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1978-79 NBA Season Summary

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Season Summary / Expanded Leaders / Player Statistics / Debuts / Final Season / Game Results

League Standings

Playoff teams are marked with an asterisk (*) / Click column headers to sort
Eastern Conference W L W-L% GB PS/G PA/G W Pyth L Pyth SRS
Atlantic Division         
Washington Bullets* 54 28 .659 — 114.9 109.9 53 29 4.75
Philadelphia 76ers* 47 35 .573 7.0 109.5 107.7 46 36 1.74
New Jersey Nets* 37 45 .451 17.0 107.7 111.9 30 52 -4.00
New York Knickerbockers 31 51 .378 23.0 107.7 111.1 32 50 -3.29
Boston Celtics 29 53 .354 25.0 108.2 113.3 28 54 -4.78
Central Division         
San Antonio Spurs* 48 34 .585 — 119.3 114.1 53 29 4.97
Houston Rockets* 47 35 .573 1.0 113.4 112.4 43 39 0.92
Atlanta Hawks* 46 36 .561 2.0 109.1 107.1 47 35 1.92
Cleveland Cavaliers 30 52 .366 18.0 106.5 110.2 31 51 -3.57
Detroit Pistons 30 52 .366 18.0 110.0 112.7 34 48 -2.60
New Orleans Jazz 26 56 .317 22.0 108.3 114.6 26 56 -5.97
Western Conference W L W-L% GB PS/G PA/G W Pyth L Pyth SRS
Midwest Division         
Kansas City Kings* 48 34 .585 — 113.1 110.2 48 34 2.73
Denver Nuggets* 47 35 .573 1.0 110.7 109.5 44 38 1.24
Indiana Pacers 38 44 .463 10.0 108.6 110.2 37 45 -1.41
Milwaukee Bucks 38 44 .463 10.0 114.1 111.8 47 35 2.12
Chicago Bulls 31 51 .378 17.0 104.7 108.7 31 51 -3.78
Pacific Division         
Seattle Supersonics* 52 30 .634 — 106.6 103.9 48 34 2.69
Phoenix Suns* 50 32 .610 2.0 115.4 111.7 50 32 3.55
Los Angeles Lakers* 47 35 .573 5.0 112.9 109.9 49 33 2.95
Portland Trail Blazers* 45 37 .549 7.0 108.4 107.1 44 38 1.12
San Diego Clippers 43 39 .524 9.0 113.1 114.9 37 45 -1.76
Golden State Warriors 38 44 .463 14.0 105.1 104.8 42 40 0.46

League Playoffs

Finals (4-1): Seattle Supersonics over Washington Bullets
 
Eastern Conference Finals (4-3): Washington Bullets over San Antonio Spurs
 
Western Conference Finals (4-3): Seattle Supersonics over Phoenix Suns
 
Eastern Conference Semifinals (4-3): San Antonio Spurs over Philadelphia 76ers
Eastern Conference Semifinals (4-3): Washington Bullets over Atlanta Hawks
 
Western Conference Semifinals (4-1): Phoenix Suns over Kansas City Kings
Western Conference Semifinals (4-1): Seattle Supersonics over Los Angeles Lakers
 
Eastern Conference First Round (2-0): Atlanta Hawks over Houston Rockets
Eastern Conference First Round (2-0): Philadelphia 76ers over New Jersey Nets
 
Western Conference First Round (2-1): Los Angeles Lakers over Denver Nuggets
Western Conference First Round (2-1): Phoenix Suns over Portland Trail Blazers

