1989–90 New Jersey Nets season

The 1989–90 New Jersey Nets season was the Nets' 23rd season in the National Basketball Association, and 14th season in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Nets received the twelfth overall pick in the 1989 NBA draft, and selected point guard Mookie Blaylock from the University of Oklahoma. During the off-season, the team acquired Sam Bowie from the Portland Trail Blazers on draft day, signed free agent Purvis Short, and also hired Bill Fitch as their new head coach. In December, the Nets signed free agent Jack Haley.

Under Fitch, and with the addition of Bowie, Short and Blaylock, the Nets got off to a 3–2 start to the regular season, but then posted a nine-game losing streak afterwards. The team continued to struggle posting a 14-game losing streak between January and February, and holding a 12–35 record at the All-Star break. At mid-season, the team traded Joe Barry Carroll to the Denver Nuggets, acquired Chris Dudley from the Cleveland Cavaliers, and signed free agent, and undrafted rookie power forward Derrick Gervin. The Nets posted an 11-game losing streak in March, and lost their final seven games of the season, finishing in last place in the Atlantic Division with a league-worst 17–65 record.

Dennis Hopson averaged 15.8 points and 1.3 steals per game, while Roy Hinson averaged 15.0 points and 6.9 rebounds per game, but only played just 25 games due to injury, and second-year star Chris Morris provided the team with 14.8 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.6 steals per game. In addition, Bowie provided with 14.7 points, 10.1 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game, but only shot .416 in field-goal percentage, while Short contributed 13.1 points per game, Gervin averaged 12.0 points and 3.1 rebounds per game in 21 games, and Blaylock contributed 10.1 points, 4.2 assists and 1.6 steals per game, but only appeared in just 50 games also due to injury. Meanwhile, second-year center Charles Shackleford averaged 8.2 points and 6.8 rebounds per game, Lester Conner provided with 7.9 points, 4.7 assists and 2.1 steals per game, Dudley contributed 6.1 points and 8.1 rebounds per game in 27 games after the trade, and Haley averaged 6.0 points and 5.0 rebounds per game.

The Nets finished 25th in the NBA in home-game attendance, with an attendance of 473,760 at the Brendan Byrne Arena during the regular season, which was the third-lowest in the league. Following the season, Hopson was traded to the Chicago Bulls, and Short retired.