1990-91 NBA Season
As originally posted by Tony Miller and avargha:
After a hiatus of 28 years, the National Basketball Association returned to the National Broadcasting Company in 1990-91.
For the first time in three seasons, the NBA did not expand. The Timberwolves moved from the multipurpose Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, which they shared with the Twins, Vikings, and Gophers, to the Target Center. In doing so, they shrank their capacity from 50,000 to 19,006.
This data was compiled from ”NBA on NBC Schedule” and ”NBA on TNT Regular Season Schedules”. Contributors to those threads include Sports Analyst 829, NPBearsFan, Sparty, onairb2, ak482, SabresBuffalo, OswaldBates, scwhit86, SRIV94/Doug, jdelachjr2002, falcons29, djob, reganBuffalo, wdoodlesonII, Suncoast Bull, Gmen Ben, Stockpile, Dnbronc, thesportsfanatic, TomCoz0518, BigTimeEmpire, 61woods, Everett Fairfax, tamalie, schmave, Market42, NPBearsFan and myself.
National Television
PRESEASON
10/11
Knicks-Scavolini Pesaro, 8:00 (tape delayed), TNT. Pete Van Wieren, Doug Collins (in Barcelona)
McDonald's Open Semifinal
10/13
Knicks-POP 84, 3:00, NBC. Marv Albert, Mike Fratello (in Barcelona)
McDonald's Open Championship Game
NOVEMBER
Friday 11/2:
76ers-Bulls, 8:00, TNT. Pete Van Wieren, Doug Collins
Suns-Jazz (at Tokyo), 10:30, TNT. Ron Thulin, Hubie Brown
Saturday 11/3:
Lakers-Spurs, 3:30, NBC. Marv Albert, Mike Fratello, Steve Jones
Tuesday 11/6:
Celtics-Bulls, 8:00, TNT. Bob Neal, Doug Collins
Hawks-Kings, 10:30, TNT. Ron Thulin, Hubie Brown
Friday 11/9:
Cavaliers-Pacers, 8:00, TNT. Pete Van Wieren, Doug Collins
Pistons-Blazers, 10:30, TNT. Ron Thulin, Hubie Brown
Tuesday 11/13:
Spurs-Warriors, 8:00, TNT. Bob Neal, Doug Collins
Friday 11/16:
Lakers-Mavericks, 8:00, TNT. Ron Thulin(?), Jack Givens
Tuesday 11/20:
Rockets-Knicks, 8:00, TNT. Bob Neal, Doug Collins
Friday 11/23:
Bulls-Clippers, 8:00, TNT. Pete Van Wieren, Hubie Brown
Tuesday 11/27:
Suns-Blazers, 8:00, TNT. Ron Thulin, Doug Collins
Friday 11/30:
76ers-Pistons, 8:00, TNT. Pete Van Wieren, Hubie Brown
DECEMBER
Tuesday 12/4:
Suns-Bulls, 8:00, TNT. Ron Thulin, Hubie Brown
Pistons-Lakers, 10:30, TNT. Bob Neal, Doug Collins
Friday 12/7:
Celtics-Mavericks, 8:00, TNT. Pete Van Wieren, Hubie Brown
Tuesday 12/11:
Bulls-Bucks, 8:00, TNT. Ron Thulin, Doug Collins
Friday 12/14:
Pistons-Celtics, 8:00, TNT. Bob Neal, Hubie Brown
Tuesday 12/18:
Lakers-Knicks, 8:00, TNT. Pete Van Wieren, Doug Collins
Friday 12/21:
Lakers-Bulls, 8:00, TNT. Bob Neal, Hubie Brown
Tuesday 12/25:
Pistons-Bulls, 3:30, NBC. Marv Albert, Mike Fratello, Steve Jones
JANUARY
Wednesday 1/2:
Knicks-Celtics, 8:00, TNT. Bob Neal, Hubie Brown
Friday 1/4:
Spurs-Nets, 8:00, TNT. Pete Van Wieren, Hubie Brown(?)
