NBA professional basketball team season
NBA professional basketball team season
The 1980–81 NBA season was Indiana's fifth season in the NBA and their 14th season as a franchise. The Pacers had their first NBA winning season and made their first NBA playoff appearance, which was quickly scuttled by a 2–0 sweep from the Philadelphia 76ers .
Jack McKinney was named NBA Coach of the Year for leading the Pacers to the playoffs. McKinney began the previous season as coach of the Los Angeles Lakers , but suffered a near-fatal bicycling accident in November 1979 after only 13 games. The Lakers went on to win the championship under Paul Westhead , and McKinney was forced to step aside by Lakers owner Jerry Buss , who helped him land the Indiana job.
Round Pick Player Position Nationality School/Club Team
1980–81 Indiana Pacers roster Players Coaches Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB From F 5 Abernethy, Tom 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1954–05–6 Indiana F 42 Bantom, Mike 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1951–12–3 Saint Joseph's G/F 7 Bradley, Dudley 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1957–3–19 North Carolina G 10 Buse, Don 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1950–8–10 Evansville G 16 Davis, Johnny 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 170 lb (77 kg) 1955–10–21 Dayton C 40 Edwards, James 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1955–11–22 Washington F/C 45 Johnson, Clemon 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1956–09–12 Florida A&M F 24 Johnson, George 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1956–12–8 St. John's G/F 25 Knight, Billy 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1952–06–9 Pittsburgh F 30 McGinnis, George 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 235 lb (107 kg) 1950-08-12 Indiana F 44 Miller, Dick 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1958–04–26 Toledo G 3 Natt, Kenny 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1958–10–5 Louisiana–Monroe F 55 Orr, Louis 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1958–05–7 Syracuse G 14 Sichting, Jerry 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 168 lb (76 kg) 1956–11–29 Purdue
Head coach Assistant coach(es) Legend (DP) Unsigned draft pick(FA) Free agent(S) Suspended Injured Roster Last transaction: 2012–10–10
Notes
z , y – division champions x – clinched playoff spot Record vs. opponents [ edit ] 1980-81 NBA Records Team ATL BOS CHI CLE DAL DEN DET GSW HOU IND KCK LAL MIL NJN NYK PHI PHO POR SAS SDC SEA UTA WAS Atlanta — 2–4 2–4 1–5 2–0 1–1 4–2 2–0 1–1 1–5 1–1 0–2 1–5 3–2 2–4 1–5 0–2 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–0 1–4 Boston 4–2 — 5–1 4–1 2–0 2–0 4–1 1–1 2–0 3–3 1–1 2–0 3–3 6–0 5–1 3–3 2–0 2–0 2–0 2–0 1–1 1–1 5–1 Chicago 4–2 1–5 — 5–1 1–1 1–1 5–1 1–1 1–1 3–2 2–0 1–1 3–3 3–2 3–3 2–4 0–2 0–2 0–2 1–1 1–1 2–0 5–1 Cleveland 5–1 1–4 1–5 — 2–0 1–1 3–3 1–1 0–2 2–4 0–2 0–2 0–6 3–3 0–5 0–6 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 4–2 Dallas 0–2 0–2 1–1 0–2 — 3–3 0–2 2–3 0–6 0–2 0–6 0–5 0–2 1–1 1–1 0–2 1–4 1–4 1–5 2–3 1–4 1–5 0–2 Denver 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 3–3 — 2–0 3–2 2–4 1–1 4–2 3–2 1–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–4 2–3 2–4 3–2 3–2 2–4 0–2 Detroit 2–4 1–4 1–5 3–3 2–0 0–2 — 0–2 1–1 2–4 1–1 0–2 1–5 