1978–79 San Diego Clippers season

The 1978–79 NBA season was the 9th season of the team formerly known as the Buffalo Braves in the NBA.[1] They had moved from Buffalo, New York to San Diego, California and rechristened themselves as the San Diego Clippers.

1978–79 San Diego Clippers season
Head coachGene Shue
ArenaSan Diego Sports Arena
Results
Record43–39 (.524)
PlaceDivision: 5th (Pacific)
Conference: 7th (Western)
Playoff finishDid not qualify
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionXETV
RadioKGB

Draft picks
Main article: 1978 NBA draft
Round Pick Player Position Nationality School/Club Team
241Jerome WhiteheadForward United StatesMarquette
348Mike SantosForward United StatesUtah State
351Ricky GallonCenter United StatesLouisville
365Marvin DelphGuard United StatesArkansas
468Jim BoylanGuard United StatesMarquette
473Larry HarrisForward United StatesPittsburgh
476Leroy McDonaldGuard United StatesWake Forest
590David ThompsonForward United StatesFlorida State
6112Bob MiseviciusForward United StatesProvidence
7133Stan PietkiewiczGuard United StatesAuburn
8154Felton YoungCenter United StatesJacksonville
9172Bobby WhiteForward United StatesCentenary (LA)

Roster
San Diego Clippers roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos.#Nat.NameHt.Wt.From
F 32 United States Bigelow, Bob 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 215 lb (98 kg) Penn
G 24 United States Free, Lloyd 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 185 lb (84 kg) Guilford
C 44 United States Kunnert, Kevin 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 231 lb (105 kg) Iowa
C 45 United States Lloyd, Scott 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 230 lb (104 kg) Arizona State
C 31 Netherlands Nater, Swen 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 240 lb (109 kg) UCLA
G 11 United States Norman, Connie 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 176 lb (80 kg) Arizona
F 40 United States Olive, John 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 210 lb (95 kg) Villanova
F 22 United States Pietkiewicz, Stan 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 200 lb (91 kg) Auburn
G 9 United States Smith, Randy 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 185 lb (84 kg) Buffalo State
G 14 United States Taylor, Brian 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 185 lb (84 kg) Princeton
F 42 United States Washington, Kermit 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 230 lb (104 kg) American
F 12 United States Weatherspoon, Nick 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 197 lb (89 kg) Illinois
C 33 United States Whitehead, Jerome 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 225 lb (102 kg) Marquette
F 21 United States Wicks, Sidney 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 225 lb (102 kg) UCLA
G 20 United States Williams, Freeman 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 185 lb (84 kg) Portland State
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured Injured

