The 1990-91 Denver Nuggets season was marked by a significant struggle as the team finished with a 20-62 record, placing them last in the Midwest Division. Under head coach Paul Westhead, the Nuggets employed a fast-paced, high-scoring offense but faced challenges on the defensive end, consistently allowing high points against them. This approach failed to translate into wins, as they had the worst defensive record in the league, conceding an average of 130.8 points per game.
Despite the team’s overall poor performance, guard Michael Adams emerged as a standout player, averaging 26.5 points and 10.5 assists per game. The Nuggets’ inability to secure victories, coupled with defensive weaknesses, overshadowed individual achievements and led to a disappointing season. The 1990-91 campaign is often remembered for its imbalance between offensive prowess and defensive frailty, ultimately contributing to a major overhaul in the subsequent seasons.
- Regular Season Record: 20-62
- Playoff Result: Did not make playoffs
Denver Nuggets Roster and Stats for 1990-91 Season
POINTS
Michael Adams
26.5
REBOUNDS
Blair Rasmussen
9.7
ASSISTS
Michael Adams
10.5
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Michael Adams | 66 | 26.5 | 3.9 | 10.5 | 2.2 | 0.1 | 29.6 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Orlando Woolridge | 53 | 25.1 | 6.8 | 2.2 | 1.3 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Walter Davis | 39 | 18.7 | 3.2 | 2.2 | 1.6 | 0.1 | 30.3 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Reggie Williams | 51 | 16.1 | 4.8 | 1.7 | 1.8 | 0.6 | 32.8 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf | 67 | 14.1 | 1.8 | 3.1 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 24.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Todd Lichti | 29 | 14.0 | 3.9 | 2.5 | 1.6 | 0.3 | 29.8 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Blair Rasmussen | 70 | 12.5 | 9.7 | 1.0 | 0.7 | 1.9 | 40.1 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Jim Farmer | 25 | 10.0 | 2.5 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 22.7 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Corey Gaines | 10 | 8.3 | 1.4 | 9.1 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 23.8 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Terry Mills | 17 | 7.5 | 5.2 | 0.9 | 0.9 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Jerome Lane | 62 | 7.5 | 9.3 | 2.0 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 25.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Joe Wolf | 74 | 7.3 | 5.4 | 1.4 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 13.3 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Marcus Liberty | 76 | 6.7 | 2.9 | 0.8 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 29.8 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Kenny Battle | 40 | 6.1 | 3.1 | 1.2 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 13.6 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Tim Legler | 10 | 5.8 | 1.8 | 1.2 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 25.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Anthony Cook | 58 | 5.3 | 5.6 | 0.4 | 0.6 | 1.2 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Greg Anderson | 41 | 5.2 | 5.8 | 0.3 | 0.6 | 0.9 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Craig Neal | 10 | 4.4 | 1.6 | 3.7 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 33.3 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Avery Johnson | 21 | 3.8 | 1.0 | 3.7 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Anthony Mason | 3 | 3.3 | 1.7 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| T.R. Dunn | 17 | 3.1 | 2.5 | 1.4 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 25.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Denver Nuggets 1990-91 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1990-91 season for the Denver Nuggets.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 02, 1990 | vs. Golden State Warriors | L 162-158 | |
| Nov 03, 1990 | @ Dallas Mavericks | L 140-110 | |
| Nov 06, 1990 | @ Houston Rockets | L 145-135 | |
| Nov 07, 1990 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 161-153 | |
| Nov 09, 1990 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | L 135-129 | |
| Nov 10, 1990 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 173-143 | |
| Nov 13, 1990 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 155-129 | |
| Nov 15, 1990 | vs. Minnesota Timberwolves | W 121-108 | |
| Nov 17, 1990 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | L 143-112 | |
| Nov 19, 1990 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 122-105 | |
| Nov 21, 1990 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 141-121 | |
