1980–81 Kansas City Kings season

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1980–81 Kansas City Kings season
Head coachCotton Fitzsimmons
ArenaKemper Arena
Results
Record40–42 (.488)
PlaceDivision: 3rd (Midwest)
Conference: 5th (Western)
Playoff finishWestern Conference Finals
(Eliminated 1-4)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionKBMA-TV
RadioKCMO
< 1979–80 1981–82 >

The 1980–81 NBA season was the Kings 32nd season in the NBA and their ninth season in the city of Kansas City.[1] The Kansas City Kings made the playoffs with a 40-42 win loss record and appeared in the western conference finals where they lost to the also 40-42 Houston Rockets. This is the only time two NBA teams with losing records have made it to the conference finals.

Draft picks[]

Main article: 1980 NBA Draft
Round Pick Player Position Nationality School/Club Team
1 16 Hawkeye Whitney SG/SF  United States North Carolina State
3 62 Tony Murphy SG  United States Southern
5 108  United States Eastern Michigan
6 131  United States Kent State
7 154  United States Montana State
9 193  United States Delta State

Roster[]

1980–81 Kansas City Kings roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB (YYYY-MM-DD) From
SG 10 Birdsong, Otis 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Houston
C 13 Douglas, Leon 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 230 lb (104 kg) Alabama
PG 1 Ford, Phil 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 175 lb (79 kg) North Carolina
F 22 Gerard, Gus 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 205 lb (93 kg) Virginia
SG 20 Grunfeld, Ernie 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 210 lb (95 kg) Tennessee
F 51 King, Reggie 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 225 lb (102 kg) Alabama
C 44 Lacey, Sam 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 235 lb (107 kg) New Mexico State
PF 24 Lambert, John 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 225 lb (102 kg) Southern California
F/C 50 Meriweather, Joe C. 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 215 lb (98 kg) Southern Illinois
F 4 Sanders, Frankie 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 200 lb (91 kg) Southern
G 11 Walton, Lloyd 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 160 lb (73 kg) Marquette
G 15 Wedman, Scott 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 215 lb (98 kg) Colorado
G 12 White, Jo Jo 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Kansas
G 43 Whitney, Hawkeye 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 235 lb (107 kg) North Carolina State
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured Injured

Regular season[]

Season standings[]

Midwest Division
W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-San Antonio Spurs 52 30 .634 – 34–7 18–23 21–9
x-Kansas City Kings 40 42 .488 12.0 24–17 16–25 19–11
x-Houston Rockets 40 42 .488 12.0 25–16 15–26 19–11
Denver Nuggets 37 45 .451 15.0 23–18 14–27 13–17
Utah Jazz 28 54 .341 24.0 20–21 8–33 13–17
Dallas Mavericks 15 67 .183 37.0 11–30 4–37 5–25
# Western Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1 c-Phoenix Suns 57 25 .695 –
2 y-San Antonio Spurs 52 30 .634 5
3 x-Los Angeles Lakers 54 28 .659 3
4 x-Portland Trail Blazers 45 37 .549 12
5 x-Kansas City Kings 40 42 .488 17
6 x-Houston Rockets 40 42 .488 17
7 Golden State Warriors 39 43 .476 18
8 Denver Nuggets 37 45 .451 20
9 San Diego Clippers 36 46 .439 21
10 Seattle SuperSonics 34 48 .415 23
11 Utah Jazz 28 54 .341 29
12 Dallas Mavericks 15 67 .183 42


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: 40–42 (Home: 24–17; Road: 16–25)
October: 5–7 (Home: 3–3; Road: 2–4)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
November: 5–9 (Home: 3–2; Road: 2–7)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
December: 7–8 (Home: 4–3; Road: 3–5)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
January: 7–6 (Home: 4–3; Road: 3–3)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
February: 9–5 (Home: 7–1; Road: 2–4)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
March: 7–7 (Home: 3–5; Road: 4–2)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
1980–81 schedule

Playoffs[]

1981 playoff game log
First round: 2–1 (Home: 0–1; Road: 2–0)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Series
1 April 1 @ Portland W 98–97 (OT) Otis Birdsong (29) King, Lacey (12) Sam Lacey (10) Memorial Coliseum
12,666 		0–1
2 April 3 Portland L 119–124 (OT) Scott Wedman (31) Sam Lacey (9) Sam Lacey (8) Kemper Arena
11,088 		1–1
3 April 5 @ Portland W 104–95 Reggie King (28) Reggie King (15) Ernie Grunfeld (6) Memorial Coliseum
12,666 		2–1
Conference Semi-finals: 4–3 (Home: 2–1; Road: 2–2)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Series
1 April 7 @ Phoenix L 80–102 Reggie King (15) Reggie King (8) Lloyd Walton (6) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
12,660 		0–1
2 April 8 @ Phoenix W 88–83 Scott Wedman (24) Reggie King (12) Ernie Grunfeld (8) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
12,660 		1–1
3 April 10 Phoenix W 93–92 Reggie King (29) Sam Lacey (12) Ernie Grunfeld (7) Kemper Arena
13,776 		2–1
4 April 12 Phoenix W 102–95 Ernie Grunfeld (27) Sam Lacey (11) Sam Lacey (10) Kemper Arena
11,089 		3–1
5 April 15 @ Phoenix L 89–101 Reggie King (29) Douglas, Lacey (8) Ernie Grunfeld (8) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
12,660 		3–2
6 April 17 Phoenix L 76–81 Scott Wedman (19) Sam Lacey (12) Ernie Grunfeld (8) Kemper Arena
15,232 		3–3
7 April 19 @ Phoenix W 95–88 Grunfeld, King (23) King, Lacey (7) Scott Wedman (9) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
12,660 		4–3
Conference Finals: 1–4 (Home: 1–2; Road: 0–2)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Series
1 April 21 Houston L 78–97 Ernie Grunfeld (20) Reggie King (12) Lacey, Ford (7) Kemper Arena
13,885 		0–1
2 April 22 Houston W 88–79 Reggie King (31) Reggie King (10) King, Lacey (6) Kemper Arena
14,326 		1–1
3 April 24 @ Houston L 88–92 Wedman, King (22) Reggie King (8) Scott Wedman (7) The Summit
16,121 		1–2
4 April 26 @ Houston L 89–100 Reggie King (24) King, Lacey (8) Phil Ford (10) The Summit
16,121 		1–3
5 April 29 Houston L 88–97 Scott Wedman (20) Reggie King (16) Sam Lacey (7) Kemper Arena
14,640 		1–4
1981 schedule

Player statistics[]

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[]

Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG

Playoffs[]

Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG

Awards and records[]

Transactions[]

References[]

  1. ^ 1980-81 Kansas City Kings
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