1979–80 Indiana Pacers season

The 1979–80 NBA season was Indiana's fourth season in the NBA and 13th season as a franchise. This was the team's first season in the Eastern Conference since joining the league, replacing the now-relocated Utah Jazz in the Central Division.^[1]

1979–80 Indiana Pacers season
Head coach	Bobby Leonard
Arena	Market Square Arena
Results
Record	37–45 (.451)
Place	Division: 5th (Central) Conference: 9th (Eastern)
Playoff finish	Did not qualify
Stats at Basketball Reference
Local media
Television	WTTV
Radio	WNDE
< 1978–79 1980–81 >

Offseason

Draft picks

Main article: 1979 NBA draft

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	College

Roster

1979–80 Indiana Pacers roster

Players

Coaches

Pos. No. Player Height Weight DOB From F 42 Mike Bantom 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1951–12–03 Saint Joseph's G/F 7 Dudley Bradley 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1957–03–19 North Carolina G 16 Johnny Davis 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 170 lb (77 kg) 1955–10–21 Dayton C 40 James Edwards 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1955–11–22 Washington G 10 Joe Hassett 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1955-09-11 Providence F/C 45 Clemon Johnson 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1956–09–12 Florida A&M F 8 Mickey Johnson 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1952-08-31 Aurora G/F 25 Billy Knight 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1952–06–09 Pittsburgh G 5 John Kuester 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1955-02-06 North Carolina F 30 George McGinnis 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 235 lb (107 kg) 1950-08-12 Indiana

Head coach Bobby Leonard Legend (DP) Unsigned draft pick (FA) Free agent (S) Suspended Injured

Regular season

Season standings

Central Division v t e	W	L	PCT	GB	Home	Road	Div
y-Atlanta Hawks	50	32	.610	–	32–9	18–23	21–9
x-Houston Rockets	41	41	.500	9	29–12	12–29	20–10
x-San Antonio Spurs	41	41	.500	9	27–14	14–27	14–16
Cleveland Cavaliers	37	45	.451	13	28–13	9–32	16–14
Indiana Pacers	37	45	.451	13	26–15	11–30	15–15
Detroit Pistons	16	66	.195	34	13–28	3–38	4–26

#	Eastern Conference v t e
	Team	W	L	PCT	GB
1	z-Boston Celtics	61	21	.744	–
2	y-Atlanta Hawks	50	32	.610	11
3	x-Philadelphia 76ers	59	23	.720	2
4	x-Houston Rockets	41	41	.500	20
5	x-San Antonio Spurs	41	41	.500	20
6	x-Washington Bullets	39	43	.476	22
7	New York Knicks	39	43	.476	22
8	Cleveland Cavaliers	37	45	.451	24
8	Indiana Pacers	37	45	.451	24
10	New Jersey Nets	34	48	.415	27
11	Detroit Pistons	16	66	.195	44

z - clinched division title

y - clinched division title

x - clinched playoff spot

Record vs. opponents

1979–80 NBA records
Team	ATL	BOS	CHI	CLE	DEN	DET	GSW	HOU	IND	KCK	LAL	MIL	NYN	NYK	PHI	PHO	POR	SAS	SDC	SEA	UTA	WAS
Atlanta	—	2–4	1–1	4–2	1–1	6–0	2–0	2–4	4–2	0–2	1–1	1–1	4–2	4–2	4–2	1–1	2–0	5–1	1–1	0–2	2–0	3–3
Boston	4–2	—	2–0	4–2	2–0	6–0	2–0	6–0	4–2	1–1	0–2	2–0	5–1	5–1	3–3	1–1	2–0	4–2	2–0	0–2	2–0	4–2
Chicago	1–1	0–2	—	2–0	2–4	1–1	4–2	1–1	0–2	3–3	1–5	1–5	1–1	0–2	1–1	1–5	3–3	0–2	4–2	2–4	2–4	0–2
Cleveland	2–4	2–4	0–2	—	1–1	6–0	2–0	2–4	2–4	2–0	1–1	0–2	3–3	3–3	1–5	1–1	0–2	4–2	1–1	0–2	1–1	3–3
Denver	1–1	0–2	4–2	1–1	—	1–1	3–3	1–1	1–1	0–6	1–5	3–3	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–5	2–4	1–1	3–3	1–5	3–3	1–1
Detroit	0–6	0–6	1–1	0–6	1–1	—	1–1	1–5	1–5	0–2	0–2	1–1	2–4	2–4	1–5	0–2	0–2	2–4	0–2	0–2	1–1	2–4
Golden State	0–2	0–2	2–4	0–2	3–3	1–1	—	1–1	1–1	3–3	1–5	0–6	2–0	0–2	0–2	2–4	2–4	0–2	3–3	0–6	3–3	0–2
Houston	4–2	0–6	1–1	4–2	1–1	5–1	1–1	—	4–2	0–2	0–2	1–1	3–3	3–3	2–4	1–1	1–1	3–3	2–0	1–1	2–0	2–4
Indiana	2–4	2–4	2–0	4–2	1–1	5–1	1–1	2–4	—	1–1	0–2	0–2	2–4	4–2	1–5	0–2	2–0	2–4	1–1	0–2	1–1	4–2
Kansas City	2–0	1–1	3–3	0–2	6–0	2–0	3–3	2–0	1–1	—	2–4	3–3	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–5	1–5	1–1	5–1	3–3	6–0	2–0
Los Angeles	1–1	2–0	5–1	1–1	5–1	2–0	5–1	2–0	2–0	4–2	—	3–3	2–0	2–0	1–1	3–3	2–4	2–0	5–1	4–2	6–0	1–1
Milwaukee	1–1	0–2	5–1	2–0	3–3	1–1	6–0	1–1	2–0	3–3	3–3	—	1–1	1–1	0–2	4–2	5–1	0–2	4–2	2–4	4–2	1–1
New Jersey	2–4	1–5	1–1	3–3	1–1	4–2	0–2	3–3	4–2	1–1	0–2	1–1	—	2–4	1–5	1–1	0–2	3–3	1–1	1–1	1–1	3–3
New York	2–4	1–5	2–0	3–3	1–1	4–2	2–0	3–3	2–4	1–1	0–2	1–1	4–2	—	0–6	2–0	2–0	4–2	1–1	0–2	1–1	3–3
Philadelphia	2–4	3–3	1–1	5–1	2–0	5–1	2–0	4–2	5–1	1–1	1–1	2–0	5–1	6–0	—	1–1	2–0	4–2	1–1	1–1	1–1	5–1
Phoenix	1–1	1–1	5–1	1–1	5–1	2–0	4–2	1–1	2–0	5–1	3–3	2–4	1–1	0–2	1–1	—	6–0	1–1	2–4	4–2	6–0	2–0
Portland	0–2	0–2	3–3	2–0	4–2	2–0	4–2	1–1	0–2	5–1	4–2	1–5	2–0	0–2	0–2	0–6	—	1–1	4–2	1–5	3–3	1–1
San Antonio	1–5	2–4	2–0	2–4	1–1	4–2	2–0	3–3	4–2	1–1	0–2	2–0	3–3	2–4	2–4	1–1	1–1	—	2–0	1–1	1–1	4–2
San Diego	1–1	0–2	2–4	1–1	3–3	2–0	3–3	0–2	1–1	1–5	1–5	2–4	1–1	1–1	1–1	4–2	2–4	0–2	—	3–3	5–1	1–1
Seattle	2–0	2–0	4–2	2–0	5–1	2–0	6–0	1–1	2–0	3–3	2–4	4–2	1–1	2–0	1–1	2–4	5–1	1–1	3–3	—	5–1	1–1
Utah	0–2	0–2	4–2	1–1	3–3	1–1	3–3	0–2	1–1	0–6	0–6	2–4	1–1	1–1	1–1	0–6	3–3	1–1	1–5	1–5	—	0–2
Washington	3–3	2–4	2–0	3–3	1–1	4–2	2–0	4–2	2–4	0–2	1–1	1–1	3–3	3–3	1–5	0–2	1–1	2–4	1–1	1–1	2–0	—