Tuesday 1/8:
Pistons-Hornets, 8:00, TNT. Pete Van Wieren, Doug Collins
Friday 1/11:
Blazers-Pistons, 8:00, TNT. Bob Neal, Hubie Brown
Cavaliers-Lakers, 10:30, TNT. Ron Thulin, Jack Givens
Tuesday 1/15:
Magic-Heat, 8:00, TNT. Pete Van Wieren(?), Doug Collins
Friday 1/18:
Bulls-Hawks, 8:00, TNT. Pete Van Wieren, Hubie Brown
Wednesday 1/23:
Pistons-Celtics, 8:00, TNT. Pete Van Wieren, Doug Collins
Friday 1/25:
Sonics-Suns, 8:00, TNT. Bob Neal, Hubie Brown
Sunday 1/27:
Lakers-Celtics, 12:30, NBC. Marv Albert, Mike Fratello, Tom Hammond
Tuesday 1/29:
Spurs-Rockets, 8:00, TNT. Bob Neal, Hubie Brown
FEBRUARY:
Friday 2/1:
Pistons-Bullets, 8:00, TNT. Pete Van Wieren, Jack Givens
Sunday 2/3:
Suns-Pistons, 1:00, NBC. Marv Albert, Mike Fratello, Ahmad Rashad
Bulls-Lakers, 3:30, NBC. Dick Enberg, Steve Jones, Tom Hammond
Tuesday 2/5:
Jazz-Timberwolves, 8:00, TNT. Bob Neal(?), Doug Collins(?)
Thursday 2/7:
Bulls-Pistons, 8:00, TNT. Ron Thulin, Hubie Brown, Nicole Watson
Sunday 2/10:
NBA All-Star Game at Charlotte
West-East, 1:30, NBC. Bob Costas, Mike Fratello, Ahmad Rashad, Pat Riley
Tuesday 2/12:
Lakers-Suns, 8:00, TNT. Ron Thulin, Doug Collins
Friday 2/15:
Knicks-Cavaliers, 8:00, TNT. Bob Neal, Jack Givens
Celtics-Lakers, 10:30, TNT. Ron Thulin, Hubie Brown
Sunday 2/17:
Pistons-Knicks, 1:30, NBC. Marv Albert, Mike Fratello, Ahmad Rashad
Monday 2/18:
Bulls-Cavaliers, 3:30, NBC. Marv Albert, Steve Jones, Ahmad Rashad
Tuesday 2/19:
Celtics-Suns, 8:00, TNT. Bob Neal, Doug Collins
Friday 2/22:
Lakers-Hawks, 8:00, TNT. Bob Neal, Hubie Brown
Sunday 2/24:
Celtics-Pacers, 1:00, NBC. Marv Albert, Mike Fratello, Ahmad Rashad
Lakers-Pistons, 3:30, NBC. Bob Costas, Pat Riley, Steve Jones
Tuesday 2/26:
Rockets-Nuggets, 8:00, TNT. Pete Van Wieren, Hubie Brown
MARCH
Friday 3/1:
Spurs-Celtics, 8:00, TNT. Ron Thulin, Doug Collins
Sunday 3/3:
Blazers-Celtics, 1:00, NBC. Marv Albert, Mike Fratello, Ahmad Rashad
Rockets-Lakers, 3:30, NBC. Dick Enberg, Steve Jones, Joel Meyers
Tuesday 3/5:
Suns-Knicks, 8:00, TNT. Bob Neal, Hubie Brown
Sunday 3/10:
Bulls-Hawks, 12:00, NBC. Marv Albert, Mike Fratello, Tom Hammond
Celtics-Blazers, 10:00, TNT. Bob Neal, Hubie Brown
Wednesday 3/13:
Celtics-Jazz, 9:00, TNT. Bob Neal, Jack Givens
Sunday 3/17:
76ers-Celtics, 12:00, NBC. Marv Albert, Mike Fratello, Ahmad Rashad
Wednesday 3/20:
Pistons-76ers, 8:00, TNT. Ron Thulin, Jack Givens
Sunday 3/24:
Pistons-Spurs, 1:00, NBC. Marv Albert, Mike Fratello, Steve Jones
Tuesday 3/26:
Knicks-Spurs, 8:00, TNT. Pete Van Wieren, Hubie Brown
Friday 3/29:
Cavaliers-Celtics, 8:00, TNT. Ron Thulin, Hubie Brown