3–3 1–5 1–4 0–2 0–2 0–2 1–1 0–2 0–2 1–5 Golden State 0–2 1–1 1–1 1–1 3–2 2–3 2–0 — 3–2 1–1 5–0 1–5 1–1 1–1 2–0 0–2 2–4 2–4 1–4 2–4 3–3 4–1 1–1 Houston 1–1 0–2 1–1 2–0 6–0 4–2 1–1 2–3 — 1–1 2–4 2–3 0–2 2–0 0–2 0–2 1–4 3–2 3–3 1–4 4–1 4–2 0–2 Indiana 5–1 3–3 2–3 4–2 2–0 1–1 4–2 1–1 1–1 — 2–0 0–2 2–4 5–1 3–2 0–6 1–1 0–2 2–0 1–1 0–2 1–1 4–2 Kansas City 1–1 1–1 0–2 2–0 6–0 2–4 1–1 0–5 4–2 0–2 — 0–5 1–1 2–0 1–1 0–2 3–2 3–2 2–4 3–2 2–3 5–1 1–1 Los Angeles 2–0 0–2 1–1 2–0 5–0 2–3 2–0 5–1 3–2 2–0 5–0 — 0–2 2–0 2–0 1–1 2–4 3–3 2–3 3–3 6–0 3–2 1–1 Milwaukee 5–1 3–3 3–3 6–0 2–0 1–1 5–1 1–1 2–0 4–2 1–1 2–0 — 5–1 3–3 3–2 1–1 2–0 1–1 2–0 2–0 2–0 4–1 New Jersey 2–3 0–6 2–3 3–3 1–1 1–1 3–3 1–1 0–2 1–5 0–2 0–2 1–5 — 0–6 1–5 1–1 2–0 0–2 0–2 1–1 1–1 3–3 New York 4–2 1–5 3–3 5–0 1–1 2–0 5–1 0–2 2–0 2–3 1–1 0–2 3–3 6–0 — 3–3 1–1 1–1 0–2 2–0 2–0 2–0 4–2 Philadelphia 5–1 3–3 4–2 6–0 2–0 1–1 4–1 2–0 2–0 6–0 2–0 1–1 2–3 5–1 3–3 — 1–1 1–1 2–0 2–0 2–0 2–0 4–2 Phoenix 2–0 0–2 2–0 1–1 4–1 4–1 2–0 4–2 4–1 1–1 2–3 4–2 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 — 3–3 3–2 6–0 5–1 5–0 1–1 Portland 1–1 0–2 2–0 1–1 4–1 3–2 2–0 4–2 2–3 2–0 2–3 3–3 0–2 0–2 1–1 1–1 3–3 — 2–3 4–2 4–2 2–3 2–0 San Antonio 1–1 0–2 2–0 1–1 5–1 4–2 2–0 4–1 3–3 0–2 4–2 3–2 1–1 2–0 2–0 0–2 2–3 3–2 — 4–1 3–2 5–1 1–1 San Diego 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 3–2 2–3 1–1 4–2 4–1 1–1 2–3 3–3 0–2 2–0 0–2 0–2 0–6 2–4 1–4 — 5–1 3–2 0–2 Seattle 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–0 4–1 2–3 2–0 3–3 1–4 2–0 3–2 0–6 0–2 1–1 0–2 0–2 1–5 2–4 2–3 1–5 — 4–1 1–1 Utah 0–2 1–1 0–2 1–1 5–1 4–2 2–0 1–4 2–4 1–1 1–5 2–3 0–2 1–1 0–2 0–2 0–5 3–2 1–5 2–3 1–4 — 0–2 Washington 4–1 1–5 1–5 2–4 2–0 2–0 5–1 1–1 2–0 2–4 1–1 1–1 1–4 3–3 2–4 2–4 1–1 0–2 1–1 2–0 1–1 2–0 —
1980–81 game log Total: 44–38 (Home: 27–14; Road: 17–24) October: 7–3 (home: 4–2; road: 3–1)
November: 7–8 (home: 5–2; road: 2–6)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 11 New Jersey W 113–100 Market Square Arena 8–3 12 8:30 p.m. EST @ Milwaukee L 121–135 Edwards (23) Knight (7) Bradley ,Davis ,Knight (5) MECCA Arena 10,980 8–4 13 9:35 p.m. EST @ Phoenix L 108–109 Bantom (18) Edwards ,C. Johnson (9) Bradley (5) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12,018 8–5 14 @ Golden State L 111–118 Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena 8–6 15 @ Utah L 106–108 Salt Palace Acord Arena 8–7 16 8:30 p.m. EST @ San Antonio W 119–113 Knight (52) Edwards (6) Bradley (10) HemisFair Arena 11,282 9–7 17 8:00 p.m. EST Philadelphia L 103–130 Orr (20) G. Johnson (10) Bradley (6) Market Square Arena 11,421 9–8 18 Washington W 118–108 Market Square Arena 10–8 18 @ Detroit W 102–97 Pontiac Silverdome 11–8 20 7:35 p.m. EST Boston L 91–103 Knight (27) G. Johnson ,Knight (11) Davis (7) Market Square Arena 10,815 11–9 21 8:05 p.m. EST @ Philadelphia L 88–97 G. Johnson (19) G. Johnson (16) Davis (7) The Spectrum 8,237 11–10 22 7:35 p.m. EST Houston W 129–120 Knight (22) C. Johnson (11) Davis (10) Market Square Arena 7,357 12–10 23 Atlanta W 110–89 Market Square Arena 13–10 24 @ Washington L 108–123 Capital Centre 13–11 25 Cleveland W 117–101 Market Square Arena 14–11
December: 7–7 (home: 4–1; road: 3–6)
January: 10–5 (home: 7–1; road: 3–4)
February: 6–7 (home: 3–4; road: 3–3)
March: 7–8 (home: 4–4; road: 3–4)
1980–81 schedule
1981 playoff game log Eastern Conference First Round: 0–2 (home: 0–1; road: 0–1)
