You Are Here > Basketball-Reference.com > Leagues > 1979-80 NBA

1979-80 NBA Season Summary

Previous Season / Next Season

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         
Boston Celtics* 61 21 .744 — 113.5 105.7 60 22 7.37
Philadelphia 76ers* 59 23 .720 2.0 109.1 104.9 52 30 4.04
Washington Bullets* 39 43 .476 22.0 107.0 109.5 34 48 -2.27
New York Knickerbockers 39 43 .476 22.0 114.0 115.1 38 44 -0.96
New Jersey Nets 34 48 .415 27.0 108.3 109.5 38 44 -0.98
Central Division         
Atlanta Hawks* 50 32 .610 — 104.5 101.6 49 33 2.82
Houston Rockets* 41 41 .500 9.0 110.8 110.6 41 41 0.27
San Antonio Spurs* 41 41 .500 9.0 119.4 119.7 40 42 -0.25
Indiana Pacers 37 45 .451 13.0 111.2 111.9 39 43 -0.54
Cleveland Cavaliers 37 45 .451 13.0 114.1 113.8 42 40 0.43
Detroit Pistons 16 66 .195 34.0 108.9 117.2 22 60 -7.58
Western Conference W L W-L% GB PS/G PA/G W Pyth L Pyth SRS
Midwest Division         
Milwaukee Bucks* 49 33 .598 — 110.1 106.1 51 31 3.56
Kansas City Kings* 47 35 .573 2.0 108.0 104.9 49 33 2.81
Chicago Bulls 30 52 .366 19.0 107.5 110.2 34 48 -2.63
Denver Nuggets 30 52 .366 19.0 108.3 112.7 30 52 -4.22
Utah Jazz 24 58 .293 25.0 102.4 108.4 25 57 -5.71
Pacific Division         
Los Angeles Lakers* 60 22 .732 — 115.1 109.2 55 27 5.43
Seattle Supersonics* 56 26 .683 4.0 108.5 103.8 53 29 4.24
Phoenix Suns* 55 27 .671 5.0 111.1 107.5 50 32 3.25
Portland Trail Blazers* 38 44 .463 22.0 102.5 103.3 39 43 -0.90
San Diego Clippers 35 47 .427 25.0 107.6 111.7 30 52 -3.97
Golden State Warriors 24 58 .293 36.0 103.6 108.0 29 53 -4.20

League Playoffs

Finals (4-2): Los Angeles Lakers over Philadelphia 76ers
 
Eastern Conference Finals (4-1): Philadelphia 76ers over Boston Celtics
 
Western Conference Finals (4-1): Los Angeles Lakers over Seattle Supersonics
 
Eastern Conference Semifinals (4-0): Boston Celtics over Houston Rockets
Eastern Conference Semifinals (4-1): Philadelphia 76ers over Atlanta Hawks
 
Western Conference Semifinals (4-1): Los Angeles Lakers over Phoenix Suns
Western Conference Semifinals (4-3): Seattle Supersonics over Milwaukee Bucks
 
Eastern Conference First Round (2-1): Houston Rockets over San Antonio Spurs
Eastern Conference First Round (2-0): Philadelphia 76ers over Washington Bullets
 