Blazers-Lakers, 10:30, TNT. Bob Neal, Doug Collins
Sunday 3/31:
Bulls-Celtics, 12:00, NBC. Marv Albert, Mike Fratello, Steve Jones
APRIL
Tuesday 4/2:
Lakers-Spurs, 8:00, TNT. Bob Neal, Hubie Brown
Friday 4/5:
Spurs-Bulls, 8:00, TNT. Ron Thulin, Doug Collins
Sunday 4/7:
76ers-Bulls, 3:30, NBC. Marv Albert, Mike Fratello, Ahmad Rashad
Tuesday 4/9:
Knicks-Bulls, 8:00, TNT. Bob Neal(?), Doug Collins(?)
Wednesday 4/10:
Knicks-76ers, 8:00, TNT. Bob Neal, Hubie Brown
Saturday 4/13:
Lakers-Blazers, 3:30, NBC. Dick Enberg, Steve Jones, Joel Meyers
Sunday 4/14:
Knicks-Celtics, 1:00, NBC regional. Don Criqui, Al McGuire, Ahmad Rashad
Spurs-Suns, 3:30, NBC. Marv Albert, Mike Fratello, Joel Meyers
Monday 4/15:
Bucks-Bulls, 8:00, TNT. Ron Thulin, Doug Collins
Wednesday 4/17:
Bulls-Heat, 8:00, TNT. Ron Thulin(?), Hubie Brown(?)
Friday 4/19:
Pistons-Hawks, 8:00, TNT. Bob Neal, Hubie Brown
Saturday 4/20:
Lakers-Jazz, 3:30, NBC. Dick Enberg, Steve Jones, Joel Meyers
Sunday 4/21:
Pistons-Bulls, 3:30, NBC. Marv Albert, Mike Fratello, Ahmad Rashad
Thursday 4/25:
East 1st rd, g1: Knicks-Bulls, 8:00, TNT. Ron Thulin, Jack Givens
West 1st rd, g1: Rockets-Lakers, 10:30, TNT. Pete Van Wieren, Doug Collins
Not televised: PHI-MIL g1, 8:30; GS-SA g1, 8:30; UTA-PHX g1, 10:30
Friday 4/26:
East 1st rd, g1: Pacers-Celtics, 8:00, TNT. Bob Neal, Hubie Brown
West 1st rd, g1: Sonics-Blazers, 10:30, TNT. Pete Van Wieren, Doug Collins
Not televised: ATL-DET g1, 8:00
Saturday 4/27:
West 1st rd, g2: Warriors-Spurs, 1:00, NBC. Marv Albert, Mike Fratello, Ahmad Rashad
West 1st rd, g2: Rockets-Lakers, 3:30, NBC. Dick Enberg, Steve Jones, Joel Meyers
West 1st rd, g2: Jazz-Suns, 6:00, TNT. Ron Thulin, Jack Givens
East 1st rd, g2: 76ers-Bucks, 8:30, TNT. Bob Neal, Hubie Brown
Sunday 4/28:
East 1st rd, g2: Pacers-Celtics, 1:00, NBC. Tom Hammond, Ron Rothstein, Ahmad Rashad
East 1st rd, g2: Knicks-Bulls, 3:30, NBC. Marv Albert, Mike Fratello, Joel Meyers
East 1st rd, g2: Hawks-Pistons, 7:00, TNT. Bob Neal, Hubie Brown
West 1st rd, g2: Sonics-Blazers, 9:30, TNT. Pete Van Wieren, Doug Collins
Tuesday 4/30:
West 1st rd, g3: Lakers-Rockets, 8:00, TNT. Ron Thulin, Doug Collins
West 1st rd, g3: Suns-Jazz, 10:30, TNT. Pete Van Wieren, Hubie Brown
Not televised: DET-ATL g3, 7:30; CHI-NY g3, 7:30; MIL-PHI g3, 7:30; POR-SEA g3, 10:00
MAY
Wednesday 5/1:
East 1st rd, g3: Celtics-Pacers, 8:00, TNT. Ron Thulin, Doug Collins
West 1st rd, g3: Spurs-Warriors, 10:30, TNT. Bob Neal, Rick Barry
Thursday 5/2:
East 1st rd, g4: Pistons-Hawks, 8:00, TNT. Mel Proctor, Jack Givens
West 1st rd, g4: Suns-Jazz, 10:30, TNT. Bob Neal, Hubie Brown
