1980–81 Milwaukee Bucks season

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1980–81 Milwaukee Bucks season
Division champions
Head coachDon Nelson
General managerDon Nelson
Owner(s)Jim Fitzgerald
ArenaMECCA Arena
Results
Record60–22 (.732)
PlaceDivision: 1st (Central)
Conference: 2nd (Eastern)
Playoff finishConference semifinals
(lost to 76ers 3–4)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionWVTV
RadioWTMJ
< 1979–80 1981–82 >

The 1980–81 NBA season was the Bucks 13th season in the NBA.[1] They finished with 60 wins and 22 losses, placing first in their division and second in the Eastern Conference behind the Boston Celtics. It was the Bucks' best regular season record since 1972–73, and their only 60-win season without Kareem Abdul-Jabbar on their roster until the 2018-19 season. The team's top scorer, fourth-year small forward Marques Johnson finished sixth the MVP voting.

Draft picks[edit]

Main article: 1980 NBA draft
Round Pick Player Position Nationality School/Club Team
3 63 Al Beal  United States Oklahoma
4 86 Jeff Wolf  United States North Carolina
5 109 Ken Jones  United States Virginia Commonwealth
6 132 Alex Gilbert  United States Indiana State
7 155 Ron White  United States Furman
8 174 Keith Valentine  United States Virginia Union
9 194 Del Yarbrough  United States Illinois State
10 210 Melvin Crayton  United States Alabama State

Roster[edit]

1980–81 Milwaukee Bucks roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB From
SF 2 Bridgeman, Junior 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1953–09–17 Louisville
PG 21 Buckner, Quinn 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1954–08–20 Indiana
PF 42 Catchings, Harvey 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 218 lb (99 kg) 1951–09–02 Hardin–Simmons
PF 6 Cummings, Pat 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1956–07–11 Cincinnati
C 41 Elmore, Len 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1952–03–28 Maryland
PG 5 Evans, Mike 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 170 lb (77 kg) 1955–04–19 Kansas State
C 35 Hughes, Kim 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1952–06–04 Wisconsin
SF 8 Johnson, Marques 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 218 lb (99 kg) 1956–02–08 UCLA
PF 43 Johnson, Mickey 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1952–08–31 Aurora
C 16 Lanier, Bob 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 250 lb (113 kg) 1948–09–10 St. Bonaventure
PG 4 Moncrief, Sidney 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1957–09–21 Arkansas
SG 32 Winters, Brian 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1952–03–01 South Carolina
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured Injured

Regular season[edit]

Season standings[edit]

Central Division
 W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-Milwaukee Bucks 60 22 .732 – 34–7 26–15 23–7
x-Chicago Bulls 45 37 .549 15.0 26–15 19–22 20–9
x-Indiana Pacers 44 38 .537 16.0 27–14 17–24 17–12
Atlanta Hawks 31 51 .378 29.0 20–21 11–30 9–21
Cleveland Cavaliers 28 54 .341 32.0 20–21 8–33 9–21
Detroit Pistons 21 61 .256 39.0 14–27 7–34 9–21
#
Eastern Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1 z-Boston Celtics 62 20 .756  –
2 y-Milwaukee Bucks 60 22 .732 2
3 x-Philadelphia 76ers 62 20 .756 –
4 x-New York Knicks 50 32 .610 12
5 x-Chicago Bulls 45 37 .549 17
6 x-Indiana Pacers 44 38 .537 18
7 Washington Bullets 39 43 .476 23
8 Atlanta Hawks 31 51 .378 31
9 Cleveland Cavaliers 28 54 .341 34
10 New Jersey Nets 24 58 .293 38
11 Detroit Pistons 21 61 .256 41

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 —

Game log[edit]