Team Statistics

Glossary / Playoff teams are marked with an asterisk (*) / Convert to CSV / Convert to PRE / Click column headers to sort
Rk Team G MP FG FGA FG% 3P 3PA 3P% FT FTA FT% ORB DRB TRB AST STL BLK TOV PF PTS Pace Rtg
1 Houston Rockets* 82 19780 3726 7498 .497 1845 2330 .792 1256 2504 3760 2302 632 286 1510 2001 9297 103.8 108.7
2 Washington Bullets* 82 19780 3819 7873 .485 1785 2428 .735 1309 2768 4077 2169 614 401 1420 1804 9423 106.5 107.4
3 San Antonio Spurs* 82 19830 3927 7760 .506 1926 2423 .795 1096 2619 3715 2313 829 509 1652 2071 9780 110.6 107.1
4 San Diego Clippers 82 19730 3721 7706 .483 1836 2471 .743 1392 2413 3805 1539 703 392 1623 2127 9278 106.3 106.2
5 Los Angeles Lakers* 82 19780 3827 7397 .517 1606 2088 .769 949 2557 3506 2338 793 500 1569 1851 9260 105.9 106.1
6 Milwaukee Bucks 82 19880 3906 7773 .503 1541 2021 .762 1157 2370 3527 2562 862 435 1574 2106 9353 106.5 106.0
7 Phoenix Suns* 82 19780 3847 7516 .512 1765 2299 .768 1083 2379 3462 2500 915 337 1760 1944 9459 108.5 105.7
8 Atlanta Hawks* 82 19855 3505 7410 .473 1940 2534 .766 1381 2341 3722 1938 801 596 1523 2424 8950 102.5 105.6
9 Kansas City Kings* 82 19855 3764 7644 .492 1746 2392 .730 1191 2404 3595 2239 825 390 1631 2419 9274 107.3 104.5
10 Denver Nuggets* 82 19705 3517 7311 .481 2046 2841 .720 1307 2596 3903 2166 673 416 1666 2106 9080 105.9 104.4
11 Portland Trail Blazers* 82 19780 3541 7338 .483 1806 2362 .765 1256 2435 3691 1946 776 512 1658 2187 8888 103.4 104.3
12 Cleveland Cavaliers 82 19680 3556 7602 .468 1620 2103 .770 1229 2256 3485 1796 688 334 1376 2027 8732 102.7 103.7
13 Indiana Pacers 82 19705 3575 7525 .475 1759 2317 .759 1225 2530 3755 2005 687 416 1536 2093 8909 105.3 103.0
14 Seattle Supersonics* 82 19755 3504 7484 .468 1732 2298 .754 1310 2591 3901 1973 690 398 1586 1914 8740 103.4 102.7
15 Golden State Warriors 82 19780 3627 7453 .487 1367 1872 .730 1169 2513 3682 2064 774 420 1500 2023 8621 102.2 102.4
16 New York Knickerbockers 82 19780 3676 7554 .487 1478 2111 .700 1200 2430 3630 2121 699 397 1605 2154 8830 104.9 102.2
17 Detroit Pistons 82 19780 3708 7802 .475 1607 2242 .717 1303 2380 3683 2092 847 550 1599 2141 9023 107.2 102.1
18 Philadelphia 76ers* 82 19805 3584 7338 .488 1815 2411 .753 1149 2712 3861 2253 779 599 1771 2072 8983 106.7 102.0
19 Boston Celtics 82 19680 3527 7347 .480 1820 2321 .784 1119 2396 3515 1995 710 283 1713 1977 8874 106.5 101.6
20 Chicago Bulls 82 19780 3478 7108 .489 1632 2184 .747 1224 2544 3768 2169 576 324 1813 1970 8588 102.9 101.3
21 New Orleans Jazz 82 19705 3517 7511 .468 1848 2409 .767 1234 2676 3910 2079 760 559 1764 1940 8882 108.6 99.6
22 New Jersey Nets* 82 19755 3464 7523 .460 1904 2613 .729 1241 2370 3611 1907 853 619 1861 2329 8832 109.5 98.0
League Average 82 19771 3651 7522 .485 1747 2321 .752 1217 2490 3707 2112 749 440 1623 2076 9048 105.8 103.8

