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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 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.
Offseason
NBA draft
Round
Pick
Player
Position
Nationality
School/Club Team
Roster
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
Regular season
Notes
z , y – division champions
x – clinched playoff spot
Record vs. opponents
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
Regular season
1980–81 game log Total: 44–38 (Home: 27–14; Road: 17–24)
October: 7–3 (home: 4–2; road: 3–1)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location Attendance
Record
1
October 10, 1980
@ New Jersey
W 110–91
Rutgers Athletic Center
1–0
2
October 11, 1980
Detroit
W 100–87
Davis (22)
Edwards (16)
Davis (11)
Market Square Arena
2–0
3
October 15, 1980 7:35 p.m. EST
Chicago
L 97–108
Market Square Arena 6,909
2–1
4
October 18, 1980 7:35 p.m. EST
Boston
W 103–99
Edwards (18)
McGinnis (11)
Bantom (6)
Market Square Arena 11,713
3–1
5
October 21, 1980
@ Atlanta
W 121–116
The Omni
4–1
6
October 22, 1980 7:35 p.m. EST
Milwaukee
L 105–119
Bantom (20)
G. Johnson (14)
Bantom (6)
Market Square Arena 7,138
4–2
7
October 24, 1980
Atlanta
W 104–97
Market Square Arena
5–2
8
October 25, 1980
@ Cleveland
L 100–118
Richfield Coliseum
5–3
9
October 29, 1980
New York
W 102–95
Market Square Arena
6–3
10
October 31, 1980 8:35 p.m. EST
@ Chicago
W 121–114
Knight (22)
C. Johnson (7)
Davis (10)
Chicago Stadium 5,127
7–3
November: 7–8 (home: 5–2; road: 2–6)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location Attendance
Record
11
November 1, 1980
New Jersey
W 113–100
Market Square Arena
8–3
12
November 2, 1980 8:30 p.m. EST
@ Milwaukee
L 121–135
Edwards (23)
Knight (7)
Bradley ,Davis ,Knight (5)
MECCA Arena 10,980
8–4
13
November 4, 1980 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
November 8, 1980
@ Golden State
L 111–118
Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena
8–6
15
November 10, 1980
@ Utah
L 106–108
Salt Palace Acord Arena
8–7
16
November 11, 1980 8:30 p.m. EST
@ San Antonio
W 119–113
Knight (52)
Edwards (6)
Bradley (10)
HemisFair Arena 11,282
9–7
17
November 13, 1980 8:00 p.m. EST
Philadelphia
L 103–130
Orr (20)
G. Johnson (10)
Bradley (6)
Market Square Arena 11,421
9–8
18
November 14, 1980
Washington
W 118–108
Market Square Arena
10–8
18
November 18, 1980
@ Detroit
W 102–97
Pontiac Silverdome
11–8
20
November 19, 1980 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
November 21, 1980 8:05 p.m. EST
@ Philadelphia
L 88–97
G. Johnson (19)
G. Johnson (16)
Davis (7)
The Spectrum 8,237
11–10
22
November 22, 1980 7:35 p.m. EST
Houston
W 129–120
Knight (22)
C. Johnson (11)
Davis (10)
Market Square Arena 7,357
12–10
23
November 26, 1980
Atlanta
W 110–89
Market Square Arena
13–10
24
November 27, 1980
@ Washington
L 108–123
Capital Centre
13–11
25
November 29, 1980
Cleveland
W 117–101
Market Square Arena
14–11
December: 7–7 (home: 4–1; road: 3–6)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location Attendance
Record
26
December 2, 1980
@ New York
W 113–96
Madison Square Garden
15–11
27
December 3, 1980
Washington
W 128–115
Market Square Arena
16–11
28
December 5, 1980 9:00 p.m. EST
@ Milwaukee
L 100–102
Bantom (25)
Bantom (12)
Bantom (8)
MECCA Arena 11,052
16–12
29
December 6, 1980 7:35 p.m. EST
Kansas City
W 107–88
Davis (20)
Edwards (10)
Davis (6)
Market Square Arena 7,099
17–12
30
December 10, 1980 7:35 p.m. EST
Phoenix
W 102–90
Edwards (17)
Edwards (10)
Davis (7)
Market Square Arena 9,140
18–12
31
December 11, 1980
@ Cleveland
W 103–100
Richfield Coliseum
19–12
32
December 13, 1980
@ Washington
L 105–114
Capital Centre
19–13
33
December 16, 1980 7:35 p.m. EST
Philadelphia
L 107–109
Knight (24)
McGinnia (16)
Davis (5)
Market Square Arena 12,539
19–14
34
December 19, 1980
@ Detroit
L 106–109
Pontiac Silverdome
19–15
35
December 20, 1980 8:35 p.m. EST
@ Kansas City
W 107–103
Davis (19)
McGinnis (15)
McGinnis (6)
Kemper Arena 5,910
20–15
36
December 23, 1980
New Jersey
W 125–109
Market Square Arena
21–15
37
December 26, 1980
@ Los Angeles
L 115–116
The Forum
21–16
38
December 27, 1980
@ San Diego
L 109–121
San Diego Sports Arena
21–17
39
December 30, 1980
@ Denver
L 110–127
McNichols Sports Arena
21–18
January: 10–5 (home: 7–1; road: 3–4)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location Attendance
Record
40
January 2, 1981
@ Atlanta