Not televised: POR-SEA g4, 10:00
Friday 5/3:
East 1st rd, g4: Celtics-Pacers, 8:00, TNT. Ron Thulin, Doug Collins
West 1st rd, g4: Spurs-Warriors, 10:30, TNT. Bob Neal, Rick Barry
Saturday 5/4:
East semis, g1: 76ers-Bulls, 1:00, NBC. Marv Albert, Mike Fratello, Ahmad Rashad
West 1st rd, g5: Sonics-Blazers, 3:30, NBC. Dick Enberg, Steve Jones, Joel Meyers
Sunday 5/5:
East 1st rd, g5: Pacers-Celtics, 1:00, NBC. Marv Albert, Mike Fratello, Tom Hammond
West 1st rd, g5: Hawks-Pistons, 3:30, NBC. Don Criqui, Ron Rothstein, Ahmad Rashad
West semis, g1: Warriors-Lakers, 8:00, TNT. Ron Thulin, Rick Barry
Monday 5/6:
East semis, g2: 76ers-Bulls, 8:00, TNT. Bob Neal, Doug Collins
Tuesday 5/7:
East semis, g1: Pistons-Celtics, 8:00, TNT. Ron Thulin, Hubie Brown
West semis, g1: Jazz-Blazers, 10:30, TNT. Mel Proctor, Jack Givens
Wednesday 5/8:
West semis, g2: Warriors-Lakers, 10:30, TNT. Bob Neal, Doug Collins
Thursday 5/9:
East semis, g2: Pistons-Celtics, 1:00, TNT. Ron Thulin, Hubie Brown
Yes, this game tipped at 1:00. The Bruins were at home that night. According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, TNT aired the game anyway.
West semis, g2: Jazz-Blazers, 10:00, TNT. Mel Proctor, Jack Givens
Friday 5/10:
East semis, g3: Bulls-76ers, 8:00, TNT. Pete Van Wieren, Hubie Brown
West semis, g3: Lakers-Warriors, 10:30, TNT. Bob Neal, Doug Collins
Saturday 5/11:
East semis, g3: Celtics-Pistons, 1:00, NBC. Marv Albert, Mike Fratello, Ahmad Rashad
West semis, g3: Blazers-Jazz, 3:30, NBC. Tom Hammond, Cotton Fitzsimmons, Joel Meyers
Sunday 5/12:
East semis, g4: Bulls-76ers, 1:00, NBC. Marv Albert, Mike Fratello, Ahmad Rashad
West semis, g4: Lakers-Warriors, 3:30, NBC. Dick Enberg, Steve Jones, Joel Meyers
West semis, g4: Blazers-Jazz, 8:00, TNT. Bob Neal, Doug Collins
Monday 5/13:
East semis, g4: Celtics-Pistons, 8:00, TNT. Pete Van Wieren, Hubie Brown
Tuesday 5/14:
East semis, g5: 76ers-Bulls, 8:00, TNT. Bob Neal, Doug Collins
West semis, g5: Warriors-Lakers, 10:30, TNT. Ron Thulin, Jack Givens
Not televised: UTA-POR g5, 10:00
Wednesday 5/15:
East semis, g5: Pistons-Celtics, 8:00, TNT. Pete Van Wieren, Hubie Brown
Friday 5/17:
East semis, g6: Celtics-Pistons, 8:00, TNT. Pete Van Wieren, Hubie Brown
Saturday 5/18:
West finals, g1: Lakers-Blazers, 3:30, NBC. Dick Enberg, Steve Jones, Joel Meyers
Sunday 5/19:
East finals, g1: Pistons-Bulls, 3:30, NBC. Marv Albert, Mike Fratello, Ahmad Rashad
Tuesday 5/21:
East finals, g2: Pistons-Bulls, 8:00, TNT. Ron Thulin, Hubie Brown
West finals, g2: Lakers-Blazers, 10:30, TNT. Bob Neal, Doug Collins
JIP in second minute after DET-CHI ran long.