Western Conference First Round (2-1): Phoenix Suns over Kansas City Kings
Western Conference First Round (2-1): Seattle Supersonics 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 Los Angeles Lakers* 82 19880 3898 7368 .529 20 100 .200 1622 2092 .775 1085 2653 3738 2413 774 546 1639 1784 9438 104.1 109.5
2 Boston Celtics* 82 19880 3617 7387 .490 162 422 .384 1907 2449 .779 1227 2457 3684 2198 809 308 1539 1974 9303 102.6 109.4
3 San Antonio Spurs* 82 19755 3856 7738 .498 52 206 .252 2024 2528 .801 1153 2515 3668 2326 771 333 1589 2103 9788 109.5 108.6
4 Houston Rockets* 82 19930 3599 7496 .480 104 379 .274 1782 2326 .766 1394 2217 3611 2149 782 373 1565 1927 9084 101.2 108.1
5 Milwaukee Bucks* 82 19805 3685 7553 .488 50 155 .323 1605 2102 .764 1245 2396 3641 2277 778 510 1496 1937 9025 102.4 106.8
6 Cleveland Cavaliers 82 19930 3811 8041 .474 36 187 .193 1702 2205 .772 1307 2381 3688 2108 764 342 1370 1934 9360 105.6 106.7
7 New York Knickerbockers 82 19780 3802 7672 .496 42 191 .220 1698 2274 .747 1236 2303 3539 2265 881 457 1613 2168 9344 106.5 106.5
8 Seattle Supersonics* 82 19830 3554 7565 .470 59 189 .312 1730 2253 .768 1380 2550 3930 2043 750 428 1496 1865 8897 101.8 105.8
9 San Diego Clippers 82 19755 3524 7494 .470 177 543 .326 1595 2167 .736 1294 2308 3602 1688 664 288 1443 1896 8820 101.4 105.7
10 Phoenix Suns* 82 19755 3570 7235 .493 68 280 .243 1906 2466 .773 1071 2458 3529 2283 908 344 1629 1853 9114 104.8 105.6
11 Indiana Pacers 82 19855 3639 7689 .473 88 314 .280 1753 2333 .751 1398 2326 3724 2148 900 530 1517 1973 9119 104.4 105.5
12 Atlanta Hawks* 82 19780 3261 7027 .464 13 75 .173 2038 2645 .771 1369 2406 3775 1913 782 539 1495 2293 8573 98.9 105.2
13 Philadelphia 76ers* 82 19855 3523 7156 .492 27 125 .216 1876 2431 .772 1187 2635 3822 2226 792 652 1708 1860 8949 103.0 105.0
14 Chicago Bulls 82 19905 3362 6943 .484 70 275 .255 2019 2592 .779 1115 2465 3580 2152 704 392 1684 2146 8813 101.8 104.3
15 Utah Jazz 82 19805 3382 6817 .496 59 185 .319 1571 1943 .809 967 2359 3326 2005 656 362 1543 2006 8394 97.6 104.2
16 Kansas City Kings* 82 19805 3582 7489 .478 25 114 .219 1671 2250 .743 1187 2429 3616 2123 863 356 1439 2135 8860 103.2 104.0
17 Denver Nuggets 82 19830 3462 7470 .463 83 255 .325 1871 2539 .737 1311 2524 3835 2079 746 404 1533 1917 8878 103.9 103.4
18 Portland Trail Blazers* 82 19780 3408 7167 .476 26 132 .197 1560 2100 .743 1295 2408 3703 1898 708 472 1552 1956 8402 98.6 103.4
19 Washington Bullets* 82 19880 3574 7796 .458 73 238 .307 1552 2048 .758 1334 2723 4057 2201 530 443 1380 1893 8773 102.6 103.2
20 Golden State Warriors 82 19880 3527 7318 .482 27 121 .223 1412 1914 .738 1155 2437 3592 2028 779 339 1492 2082 8493 100.5 102.0
21 New Jersey Nets 82 19805 3456 7504 .461 85 298 .285 1882 2406 .782 1229 2535 3764 2094 869 581 1702 2181 8879 106.1 101.5
22 Detroit Pistons 82 19780 3643 7596 .480 57 219 .260 1590 2149 .740 1226 2415 3641 1950 783 562 1742 2069 8933 107.1 101.2
League Average 82 19830 3579 7433 .481 64 227 .280 1744 2282 .764 1235 2450 3685 2117 772 435 1553 1998 8965 103.1 105.3

