1989–90 Indiana Pacers season
The 1989–90 NBA season was the Pacers' 14th season in the National Basketball Association, and 23rd season as a franchise. The Pacers had the seventh overall pick in the 1989 NBA draft, and selected George McCloud out of Florida State University. The Pacers would jump out of the gate fast winning their first four games, on their way to a solid 19–9 start. However, they struggled losing 14 of their next 18 games, and held a 25–23 record at the All-Star break. The Pacers played around .500 for the remainder of the season, finishing fourth in the Central Division with a 42–40 record, and entering the playoffs as the #8 seed in the Eastern Conference.
| 1989–90 Indiana Pacers season | |
|---|---|
| Head coach | Dick Versace |
| General manager | Donnie Walsh |
| Owner(s) | Herbert Simon |
| Arena | Market Square Arena |
| Results | |
| Record | 42–40 (.512) |
| Place | Division: 4th (Central) Conference: 8th (Eastern) |
| Playoff finish | First round (lost to Pistons 0–3) |
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com | |
| Local media | |
| Television | WXIN–TV 59 Prime Sports Midwest (Bill Hazen, Clark Kellogg) |
| Radio | WNDE–AM 1260 (Mark Boyle, Bobby "Slick" Leonard) |
Reggie Miller had a breakout season leading the team in scoring, averaging 24.6 points per game, while becoming the first Pacer in 13 years to play in the All-Star Game, being selected for the 1990 NBA All-Star Game. In addition, Chuck Person averaged 19.7 points and 5.8 rebounds per game, while sixth man Detlef Schrempf provided the team with 16.2 points and 7.9 rebounds per game off the bench, second-year star Rik Smits provided with 15.5 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game, and Vern Fleming contributed 14.3 points and 7.4 assists per game. Miller also finished in second place in Most Improved Player voting, while Schrempf finished in second place in Sixth Man of the Year voting.
However, in the Eastern Conference First Round of the playoffs, the Pacers were swept by the defending and eventual champion Detroit Pistons in three straight games. The Pistons would go on to defeat the Portland Trail Blazers in five games in the NBA Finals, winning their second consecutive championship.