1990 NBA draft
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| 1990 NBA draft | |
|---|---|
| General information | |
| Sport | Basketball |
| DateTemplate:Pluralize from text | June 27, 1990 |
| Location | Felt Forum, Madison Square Garden (New York City, New York)[1] |
| NetworkTemplate:Pluralize from text | TNT |
| Overview | |
| 54 total selections in 2 rounds | |
| League | NBA |
| First selection | Derrick Coleman (New Jersey Nets) |
| Hall of Famers | 2
|
| Template:Succession links | |
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The 1990 NBA draft took place on June 27, 1990, in New York City, New York. One of the standouts of this draft is Basketball Hall of Famer Gary Payton.[2][3] He became a nine-time All-Star, achieved the NBA Defensive Player of the Year award in 1996, won an NBA Championship with the Miami Heat in 2006, holds many statistical records during his tenure with the since rebranded and relocated Seattle SuperSonics, and was inducted in the Hall of Fame in 2013.
The top pick of the draft was Syracuse's Derrick Coleman who was selected by the New Jersey Nets. In total, 52 of the 54 players selected went on to play at least one competitive game in the NBA, and six players were at some point of their career selected to play in the NBA All-Star Game. One player who had been projected to be a lottery pick as well as possibly the number one by media outlets and draft analysts was Loyola Marymount's Hank Gathers, who died of a heart condition in March 1990 after collapsing during a game.
Not including Gathers, six former first-round picks from this draft are deceased as of 2026: Felton Spencer, Alec Kessler, Jerrod Mustaf, Dwayne Schintzius, Lance Blanks, and Elden Campbell.
Draft selections
| PG | Point guard | SG | Shooting guard | SF | Small forward | PF | Power forward | C | Center |
| ^ | Denotes player who has been inducted to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame |
| * | Denotes player who has been selected for at least one All-Star Game and All-NBA Team |
| + | Denotes player who has been selected for at least one All-Star Game |
| x | Denotes player who has been selected for at least one All-NBA Team |
| # | Denotes player who has never appeared in an NBA regular-season or playoff game |
| ~ | Denotes player who has been selected as Rookie of the Year |
| Round | Pick | Player | Pos. | Nationality[n 1] | NBA team | School/Club team |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Script error: No such module "Sort".*~ | PF/C |  United States
|
New Jersey Nets | Syracuse (Sr.) |
| 1 | 2 | Script error: No such module "Sort".^ | PG | United States
|
Seattle SuperSonics (from Golden State) | Oregon State (Sr.) |
| 1 | 3 | Script error: No such module "Sort".[n 2] | PG | United States
|
Denver Nuggets (from Miami) | LSU (So.) |
| 1 | 4 | Script error: No such module "Sort". | SG/SF | United States
|
Orlando Magic | Georgia Tech (Jr.) |
| 1 | 5 | Script error: No such module "Sort". | SG | United States
|
Charlotte Hornets | Illinois (Sr.) |
| 1 | 6 | Script error: No such module "Sort". | C | United States
|
Minnesota Timberwolves | Louisville (Sr.) |
| 1 | 7 | Script error: No such module "Sort". | SF | United States
|
Sacramento Kings | La Salle (Sr.) |
| 1 | 8 | Script error: No such module "Sort". | SG | United States
|
Los Angeles Clippers | Loyola Marymount (Sr.) |
| 1 | 9 | Script error: No such module "Sort". | SG | United States
|
Miami Heat (from Washington via Dallas and Denver) | Minnesota (Sr.) |
| 1 | 10 | Script error: No such module "Sort". | PG | United States
|
Atlanta Hawks (from Golden State) | Michigan (Sr.) |
| 1 | 11 | Script error: No such module "Sort".+ | PF | United States
|
Golden State Warriors (from Atlanta) | Xavier (Sr.) |
| 1 | 12 | Script error: No such module "Sort". | PF | United States
|
Houston Rockets (traded to Miami for Carl Herrera and the rights to Dave Jamerson) | Georgia (Sr.) |
| 1 | 13 | Script error: No such module "Sort". | PF | United States
|
Los Angeles Clippers (from Cleveland) | Michigan (Sr.) |
| 1 | 14 | Script error: No such module "Sort". | PG | United States
|
Sacramento Kings (from Indiana via Dallas) | Texas (Sr.) |
| 1 | 15 | Script error: No such module "Sort". | SG | United States
|
Miami Heat (from Denver; traded with Carl Herrera to Houston for the rights to Alec Kessler) | Ohio (Sr.) |
| 1 | 16 | Script error: No such module "Sort". | SF | United States
|
Milwaukee Bucks | Michigan (Sr.) |
