1980–81 Kansas City Kings season

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.

1980–81 Kansas City Kings season
Head coachCotton Fitzsimmons
General managerH. Paul Rosenberg (interim)
OwnersLeon Karosen
Robert Margolin
H. Paul Rosenberg
ArenaKemper Arena
Results
Record40–42 (.488)
PlaceDivision: 3rd (Midwest)
Conference: 5th (Western)
Playoff finishWestern Conference finals
(lost to Rockets 1–4)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionKBMA-TV 41
RadioKCKN–AM 1340
KCKN-FM 94.1

Draft picks
Main article: 1980 NBA draft
Round Pick Player Position Nationality School/Club Team
116Hawkeye WhitneySG/SF United StatesNorth Carolina State
362Tony MurphySG United StatesSouthern
5108Kevin Blakley United StatesEastern Michigan
6131Trent Grooms United StatesKent State
7154Arnold McDowell United StatesMontana State
9193Charley Cole United StatesDelta State

Roster
1980–81 Kansas City Kings roster
Players Coaches
Pos.No.NameHeightWeightDOBFrom
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) USC
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) NC 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 Spurs5230.634–34–718–2321–9
x-Kansas City Kings4042.48812.024–1716–2519–11
x-Houston Rockets4042.48812.025–1615–2619–11
Denver Nuggets3745.45115.023–1814–2713–17
Utah Jazz2854.34124.020–218–3313–17
Dallas Mavericks1567.18337.011–304–375–25
#
Western Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1 c-Phoenix Suns5725.695–
2 y-San Antonio Spurs5230.6345
3 x-Los Angeles Lakers5428.6593
4 x-Portland Trail Blazers4537.54912
5 x-Kansas City Kings4042.48817
6 x-Houston Rockets4042.48817
7 Golden State Warriors3943.47618
8 Denver Nuggets3745.45120
9 San Diego Clippers3646.43921
10 Seattle SuperSonics3448.41523
11 Utah Jazz2854.34129
12 Dallas Mavericks1567.18342

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 –2–42–41–52–01–14–22–01–11–51–10–21–53–22–41–50–21–11–11–11–12–01–4
Boston 4–2–5–14–12–02–04–11–12–03–31–12–03–36–05–13–32–02–02–02–01–11–15–1
Chicago 4–21–5–5–11–11–15–11–11–13–22–01–13–33–23–32–40–20–20–21–11–12–05–1
Cleveland 5–11–41–5–2–01–13–31–10–22–40–20–20–63–30–50–61–11–11–11–10–21–14–2
Dallas 0–20–21–10–2–3–30–22–30–60–20–60–50–21–11–10–21–41–41–52–31–41–50–2
Denver 1–10–21–11–13–3–2–03–22–41–14–23–21–11–10–21–11–42–32–43–23–22–40–2
Detroit 2–41–41–53–32–00–2–0–21–12–41–10–21–53–31–51–40–20–20–21–10–20–21–5
Golden State 0–21–11–11–13–22–32–0–3–21–15–01–51–11–12–00–22–42–41–42–43–34–11–1
Houston 1–10–21–12–06–04–21–12–3–1–12–42–30–22–00–20–21–43–23–31–44–14–20–2
Indiana 5–13–32–34–22–01–14–21–11–1–2–00–22–45–13–20–61–10–22–01–10–21–14–2
Kansas City 1–11–10–22–06–02–41–10–54–20–2–0–51–12–01–10–23–23–22–43–22–35–11–1
Los Angeles 2–00–21–12–05–02–32–05–13–22–05–0–0–22–02–01–12–43–32–33–36–03–21–1
Milwaukee 5–13–33–36–02–01–15–11–12–04–21–12–0–5–13–33–21–12–01–12–02–02–04–1
New Jersey 2–30–62–33–31–11–13–31–10–21–50–20–21–5–0–61–51–12–00–20–21–11–13–3
New York 4–21–53–35–01–12–05–10–22–02–31–10–23–36–0–3–31–11–10–22–02–02–04–2
Philadelphia 5–13–34–26–02–01–14–12–02–06–02–01–12–35–13–3–1–11–12–02–02–02–04–2
Phoenix 2–00–22–01–14–14–12–04–24–11–12–34–21–11–11–11–1–3–33–26–05–15–01–1
Portland 1–10–22–01–14–13–22–04–22–32–02–33–30–20–21–11–13–3–2–34–24–22–32–0
San Antonio 1–10–22–01–15–14–22–04–13–30–24–23–21–12–02–00–22–33–2–4–13–25–11–1
San Diego 1–10–21–11–13–22–31–14–24–11–12–33–30–22–00–20–20–62–41–4–5–13–20–2
Seattle 1–11–11–12–04–12–32–03–31–42–03–20–60–21–10–20–21–52–42–31–5–4–11–1
Utah 0–21–10–21–15–14–22–01–42–41–11–52–30–21–10–20–20–53–21–52–31–4–0–2
Washington 4–11–51–52–42–02–05–11–12–02–41–11–11–43–32–42–41–10–21–12–01–12–0—