Friday 5/24:
West finals, g3: Blazers-Lakers, 10:00, TNT. Bob Neal, Doug Collins
Saturday 5/25:
East finals, g3: Bulls-Pistons, 3:30, NBC. Marv Albert, Mike Fratello, Ahmad Rashad
Sunday 5/26:
West finals, g4: Blazers-Lakers, 3:30, NBC. Dick Enberg, Steve Jones, Tom Hammond
Monday 5/27:
East finals, g4: Bulls-Pistons, 3:30, NBC. Marv Albert, Cotton Fitzsimmons, Ahmad Rashad
Tuesday 5/28:
West finals, g5: Lakers-Blazers, 9:00, NBC. Dick Enberg, Steve Jones, Tom Hammond
Thursday 5/30:
West finals, g6: Blazers-Lakers, 9:00, NBC. Dick Enberg, Steve Jones, Tom Hammond
JUNE
Sunday 6/2:
NBA Finals, g1: Lakers-Bulls, 3:30, NBC. Marv Albert, Mike Fratello, Ahmad Rashad, Steve Jones
Wednesday 6/5:
NBA Finals, g2: Lakers-Bulls, 9:00, NBC. Marv Albert, Mike Fratello, Ahmad Rashad, Steve Jones
Friday 6/7:
NBA Finals, g3: Bulls-Lakers, 9:00, NBC. Marv Albert, Mike Fratello, Ahmad Rashad, Steve Jones
Sunday 6/9:
NBA Finals, g4: Bulls-Lakers, 7:00, NBC. Marv Albert, Mike Fratello, Ahmad Rashad, Steve Jones
Wednesday 6/12:
NBA Finals, g5: Bulls-Lakers, 9:00, NBC. Marv Albert, Mike Fratello, Ahmad Rashad, Steve Jones
Local Radio/TV Info
Originally written by garretta
Here's the story on 1990-91. The local information is down to a simple list of the radio flagship station, the TV flagship station, and the main cable outlet. Thankfully for people like us, they use charts beginning in '92. At any rate, here are the lists. A word of warning: The background and print font used don't mix well, which make it very difficult to read. If there are any mistakes, be sure to let me know.