1980–81 game log
Total: 60–22 (home: 34–7; road: 26–15)
October: 9–2 (home: 4–1; road: 5–1)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
1 October 10, 1980 @ Philadelphia W 106–103 Junior Bridgeman (21) The Spectrum 1–0
2 October 11, 1980 @ New York L 109–114 Marques Johnson (19) Madison Square Garden 1-1
3 October 16, 1980 Boston L 103–110 Marques Johnson (27) MECCA Arena 1–2
4 October 18, 1980 @ Cleveland W 107–105 Brian Winters (25) Coliseum at Richfield 2-2
5 October 19, 1980 New Jersey W 105–93 Brian Winters (22) MECCA Arena 3–2
6 October 21, 1980 Cleveland W 115–95 Marques Johnson (28) MECCA Arena 4–2
7 October 22, 1980 @ Indiana W 119–105 Market Square Arena 5-2
8 October 25, 1980 Chicago W 109–93 Marques Johnson (21) MECCA Arena 6–2
8 October 26, 1980 Washington W 111–88 Marques Johnson (21) Marques Johnson, Sidney Moncrief (9) Quinn Buckner, Brian Winters (7) MECCA Arena 7–2
9 October 28, 1980 @ Chicago W 106–99 Chicago Stadium 8–2
10 October 29, 1980 @ New Jersey W 132–116 Junior Bridgeman (26) Rutgers Athletic Center 9–2
November: 9–3 (home: 2–3; road: 7–0)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
11 November 1, 1980 @ Atlanta W 99–93 Omni Coliseum 10–2
12 November 2, 1980 Indiana W 135–121 Marques Johnson (40) MECCA Arena 11–2
13 November 4, 1980 Detroit L 96–98 MECCA Arena 11–3
14 November 7, 1980 @ Boston w 102–101 Boston Garden 12–3
15 November 9, 1980 Philadelphia L 121–136 MECCA Arena 12–4
16 November 11, 1980 @ Cleveland W 100–96 Marques Johnson (19) Coliseum at Richfield 13–4
17 November 12, 1980 @ Detroit W 122–98 Junior Bridgeman (27) Pontiac Silverdome 14–4
18 November 14, 1980 New York W 125–106 MECCA Arena 15–4
19 November 16, 1980 Chicago L 108–114 MECCA Arena 15–5
20 November 18, 1980 @ Utah W 126–93 Sidney Moncrief (21) Salt Palace 16–5
21 November 20, 1980 @ Portland W 97–93 Mickey Johnson (22) Memorial Coliseum 17–5
22 November 23, 1980 @ Los Angeles W 110–94 Marques Johnson (24) The Forum 18–5
23 November 28, 1980 Atlanta W 114–108 OT MECCA Arena 19–5
24 November 29, 1980 @ Washington L 89–98 Capital Centre 19–6
25 November 30, 1980 Boston W 107–105 MECCA Arena 20–6
December: 3–1 (home: 3–0; road: 0–1)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
27 December 2, 1980 Utah W 119–108 MECCA Arena 21–6
28 December 5, 1980 Indiana W 102–100 MECCA Arena 22–6
29 December 6, 1980 @ New York L 94–104 Madison Square Garden 22-7
30 December 9, 1980 @ Boston L 89–112 Boston Garden 22-8
31 December 11, 1980 New York W 119–107 MECCA Arena 23-8
32 December 13, 1980 @ Atlanta L 119–122 Omni Coliseum 23-9
33 December 14, 1980 San Antonio W 115–98 MECCA Arena 24-9
34 December 17, 1980 @ New Jersey L 112–115 Rutgers Athletic Center 24-10
35 December 18, 1980 Detroit W 121–104 MECCA Arena 25–10
37 December 21, 1980 Houston W 123–91 MECCA Arena 26–11
38 December 27, 1980 Dallas W 112–96 MECCA Arena 27–11
January: 3–0 (home: 3–0; road: 0–0)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
40 January 4, 1980 San Diego W 128–95 MECCA Arena 29–11
41 January 6, 1980 New Jersey W 102–86 MECCA Arena 30–11
42 January 8, 1980 Atlanta W 98–95 MECCA Arena 31–11
February: 1–0 (home: 0–0; road: 1–0)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
62 February 17, 1981 @ Dallas W 114–106 Reunion Arena 45–17
March: 0–0 (home: 0–0; road: 0–0)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
1980–81 schedule

Playoffs[edit]