| 1 | 17 | Script error: No such module "Sort". | PF/C | United States
|
New York Knicks | Maryland (So.) |
| 1 | 18 | Script error: No such module "Sort". | C | United States
|
Sacramento Kings (from Dallas) | Temple (Sr.) |
| 1 | 19 | Script error: No such module "Sort". | SG | United States
|
Boston Celtics | Jacksonville (Sr.) |
| 1 | 20 | Script error: No such module "Sort". | SF/SG | United States
|
Minnesota Timberwolves (from Philadelphia) | Ole Miss (Sr.) |
| 1 | 21 | Script error: No such module "Sort".+ | PF/C | United States
|
Phoenix Suns | St. John's (Sr.) |
| 1 | 22 | Script error: No such module "Sort". | SG | United States
|
New Jersey Nets (from Chicago) | Connecticut (Sr.) |
| 1 | 23 | Script error: No such module "Sort". | PF/SF | United States
|
Sacramento Kings (from Utah) | Saint Louis (Sr.) |
| 1 | 24 | Script error: No such module "Sort". | C | United States
|
San Antonio Spurs | Florida (Sr.) |
| 1 | 25 | Script error: No such module "Sort". | PF | United States
|
Portland Trail Blazers | Duke (Sr.) |
| 1 | 26 | Script error: No such module "Sort". | PG/SG | United States
|
Detroit Pistons | Texas (Sr.) |
| 1 | 27 | Script error: No such module "Sort". | PF/C | United States
|
Los Angeles Lakers | Clemson (Sr.) |
| 2 | 28 | Script error: No such module "Sort". | C | United States
|
Golden State Warriors | Iowa (Sr.) |
| 2 | 29 | Script error: No such module "Sort".^ | SF | Script error: No such module "flag". | Chicago Bulls (from Orlando) | KK Split (Yugoslavia) |
| 2 | 30 | Script error: No such module "Sort". | PF | Script error: No such module "flag". | Miami Heat | Houston (Jr.) |
| 2 | 31 | Script error: No such module "Sort". | PG | United States
|
Phoenix Suns | Dayton (Sr.) |
| 2 | 32 | Script error: No such module "Sort". | SG | United States
|
Philadelphia 76ers | Georgia Tech (Sr.) |
| 2 | 33 | Script error: No such module "Sort". | C | United States
|
Utah Jazz | Dartmouth (Sr.) |
| 2 | 34 | Script error: No such module "Sort". | PG | United States
|
Golden State Warriors | Kansas (Sr.) |
| 2 | 35 | Script error: No such module "Sort". | PF/C | United States
|
Washington Bullets | UTEP (Sr.) |
| 2 | 36 | Script error: No such module "Sort". | SF | United States
|
Atlanta Hawks | UCLA (Sr.) |
| 2 | 37 | Script error: No such module "Sort". | SG | United States
|
Washington Bullets | Virginia Union (Sr.) |
| 2 | 38 | Script error: No such module "Sort". | SF | United States
|
Seattle SuperSonics | Arizona (Sr.) |
| 2 | 39 | Script error: No such module "Sort". | C/PF | United States
|
Charlotte Hornets | Purdue (Sr.) |
| 2 | 40 | Script error: No such module "Sort". | PG | United States
|
Sacramento Kings | Virginia Tech (Sr.) |
| 2 | 41 | Script error: No such module "Sort". | SG | United States
|
Atlanta Hawks | Illinois (Sr.) |
| 2 | 42 | Script error: No such module "Sort". | SF | United States
|
Denver Nuggets | Illinois (So.) |
| 2 | 43 | Script error: No such module "Sort". | PF/C | United States
|
San Antonio Spurs | Maryland (Sr.) |
| 2 | 44 | Script error: No such module "Sort". | PG | United States
|
Milwaukee Bucks | Kansas State (Sr.) |
| 2 | 45 | Script error: No such module "Sort".+ | PF/C | United States
|
Indiana Pacers | UTEP (Sr.) |
| 2 | 46 | Script error: No such module "Sort". | SF/PF | United States
|
Indiana Pacers | Barton CC (Fr.) |
| 2 | 47 | Script error: No such module "Sort". | PF | United States
|
Philadelphia 76ers | Xavier (Jr.) |
| 2 | 48 | Script error: No such module "Sort".+ | SF | United States
|
Phoenix Suns | Cal State Fullerton (Sr.) |
| 2 | 49 | Script error: No such module "Sort".# | SG | United States
|
Dallas Mavericks | Duke (Sr.) |
| 2 | 50 | Script error: No such module "Sort". | C | Script error: No such module "flag". | Phoenix Suns | Tennessee Tech (Jr.) |
| 2 | 51 | Script error: No such module "Sort". | SG/PG | United States
|
Los Angeles Lakers (from San Antonio) | Marquette (Sr.) |
| 2 | 52 | Script error: No such module "Sort". | PF/C | File:Flag of Italy.svg Italy | Cleveland Cavaliers | Ranger Varese (Italy) |
| 2 | 53 | Script error: No such module "Sort".# | C | United States
|
Seattle SuperSonics | Providence (Sr.) |
| 2 | 54 | Script error: No such module "Sort". | SG/SF | United States
|
San Antonio Spurs (from L.A. Lakers) | Michigan (Jr.) |
Notable undrafted players
Script error: No such module "labelled list hatnote". These players were not selected in the 1990 draft but played at least one game in the NBA.