Opponent Statistics

Glossary / Playoff teams are marked with an asterisk (*) / Convert to CSV / Convert to PRE / Click column headers to sort
Rk Team G MP FG FGA FG% 3P 3PA 3P% FT FTA FT% ORB DRB TRB AST STL BLK TOV PF PTS Pace Rtg
1 Seattle Supersonics* 82 19755 3475 7509 .463 1567 2108 .743 1156 2453 3609 1910 755 407 1493 2057 8517 103.4 100.1
2 Philadelphia 76ers* 82 19805 3542 7626 .464 1747 2331 .749 1252 2506 3758 2094 795 353 1627 2128 8831 106.7 100.3
3 New Jersey Nets* 82 19755 3507 7306 .480 2160 2861 .755 1234 2667 3901 2185 861 492 1919 2208 9174 109.5 101.8
4 Kansas City Kings* 82 19855 3434 7061 .486 2170 2897 .749 1156 2547 3703 1776 678 435 1879 2223 9038 107.3 101.9
5 Golden State Warriors 82 19780 3493 7255 .481 1604 2155 .744 1147 2533 3680 2094 637 362 1580 1854 8590 102.2 102.0
6 Phoenix Suns* 82 19780 3775 7626 .495 1606 2127 .755 1238 2424 3662 2091 890 402 1841 2144 9156 108.5 102.4
7 San Antonio Spurs* 82 19830 3798 7970 .477 1759 2343 .751 1297 2531 3828 2232 788 405 1700 2168 9355 110.6 102.4
8 Washington Bullets* 82 19780 3804 8011 .475 1406 1897 .741 1178 2541 3719 2180 726 434 1338 2144 9014 106.5 102.7
9 Portland Trail Blazers* 82 19780 3448 7059 .488 1889 2501 .755 1080 2350 3430 1963 797 422 1650 2206 8785 103.4 103.1
10 Denver Nuggets* 82 19705 3631 7616 .477 1713 2277 .752 1218 2429 3647 2173 738 471 1529 2262 8975 105.9 103.2
11 Los Angeles Lakers* 82 19780 3797 7848 .484 1415 1931 .733 1288 2486 3774 2234 737 359 1542 1958 9009 105.9 103.2
12 Atlanta Hawks* 82 19855 3367 6886 .489 2045 2727 .750 1176 2440 3616 1928 646 559 1799 2135 8779 102.5 103.6
13 Milwaukee Bucks 82 19880 3676 7505 .490 1819 2415 .753 1229 2437 3666 2301 763 462 1748 1928 9171 106.5 104.0
14 Indiana Pacers 82 19705 3586 7499 .478 1868 2416 .773 1299 2605 3904 2178 677 437 1618 2091 9040 105.3 104.5
15 Detroit Pistons 82 19780 3755 7623 .493 1732 2295 .755 1301 2628 3929 2197 666 504 1744 1914 9242 107.2 104.6
16 Chicago Bulls 82 19780 3682 7408 .497 1549 2029 .763 1095 2377 3472 2146 844 503 1468 2093 8913 102.9 105.1
17 New York Knickerbockers 82 19780 3600 7457 .483 1907 2506 .761 1225 2489 3714 2114 751 378 1558 1961 9107 104.9 105.4
18 New Orleans Jazz 82 19705 3864 8039 .481 1666 2246 .742 1486 2664 4150 2264 955 566 1600 2061 9394 108.6 105.4
19 Boston Celtics 82 19680 3855 7593 .508 1578 2079 .759 1122 2453 3575 2170 717 438 1603 2025 9288 106.5 106.4
20 Cleveland Cavaliers 82 19680 3600 7150 .503 1837 2423 .758 1123 2587 3710 2062 658 503 1557 2001 9037 102.7 107.3
21 Houston Rockets* 82 19780 3795 7625 .498 1627 2211 .736 1186 2315 3501 2278 660 431 1400 2055 9217 103.8 107.7
22 San Diego Clippers 82 19730 3832 7801 .491 1760 2295 .767 1294 2322 3616 1896 747 350 1517 2064 9424 106.3 107.9
League Average 82 19771 3651 7522 .485 1747 2321 .752 1217 2490 3707 2112 749 440 1623 2076 9048 105.8 103.8

League Awards

Most Valuable Player:Moses Malone
Rookie of the Year:Phil Ford

League Leaders

Glossary / Rate statistic requirements

Minutes Played

1.Moses Malone*-HOU3390
2.Artis Gilmore-CHI3265
3.M.L. Carr-DET3207
4.Kareem Abdul-Jabbar*-LAL3157
5.Norm Nixon-LAL3145

Field Goals

1.George Gervin*-SAS947
2.Marques Johnson-MIL820
3.Paul Westphal-PHO801
4.World B. Free-SDC795
5.Kareem Abdul-Jabbar*-LAL777

Field Goal Attempts

1.George Gervin*-SAS1749
2.World B. Free-SDC1653
3.Randy Smith-SDC1523
4.Paul Westphal-PHO1496
5.Marques Johnson-MIL1491

Field Goal Pct

1.Cedric Maxwell-BOS.584
2.Kareem Abdul-Jabbar*-LAL.577
3.Wes Unseld*-WSB.577
4.Artis Gilmore-CHI.575
5.Swen Nater-SDC.569

Free Throws

1.World B. Free-SDC654
2.Moses Malone*-HOU599
3.Cedric Maxwell-BOS574
4.George McGinnis-DEN509
5.John Drew-ATL495

Free Throw Attempts

1.World B. Free-SDC865
2.Moses Malone*-HOU811
3.George McGinnis-DEN765
4.Cedric Maxwell-BOS716
5.John Drew-ATL677