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 Philadelphia 76ers* 82 19855 3444 7561 .455 75 277 .271 1640 2145 .765 1318 2352 3670 2089 876 388 1561 2100 8603 103.0 101.0
2 Kansas City Kings* 82 19805 3328 6992 .476 41 172 .238 1906 2497 .763 1140 2644 3784 1778 695 425 1762 2072 8603 103.2 101.0
3 Seattle Supersonics* 82 19830 3408 7424 .459 59 240 .246 1640 2147 .764 1203 2409 3612 2016 728 393 1519 1997 8515 101.8 101.2
4 Boston Celtics* 82 19880 3439 7313 .470 74 259 .286 1712 2222 .770 1168 2294 3462 1867 686 419 1635 2059 8664 102.6 101.9
5 Phoenix Suns* 82 19755 3563 7480 .476 100 297 .337 1593 2119 .752 1216 2447 3663 2026 882 389 1663 2051 8819 104.8 102.2
6 Atlanta Hawks* 82 19780 3144 6872 .458 46 183 .251 2000 2616 .765 1261 2339 3600 1758 682 554 1660 2171 8334 98.9 102.3
7 New Jersey Nets 82 19805 3480 7427 .469 58 208 .279 1957 2572 .761 1285 2596 3881 2189 849 514 1692 2042 8975 106.1 102.5
8 Milwaukee Bucks* 82 19805 3456 7487 .462 76 305 .249 1714 2275 .753 1360 2293 3653 2154 717 358 1638 1912 8702 102.4 102.9
9 Los Angeles Lakers* 82 19880 3723 7921 .470 78 274 .285 1430 1884 .759 1312 2242 3554 2324 797 382 1420 1860 8954 104.1 103.9
10 Portland Trail Blazers* 82 19780 3349 7008 .478 55 186 .296 1716 2281 .752 1138 2358 3496 2008 756 395 1450 1880 8469 98.6 104.3
11 Washington Bullets* 82 19880 3615 7771 .465 56 214 .262 1696 2184 .777 1197 2672 3869 2120 734 519 1222 1901 8982 102.6 105.7
12 Indiana Pacers 82 19855 3693 7545 .489 56 228 .246 1734 2295 .756 1394 2552 3946 2323 738 470 1758 2028 9176 104.4 106.2
13 Golden State Warriors 82 19880 3438 6975 .493 72 219 .329 1905 2544 .749 1056 2564 3620 2091 720 361 1486 1785 8853 100.5 106.3
14 Cleveland Cavaliers 82 19930 3811 7610 .501 65 223 .291 1645 2150 .765 1230 2638 3868 2208 708 490 1667 2033 9332 105.6 106.4
15 Chicago Bulls 82 19905 3585 7222 .496 54 199 .271 1811 2358 .768 1159 2345 3504 2109 846 498 1543 2203 9035 101.8 107.0
16 New York Knickerbockers 82 19780 3707 7492 .495 55 198 .278 1969 2556 .770 1293 2432 3725 2143 813 390 1694 2042 9438 106.5 107.5
17 Denver Nuggets 82 19830 3736 7591 .492 70 214 .327 1698 2235 .760 1197 2587 3784 2289 812 455 1438 2033 9240 103.9 107.6
18 Houston Rockets* 82 19930 3658 7382 .496 58 215 .270 1696 2153 .788 1290 2317 3607 2223 778 428 1597 2049 9070 101.2 108.0
19 Detroit Pistons 82 19780 3847 7761 .496 57 206 .277 1858 2405 .773 1319 2572 3891 2306 874 470 1583 1871 9609 107.1 108.8
20 San Antonio Spurs* 82 19755 4000 7997 .500 88 288 .306 1731 2283 .758 1248 2472 3720 2537 828 457 1513 2192 9819 109.5 109.0
21 San Diego Clippers 82 19755 3752 7508 .500 43 187 .230 1613 2086 .773 1222 2487 3709 2012 764 408 1391 1889 9160 101.4 109.8
22 Utah Jazz 82 19805 3559 7182 .496 67 211 .318 1702 2205 .772 1159 2288 3447 1997 710 398 1274 1782 8887 97.6 110.4
League Average 82 19830 3579 7433 .481 64 227 .280 1744 2282 .764 1235 2450 3685 2117 772 435 1553 1998 8965 103.1 105.3