| Player | Position | Nationality | School/Club team |
|---|---|---|---|
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | F | United States
|
Alabama (Sr.) |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | SF | United States
|
Charlotte (Sr.) |
| David Benoit | SF | United States
|
Alabama (Sr.) |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | F | United States
|
Iowa (Sr.) |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | SG | United States
|
Kansas (Sr.) |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | SF | United States
|
Minnesota (Sr.) |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | PF/C | Template:IRE | Providence (Sr.) |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | SG/SF | United States
|
Georgia Southern (Sr.) |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | C | United States
|
Evansville (Sr.) |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | PF/C | Script error: No such module "flag". | Cantera Instituto Manuel Fajardo (Cuba) |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | SG | United States
|
New Orleans (Sr.) |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | SG | United States
|
Oklahoma (Sr.) |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | SF | United States
|
NC State (Sr.) |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | PG | United States
|
Towson (Sr.) |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | SF | File:Flag of the Bahamas.svg The Bahamas | Tennessee (Sr.) |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | SG | United States
|
Florida State (Sr.) |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | PF | United States
|
USC (Sr.) |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | SG | United States
|
Minnesota (Sr.) |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | C/PF | United States
|
Fordham (Sr.) |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | C | United States
|
UAB (Sr.) |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | PF | United States
|
McNeese State (Sr.) |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | G | United States
|
Washington (Sr.) |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | SF/SG | United States
|
Centenary (Sr.) |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | PF | United States
|
Florida State (Sr.) |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | SG | United States
|
Syracuse (Sr.) |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | SG/SF | United States
|
BYU (Sr.) |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | C/PF | United States
|
North Carolina (Sr.) |
Early entrants
College underclassmen
For the eighth year in a row and the twelfth time in thirteen years, no college underclassman would withdraw their entry into the NBA draft. Not only that, but this would be the fifth year in a row where a player that qualified for the status of a "college underclassman" would be playing professional basketball overseas, with former Grambling State University player Jesse Spinner going to Austria to play professionally for the Sefra Tyrolia. Including him, that expands the number of underclassmen for this year out to fourteen total players. Regardless, the following college basketball players successfully applied for early draft entrance.[5]
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- Template:Flagicon Kelvin Ardister – F, Idaho (junior)
- Template:Flagicon Herb Barthol – C, Cleveland State (junior)
- Template:Flagicon Gabriel Estaba – F, South Alabama (junior)
- Template:Flagicon David Shon Henderson – G, Idaho (junior)
- Template:Flagicon Carl Herrera – F, Houston (junior)
- Template:Flagicon Sean Higgins – F, Michigan (junior)
- Template:Flagicon Chris Jackson – G, LSU (sophomore)
- Template:Flagicon Marcus Liberty – F, Illinois (junior)
- Template:Flagicon Kenny Miller – F, Barton County CC (junior)
- Template:Flagicon Jerrod Mustaf – F, Maryland (sophomore)
- Template:Flagicon Dennis Scott – F, Georgia Tech (junior)
- Template:Flagicon Per Stumer – F, Loyola Marymount (junior)
- Template:Flagicon Kenny Williams – F, Elizabeth City State (sophomore)
Other eligible players
This would be the fifth year in a row with at least one player that previously played in college entering the NBA draft as an underclassman, as well as the first year where a player didn't go out to either Italy or France to play overseas professionally first.