Free Throw Pct

1.Rick Barry*-HOU.947
2.Calvin Murphy*-HOU.928
3.Fred Brown-SEA.888
4.Robert Smith-DEN.883
5.Ricky Sobers-IND.882

Offensive Rebounds

1.Moses Malone*-HOU587
2.Dan Roundfield-ATL326
3.Elvin Hayes*-WSB312
4.Rich Kelley-NOJ303
5.Kermit Washington-SDC296

Defensive Rebounds

1.Moses Malone*-HOU857
2.Kareem Abdul-Jabbar*-LAL818
3.Jack Sikma-SEA781
4.Artis Gilmore-CHI750
5.Rich Kelley-NOJ723

Total Rebounds

1.Moses Malone*-HOU1444
2.Artis Gilmore-CHI1043
3.Rich Kelley-NOJ1026
4.Kareem Abdul-Jabbar*-LAL1025
5.Jack Sikma-SEA1013

Assists

1.Kevin Porter-DET1099
2.John Lucas-GSW762
3.Norm Nixon-LAL737
4.Phil Ford-KCK681
5.Paul Westphal-PHO529

Steals

1.Eddie Jordan-NJN201
 Norm Nixon-LAL201
3.M.L. Carr-DET197
4.Randy Smith-SDC177
5.Maurice Cheeks-PHI174
 Phil Ford-KCK174

Blocks

1.Kareem Abdul-Jabbar*-LAL316
2.Tree Rollins-ATL254
3.George Johnson-NJN253
4.Robert Parish*-GSW217
5.Terry Tyler-DET201

Turnovers

1.George McGinnis-DEN346
2.Kevin Porter-DET337
3.Moses Malone*-HOU326
4.Phil Ford-KCK323
 Bernard King-NJN323

Personal Fouls

1.Bill Robinzine-KCK367
2.James Edwards-IND363
3.Dan Roundfield-ATL358
4.John Drew-ATL332
5.Tom Owens-POR329

Points

1.George Gervin*-SAS2365
2.World B. Free-SDC2244
3.Moses Malone*-HOU2031
4.Marques Johnson-MIL1972
5.Paul Westphal-PHO1941

Minutes Per Game

1.Moses Malone*-HOU41.3
2.M.L. Carr-DET40.1
3.Artis Gilmore-CHI39.8
4.Kareem Abdul-Jabbar*-LAL39.5
5.Phil Smith-GSW38.8

Points Per Game

1.George Gervin*-SAS29.6
2.World B. Free-SDC28.8
3.Marques Johnson-MIL25.6
4.Bob McAdoo*-TOT24.8
5.Moses Malone*-HOU24.8

Rebounds Per Game

1.Moses Malone*-HOU17.6
2.Rich Kelley-NOJ12.8
3.Kareem Abdul-Jabbar*-LAL12.8
4.Artis Gilmore-CHI12.7
5.Jack Sikma-SEA12.4

Assists Per Game

1.Kevin Porter-DET13.4
2.John Lucas-GSW9.3
3.Norm Nixon-LAL9.0
4.Phil Ford-KCK8.6
5.Paul Westphal-PHO6.5

Steals Per Game

1.M.L. Carr-DET2.5
2.Eddie Jordan-NJN2.5
 Norm Nixon-LAL2.5
4.Foots Walker-CLE2.4
5.Phil Ford-KCK2.2

Blocks Per Game

1.Kareem Abdul-Jabbar*-LAL4.0
2.George Johnson-NJN3.2
3.Tree Rollins-ATL3.1
4.Robert Parish*-GSW2.9
5.Terry Tyler-DET2.5

Player Efficiency Rating

1.Kareem Abdul-Jabbar*-LAL25.5
2.Marques Johnson-MIL23.9
3.Moses Malone*-HOU23.7
4.George Gervin*-SAS23.2
5.Walter Davis-PHO23.0

True Shooting Pct

1.Cedric Maxwell-BOS.676
2.Artis Gilmore-CHI.619
3.Kareem Abdul-Jabbar*-LAL.612
4.Walter Davis-PHO.606
5.Swen Nater-SDC.605

Offensive Rebound Pct

1.Moses Malone*-HOU19.2
2.Mark Landsberger-CHI16.4
3.Paul Silas-SEA13.9
4.Dan Roundfield-ATL13.3
5.Tom Boswell-DEN11.9