League Awards

Most Valuable Player:Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Rookie of the Year:Larry Bird

League Leaders

Glossary / Rate statistic requirements

Minutes Played

1.Norm Nixon-LAL3226
2.Elvin Hayes*-WSB3183
3.Bill Cartwright-NYK3150
4.Kareem Abdul-Jabbar*-LAL3143
5.Moses Malone*-HOU3140

Field Goals

1.George Gervin*-SAS1024
2.Julius Erving*-PHI838
3.Kareem Abdul-Jabbar*-LAL835
4.Otis Birdsong-KCK781
5.Moses Malone*-HOU778

Field Goal Attempts

1.George Gervin*-SAS1940
2.Elvin Hayes*-WSB1677
3.Julius Erving*-PHI1614
4.World B. Free-SDC1556
5.Moses Malone*-HOU1549

Field Goal Pct

1.Cedric Maxwell-BOS.609
2.Kareem Abdul-Jabbar*-LAL.604
3.Artis Gilmore-CHI.595
4.Adrian Dantley*-UTA.576
5.Tom Boswell-TOT.564

3-Pt Field Goals

1.Brian Taylor-SDC90
2.Rick Barry*-HOU73
3.Chris Ford-BOS70
4.Joe Hassett-IND69
5.Larry Bird*-BOS58

3-Pt Field Goal Attempts

1.Brian Taylor-SDC239
2.Rick Barry*-HOU221
3.Joe Hassett-IND198
4.Chris Ford-BOS164
5.Mike Newlin-NJN152

3-Pt Field Goal Pct

1.Fred Brown-SEA.443
2.Chris Ford-BOS.427
3.Larry Bird*-BOS.406
4.John Roche-DEN.380
5.Brian Taylor-SDC.377

Free Throws

1.World B. Free-SDC572
2.Moses Malone*-HOU563
3.Dan Issel*-DEN517
4.George Gervin*-SAS505
5.Reggie Theus-CHI500

Free Throw Attempts

1.Moses Malone*-HOU783
2.World B. Free-SDC760
3.Dan Issel*-DEN667
4.John Drew-ATL646
5.Reggie Theus-CHI597

Free Throw Pct

1.Rick Barry*-HOU.935
2.Calvin Murphy*-HOU.897
3.Ron Boone-TOT.893
4.James Silas-SAS.887
5.Mike Newlin-NJN.884

Offensive Rebounds

1.Moses Malone*-HOU573
2.Swen Nater-SDC352
3.Wes Unseld*-WSB334
4.Kermit Washington-POR325
5.Dan Roundfield-ATL293

Defensive Rebounds

1.Swen Nater-SDC864
2.Wes Unseld*-WSB760
3.Caldwell Jones-PHI731
4.Jack Sikma-SEA710
5.Kareem Abdul-Jabbar*-LAL696

Total Rebounds

1.Swen Nater-SDC1216
2.Moses Malone*-HOU1190
3.Wes Unseld*-WSB1094
4.Caldwell Jones-PHI950
5.Jack Sikma-SEA908

Assists

1.Micheal Ray Richardson-NYK832
2.Tiny Archibald*-BOS671
3.Norm Nixon-LAL642
4.Phil Ford-KCK610
5.Foots Walker-CLE607

Steals

1.Micheal Ray Richardson-NYK265
2.Eddie Jordan-NJN223
3.Dudley Bradley-IND211
4.Gus Williams-SEA200
5.Magic Johnson*-LAL187