RADIO:
Hawks: WGST-AM
Celtics: WEEI-AM
Bulls: WLUP-AM
Charlotte Hornets: WBT-AM
Cavaliers: WWWE-AM
Mavericks: WBAP-AM Fort Worth
Nuggets: KOA-AM
Pistons: WWJ-AM
Warriors: KNBR-AM San Francisco
Rockets: KTRH-AM (English), KXYZ-AM (Spanish)
Pacers: WNDE-AM
Clippers: KRLA-AM Pasadena
Lakers: KLAC-AM
Miami Heat: WQAM-AM (English). WRFM-AM Hialeah (Spanish)
Bucks: WTMJ-AM
Minnesota Timberwolves: None at press time
Nets: WNEW-AM New York
Knicks: WFAN-AM
Magic: WWNZ-AM
76ers: WIP-AM Philadelphia, WSPJ-AM Camden (New Jersey)
Suns: KTAR-AM
Trail Blazers: KEX-AM
Spurs: WOAI-FM (English), KSAH-AM Universal City (Spanish)
SuperSonics: KJR-AM
Jazz: KLSN-AM Salt Lake City
Bullets: WTOP-AM
BROADCAST TELEVISION:
Hawks: WTBS-TV, WGST-TV
Celtics: WFXT-TV
Hornets: WCCB-TV
Bulls: WGN-TV
Cavaliers: WOIO-TV Shaker Heights
Mavericks: KTVT-TV Fort Worth
Nuggets: KWGN-TV
Pistons: WKBD-TV
Warriors: KPIX-TV San Francisco, KICU-TV San Jose
Rockets: KTXH-TV
Pacers: WXIN-TV
Clippers: KTLA-TV
Lakers: KCAL-TV Norwalk
Heat: WNFS-TV
Bucks: WCGV-TV
Knicks: None
Magic: WRCP-TV Clermont
76ers: WPHL-TV
Suns: KUTP-TV
Trail Blazers: KOIN-TV
Kings: KSBK-TV
Spurs: KSAT-TV
SuperSonics: KING-TV
Jazz: KSTU-TV Salt Lake City
Bullets: WDCA-TV
CABLE TELEVISION:
Hawks: SportSouth
Celtics: SportsChannel Boston
Hornets: SportSouth (I assume a different feed than the Hawks)
Bulls: SportsChannel Chicago
Cavaliers: SportsChannel Ohio
Mavericks: Home Sports Entertainment
Nuggets: Prime Sports Network
Pistons: Pro Am Sports (PASS)
Warriors: Pacific Sports Network
Rockets: Home Sports Entertainment (different feed than the Mavs)
Pacers: Prime Sports Network Midwest
Clippers: Negotiations ongoing at press time.
Lakers: Prime Ticket
Heat: SportsChannel Florida
Bucks: None
Nets: SportsChannel New York
Timberwolves: Prime Sports Upper Midwest
Knicks: Madison Square Garden Network
Magic: Sunshine Network
76ers; PRISM
Suns: Dimension Cable/ASPN (Arizona Sports Programming Network)
Trail Blazers: Blazer Cable
Kings: Pacific West Cable
Spurs: Home Sports Entertainment (different feed from Mavs and Rockets), Paragon Cable (pay-per-view)
SuperSonics: Prime Sports Northwest
Jazz: None
Bullets: Home Team Sports
Local Broadcast TV Crews
Originally written by garretta
Now here's OTA television for 1990-91:
Nets: Steve Albert, Bill Raftery
Bulls: Jim Durham, Johnny "Red" Kerr
Lakers: Chick Hearn, Stu Lantz
Cavaliers: Joe Tait, Jim Chomes
Timberwolves: Kevin Harlan, Sidney Lowe (Robb Leer was the studio host on KSTP-TV; Chet Coppock was the studio host on KITN-TV)
Pistons: George Blaha, Dick Harter
Hawks: Art Eckman, Mike Glenn
76ers: Neil Funk. Steve Mix
Bullets: Mel Proctor, Phil Chenier
Mavericks: Allen Stone, Jim Haller
Celtics: Tom Heinsohn, Bob Cousy
Pacers: Jerry Baker, Clark Kellogg
Bucks: Jim Paschke, Jon McGlocklin
Nuggets: Al Albert, Dan Issel
Warriors: Steve Physioc
Rockets: Bill Worrell
Clippers: Ralph Lawler, Mike Fratello
SuperSonics: Kevin Calabro, Rick Barry or John MacLeod
Suns: Al McCoy, Dick Van Arsdale
Trail Blazers: Pat Lafferty, Steve Jones
Kings: Grant Napear, Ted Green
Spurs: Dave Barnett, Greg Simmons
Magic: Chip Caray, Jack Givens
Hornets: Steve Martin, Gerry Vaillancourt
Heat: Sam Smith, Eric Reid
Jazz: Rod Hundley, Ron Boone
Local Cable TV Crews