W 109–106
The Omni
22–18
41
January 3, 1981
San Diego
W 128–104
Market Square Arena
23–18
42
January 4, 1981
@ New Jersey
W 113–104
Rutgers Athletic Center
24–18
43
January 7, 1981
New Jersey
W 112–103
Market Square Arena
25–18
44
January 8, 1981
@ New York
W 117–116 (OT)
Madison Square Garden
26–18
45
January 10, 1981 7:35 p.m. EST
Milwaukee
W 106–102
Knight (21)
McGinnis (16)
Buse (6)
Market Square Arena 14,505
27–18
46
January 14, 1981
Detroit
W 101–99
Market Square Arena
28–18
47
January 16, 1981
Seattle
L 94–95
Market Square Arena
28–19
48
January 18, 1981
Utah
W 110–89
Market Square Arena
29–19
49
January 20, 1981 8:35 p.m. EST
@ Chicago
L 105–121
Bantom (25)
C Johnson (9)
Edwards (7)
Chicago Stadium 5,519
29–20
50
January 21, 1981 8:05 p.m. EST
@ Philadelphia
L 104–118
McGinnis (25)
Edwards (8)
Bradley ,Davis ,McGinnis (4)
The Spectrum 9,752
29–21
51
January 23, 1981 7:30 p.m. EST
@ Boston
L 103–104
Edwards (19)
McGinnis (9)
Bantom (5)
Boston Garden 15,320
29–22
52
January 24, 1981
Dallas
W 107–89
Market Square Arena
30–22
53
January 27, 1981
@ Cleveland
L 109–114
Richfield Coliseum
30–23
54
January 28, 1981
Golden State
W 108–102
Market Square Arena
31–23
February: 6–7 (home: 3–4; road: 3–3)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location Attendance
Record
All-Star Break
55
February 3, 1981 8:30 p.m. EST
@ Milwaukee
W 108–99
Knight (24)
Orr (11)
Bantom ,Davis (9)
MECCA Arena 11,052
32–23
56
February 4, 1981
Los Angeles
L 96–102
Market Square Arena
32–24
57
February 6, 1981 7:30 p.m. EST
@ Boston
L 98–111
Bantom (24)
Orr (7)
McGinnis (7)
Boston Garden 15,320
32–25
58
February 7, 1981
Cleveland
W 99–96
Market Square Arena
33–25
59
February 8, 1981
@ Detroit
W 124–101
Pontiac Silverdome
34–25
60
February 11, 1981 7:35 p.m. EST
Milwaukee
L 101–107
Orr (21)
Orr (11)
Davis (7)
Market Square Arena 11,817
34–26
61
February 13, 1981
@ New Jersey
L 100–103
Rutgers Athletic Center
34–27
62
February 15, 1981 4:05 p.m. EST
Chicago
W 113–107
McGinnis (27)
Bantom (11)
Davis (6)
Market Square Arena 10,513
35–27
63
February 18, 1981
Atlanta
L 96–99
Market Square Arena
35–28
64
February 20, 1981 7:35 p.m. EST
San Antonio
W 109–106
McGinnis (24)
McGinnis (12)
Davis (8)
Market Square Arena 10,419
36–28
65
February 22, 1981
Portland
L 109–113 (OT)
Market Square Arena
36–29
66
February 25, 1981 9:00 p.m. EST
@ Houston
L 100–101
Edwards (25)
Edwards (11)
Davis (12)
The Summit 13,121
36–30
67
February 27, 1981
@ Dallas
W 118–111
Reunion Arena
37–30
March: 7–8 (home: 4–4; road: 3–4)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location Attendance
Record
68
March 3, 1981
@ Portland
L 112–117
Memorial Coliseum
37–31
69
March 4, 1981
@ Seattle
L 93–105
Kingdome
37–32
70
March 6, 1981 7:35 p.m. EST
Boston
W 110–104
Knight (32)
Bantom (6)
Davis (6)
Market Square Arena 17,032
38–32
71
March 8, 1981
Denver
W 129–119
Market Square Arena
39–32
72
March 10, 1981 7:35 p.m. EST
Philadelphia
L 102–103
Knight (22)
Edwards ,Knight (8)
Davis (11)
Market Square Arena 17,032
39–33
73
March 12, 1981
@ Washington
W 114–107
Capital Centre
40–33
74
March 13, 1981 7:30 p.m. EST
@ Boston (at Hartford, CT )
W 101–94
Davis (24)
C. Johnson (17)
Davis (9)
Hartford Civic Center 15,622
41–33
75
March 14, 1981
Detroit
L 94–101
Market Square Arena
41–34
76
March 17, 1981
@ New York
L 89–114
Madison Square Garden
41–35
77
March 18, 1981 8:05 p.m. EST
@ Philadelphia
L 95–107
McGinnis (22)
Edwards ,McGinnis (9)
Knight (4)
The Spectrum 12,756
41–36
78
March 20, 1981
New York
L 107–110
Market Square Arena
41–37
79
March 22, 1981
Cleveland
W 107–101
Market Square Arena
42–37
80
March 26, 1981
@ Atlanta
W 115–107
The Omni
43–37
81
March 27, 1981
Washington
W 122–107
Market Square Arena
44–37
82
March 29, 1981 1:05 p.m. EST
Chicago
L 97–101
Knight (25)
Edwards (9)
Davis (12)
Market Square Arena 16,663
44–38
1980–81 schedule
Playoffs
1981 playoff game log
Eastern Conference First Round: 0–2 (home: 0–1; road: 0–1)
1981 schedule
Player statistics
Season
Playoffs
Player Statistics Citation:[ 1]
Player totals
Season
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
Playoffs
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
Awards and records
Transactions
Free agents
References
Franchise Arenas Personnel G League affiliate Retired numbers
ABA championships Rivalries Culture and lore
1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s 2020s