| Nov 24, 1990 | vs. Chicago Bulls | L 151-145 | |
| Nov 27, 1990 | vs. Orlando Magic | W 124-113 | |
| Nov 29, 1990 | vs. Sacramento Kings | W 136-128 | |
| Dec 01, 1990 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | L 137-121 | |
| Dec 04, 1990 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 121-117 | |
| Dec 05, 1990 | @ Boston Celtics | L 148-140 | |
| Dec 07, 1990 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 135-126 | |
| Dec 08, 1990 | @ Charlotte Hornets | W 126-119 | |
| Dec 11, 1990 | vs. Washington Bullets | W 128-125 | |
| Dec 13, 1990 | @ Utah Jazz | L 141-126 | |
| Dec 15, 1990 | vs. Phoenix Suns | L 142-134 | |
| Dec 19, 1990 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 144-109 | |
| Dec 22, 1990 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | L 119-110 | |
| Dec 23, 1990 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 132-101 | |
| Dec 26, 1990 | @ Sacramento Kings | W 128-112 | |
| Dec 27, 1990 | vs. Miami Heat | L 124-114 | |
| Dec 29, 1990 | @ Washington Bullets | L 161-133 | |
| Dec 30, 1990 | @ Orlando Magic | L 155-116 | |
| Jan 02, 1991 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 118-107 | |
| Jan 03, 1991 | @ New York Knicks | L 135-108 | |
| Jan 05, 1991 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | L 120-104 | |
| Jan 08, 1991 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 147-125 | |
| Jan 10, 1991 | vs. Houston Rockets | L 156-133 | |
| Jan 12, 1991 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 128-120 | |
| Jan 15, 1991 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 146-99 | |
| Jan 16, 1991 | vs. Charlotte Hornets | W 111-104 | |
| Jan 19, 1991 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | L 117-108 | |
| Jan 21, 1991 | vs. Minnesota Timberwolves | W 115-110 | |
| Jan 24, 1991 | vs. New York Knicks | W 120-117 | |
| Jan 26, 1991 | vs. Utah Jazz | W 120-115 | |
| Jan 29, 1991 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | W 126-122 | |
| Jan 31, 1991 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 123-119 | |
| Feb 02, 1991 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 126-125 | |
| Feb 05, 1991 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 126-103 | |
| Feb 12, 1991 | @ Orlando Magic | L 129-122 | |
| Feb 14, 1991 | @ Miami Heat | L 141-112 | |
| Feb 15, 1991 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 138-110 | |
| Feb 17, 1991 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 126-108 | |
| Feb 18, 1991 | @ Minnesota Timberwolves | L 128-114 | |
| Feb 21, 1991 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | L 122-111 | |
| Feb 23, 1991 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 150-145 | |
| Feb 24, 1991 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | L 129-112 | |
| Feb 26, 1991 | vs. Houston Rockets | L 129-99 | |
| Feb 28, 1991 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 121-108 | |
| Mar 02, 1991 | vs. Orlando Magic | W 126-111 | |
| Mar 05, 1991 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 139-127 | |
| Mar 07, 1991 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 145-125 | |
| Mar 08, 1991 | @ Orlando Magic | L 129-113 | |
| Mar 10, 1991 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | W 124-110 | |
| Mar 12, 1991 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | L 126-123 | |
| Mar 14, 1991 | vs. Minnesota Timberwolves | W 112-105 | |
| Mar 15, 1991 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 127-117 | |
| Mar 17, 1991 | vs. Indiana Pacers | L 130-92 | |
| Mar 18, 1991 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 121-108 | |
| Mar 20, 1991 | vs. Utah Jazz | L 106-98 | |
| Mar 21, 1991 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 136-116 | |
| Mar 23, 1991 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | L 140-136 | |
| Mar 25, 1991 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 118-94 | |
| Mar 29, 1991 | vs. Sacramento Kings | W 140-122 | |
| Mar 30, 1991 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 130-116 | |
| Apr 02, 1991 | @ Dallas Mavericks | L 133-126 | |
| Apr 04, 1991 | @ Minnesota Timberwolves | L 134-122 | |
| Apr 05, 1991 | vs. Houston Rockets | L 126-120 | |
| Apr 07, 1991 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | L 124-117 | |
| Apr 08, 1991 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 118-112 | |
| Apr 12, 1991 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | L 146-130 | |
| Apr 13, 1991 | @ Utah Jazz | L 121-110 | |
| Apr 16, 1991 | vs. Phoenix Suns | L 153-118 | |
| Apr 18, 1991 | @ Sacramento Kings | L 123-104 | |
| Apr 19, 1991 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 125-122 | |
| Apr 21, 1991 | @ Houston Rockets | L 131-125 |