1976–77 Indiana Pacers season

The 1976–77 NBA season was Indiana's first season in the NBA and tenth season as a franchise.[1]

1976–77 Indiana Pacers season
Head coachBobby Leonard
ArenaMarket Square Arena
Results
Record36–46 (.439)
PlaceDivision: 5th (Midwest)
Conference: 9th (Western)
Playoff finishDid not qualify
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionWTTV
RadioWIBC

Offseason

Draft picks
Main article: 1976 ABA Dispersal Draft
Round Pick Player Position Nationality College
18Wil Jones†PF United StatesAlbany State

†In the 1976 ABA Dispersal Draft, ABA and NBA teams selected players that were on the Kentucky Colonels and the Spirits of St. Louis, the two ABA teams that were not included in the ABA–NBA merger in 1976. Wil Jones was a member of the Kentucky Colonels during the 1975–76 ABA season. Because the Pacers were in the ABA before the merger, they did not have any picks in the 1976 NBA draft.

Roster
Indiana Pacers roster
Players Coaches
Pos.No.NameHeightWeightDOBFrom
SG 21 United States Anderson, Jerome 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 195 lb (88 kg) West Virginia
PF 9 United States Bennett, Mel 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 200 lb (91 kg) Pittsburgh
PG 10 United States Buse, Don 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Evansville
C 41 United States Elmore, Len 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 220 lb (100 kg) Maryland
SG 44 United States Flynn, Mike 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 180 lb (82 kg) Kentucky
SF 24 United States Green, Steve 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 220 lb (100 kg) Indiana
F 20 United States Hillman, Darnell 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 215 lb (98 kg) San José State
PF 22 United States Jones, Wil 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 205 lb (93 kg) Albany State
SF 25 United States Knight, Billy 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 195 lb (88 kg) Pittsburgh
C 40 United States Robisch, Dave 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 235 lb (107 kg) Kansas
PF 32 United States Roundfield, Dan 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 205 lb (93 kg) Central Michigan
SG 23 United States Williamson, John 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 185 lb (84 kg) New Mexico State
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured Injured

Regular season

Buoyed by the sensational playmaking of Don Buse and scoring of Billy Knight, The Pacers hovered around the .500 mark for much of the first half of their inaugural NBA season but a lack of depth and a few injuries blunted the Pacers progress. The Pacers were significantly hampered by injuries to center, Len Elmore, who missed all but six games.

Season standings
Midwest Division
 W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-Denver Nuggets 5032.610–36–514–2715–5
x-Detroit Pistons 4438.537630–1114–2712–8
x-Chicago Bulls 4438.537631–1013–2810–10
Kansas City Kings 4042.4881028–1312–297–13
Indiana Pacers 3646.4391425–1611–309–11
Milwaukee Bucks 3052.3662024–176–357–13
#
Western Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1 z-Los Angeles Lakers5329.646–
2 y-Denver Nuggets5032.6103
3 x-Portland Trail Blazers4933.5984
4 x-Golden State Warriors4636.5617
5 x-Detroit Pistons4438.5379
6 x-Chicago Bulls4438.5379
7 Kansas City Kings4042.48813
8 Seattle SuperSonics4042.48813
9 Indiana Pacers3646.43917
10 Phoenix Suns3448.41519
11 Milwaukee Bucks3052.36623
z – clinched division title
y – clinched division title
x – clinched playoff spot

Record vs. opponents
1976–77 NBA Records
Team ATL BOS BUF CHI CLE DEN DET GSW HOU IND KCK LAL MIL NOJ NYK NYN PHI PHO POR SAS SEA WAS
Atlanta —0–44–02–22–22–20–40–41–30–41–22–22–21–31–33–11–30–43–14–01–21–3
Boston 4–0—3–12–21–33–12–21–32–21–23–12–13–12–22–23–11–32–21–34–02–20–4
Buffalo 0–41–3—1–32–22–23–10–31–31–30–31–33–13–11–32–22–23–11–30–43–10–4
Chicago 2–22–23–1—3–11–32–22–21–32–22–23–13–14–02–22–12–22–20–43–12–21–2
Cleveland 2–23–12–21–3—2–21–32–21–32–13–12–24–02–22–23–11–32–12–22–23–11–3
Denver 2–21–32–23–12–2—3–12–23–03–13–12–23–13–12–23–11–33–12–21–24–02–2
Detroit 4–02–21–32–23–11–3—3–12–22–24–01–33–13–11–23–12–22–22–21–21–31–3
Golden State 4–03–13–02–22–22–21–3—2–14–01–32–21–31–31–33–13–14–01–32–21–33–1
Houston 3–12–23–13–13–10–32–21–2—4–02–22–23–12–22–22–21–33–13–12–23–13–1
Indiana 4–02–13–12–21–21–32–20–40–4—2–21–32–22–22–24–02–22–20–42–22–20–4
Kansas City 2–11–33–02–21–31–30–43–12–22–2—1–32–22–24–04–01–33–12–21–31–32–2
Los Angeles 2–21–23–11–32–22–23–12–22–23–13–1—3–13–01–34–02–23–13–13–13–14–0
Milwaukee 2–21–31–31–30–41–31–33–11–32–22–21–3—1–21–33–11–21–32–23–11–31–3
New Orleans 3–12–21–30–42–21–31–33–12–22–22–20–32–1—3–12–20–43–12–21–31–32–2
N.Y. Knicks 3–12–23–12–22–22–22–13–12–22–20–43–13–11–3—2–21–32–21–31–31–22–2
N.Y. Nets 1–31–32–21–21–31–31–31–32–20–40–40–41–32–22–2—1–32–20–31–31–31–3
Philadelphia 3–13–12–22–23–13–12–21–33–12–23–12–22–14–03–13–1—1–22–21–32–23–1
Phoenix 4–02–21–32–21–21–32–20–41–32–21–31–33–11–32–22–22–1—1–31–33–11–3
Portland 1–33–13–14–02–22–22–23–11–34–02–21–32–22–23–13–02–23–1—2–23–11–2
San Antonio 0–40–44–01–32–22–12–12–22–22–23–11–31–33–13–13–13–13–12–2—3–12–2
Seattle 2–12–21–32–21–30–43–13–11–32–23–11–33–13–12–13–12–21–31–31–3—3–1
Washington 3–14–04–02–13–12–23–11–31–34–02–20–43–12–22–23–11–33–12–12–21–3—

Awards and records

References
  1. 1976–77 Indiana Pacers
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