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)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
1 October 11, 1980 Utah W 98–91 Kemper Arena 1–0
2 October 12, 1980 @ Phoenix L 100–109 Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 1–1
3 October 14, 1980 @ San Antonio L 103–109 HemisFair Arena 1–2
4 October 15, 1980 Los Angeles L 107–112 (OT) Kemper Arena 1–3
5 October 17, 1980 @ Dallas W 103–91 Reunion Arena 2–3
6 October 18, 1980 Seattle L 122–127 Kemper Arena 2–4
7 October 21, 1980 Golden State L 111–116 Kemper Arena 2–5
8 October 23, 1980 @ Houston W 105–96 The Summit 3–5
9 October 25, 1980 Denver W 125–122 Kemper Arena 4–5
10 October 28, 1980 @ Atlanta L 109–119 The Omni 4–6
11 October 29, 1980 Portland W 115–98 Kemper Arena 5–6
12 October 31, 1980 @ Boston L 110–115 Boston Garden 5–7
November: 5–9 (home: 3–2; road: 2–7)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
13 November 1, 1980 Phoenix L 100–127 Kemper Arena 5–8
14 November 4, 1980 @ Utah L 104–107 Salt Palace Acord Arena 5–9
15 November 5, 1980 New York W 111–102 Kemper Arena 6–9
16 November 7, 1980 @ Philadelphia L 100–117 The Spectrum 6–10
17 November 8, 1980 Cleveland W 111–106 Kemper Arena 7–10
18 November 11, 1980 @ Portland W 102–101 Memorial Coliseum 8–10
19 November 12, 1980 @ Golden State L 101–111 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 8–11
20 November 14, 1980 @ Seattle L 125–127 Kingdome 8–12
21 November 15, 1980 @ San Diego W 96–94 San Diego Sports Arena 9–12
22 November 18, 1980 @ Los Angeles L 94–107 The Forum 9–13
23 November 21, 1980 @ Denver L 121–134 McNichols Sports Arena 9–14
24 November 26, 1980 New Jersey W 118–100 Kemper Arena 10–14
25 November 28, 1980 @ Detroit L 94–104 Pontiac Silverdome 10–15
26 November 29, 1980 San Antonio L 104–106 Kemper Arena 10–16
December: 7–8 (home: 4–3; road: 3–5)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
27 December 2, 1980 @ Washington L 103–107 Capital Centre 10–17
28 December 3, 1980 Phoenix W 103–100 Kemper Arena 11–17
29 December 5, 1980 Houston W 108–100 Kemper Arena 12–17
30 December 6, 1980 @ Indiana L 88–107 Market Square Arena 12–18
31 December 10, 1980 San Diego W 112–100 Kemper Arena 13–18
32 December 11, 1980 @ San Antonio L 104–122 HemisFair Arena 13–19
33 December 13, 1980 Dallas W 114–107 Kemper Arena 14–19
34 December 16, 1980 @ Denver W 133–118 McNichols Sports Arena 15–19
35 December 17, 1980 @ Seattle L 94–101 Kingdome 15–20
36 December 20, 1980 Indiana L 103–107 Kemper Arena 15–21
37 December 23, 1980 @ Cleveland W 102–100 Richfield Coliseum 16–21
38 December 26, 1980 Philadelphia L 103–113 Kemper Arena 16–22
39 December 27, 1980 @ New York L 99–100 Madison Square Garden 16–23
40 December 28, 1980 @ New Jersey W 102–99 Rutgers Athletic Center 17–23
41 December 30, 1980 Golden State L 104–106 Kemper Arena 17–24
January: 7–6 (home: 4–3; road: 3–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
42 January 2, 1981 Utah W 101–95 Kemper Arena 18–24
43 January 7, 1981 @ Houston W 114–108 The Summit 19–24
44 January 8, 1981 Washington W 136–118 Kemper Arena 20–24
45 January 10, 1981 @ Utah W 99–92 Salt Palace Acord Arena 21–24
46 January 11, 1981 San Diego L 105–115 Kemper Arena 21–25
47 January 14, 1981 Portland L 91–110 Kemper Arena 21–26
48 January 16, 1981 @ Milwaukee L 112–118 (OT) MECCA Arena 21–27
49 January 17, 1981 Denver L 122–123 Kemper Arena 21–28
50 January 20, 1981 @ Dallas W 104–91 Reunion Arena 22–28
51 January 21, 1981 San Antonio W 115–108 Kemper Arena 23–28
52 January 23, 1981 Houston W 113–107 Kemper Arena 24–28
53 January 27, 1981 @ San Diego L 114–119 San Diego Sports Arena 24–29
54 January 29, 1981 @ Los Angeles L 104–118 The Forum 24–30
February: 9–5 (home: 7–1; road: 2–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
All-Star Break
55 February 3, 1981 @ Dallas W 121–100 Reunion Arena 25–30
56 February 4, 1981 Detroit W 91–90 Kemper Arena 26–30
57 February 6, 1981 @ Seattle W 102–92 Kingdome 27–30
58 February 8, 1981 @ Portland L 123–129 (OT) Memorial Coliseum 27–31
59 February 10, 1981 @ Chicago L 115–116 Chicago Stadium 27–32
60 February 11, 1981 Utah W 99–87 Kemper Arena 28–32
61 February 13, 1981 Atlanta W 113–106 Kemper Arena 29–32
62 February 15, 1981 Seattle W 107–105 Kemper Arena 30–32
63 February 18, 1981 Boston W 114–113 Kemper Arena 31–32
64 February 20, 1981 Milwaukee W 112–109 Kemper Arena 32–32
65 February 21, 1981 @ Denver L 109–129 McNichols Sports Arena 32–33
66 February 22, 1981 @ Golden State L 96–104 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 33–33
67 February 26, 1981 Dallas W 105–102 Kemper Arena 33–34
68 February 28, 1981 Golden State L 101–110 Kemper Arena 33–35
March: 7–7 (home: 3–5; road: 4–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
69 March 3, 1981 Los Angeles L 98–99 Kemper Arena 33–36
70 March 4, 1981 @ San Antonio W 111–97 HemisFair Arena 34–36
71 March 5, 1981 Portland W 106–100 Kemper Arena 35–36
72 March 8, 1981 Phoenix W 105–68 Kemper Arena 36–36
73 March 10, 1981 @ San Diego W 107–100 San Diego Sports Arena 37–36
74 March 13, 1981 @ Los Angeles L 101–116 The Forum 37–37
75 March 15, 1981 Chicago L 87–97 Kemper Arena 37–38
76 March 18, 1981 Denver L 124–126 (2OT) Kemper Arena 37–39
77 March 20, 1981 San Antonio L 111–114 (OT) Kemper Arena 37–40
78 March 22, 1981 Houston L 108–114 Kemper Arena 37–41
79 March 24, 1981 @ Utah W 105–92 Salt Palace Acord Arena 38–41
80 March 25, 1981 @ Phoenix W 110–101 Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 39–41
81 March 27, 1981 @ Houston L 84–91 The Summit 39–42
82 March 29, 1981 Dallas W 113–104 Kemper Arena 40–42
1980–81 schedule

