The 1990–91 New Jersey Nets season was the Nets' 24th season in the National Basketball Association, and 15th season in East Rutherford, New Jersey. After finishing with the worst record last season, the Nets won the draft lottery and selected Derrick Coleman out of Syracuse with the first pick in the 1990 NBA draft. In the offseason, the team acquired Reggie Theus from the Orlando Magic. However, the Nets continued to struggle losing eleven consecutive games between December and January. Their movement would continue at mid-season as they acquired Dražen Petrović from the Portland Trail Blazers, and rookie Terry Mills from the Denver Nuggets. The Nets finished fifth in the Atlantic Division with a 26–56 record. Coleman had a stellar rookie season averaging 18.4 points and 10.3 rebounds per game, as he was named Rookie of The Year. Following the season, Theus retired.
| Player | G | MP | FG | FG% | FT | FT% | ORB | DRB | TRB | A | S | B | TO | PF | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greg Anderson | 1 | 18 | 4 | 1.00 | 0 | - | 4 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 8 |
| Mookie Blaylock | 72 | 2585 | 432 | 0.42 | 139 | 0.79 | 67 | 182 | 249 | 441 | 169 | 40 | 207 | 180 | 1017 |
| Sam Bowie | 62 | 1916 | 314 | 0.43 | 169 | 0.73 | 176 | 304 | 480 | 147 | 43 | 90 | 141 | 175 | 801 |
| Jud Buechler | 74 | 859 | 94 | 0.42 | 43 | 0.65 | 61 | 80 | 141 | 51 | 33 | 15 | 26 | 79 | 232 |
| Derrick Coleman | 74 | 2602 | 514 | 0.47 | 323 | 0.73 | 269 | 490 | 759 | 163 | 71 | 99 | 217 | 217 | 1364 |
| Lester Conner | 35 | 489 | 58 | 0.52 | 29 | 0.69 | 11 | 46 | 57 | 58 | 37 | 1 | 27 | 38 | 145 |
| Chris Dudley | 61 | 1560 | 170 | 0.41 | 94 | 0.53 | 229 | 282 | 511 | 37 | 39 | 153 | 80 | 217 | 434 |
| Tate George | 56 | 594 | 80 | 0.42 | 32 | 0.80 | 19 | 28 | 47 | 104 | 25 | 5 | 42 | 58 | 192 |
| Derrick Gervin | 56 | 743 | 164 | 0.42 | 90 | 0.79 | 40 | 70 | 110 | 30 | 19 | 19 | 45 | 88 | 425 |
| Jack Haley | 78 | 1178 | 161 | 0.47 | 112 | 0.62 | 140 | 216 | 356 | 31 | 20 | 21 | 63 | 199 | 434 |
| Roy Hinson | 9 | 91 | 20 | 0.51 | 1 | 0.33 | 6 | 13 | 19 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 14 | 41 |
| Kurk Lee | 48 | 265 | 19 | 0.27 | 25 | 0.89 | 7 | 23 | 30 | 34 | 11 | 2 | 20 | 39 | 66 |
| Terry Mills | 38 | 540 | 78 | 0.46 | 31 | 0.71 | 51 | 90 | 141 | 17 | 19 | 20 | 25 | 56 | 187 |
| Chris Morris | 79 | 2553 | 409 | 0.43 | 179 | 0.73 | 210 | 311 | 521 | 220 | 138 | 96 | 167 | 248 | 1042 |
| Drazen Petrovic | 43 | 882 | 211 | 0.50 | 99 | 0.86 | 41 | 51 | 92 | 66 | 37 | 1 | 69 | 111 | 543 |
| Reggie Theus | 81 | 2955 | 583 | 0.47 | 292 | 0.85 | 69 | 160 | 229 | 378 | 85 | 35 | 252 | 231 | 1510 |
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