Originally written by garretta
Now let's look at the cable situation in 1990-91:
Bulls: Jim Durham, Johnny "Red" Kerr
Nets: Spencer Ross, Bill Raftery
Timberwolves: Jerry Schemmel, Sidney Lowe, Robb Leer
Cavaliers: Denny Schreiner, Jim Chomes
Pistons: Fred McLeod
Hawks: John Sterling
76ers: Andy Musser, Steve Mix (SportsChannel Philadelphia); Jim Barniak, Jack Ramsay (PRISM)
Bullets: Mel Proctor, Phil Chenier
Mavericks: Allen Stone, Bob Ortegel
Celtics: Mike Gorman, Tom Heinsohn
Pacers: Jerry Baker, Clark Kellogg
Bucks: Jim Paschke, Jon McGlocklin
Nuggets: Al Albert, Dan Issel
Warriors: Steve Albert, Jim Barnett
Rockets: Bill Worrell, Mike Newlin
Clippers: Tom Kelly, Earl Strom
SuperSonics: Kevin Calabro, Rick Barry, John MacLeod
Lakers: Chick Hearn, Stu Lantz
Suns: George Allen, Joe Gilmartin
Kings: Carl Arky, Rich Kelley
Knicks: Marv Albert, John Andariese
Magic: Chip Caray, Jack Givens
Hornets: Steve Martin, Gerry Vailancourt
Heat: Sam Smith, Eric Reid
Jazz: Rod Hundley, Ron Boone
Spurs: Dave Barnett, Paul Alexander
Local Radio Crews
Originally written by garretta
Bulls: Neil Funk, Tom Boerwinkle, Johnny "Red" Kerr
Lakers: Chick Hearn, Stu Lantz
Nets: Mike Breen or Spencer Ross, Pat Scanlon
Timberwolves: Kevin Harlan or Jerry Schemmel, Chad Hartman. Tom Hanneman (host)
Cavaliers: Joe Tait or Jim Johnson
Pistons: George Blaha, Greg Kelser
Hawks: Steve Holman
76ers: Jon Gurevitch. Neil Funk (home games only)
Bullets: Charlie Slowes
Mavericks: Ted Davis, Allen Stome
Nuggets: Jeff Kingery
Celtics: Glenn Ordway, Doug Brown
Pacers: Mark Boyle, Bobby "Slick" Leonard
Bucks: Jim Irwin, Jon McGlocklin (non-televised games)
Warriors: Greg Papa
Rockets: Gene Peterson, Jim Foley
SuperSonics: Kevin Calabro, Rick Barry, John MacLeod
Suns: Al McCoy. Dick Van Arsdale
Trail Blazers: Bill Schonely, Mike Rice
Kings: Gary Gerould
Spurs: Jay Howard (English); Armando Quintero (Spanish)
Knicks: Jim Karvellas, Walt Frazier
Magic: David Steele
Hornets: Matt Pinto, Gil McGregor
Heat: Sam Smith, Eric Reid (English); Jose Panada, Jorge Cunill (Spanish)
Clippers: Rich Marotta, Ralph Lawler (radio-only games)
Spanish flagship stations:
Heat: WRFM-AM (830)
Spurs: KSAT-AM (790)
National Radio/TV Info
Here's the national TV situation for 1990-91:
TNT: TNT is in its second year of televising the NBA and the first year of its new four-year contract, It will carry fifty regular-season games and at least twenty-six postseason games. Games will air on Tuesdays and Fridays from November 2 through mid-April, and there will also be a half-dozen Wednesday telecasts. (The second half of the November 2 doubleheader is a game from Tokyo between the Suns and the Jazz.) There will also be a special Sunday night telecast on March 10,
Coverage will begin on October 11 with a semifinal game from the McDonalds Open in Barcelona, as the Knicks take on Scavolini Pesaro from Italy. The game will be aired on tape delay at 8PM Eastern, with Pete Van Wieren and Doug Collins calling the action, On October 30, TNT will televise the Hall of Fame from Springfield. Massachusetts, with the world champion Pistons battling the Rockets. Van Wieren will be joined on the call by Rick Barry,
There will be three doubleheaders in November, then one doubleheader a month for the rest of the season.