Playoffs
1981 playoff game log
Western Conference First Round: 2–1 (home: 0–1; road: 2–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Series
1 April 1, 1981 @ Portland W 98–97 (OT) Birdsong (29) King,
Lacey (12)		 Lacey (10) Memorial Coliseum
12,666		 1–0
2 April 3, 1981 Portland L 119–124 (OT) Wedman (31) Lacey (9) Lacey (8) Kemper Arena
11,088		 1–1
3 April 5, 1981 @ Portland W 104–95 King (28) King (15) Grunfeld (6) Memorial Coliseum
12,666		 2–1
Western Conference semifinals: 4–3 (home: 2–1; road: 2–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Series
1 April 7, 1981 @ Phoenix L 80–102 King (15) King (8) Walton (6) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
12,660		 0–1
2 April 8, 1981 @ Phoenix W 88–83 Wedman (24) King (12) Grunfeld (8) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
12,660		 1–1
3 April 10, 1981 Phoenix W 93–92 King (29) Lacey (12) Grunfeld (7) Kemper Arena
13,776		 2–1
4 April 12, 1981 Phoenix W 102–95 Grunfeld (27) Lacey (11) Lacey (10) Kemper Arena
11,089		 3–1
5 April 15, 1981 @ Phoenix L 89–101 King (29) Douglas,
Lacey (8)		 Grunfeld (8) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
12,660		 3–2
6 April 17, 1981 Phoenix L 76–81 Wedman (19) Lacey (12) Grunfeld (8) Kemper Arena
15,232		 3–3
7 April 19, 1981 @ Phoenix W 95–88 Grunfeld,
King (23)		 King,
Lacey (7)		 Wedman (9) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
12,660		 4–3
Western Conference finals: 1–4 (home: 1–2; road: 0–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Series
1 April 21, 1981 Houston L 78–97 Grunfeld (20) King (12) Ford,
Lacey (7)		 Kemper Arena
13,885		 0–1
2 April 22, 1981 Houston W 88–79 King (31) King (10) King,
Lacey (6)		 Kemper Arena
14,326		 1–1
3 April 24, 1981 @ Houston L 88–92 King,
Wedman (22)		 King (8) Wedman (7) The Summit
16,121		 1–2
4 April 26, 1981 @ Houston L 89–100 King (24) King,
Lacey (8)		 Ford (10) The Summit
16,121		 1–3
5 April 29, 1981 Houston L 88–97 Wedman (20) King (16) 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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