Blocks

1.Kareem Abdul-Jabbar*-LAL280
2.George Johnson-NJN258
3.Tree Rollins-ATL244
4.Terry Tyler-DET220
5.Elvin Hayes*-WSB189

Turnovers

1.Micheal Ray Richardson-NYK359
2.Reggie Theus-CHI348
3.Magic Johnson*-LAL305
4.Moses Malone*-HOU300
5.Kareem Abdul-Jabbar*-LAL297

Personal Fouls

1.Darryl Dawkins-PHI328
2.James Edwards-IND324
3.Tree Rollins-ATL322
4.Dan Roundfield-ATL317
5.John Drew-ATL313
 Dave Greenwood-CHI313

Points

1.George Gervin*-SAS2585
2.Moses Malone*-HOU2119
3.Julius Erving*-PHI2100
4.World B. Free-SDC2055
5.Kareem Abdul-Jabbar*-LAL2034

Minutes Per Game

1.Norm Nixon-LAL39.3
2.Adrian Dantley*-UTA39.3
3.Elvin Hayes*-WSB39.3
4.Bill Cartwright-NYK38.4
5.Kareem Abdul-Jabbar*-LAL38.3

Points Per Game

1.George Gervin*-SAS33.1
2.World B. Free-SDC30.2
3.Adrian Dantley*-UTA28.0
4.Julius Erving*-PHI26.9
5.Moses Malone*-HOU25.8

Rebounds Per Game

1.Swen Nater-SDC15.0
2.Moses Malone*-HOU14.5
3.Wes Unseld*-WSB13.3
4.Caldwell Jones-PHI11.9
5.Jack Sikma-SEA11.1

Assists Per Game

1.Micheal Ray Richardson-NYK10.1
2.Tiny Archibald*-BOS8.4
3.Foots Walker-CLE8.0
4.Norm Nixon-LAL7.8
5.John Lucas-GSW7.5

Steals Per Game

1.Micheal Ray Richardson-NYK3.2
2.Eddie Jordan-NJN2.7
3.Dudley Bradley-IND2.6
4.Gus Williams-SEA2.4
5.Magic Johnson*-LAL2.4

Blocks Per Game

1.Kareem Abdul-Jabbar*-LAL3.4
2.George Johnson-NJN3.2
3.Tree Rollins-ATL3.0
4.Terry Tyler-DET2.7
5.Elvin Hayes*-WSB2.3

Player Efficiency Rating

1.Julius Erving*-PHI25.4
2.Kareem Abdul-Jabbar*-LAL25.3
3.Adrian Dantley*-UTA24.3
4.Moses Malone*-HOU24.1
5.George Gervin*-SAS24.0

True Shooting Pct

1.Cedric Maxwell-BOS.679
2.Artis Gilmore-CHI.643
3.Kareem Abdul-Jabbar*-LAL.639
4.Adrian Dantley*-UTA.635
5.Tom Boswell-TOT.616

Offensive Rebound Pct

1.Moses Malone*-HOU19.6
2.Tree Rollins-ATL14.2
3.Kermit Washington-POR13.2
4.Swen Nater-SDC12.9
5.Robert Parish*-GSW12.5

Defensive Rebound Pct

1.Swen Nater-SDC33.8
2.Robert Parish*-GSW28.8
3.Jack Sikma-SEA26.9
4.Caldwell Jones-PHI26.5
5.Wes Unseld*-WSB25.9

Total Rebound Pct

1.Swen Nater-SDC23.0
2.Moses Malone*-HOU20.9
3.Robert Parish*-GSW20.4
4.Tree Rollins-ATL19.6
5.Wes Unseld*-WSB18.5

Assist Pct

1.Kevin Porter-WSB40.0
2.Micheal Ray Richardson-NYK34.1
3.Phil Ford-KCK32.4
4.Tiny Archibald*-BOS30.2
5.Eddie Jordan-NJN29.6