Roster notes

Regular season

Game log
1978-79 Regular Season Game Log (43–39) (Home: 29–12; Road: 14–27)
October (5–6) (Home: 4–2; Road: 1–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecordReport
1October 13@ SunsL 114–128Kermit Washington (25)Kermit Washington (11)Randy Smith (11)Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
11,217		0–1
2October 14@ WarriorsL 89–117Tied (21)Kermit Washington (14)Randy Smith (7)Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena
10,254		0–2
3October 15NuggetsL 94–98Randy Smith (28)Swen Nater (12)Lloyd Free (4)San Diego Sports Arena
8,362		0–3
4October 17BullsW 99–94Lloyd Free (29)Tied (14)Tied (4)San Diego Sports Arena
4,944		1–3
5October 18SpursL 125–127Lloyd Free (29)Kermit Washington (16)Lloyd Free (8)San Diego Sports Arena
5,614		1–4
6October 20@ BullsW 110–94Nick Weatherspoon (19)Kermit Washington (13)World B. Free (9)Chicago Stadium
12,412		2–4
7October 21@ PacersL 119–125Lloyd Free (35)Tied (12)Lloyd Free (6)Market Square Arena
9,243		2–5
8October 24LakersW 124–123Lloyd Free (35)Kevin Kunnert (9)Lloyd Free (7)San Diego Sports Arena
11,637		3–5
9October 25BucksW 125–116Lloyd Free (38)Swen Nater (15)Lloyd Free (9)San Diego Sports Arena
8,051		4–5
10October 27@ LakersL 101–113Lloyd Free (26)Swen Nater (10)Lloyd Free (5)The Forum
9,246		4–6
11October 29SuperSonicsW 103–100Randy Smith (26)Kevin Kunnert (10)Randy Smith (6)San Diego Sports Arena
9,469		5–6
November (6–9) (Home: 4–4; Road: 2–5)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecordReport
12November 2KnicksL 122–127Lloyd Free (42)Kermit Washington (10)Lloyd Free (7)San Diego Sports Arena
9,744		5–7
13November 3@ Trail BlazersL 98–119Randy Smith (22)Kermit Washington (11)Randy Smith (4)Memorial Coliseum
12,666		5–8
14November 4CavaliersL 106–112Lloyd Free (24)Kermit Washington (14)Lloyd Free (6)San Diego Sports Arena
9,791		5–9
15November 7@ JazzW 121–115Lloyd Free (29)Nick Weatherspoon (16)Lloyd Free (6)New Orleans Superdome
6,411		6–9
16November 8@ SpursL 125–163Lloyd Free (26)Swen Nater (9)Tied (5)HemisFair Arena
11,358		6–10
17November 9@ HawksL 101–125Nick Weatherspoon (25)Swen Nater (10)Tied (4)Omni Coliseum
5,082		6–11
18November 11@ RocketsL 123–136Lloyd Free (31)Tied (6)Randy Smith (11)The Summit
9,179		6–12
19November 14PacersW 109–106Kermit Washington (29)Swen Nater (12)Lloyd Free (5)San Diego Sports Arena
6,381		7–12
20November 16WarriorsW 112–109Lloyd Free (29)Kermit Washington (10)Lloyd Free (5)San Diego Sports Arena
8,483		8–12
21November 18JazzW 114–111Randy Smith (36)Swen Nater (17)Randy Smith (6)San Diego Sports Arena
8,151		9–12
22November 21HawksL 107–113Lloyd Free (26)Kevin Kunnert (13)Lloyd Free (6)San Diego Sports Arena
6,730		9–13
23November 24@ 76ersL 120–134Lloyd Free (33)Kermit Washington (11)Lloyd Free (8)The Spectrum
18,276		9–14
24November 25@ KingsW 87–86Lloyd Free (28)Kevin Kunnert (15)Tied (4)Kemper Arena
11,320		10–14
25November 26CelticsW 105–103LLoyd Free (28)Kermit Washington (9)Randy Smith (7)San Diego Sports Arena
7,042		11–14
26November 30RocketsL 104–113Nick Weatherspoon (22)Nick Weatherspoon (11)Randy Smith (7)San Diego Sports Arena
6,597		11–15
December (7–6) (Home: 2–2; Road: 5–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecordReport
27December 2PistonsL 113–120Tied (25)Tied (13)Randy Smith (9)San Diego Sports Arena
6,433		11–16
28December 6@ CelticsL 111–117Lloyd Free (25)Tied (11)Randy Smith (10)Boston Garden
7,688		11–17
29December 9@ NetsL 120–125Lloyd Free (38)Swen Nater (10)Lloyd Free (4)Rutgers Athletic Center
4,286		11–18
30December 10@ BucksW 107–106Lloyd Free (28)Tied (12)Lloyd Free (5)MECCA Arena
10,889		12–18
31December 12@ KnicksW 105–103Randy Smith (28)Tied (9)Lloyd Free (8)Madison Square Garden
11,981		13–18
32December 13@ BulletsL 117–134Randy Smith (29)Swen Nater (9)Randy Smith (6)Capital Centre
7,621		13–19
33December 17SunsW 116–100Lloyd Free (30)Swen Nater (13)Randy Smith (5)San Diego Sports Arena
6,068		14–19
34December 1976ersL 113–124Lloyd Free (35)Swen Nater (10)Swen Nater (3)San Diego Sports Arena
13,822		14–20
35December 25@ SuperSonicsW 123–118Randy Smith (29)Swen Nater (13)Randy Smith (12)Kingdome
11,910		15–20
36December 26BullsW 115–109Lloyd Free (36)Kermit Washington (10)Lloyd Free (5)San Diego Sports Arena
8,582		16–20
37December 28@ CavaliersL 114–116Lloyd Free (36)Kevin Kunnert (9)Lloyd Free (6)Richfield Coliseum
11,091		16–21
38December 29@ PistonsW 111–107Lloyd Free (35)Swen Nater (14)Randy Smith (8)Pontiac Silverdome
10,284		17–21
39December 30@ PacersW 114–111Lloyd Free (30)Kevin Kunnert (13)Sidney Wicks (6)Market Square Arena
7,263		18–21
January (8–6) (Home: 5–0; Road: 3–6)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecordReport
40January 2PistonsW 137–119Lloyd Free (33)Kermit Washington (17)Kermit Washington (5)San Diego Sports Arena
6,139		19–21
