Time Since 1984". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. May 7, 1990. Retrieved December 31, 2022.
Aldridge, David (May 7, 1990). "Knicks Nix Jinx, Celtics in Game 5". The Washington Post. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
"1990 NBA Eastern Conference First Round: Knicks vs. Celtics". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved April 9, 2023.
"Celtics Won't Re-Sign Dennis Johnson". United Press International. October 1, 1990. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
"SPORTS PEOPLE: PRO BASKETBALL; Johnson Not Offered Contract by Celtics". The New York Times. October 2, 1990. Retrieved December 15, 2021.
"The Boston Celtics Have Decided Not to..." Los Angeles Times. October 2, 1990. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
"Celtics Said Goodbye to D.J." Chicago Tribune. October 2, 1990. Retrieved April 9, 2023.
Thomas Jr., Robert McG. (May 9, 1990). "Celtics Drop Rodgers as Coach After 2 Years". The New York Times. Retrieved January 19, 2022.
"Rodgers Is Fired by Celtics". Los Angeles Times. Times Wire Services. May 9, 1990. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
Ryan, Bob (May 9, 1990). "Celtics' Rodgers Fired by Bosses; He's Better Off". Sun Sentinel. Retrieved December 30, 2022.
"Sports Apparel, Jerseys and Fan Gear at Fanatics.com Sports Shop". www.footballfanatics.com. Retrieved February 9, 2021.

1989–90 NBA season by team

Eastern

Atlantic	Boston Miami New Jersey New York Philadelphia Washington
Central	Atlanta Chicago Cleveland Detroit Indiana Milwaukee Orlando

Western

Midwest	Charlotte Dallas Denver Houston Minnesota San Antonio Utah
Pacific	Golden State L.A. Clippers L.A. Lakers Phoenix Portland Sacramento Seattle

v t e Boston Celtics
Founded in 1946 Based in Boston, Massachusetts
Franchise	History All-time roster Draft history Accomplishments and records Head coaches Seasons Current season
Arenas	Boston Arena Boston Garden Hartford Civic Center TD Garden
Personnel	Owner(s) Boston Basketball Partners President Rich Gotham General manager Brad Stevens Head coach Joe Mazzulla
G League affiliate	Maine Celtics
Retired numbers	00 1 2 3 5 6 10 14 15 16 17 18 19 21 22 23 24 25 31 32 33 34 35 LOSCY MIC
NBA championships	1957 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1968 1969 1974 1976 1981 1984 1986 2008 2024
Rivalries	Detroit Pistons Los Angeles Lakers Miami Heat New York Knicks Philadelphia 76ers
Culture and lore	Broadcasters Radio network Celtic Pride Celtics/Lakers: Best of Enemies Lakers versus Celtics and the NBA Playoffs Mike Gorman Johnny Most "Havlicek stole the ball" 1961 Boston Celtics boycott Auerbach Center North Station The Sports Museum of New England Reebok Pro Summer League Newhart Uncut Gems Extended Family Starting 5 Jaylen Brown & Jayson Tatum
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