TNT will broadcast the All-Star Weekend festivities from Charlotte on February 8 and 9, including the Slam Dunk Contest. Playoff coverage begins April 19.
Play-by--play announcers are Pete Van Wieren, Bob Neal. and Ron Thulin, with Mel Proctor joining for the playoffs, Analysts will be Hubie Brown, Doug Collins, and Jack Givens, with Rick Barry doing selected playoff games. Nicole Watson will be a sideline reporter for the Bulls-Pistons game in Detroit on February 7.
NBC: NBC is in the first year of a four-year contract after winning the rights from CBS. There will be twenty-two games on eighteen dates, with weekly Sunday telecasts beginning January 27. Most games will air at Noon, 1PM Eastern, or 3PM Eastern. There will be four Sunday doubleheaders, three Saturday games, and a Christmas Day rematch of last year's Eastern Conference finals between the Pistons and the Bulls in Chicago, There will also be a special President's Day telecast on February 18.
Coverage begins at 3PM Eastern on Saturday, October 13, as the Knicks take on POP 84 (Yugoslavia) in the finals of the McDonalds Open. Marv Albert and Mike Fratello will describe the action. The first regular-season game is slated for Saturday, November 3 at 3:30 Eastern, as the Spurs host the Lakers in San Antonio. Regular-season coverage ends April 21. The All-Star Game will be telecast live from Charlotte on Sunday, February 10, with coverage beginning at 1PM Eastern.
NBC will televise up to thirty playoff games beginning April 27. The NBA Finals will begin on Sunday, June 2. (I'm not sure if that was the planned date or not, but that's when Game 1 took place.)
Before each game, there will be a pregame show called NBA Showtime. Bob Costas will host, with former Lakers coach Pat Riley providing analysis and opinions, On Saturdays, there will be a children's show called NBA Inside Stuff, hosted by NBC's top sideline reporter, Ahmad Rashad and produced by NBA Entertainment.
Play-by-play announcers will be Marv Albert, Bob Costas, and Dick Enberg. Albert will call the Finals alongside top analyst Mike Fratello, while Costas calls the All-Star Game, also with Fratello. Tom Hammond will be a sideline reporter in the regular season and both a play-by-play man and a sideline reporter during the playoffs, and Don Criqui will call games occasionally in both the regular season and postseason. On April 14, NBC's top college basketball analyst, Al McGuire, will call the Knicks-Celtics regional telecast from Boston alongside Criqui.
Joining Fratello as a regular-season analyst will be Steve "Snapper" Jones, who will also do some sideline reporting. Riley will join Costas in the analyst's chair for the February 24 game between the Lakers and the Pistons in Detroit, and he will also be an extra sideline reporter at the All-Star Game. Other playoff analysts are Ron Rothstein and Cotton Fitsimmons; the other sideline reporter is Joel Meyers. Albert and Fratello will call the Finals, with Rashad and Jones as sideline reporters.
Sponsors of NBC's coverage include Miller Beer and no less than eight automakers. Four of them are American; the other four are imports. One of each group will sponsor a quarter of each game. (They're not named in this article, but I'd be shocked if they weren't the same eight I mentioned in the 1991-92 post.)
NBA Radio will handle the national radio broadcast of the Finals. Joe McConnell and Frank Layden will be on the call. They'll also call the All-Star Game, with Chet Coppock serving as sideline reporter.