41January 4@ KingsL 99–108Randy Smith (37)Kermit Washington (15)Randy Smith (3)Kemper Arena
6,647		19–22
42January 6@ BucksL 93–104Freeman Williams (26)Kermit Washington (14)Randy Smith (6)MECCA Arena
10,938		19–23
43January 9@ JazzW 114–107Lloyd Free (34)Kermit Washington (10)Tied (7)New Orleans Superdome
6,342		20–23
44January 11@ SpursL 111–140Nick Weatherspoon (38)Nick Weatherspoon (9)Randy Smith (12)HemisFair Arena
11,008		20–24
45January 13@ HawksL 119–124Lloyd Free (46)Kermit Washington (17)Tied (3)Omni Coliseum
7,681		20–25
46January 14@ BulletsL 91–125Randy Smith (24)Kermit Washington (13)Randy Smith (8)Capital Centre
9,588		20–26
47January 17LakersW 119–117Lloyd Free (31)Tied (11)Tied (4)San Diego Sports Arena
13,073		21–26
48January 24Trail BlazersW 122–121Lloyd Free (35)Nick Weatherspoon (11)Lloyd Free (5)San Diego Sports Arena
9,659		22–26
49January 26@ BullsW 107–91Lloyd Free (28)Swen Nater (15)Tied (5)Chicago Stadium
8,523		23–26
50January 27@ CavaliersW 111–110Lloyd Free (38)Kermit Washington (15)Lloyd Free (4)Richfield Coliseum
10,523		24–26
51January 28@ PistonsL 118–128Lloyd Free (23)Swen Nater (10)Sidney Wicks (6)Pontiac Silverdome
9,279		24–27
52January 30BucksW 117–113Randy Smith (26)Kevin Kunnert (14)Tied (7)San Diego Sports Arena
8,431		25–27
53January 31NetsW 112–104Lloyd Free (25)Kermit Washington (14)Randy Smith (6)San Diego Sports Arena
7,227		26–27
February (8-4) (Home: 7–2; Road: 1–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecordReport
54February 2NuggetsW 124–100Lloyd Free (49)Kevin Kunnert (12)Randy Smith (5)San Diego Sports Arena
11,763		27–28
55February 7SpursL 113–126Lloyd Free (25)Kermit Washington (10)Tied (4)San Diego Sports Arena
8,498		27–28
56February 9@ 76ersL 106–117Randy Smith (25)Nick Weatherspoon (13)Nick Weatherspoon (5)The Spectrum
15,823		27–29
57February 11@ NetsL 98–104Lloyd Free (22)Swen Nater (18)Lloyd Free (6)Rutgers Athletic Center
14,749		27–30
58February 13BulletsL 136–138 2OTLloyd Free (45)Nick Weatherspoon (10)Lloyd Free (4)San Diego Sports Arena
8,111		27–31
59February 15JazzW 122–112Lloyd Free (30)Swen Nater (10)Randy Smith (5)San Diego Sports Arena
5,827		28–31
60February 16@ NuggetsW 118–104Randy Smith (25)Kermit Washington (14)Tied (5)McNichols Sports Arena
15,119		29–31
61February 18HawksW 116–101Lloyd Free (26)Sidney Wicks (13)Randy Smith (4)San Diego Sports Arena
6,959		30–31
62February 2376ersW 117–116Lloyd Free (26)Swen Nater (10)Tied (3)San Diego Sports Arena
13,783		31–31
63February 25CelticsW 131–116Lloyd Free (38)Kevin Kunnert (10)Tied (6)San Diego Sports Arena
10,671		32–31
64February 27PacersW 124–107Lloyd Free (28)Tied (9)Kermit Washington (6)San Diego Sports Arena
6,156		33–31
65February 28KingsW 122–120Randy Smith (22)Swen Nater (8)Randy Smith (7)San Diego Sports Arena
9,051		34–31
March (7–6) (Home: 5–1; Road: 2–5)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecordReport
66March 2@ CelticsW 106–99Lloyd Free (28)Kermit Washington (15)Randy Smith (6)Boston Garden
14,345		35–31
67March 3@ KnicksL 108–111Lloyd Free (34)Kevin Kunnert (23)Tied (6)Madison Square Garden
11,488		35–32
68March 7RocketsW 138–115Lloyd Free (34)Swen Nater (10)Tied (5)San Diego Sports Arena
19,911		36–32
69March 10CavaliersW 121–115Lloyd Free (33)Swen Nater (12)Tied (3)San Diego Sports Arena
13,783		37–32
70March 14Trail BlazersW 110–105Lloyd Free (29)Kevin Kunnert (12)Randy Smith (9)San Diego Sports Arena
13,401		38–32
71March 17WarriorsW 106–103Lloyd Free (23)Kevin Kunnert (11)Tied (4)San Diego Sports Arena
11,332		39–32
72March 18NetsW 110–98Lloyd Free (31)Nick Weatherspoon (17)Randy Smith (5)San Diego Sports Arena
18,538		40–32
73March 20@ Trail BlazersL 109–115Randy Smith (28)Swen Nater (12)Randy Smith (12)Memorial Coliseum
12,666		40–33
74March 21@ WarriorsW 106–103Lloyd Free (35)Kevin Kunnert (17)Tied (5)Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena
7,813		41–33
75March 23@ LakersL 119–156Randy Smith (33)Kermit Washington (17)Kermit Washington (6)The Forum
14,212		41–34
76March 27@ SuperSonicsL 109–115Lloyd Free (28)Tied (9)Lloyd Free (4)Kingdome
20,087		41–35
77March 29KingsL 111–116Lloyd Free (37)Kermit Washington (15)Brian Taylor (4)San Diego Sports Arena
13,189		41–36
78March 30@ NuggetsL 121–130Lloyd Free (42)Kevin Kunnert (13)Lloyd Free (6)McNichols Sports Arena
17,607		41–37
April (2–2) (Home: 2–1; Road: 0–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecordReport
79April 1KnicksW 126–116Lloyd Free (28)Kevin Kunnert (15)Tied (4)San Diego Sports Arena
8,371		42–37
80April 4SuperSonicsL 107–115Nick Weatherspoon (25)Kermit Washington (13)Randy Smith (5)San Diego Sports Arena
20,087		42–38
81April 6@ SunsL 117–118Lloyd Free (29)Swen Nater (10)Tied (4)Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
12,660		42–39
82April 7SunsW 120–116Lloyd Free (36)Swen Nater (12)Brian Taylor (3)San Diego Sports Arena
11,614		43–39