| Player | Page Template:Tooltip/styles.css has no content.Template:Encodefirst | Note | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Template:Flagicon Jesse Spinner | Sefra Tyrolia (Austria) | Left Grambling State in 1988; playing professionally since the 1989–90 season | [6] |
Invited attendees
The 1990 NBA draft is considered to be the thirteenth NBA draft to have utilized what's properly considered the "green room" experience for NBA prospects. The NBA's green room is a staging area where anticipated draftees often sit with their families and representatives, waiting for their names to be called on draft night. Often being positioned either in front of or to the side of the podium (in this case, being positioned within the nearby Jacob Javits Center[7]), once a player heard his name, he would walk to the podium to shake hands and take promotional photos with the NBA commissioner. From there, the players often conducted interviews with various media outlets while backstage. From there, the players often conducted interviews with various media outlets while backstage. However, once the NBA draft started to air nationally on TV starting with the 1980 NBA draft, the green room evolved from players waiting to hear their name called and then shaking hands with these select players who were often called to the hotel to take promotional pictures with the NBA commissioner a day or two after the draft concluded to having players in real-time waiting to hear their names called up and then shaking hands with David Stern, the NBA's commissioner at the time.[8] The NBA compiled its list of green room invites through collective voting by the NBA's team presidents and general managers alike, which in this year's case belonged to only what they believed were the top 17 prospects at the time.[9] Despite the large amount of invites and them successfully avoiding any inviting prospects waiting into the second round (following the tragic passing of potential #1 pick Hank Gathers), some notable absences from this group include Tyrone Hill from Xavier University, Jayson Williams from St. John's University, future Hall of Famer Toni Kukoč, Antonio Davis from UTEP, and Cedric Ceballos from Cal State Fullerton. Even so, the following players were invited to attend this year's draft festivities live and in person.[7]
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- Template:Flagicon/Template:Flagicon Alaa Abdelnaby – PF/C, Duke
- Template:Flagicon Dee Brown – SG, Jacksonville
- Template:Flagicon Willie Burton – SG, Minnesota
- Template:Flagicon Duane Causwell – C, Temple
- Template:Flagicon Derrick Coleman – PF/C, Syracuse
- Template:Flagicon Kendall Gill – SG, Illinois
- Template:Flagicon Chris Jackson – PG, LSU
- Template:Flagicon Alec Kessler – PF, Georgia
- Template:Flagicon Bo Kimble – SG, Loyola Marymount
- Template:Flagicon Travis Mays – PG, Texas
- Template:Flagicon Gary Payton – PG, Oregon State
- Template:Flagicon Rumeal Robinson – PG, Michigan
- Template:Flagicon Dwayne Schintzius – C, Florida
- Template:Flagicon Dennis Scott – SG/SF, Georgia Tech
- Template:Flagicon Lionel Simmons – SF, La Salle
- Template:Flagicon Felton Spencer – C, Louisville
- Template:Flagicon Loy Vaught – PF, Michigan
Notes
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- ^ Nationality indicates the player's national team or representative nationality. If a player has not competed at the international level, then the nationality indicates the national team which the player is eligible to represent according to FIBA rules.
- ^ Chris Jackson changed his name to Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf in 1993.[4]
See also
References
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- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Bradley, Robert D. (2013). The Basketball Draft Fact Book: A History of Professional Basketball's College Drafts. Scarecrow Press. ISBN 9780810890695.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Magazine, Dime (October 4, 2007). "NBA Rumors - Trades - Free Agents - Basketball Olympics - Dime Magazine » Blog Archive » The H.O.F. Watch - Gary Payton". Dimemag.com. Archived from the original on July 18, 2010. Retrieved September 21, 2010.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."ESPN.com - NBA - DAILY DIME: SPECIAL EDITION10 greatest point guards ever". ESPN. May 11, 2006. Retrieved September 21, 2010.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Eddie Maisonet (March 25, 2014). "Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf: Here, gone and quickly forgotten". SB⋆NATION. Retrieved May 13, 2017.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."1990 Underclassmen". The Draft Review. August 4, 2007. Retrieved December 14, 2022.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Jesse Spinner 1990 Underclassmen". The Draft Review. December 16, 2012. Retrieved December 14, 2022.
- ^ a b Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."1990 Green Room Invites - the Draft Review". Retrieved December 27, 2025.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Maurer, Matthew (February 18, 2024). "Draft Broadcasts - The Draft Review". The Draft Review. Retrieved December 27, 2025.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Green Room - The Draft Review". The Draft Review. Retrieved December 27, 2025.
External links
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