1981 playoff game log
Conference semifinals: 3–4 (home: 2–1; road: 1–3)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Series
1 April 5 @ Philadelphia L 122–125 Junior Bridgeman (32) Marques Johnson (14) Quinn Buckner (8) Spectrum
9,727 		0–1
2 April 7 @ Philadelphia W 109–99 Marques Johnson (22) Bob Lanier (10) Quinn Buckner (6) Spectrum
15,259 		1–1
3 April 10 Philadelphia L 103–108 Marques Johnson (29) Marques Johnson (9) Marques Johnson (8) MECCA Arena
11,052 		1–2
4 April 12 Philadelphia W 109–98 Marques Johnson (35) Sidney Moncrief (10) Marques Johnson (7) MECCA Arena
11,052 		2–2
5 April 15 @ Philadelphia L 99–116 Mickey Johnson, Moncrief (20) Mickey Johnson (13) Marques Johnson (7) Spectrum
15,384 		2–3
6 April 17 Philadelphia W 109–86 Mickey Johnson (22) Mickey Johnson (12) Lanier, Buckner (6) MECCA Arena
11,052 		3–3
7 April 19 @ Philadelphia L 98–99 Marques Johnson (36) Bob Lanier (10) four players tied (4) Spectrum
6,704 		3–4
1981 schedule

Player statistics[edit]

Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field-goal percentage  3P%  3-point field-goal percentage  FT%  Free-throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game

Season[edit]

Season[2]
Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Marques Johnson 76 33.4 55.2 0.0 70.6 6.8 4.6 1.5 0.5 20.3
Junior Bridgeman 77 28.8 48.7 14.3 88.4 3.8 3.0 1.1 0.4 16.8
Bob Lanier 67 26.2 52.5 100.0 75.1 6.2 2.7 1.1 1.2 14.3
Sidney Moncrief 80 30.2 54.1 22.2 80.4 5.1 3.3 1.1 0.5 14.0
Quinn Buckner 82 29.1 49.3 16.7 73.4 3.6 4.7 2.4 0.0 13.3
Mickey Johnson 82 25.8 44.8 16.7 78.9 6.6 3.5 1.1 0.9 12.5
Brian Winters 69 25.7 47.5 35.3 86.9 2.0 3.3 1.0 0.1 11.6
Pat Cummings 74 14.6 53.9 0.0 70.7 3.9 0.8 0.4 0.3 8.0
Mike Evans 71 12.8 46.0 14.3 78.1 1.2 2.4 0.5 0.1 4.5
Harvey Catchings 77 21.2 44.7 0.0 64.1 6.1 1.3 0.4 2.4 4.2
Len Elmore 72 12.8 35.8 0.0 72.0 2.9 1.0 0.5 0.7 2.9
Kim Hughes 45 7.4 35.6 0.0 0.0 1.7 0.5 0.4 0.5 0.7

Playoffs[edit]

Playoffs[2]
Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Marques Johnson 7 7 38.0 55.6 0.0 71.9 9.4 4.9 1.4 1.0 24.7
Bob Lanier 7 7 33.7 58.8 0.0 71.9 7.4 4.0 1.7 1.1 17.6
Sidney Moncrief 7 7 39.6 43.5 0.0 74.5 6.7 2.9 1.7 0.4 14.0
Junior Bridgeman 7 0 26.1 46.2 100.0 81.3 2.1 3.3 0.9 0.0 14.0
Mickey Johnson 7 7 24.3 40.0 0.0 85.7 6.7 1.9 1.3 0.9 11.7
Brian Winters 7 0 25.9 45.9 33.3 75.0 3.3 3.1 1.4 0.1 10.0
Quinn Buckner 7 7 26.1 43.3 0.0 68.8 2.9 5.0 1.6 0.0 9.0
Mike Evans 4 0 9.5 52.9 0.0 87.5 0.3 1.5 0.0 0.3 6.3
Pat Cummings 5 0 5.0 27.3 0.0 75.0 1.2 0.0 0.2 0.0 1.8
Harvey Catchings 7 0 15.6 18.8 0.0 100.0 3.7 1.1 0.0 1.6 1.1
Len Elmore 4 0 3.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

Awards, records and milestones[edit]

Awards[edit]

Week/Month[edit]

All-Star[edit]

Season[edit]

Records[edit]

Milestones[edit]

Transactions[edit]

Trades[edit]

September 11, 1980 To Milwaukee Bucks---- To Indiana Pacers----

Free agents[edit]

Player Signed Former team
Kim Hughes October 31, 1980 Denver Nuggets
Subtractions
Player Date signed New team
Dave Meyers April 30, 1980 Retired
Richard Washington Expansion Draft May 28, 1980 Dallas Mavericks
Lloyd Walton October 6, 1980 Kansas City Kings
Scott Lloyd October 20, 1980 Dallas Mavericks

References[edit]

  1. ^ 1980-81 Milwaukee Bucks
  2. ^ a b "1980-81 Milwaukee Bucks Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved June 6, 2021.

See also[edit]

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