Season standings
Pacific Division
 W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-Seattle SuperSonics 5230.634–31–1021–2011–9
x-Phoenix Suns 5032.610232–918–2311–9
x-Los Angeles Lakers 4735.573531–1016–2511–9
x-Portland Trail Blazers 4537.549733–812–298–12
San Diego Clippers 4339.524929–1214–2711–9
Golden State Warriors 3844.4631423–1815–268–12
#
Western Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1 z-Seattle SuperSonics5230.634–
2 y-Kansas City Kings4834.5854
3 x-Phoenix Suns5032.6102
4 x-Denver Nuggets4735.5735
5 x-Los Angeles Lakers4735.5735
6 x-Portland Trail Blazers4537.5497
7 San Diego Clippers4339.5249
8 Indiana Pacers3844.46314
9 Milwaukee Bucks3844.46314
10 Golden State Warriors3844.46314
11 Chicago Bulls3151.37821

Notes

  • z, y – division champions
  • x – clinched playoff spot

Record vs. opponents
1978–79 NBA records
Team ATL BOS CHI CLE DEN DET GSW HOU IND KCK LAL MIL NJN NOJ NYK PHI PHO POR SAS SDC SEA WAS
Atlanta –2–23–13–13–13–11–33–11–32–21–33–02–22–22–22–22–12–23–13–11–32–2
Boston 2–2–1–22–21–32–22–11–33–11–31–31–31–32–23–12–20–41–30–41–32–20–4
Chicago 1–32–1–1–32–22–23–12–22–20–41–31–32–22–23–11–31–34–00–30–40–41–3
Cleveland 1–32–23–1–1–21–32–12–21–31–32–21–33–12–22–22–20–40–40–42–22–20–4
Denver 1–33–12–22–1–2–24–01–33–11–33–12–24–03–13–10–33–11–33–12–23–11–3
Detroit 1–32–22–23–12–2–1–32–22–22–22–22–10–42–21–31–30–41–31–32–20–31–3
Golden State 3–11–21–31–20–43–1–2–22–22–21–32–21–33–13–13–11–32–21–31–33–12–2
Houston 1–33–12–22–23–12–22–2–0–43–12–12–23–14–04–00–42–23–13–12–12–22–2
Indiana 3–11–32–23–11–32–22–24–0–1–30–42–21–22–12–22–22–23–13–11–30–41–3
Kansas City 2–23–14–03–13–12–22–21–33–1–2–22–23–13–12–12–22–21–31–32–22–23–0
Los Angeles 3–13–13–12–21–32–23–11–24–02–2–3–12–22–23–01–32–22–22–22–22–22–2
Milwaukee 0–33–13–13–12–21–22–22–22–22–21–3–2–23–11–32–22–22–21–31–32–21–3
New Jersey 2–23–12–21–30–44–03–11–32–11–32–22–2–3–11–32–23–02–20–42–20–41–3
New Orleans 2–22–22–22–21–32–21–30–41–21–32–21–31–3–2–22–21–31–32–20–40–30–4
New York 2–21–31–32–21–33–11–30–42–21–20–33–13–12–2–2–20–41–31–32–22–21–3
Philadelphia 2–22–23–12–23–03–11–34–02–22–23–12–22–22–22–2–1–31–23–13–11–33–1
Phoenix 1–24–03–14–01–34–03–12–22–22–22–22–20–33–14–03–1–3–13–12–21–31–3
Portland 2–23–10–44–03–13–12–21–31–33–12–22–22–23–13–12–11–3–2–12–21–33–1
San Antonio 1–34–03–04–01–33–13–11–31–33–12–23–14–02–23–11–31–31–2–4–02–21–3
San Diego 1–33–14–02–22–22–23–11–23–12–22–23–12–24–02–21–32–22–20–4–2–20–3
Seattle 3–12–24–02–21–33–01–32–24–02–22–22–24–03–02–23–13–13–12–22–2–2–2
Washington 2–24–03–14–03–13–12–22–23–10–32–23–13–14–03–11–33–11–33–13–02–2—

