1990–91 Atlanta Hawks season

The 1990–91 Atlanta Hawks season was the 42nd season for the Atlanta Hawks in the National Basketball Association, and their 23rd season in Atlanta, Georgia. The Hawks received the tenth overall pick in the 1990 NBA draft from the Golden State Warriors via trade, and selected point guard Rumeal Robinson from the University of Michigan. During the off-season, the team signed free agent and former All-Star guard Sidney Moncrief, who came out of his retirement after a one-year absence from the NBA; Moncrief previously played for the Milwaukee Bucks, and retired after the 1988–89 season due to knee problems. The team also hired Bob Weiss as their new head coach.

Under Weiss, and with the addition of Robinson and Moncrief, the Hawks won four of their first five games of the regular season, but then struggled posting a nine-game losing streak afterwards, posting a 4–10 record in November. However, the team soon recovered and played above .500 in winning percentage for the remainder of the season, winning 20 of their next 25 games, including a seven-game winning streak between December and January, and holding a 26–21 record at the All-Star break. The Hawks continued to play around .500 for the remainder of the season, and finished in fourth place in the Central Division with a 43–39 record, earning the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference, and returning to the NBA playoffs after a one-year absence.

Dominique Wilkins averaged 25.9 points, 9.0 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game, and was named to the All-NBA Second Team. In addition, Doc Rivers averaged 15.2 points, 4.3 assists and 1.9 steals per game, while Spud Webb provided the team with 13.4 points, 5.6 assists and 1.6 steals per game, and Kevin Willis provided with 13.1 points and 8.8 rebounds per game. Off the bench, John Battle contributed 13.6 points per game, while Moses Malone played a sixth man role, averaging 10.6 points and 8.1 rebounds per game, Duane Ferrell averaged 6.1 points per game, Robinson provided with 5.6 points and 2.8 assists per game, Moncrief contributed 4.7 points per game, and starting center Jon Koncak averaged 4.1 points and 4.9 rebounds per game.

During the NBA All-Star weekend at the Charlotte Coliseum in Charlotte, North Carolina, Wilkins was selected for the 1991 NBA All-Star Game, as a member of the Eastern Conference All-Star team; he was also selected to participate in the NBA Slam Dunk Contest, but withdrew and was replaced with Blue Edwards of the Utah Jazz. Wilkins finished in eighth place in Most Valuable Player voting, while Malone finished tied in sixth place in Sixth Man of the Year voting, and Webb finished tied in eighth place in Most Improved Player voting.

In the Eastern Conference First Round of the 1991 NBA playoffs, the Hawks faced off against the 3rd–seeded, and 2-time defending NBA champion Detroit Pistons, who were led by the All-Star trio of Isiah Thomas, Joe Dumars, and Defensive Player of the Year, Dennis Rodman. The Hawks won Game 1 over the Pistons on the road, 103–98 at The Palace of Auburn Hills, but then lost the next two games as the Pistons took a 2–1 series lead. After winning Game 4 at home, 123–111 at the Omni Coliseum to even the series, the Hawks lost Game 5 to the Pistons at The Palace of Auburn Hills, 113–81, thus losing in a hard-fought five-game series.

The Hawks finished 19th in the NBA in home-game attendance, with an attendance of 529,161 at the Omni Coliseum during the regular season. Following the season, Rivers was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers after eight seasons with the Hawks, while Webb was traded to the Sacramento Kings, Malone signed as a free agent with the Milwaukee Bucks, Battle signed with the Cleveland Cavaliers, and Moncrief retired for the second time.