The 1989-90 Utah Jazz season marked a period of solid performance and team growth in the NBA. Coached by Jerry Sloan, the Jazz finished the regular season with a commendable 55-27 record, securing the second spot in the Midwest Division. This season was pivotal in establishing the Jazz as a formidable force in the league, with their success largely attributed to the outstanding performances of their star players.
Point guard John Stockton was instrumental in leading the team, showcasing his exceptional playmaking abilities by averaging 17.2 points and 14.5 assists per game. His efforts earned him an All-NBA Second Team selection. Alongside Stockton, power forward Karl Malone was a dominant force, averaging 31 points and 11.1 rebounds per game. Malone’s stellar performance earned him a place on the All-NBA First Team and solidified his reputation as one of the league’s premier power forwards.
The Jazz’s robust defense, complemented by the scoring prowess of Malone and Stockton, helped them advance to the playoffs with confidence. However, their playoff run was cut short in the Western Conference Semifinals, where they were defeated by the Phoenix Suns in a hard-fought five-game series. Despite the disappointment, the 1989-90 season was a testament to the Jazz’s potential and set the stage for future successes, establishing the Stockton-Malone duo as one of the most formidable partnerships in NBA history.
- Regular Season Record: 55-27
- Playoff Result: Western Conference First Round: 2-3
Utah Jazz Roster and Stats for 1989-90 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Karl Malone | 82 | 31.0 | 11.1 | 2.8 | 1.5 | 0.6 | 37.2 | 5 | 25.2 | 10.2 | 2.2 | 2.2 | 1.0 | 0.0 |
| John Stockton | 78 | 17.2 | 2.6 | 14.5 | 2.7 | 0.2 | 41.6 | 5 | 15.0 | 3.2 | 15.0 | 1.2 | 0.0 | 7.7 |
| Thurl Bailey | 82 | 14.2 | 5.0 | 1.7 | 0.4 | 1.2 | 0.0 | 5 | 21.0 | 6.4 | 1.4 | 1.0 | 1.2 | 0.0 |
| Darrell Griffith | 82 | 8.9 | 2.0 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 37.2 | 5 | 9.4 | 4.2 | 0.6 | 1.2 | 0.2 | 55.6 |
| Blue Edwards | 82 | 8.9 | 3.1 | 1.8 | 0.9 | 0.4 | 30.0 | 5 | 7.2 | 3.6 | 1.6 | 1.4 | 0.4 | 33.3 |
| Bob Hansen | 81 | 7.6 | 2.8 | 1.8 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 35.1 | 5 | 10.0 | 2.8 | 1.0 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 50.0 |
| Mike Brown | 82 | 6.2 | 4.5 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 50.0 | 5 | 3.6 | 2.0 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.0 |
| Mark Eaton | 82 | 4.8 | 7.3 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 2.5 | 0.0 | 5 | 3.8 | 6.0 | 0.0 | 0.6 | 2.8 | 0.0 |
| Eric Leckner | 77 | 4.3 | 2.5 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 3 | 6.0 | 2.7 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 100.0 |
| Delaney Rudd | 77 | 3.5 | 0.7 | 2.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 28.6 | 5 | 3.6 | 0.6 | 2.6 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 14.3 |
| José Ortiz | 13 | 3.2 | 1.2 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 50.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Jim Les | 1 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Nate Johnston | 6 | 1.8 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 100.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Eric Johnson | 48 | 1.1 | 0.6 | 1.3 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 16.6 | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Raymond Brown | 16 | 1.0 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Utah Jazz in the 1990 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs First Round vs. Phoenix Suns
In the first round of the 1990 NBA Playoffs, the Utah Jazz faced the Phoenix Suns in a tightly contested best-of-five series. The Jazz, led by the formidable duo of Karl Malone and John Stockton, showcased their resilience but ultimately fell short, losing the series 3-2. Despite their exit, the series highlighted their potential and set the stage for their future as perennial contenders in the Western Conference.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 27, 1990 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 113-96 | |
| Apr 29, 1990 | vs. Phoenix Suns | L 105-87 | |
| May 02, 1990 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 120-105 | |
| May 04, 1990 | @ Phoenix Suns | W 105-94 | |
| May 06, 1990 | vs. Phoenix Suns | L 104-102 |
Utah Jazz 1989-90 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1989-90 season for the Utah Jazz.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 03, 1989 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 122-113 | |
| Nov 08, 1989 | vs. Charlotte Hornets | W 102-86 | |
| Nov 10, 1989 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 106-92 | |
| Nov 11, 1989 | @ Houston Rockets | L 100-92 | |
| Nov 13, 1989 | vs. Washington Bullets | W 106-93 | |
| Nov 15, 1989 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 108-107 | |
| Nov 17, 1989 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 114-100 | |
| Nov 21, 1989 | @ Minnesota Timberwolves | W 103-101 | |
| Nov 22, 1989 | vs. Orlando Magic | L 119-97 | |