Player stats
Legend
GP Games played MPG Minutes per game FG Field-goals per game FGA Field-goals attempted per Game
FG% Field-goal percentage FT Free-throws per game FTA Free-throws attempted per Game FT% Free-throw percentage
ORPG Offensive rebounds per game DRPG Defensive rebounds per game RPG Rebounds per game APG Assists per game
SPG Steals per game BPG Blocks per game PFPG Personal fouls per game PPG Points per game
Player GP MPG FG FGA FG% FT FTA FT% ORPG DRPG RPG APG SPG BPG PFPG PPG
Lloyd Free7837.910.221.20.4818.411.10.7561.62.23.94.41.40.43.228.8
Randy Smith8237.98.518.60.4553.64.40.8131.22.43.64.82.20.12.220.5
Kermit Washington8233.74.37.60.5622.84.00.6883.66.19.81.51.01.53.911.3
Nick Weatherspoon8232.25.812.20.4802.12.90.7392.23.45.51.61.00.53.513.8
Sidney Wicks7925.63.98.60.4621.92.90.6502.03.15.11.60.90.53.59.8
Swen Nater7925.44.57.90.5691.72.10.8002.86.18.91.80.50.43.110.7
Kevin Kunnert8120.82.96.20.4670.71.00.6592.54.57.01.40.61.53.86.5
Freeman Williams7216.64.79.50.4901.11.40.7760.70.71.41.20.60.01.210.4
Connie Norman2214.73.27.50.4300.91.00.8260.60.91.51.10.50.11.67.3
Bob Bigelow2914.21.23.10.4000.40.70.6190.51.11.60.90.40.11.32.9
Brian Taylor2010.61.54.20.3610.80.90.8890.70.71.31.01.20.01.73.8
Stan Pietkiewicz48.00.32.00.1250.50.51.0000.01.51.50.80.30.01.31.0
Scott Lloyd56.20.00.40.0000.00.00.20.40.60.00.20.01.20.0
John Olive345.60.41.20.3250.50.70.7830.10.50.60.10.10.00.91.3
Jerome Whitehead314.90.51.10.4410.30.60.4440.51.11.60.20.10.10.91.2

Awards and records

Transactions

The Clippers were involved in the following transactions during the 1978–79 season.

Coaching Change
Offseason
Outgoing Coach Date Removed 1977-78 Record Incoming Coach
Cotton Fitzsimmons Fired, May 9, 1978 27-55 Gene Shue

Trades
June 7, 1978 To San Diego Clippers
 To Los Angeles Lakers
  • A 1978 second round draft pick
July 15, 1978 To San Diego Clippers
  • A 1978 second round draft pick as compensation
 To Golden State Warriors
August 4, 1978 To San Diego Clippers
 To Boston Celtics
October 12, 1978 To San Diego Clippers
 To Philadelphia 76ers
  • A 1984 first round draft pick
October 26, 1978 To San Diego Clippers
  • A 1981 third round draft pick
 To Chicago Bulls
February 15, 1979 To San Diego Clippers
 To Denver Nuggets
  • Two 1979 second round draft picks as compensation

Free agents

References
  1. 1978-79 San Diego Clippers
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