Defensive Rebound Pct

1.Robert Parish*-GSW29.2
2.Jack Sikma-SEA27.8
3.Moses Malone*-HOU27.1
4.Kareem Abdul-Jabbar*-LAL26.7
5.Caldwell Jones-PHI26.2

Total Rebound Pct

1.Moses Malone*-HOU23.2
2.Robert Parish*-GSW20.4
3.Swen Nater-SDC18.6
4.Rich Kelley-NOJ18.5
5.Dan Roundfield-ATL18.4

Assist Pct

1.Kevin Porter-DET47.0
2.John Lucas-GSW33.0
3.Phil Ford-KCK32.2
4.Quinn Buckner-MIL31.7
5.Ray Williams-NYK31.0

Steal Pct

1.Quinn Buckner-MIL4.0
2.Eddie Jordan-NJN3.9
3.Foots Walker-CLE3.5
4.Maurice Cheeks-PHI3.2
5.Gus Williams-SEA3.2

Block Pct

1.Tree Rollins-ATL7.7
2.George Johnson-NJN6.6
3.Kareem Abdul-Jabbar*-LAL5.0
4.Robert Parish*-GSW4.9
5.Kim Hughes-DEN4.9

Turnover Pct

1.Scott Wedman-KCK8.3
2.Marques Johnson-MIL9.2
3.John Long-DET9.4
4.Rudy Tomjanovich-HOU9.6
5.David Thompson*-DEN10.4

Usage Pct

1.John Drew-ATL30.9
2.George Gervin*-SAS30.0
3.World B. Free-SDC29.9
4.George McGinnis-DEN29.5
5.Walter Davis-PHO29.0

Offensive Rating

1.Cedric Maxwell-BOS120.9
2.Wes Unseld*-WSB118.3
3.Marques Johnson-MIL117.4
4.Moses Malone*-HOU116.6
5.Scott Wedman-KCK116.5

Defensive Rating

1.Robert Parish*-GSW94.4
2.Caldwell Jones-PHI96.5
3.Jack Sikma-SEA96.6
4.George Johnson-NJN96.9
5.Darryl Dawkins-PHI97.2

Offensive Win Shares

1.Moses Malone*-HOU32.4
2.World B. Free-SDC30.4
3.Paul Westphal-PHO24.9
4.Kareem Abdul-Jabbar*-LAL24.2
5.David Thompson*-DEN22.8

Defensive Win Shares

1.Jack Sikma-SEA19.1
2.Kareem Abdul-Jabbar*-LAL16.6
3.Elvin Hayes*-WSB15.4
4.Robert Parish*-GSW14.4
5.George McGinnis-DEN14.1

Win Shares

1.Moses Malone*-HOU44
2.Kareem Abdul-Jabbar*-LAL41
3.World B. Free-SDC33
 Artis Gilmore-CHI33
5.Paul Westphal-PHO32

Loss Shares

1.Pete Maravich*-NOJ28
 Reggie Theus-CHI28
3.Brian Winters-MIL27
4.Jim Chones-CLE26
 Jo Jo White-TOT26

Win Shares Above Average

1.Kareem Abdul-Jabbar*-LAL19.0
2.Moses Malone*-HOU17.5
3.Artis Gilmore-CHI12.5
4.Dan Issel*-DEN12.0
5.Tom Owens-POR11.5
 Wes Unseld*-WSB11.5
 Paul Westphal-PHO11.5
  

All-NBA Teams

1st Team
George Gervin
Elvin Hayes
Marques Johnson
Moses Malone
Paul Westphal
 2nd Team
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Bob Dandridge
Walter Davis
Phil Ford
World B. Free

All-Defensive Teams

1st Team
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Don Buse
Bob Dandridge
Dennis Johnson
Bobby Jones
 2nd Team
M.L. Carr
Lionel Hollins
Eddie Johnson
Maurice Lucas
Moses Malone

All-Rookie Teams

1st Team
Ron Brewer
Phil Ford
Reggie Theus
Mychal Thompson
Terry Tyler

All-Star Teams

East
Doug Collins
Bob Dandridge*
Julius Erving*
George Gervin*
Elvin Hayes*
Larry Kenon*
Bob Lanier*
Moses Malone*
Pete Maravich*
Calvin Murphy*
Campy Russell*
Rudy Tomjanovich*
 West
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar*
Otis Birdsong*
Walter Davis*
Artis Gilmore*
Dennis Johnson*
Marques Johnson*
Maurice Lucas*
George McGinnis*
Jack Sikma*
David Thompson*
Paul Westphal*
Players who played in the game are marked with an asterisk (*).