| Nov 25, 1989 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 92-86 | |
| Nov 27, 1989 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 105-68 | |
| Nov 29, 1989 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 100-88 | |
| Dec 01, 1989 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 114-103 | |
| Dec 02, 1989 | @ Washington Bullets | W 100-98 | |
| Dec 05, 1989 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | W 94-80 | |
| Dec 07, 1989 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | W 107-97 | |
| Dec 09, 1989 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 104-90 | |
| Dec 11, 1989 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | L 113-110 | |
| Dec 13, 1989 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 102-95 | |
| Dec 15, 1989 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 94-91 | |
| Dec 17, 1989 | @ Minnesota Timberwolves | W 122-112 | |
| Dec 19, 1989 | @ New York Knicks | L 115-107 | |
| Dec 20, 1989 | @ Boston Celtics | L 113-109 | |
| Dec 22, 1989 | @ Charlotte Hornets | W 114-100 | |
| Dec 23, 1989 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 115-98 | |
| Dec 26, 1989 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 133-118 | |
| Dec 28, 1989 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 113-109 | |
| Dec 30, 1989 | vs. Miami Heat | W 117-98 | |
| Jan 02, 1990 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 133-120 | |
| Jan 03, 1990 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 119-108 | |
| Jan 05, 1990 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 118-89 | |
| Jan 06, 1990 | @ Denver Nuggets | W 123-120 | |
| Jan 10, 1990 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 130-99 | |
| Jan 13, 1990 | @ Dallas Mavericks | W 109-99 | |
| Jan 17, 1990 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 95-88 | |
| Jan 19, 1990 | vs. Charlotte Hornets | W 116-93 | |
| Jan 20, 1990 | @ Sacramento Kings | W 94-81 | |
| Jan 23, 1990 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 102-94 | |
| Jan 25, 1990 | vs. New York Knicks | W 115-89 | |
| Jan 27, 1990 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 144-96 | |
| Jan 30, 1990 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 122-98 | |
| Jan 31, 1990 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | W 120-101 | |
| Feb 02, 1990 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | W 105-92 | |
| Feb 04, 1990 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 115-83 | |
| Feb 05, 1990 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 114-89 | |
| Feb 07, 1990 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 108-101 | |
| Feb 08, 1990 | @ Charlotte Hornets | W 94-74 | |
| Feb 13, 1990 | vs. Minnesota Timberwolves | W 110-104 | |
| Feb 14, 1990 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 114-103 | |
| Feb 16, 1990 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 100-86 | |
| Feb 17, 1990 | vs. Sacramento Kings | W 110-106 | |
| Feb 19, 1990 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 115-102 | |
| Feb 21, 1990 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 116-103 | |
| Feb 22, 1990 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | W 116-102 | |
| Feb 25, 1990 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | W 104-103 | |
| Mar 01, 1990 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 119-102 | |
| Mar 03, 1990 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 112-98 | |
| Mar 05, 1990 | @ Miami Heat | L 105-104 | |
| Mar 06, 1990 | @ Orlando Magic | W 111-101 | |
| Mar 08, 1990 | @ Chicago Bulls | W 98-94 | |
| Mar 09, 1990 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | W 108-100 | |
| Mar 11, 1990 | @ Denver Nuggets | W 110-109 | |
| Mar 13, 1990 | vs. Phoenix Suns | L 114-106 | |
| Mar 15, 1990 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 117-95 | |
| Mar 17, 1990 | @ Sacramento Kings | L 122-109 | |
| Mar 19, 1990 | vs. Sacramento Kings | W 105-97 | |
| Mar 21, 1990 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | W 118-102 | |
| Mar 23, 1990 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 106-91 | |
| Mar 24, 1990 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | W 112-79 | |
| Mar 29, 1990 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 128-123 | |
| Apr 01, 1990 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 119-103 | |
| Apr 03, 1990 | vs. Charlotte Hornets | W 127-104 | |
| Apr 05, 1990 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 101-91 | |
| Apr 09, 1990 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 119-115 | |
| Apr 10, 1990 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 114-102 | |
| Apr 12, 1990 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 107-104 | |
| Apr 14, 1990 | vs. Houston Rockets | L 103-99 | |
| Apr 15, 1990 | @ Minnesota Timberwolves | W 103-90 | |
| Apr 17, 1990 | @ Dallas Mavericks | L 97-96 | |
| Apr 18, 1990 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 102-93 | |
| Apr 20, 1990 | vs. Minnesota Timberwolves | W 97-89 | |
| Apr 22, 1990 | @ Houston Rockets | L 100-88 |