Steal Pct

1.Dudley Bradley-IND4.8
2.Micheal Ray Richardson-NYK3.9
3.Eddie Jordan-NJN3.8
4.Quinn Buckner-MIL3.7
5.Maurice Cheeks-PHI3.3

Block Pct

1.Tree Rollins-ATL6.8
2.George Johnson-NJN6.7
3.Harvey Catchings-MIL6.5
4.Kareem Abdul-Jabbar*-LAL4.6
5.Terry Tyler-DET4.3

Turnover Pct

1.Bingo Smith-TOT7.9
2.Scott Wedman-KCK8.6
3.Dan Issel*-DEN8.7
4.Otis Birdsong-KCK9.4
5.Mike Mitchell-CLE9.5

Usage Pct

1.World B. Free-SDC32.7
2.George Gervin*-SAS31.7
3.Freeman Williams-SDC30.5
4.Julius Erving*-PHI30.3
5.John Drew-ATL30.2

Offensive Rating

1.Cedric Maxwell-BOS123.5
2.Tree Rollins-ATL121.2
3.Dave Robisch-CLE118.6
4.Adrian Dantley*-UTA118.5
5.Dan Issel*-DEN118.4

Defensive Rating

1.Tree Rollins-ATL95.9
2.Sam Lacey-KCK97.3
3.Caldwell Jones-PHI97.7
4.Dan Roundfield-ATL97.8
5.Jack Sikma-SEA98.2

Offensive Win Shares

1.Kareem Abdul-Jabbar*-LAL30.6
2.George Gervin*-SAS27.4
3.Moses Malone*-HOU26.5
4.Paul Westphal-PHO24.9
5.Cedric Maxwell-BOS24.4

Defensive Win Shares

1.Caldwell Jones-PHI19.0
2.Julius Erving*-PHI18.2
3.Kareem Abdul-Jabbar*-LAL17.6
4.Larry Bird*-BOS17.5
5.Jack Sikma-SEA17.3

Win Shares

1.Kareem Abdul-Jabbar*-LAL48
2.Julius Erving*-PHI41
3.Cedric Maxwell-BOS37
4.Gus Williams-SEA36
5.Moses Malone*-HOU35

Loss Shares

1.Ricky Sobers-CHI30
2.Bob Wilkerson-DEN29
3.Ron Boone-TOT27
4.Bob McAdoo*-DET26
 George McGinnis-TOT26
 Charlie Scott-DEN26

Win Shares Above Average

1.Kareem Abdul-Jabbar*-LAL22.5
2.Julius Erving*-PHI18.5
3.Cedric Maxwell-BOS16.0
4.Gus Williams-SEA15.5
5.Magic Johnson*-LAL15.0
    

All-NBA Teams

1st Team
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Larry Bird
Julius Erving
George Gervin
Paul Westphal
 2nd Team
Dennis Johnson
Marques Johnson
Moses Malone
Dan Roundfield
Gus Williams

All-Defensive Teams

1st Team
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Don Buse
Dennis Johnson
Bobby Jones
Micheal Ray Richardson
Dan Roundfield
 2nd Team
Quinn Buckner
Dave Cowens
Eddie Johnson
Kermit Washington
Scott Wedman

All-Rookie Teams

1st Team
Larry Bird
Bill Cartwright
Dave Greenwood
Magic Johnson
Calvin Natt

All-Star Teams

East
Tiny Archibald*
Larry Bird*
Bill Cartwright*
John Drew*
Julius Erving*
George Gervin*
Elvin Hayes*
Eddie Johnson*
Moses Malone*
Micheal Ray Richardson*
Dan Roundfield*
 West
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar*
Otis Birdsong*
Adrian Dantley*
Walter Davis*
World B. Free*
Dennis Johnson*
Marques Johnson*
Magic Johnson*
Jack Sikma*
Kermit Washington*
Paul Westphal*
Players who played in the game are marked with an asterisk (*).