1981 schedule
Game Date Opponent Officials 4 10–18–1980 Boston Tommy Nunez and John Vanak 6 10–22–1980 Milwaukee Hugh Evans and Darell Garretson 13 11–4–1980 @ Phoenix Dick Bavetta and Lee Jones 17 11–13–1980 Philadelphia Hugh Evans and Paul Mihalak 20 11–19–1980 Boston Joe Crawford and Joe Gushue 21 11–21–1980 @ Philadelphia Hugh Evans and Ed Middleton 22 11–22–1980 Houston Jim Capers and Darell Garretson 29 12–6–1980 Kansas City Joe Crawford and Joe Gushue 30 12–10–1980 Phoenix Jess Kersey and Earl Strom 33 12–16–1980 Philadelphia Darell Garretson and Tommy Nunez 35 12–20–1980 @ Kansas City Jim Capers and Wally Rooney 50 1–21–1981 @ Philadelphia Jess Kersey and Ralph Lembo 51 1–23–1981 @ Boston Leroy Alexander and Jake O'Donnell 57 2–6–1981 @ Boston Jim Capers and Tommy Nunez 66 2–25–1981 @ Houston Mike Mathis and Ed Rush 70 3–6–1981 Boston Hue Hollins and Jack Madden 72 3–10–1981 Philadelphia Jess Kersey and Wally Rooney 74 3–13–1981 @ Boston Ed Middleton and Earl Strom 77 3–18–1981 @ Philadelphia Hugh Evans and Joe Gushue
Player POS GP GS MP REB AST STL BLK PTS MPG RPG APG SPG BPG PPG Billy Knight SG 82 2,385 410 157 84 12 1,436 29.1 5.0 1.9 1.0 .1 17.5 Dudley Bradley SG 82 1,867 193 188 186 37 657 22.8 2.4 2.3 2.3 .5 8.0 Louis Orr SF 82 1,787 361 132 55 25 859 21.8 4.4 1.6 .7 .3 10.5 James Edwards C 81 2,375 571 212 32 128 1,266 29.3 7.0 2.6 .4 1.6 15.6 Clemon Johnson C 81 1,643 468 144 44 119 582 20.3 5.8 1.8 .5 1.5 7.2 Johnny Davis PG 76 2,536 170 480 95 14 1,094 33.4 2.2 6.3 1.3 .2 14.4 Mike Bantom SF 76 2,375 427 240 80 85 1,061 31.3 5.6 3.2 1.1 1.1 14.0 George McGinnis PF 69 1,845 528 210 99 28 903 26.7 7.7 3.0 1.4 .4 13.1 Don Buse SG 58 1,095 84 140 74 8 297 18.9 1.4 2.4 1.3 .1 5.1 Jerry Sichting PG 47 450 43 70 23 1 93 9.6 .9 1.5 .5 .0 2.0 George L. Johnson PF 43 930 278 86 47 23 457 21.6 6.5 2.0 1.1 .5 10.6 Tom Abernethy † SF 29 259 40 18 6 3 59 8.9 1.4 .6 .2 .1 2.0 Kenny Natt SG 19 149 15 10 5 1 59 7.8 .8 .5 .3 .1 3.1 Dick Miller † SF 5 34 4 4 3 0 4 6.8 .8 .8 .6 .0 .8
† Denotes player spent time with another team in the season. Stats reflect time with the Pacers only. Player GP GS MP FGM FGA 3FGM 3FGA FTM FTA ORB DRB TRB AST STL BLK TOV PF PTS Knight 82 2385 546 1025 3 19 341 410 191 219 410 157 84 12 177 155 1436 Edwards 81 2375 511 1004 0 3 244 347 191 380 571 212 32 128 164 304 1266 Davis 76 2536 426 917 4 33 238 299 56 114 170 480 95 14 167 179 1094 Bantom 76 2375 431 882 0 6 199 281 150 277 427 240 80 85 197 284 1061 McGinnis 69 1845 348 768 0 7 207 385 164 364 528 210 99 28 221 242 903 Johnson 43 930 182 394 0 5 93 122 99 179 278 86 47 23 85 120 457 Orr 82 1787 348 709 0 6 163 202 172 189 361 132 55 25 123 153 859 Abernethy 29 259 24 56 0 1 11 19 19 21 40 18 6 3 6 29 59 Natt 19 149 25 77 2 8 7 11 9 6 15 10 5 1 10 18 59 Miller 5 34 2 6 0 1 0 0 1 3 4 4 3 0 4 2 4
Player GP GS MP FGM FGA 3FGM 3FGA FTM FTA ORB DRB TRB AST STL BLK TOV PF PTS Davis 2 74 14 35 0 1 12 13 2 6 8 11 2 0 1 6 40 Knight 2 71 16 30 0 0 5 8 6 6 12 5 1 0 5 5 37 Bantom 2 51 12 16 0 0 5 7 5 3 8 1 1 1 6 10 29 Orr 2 56 9 25 0 0 6 7 6 4 10 4 5 1 6 4 24 Edwards 2 56 7 24 0 0 0 0 4 10 14 5 1 1 4 8 14 Johnson 2 23 5 8 0 0 0 0 1 3 4 1 0 0 2 1 10 McGinnis 2 39 3 15 0 0 4 8 2 8 10 7 2 0 5 6 10
Franchise Arenas Personnel G League affiliate Retired numbers ABA championships Rivalries Culture and lore
1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s 2020s