Game log

Regular season

1979–80 game log Total: 37–45 (Home: 26–15; Road: 11–30)
October: 5–6 (home: 5–0; road: 0–6) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 2 October 13, 1979 Atlanta W 115–101 Market Square Arena 1–1 4 October 17, 1979 @ Houston L 112–116 The Summit 2–2 5 October 18, 1979 @ Atlanta L 85–115 The Omni 2–3 6 October 20, 1979 Boston W 131–128 (OT) Market Square Arena 3–3 8 October 24, 1979 @ Philadelphia L 110–132 The Spectrum 3–5 11 October 31, 1979 Houston W 133–129 (OT) Market Square Arena 5–6
November: 6–9 (home: 3–2; road: 3–7) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 13 November 3, 1979 Philadelphia L 114–120 (2OT) Market Square Arena 5–8 18 November 14, 1979 @ Phoenix L 100–104 Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 8–10 20 November 18, 1979 @ Los Angeles L 104–127 The Forum 8–12 22 November 23, 1979 @ Boston L 103–118 Boston Garden 9–13 24 November 26, 1979 @ Philadelphia L 112–113 The Spectrum 10–14 25 November 28, 1979 Milwaukee L 79–87 Market Square Arena 10–15
December: 6–6 (home: 4–3; road: 2–3) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 27 December 1, 1979 Boston L 102–106 (OT) Market Square Arena 11–16 31 December 12, 1979 Seattle L 107–112 Market Square Arena 14–27 35 December 22, 1979 Atlanta W 130–110 Market Square Arena 16–19
January: 9–7 (home: 6–3; road: 3–4) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 39 January 2, 1980 Los Angeles L 120–127 Market Square Arena 17–22 40 January 3, 1980 @ Milwaukee L 96–106 MECCA Arena 17–23 43 January 9, 1980 @ Seattle L 111–120 Kingdome 18–25 52 January 29, 1980 Houston W 133–112 Market Square Arena 26–26
February: 5–7 (home: 4–4; road: 1–3) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 55 February 5, 1980 Philadelphia L 120–127 Market Square Arena 26–29 57 February 8, 1980 @ Boston L 108–130 Boston Garden 27–30 64 February 24, 1980 Phoenix L 105–113 Market Square Arena 31–33 65 February 26, 1980 @ Houston L 88–93 The Summit 31–34 66 February 27, 1980 @ Atlanta L 111–116 The Omni 31–35
March: 6–10 (home: 4–3; road: 2–7) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 69 March 5, 1980 @ Philadelphia L 113–120 The Spectrum 31–38 70 March 7, 1980 Atlanta L 94–99 Market Square Arena 31–39 72 March 11, 1980 Boston W 114–108 Market Square Arena 32–40 74 March 14, 1980 Philadelphia W 104–94 Market Square Arena 34–40 75 March 16, 1980 @ Atlanta L 90–95 The Omni 34–41 76 March 18, 1980 @ Boston L 102–114 Hartford Civic Center 34–42 79 March 22, 1980 @ Houston L 110–125 The Summit 35–44 82 March 30, 1980 Houston L 106–121 Market Square Arena 37–45
1979–80 schedule

Player statistics

Ragular season

Player	POS	GP	GS	MP	REB	AST	STL	BLK	PTS	MPG	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
Johnny Davis	PG	82	82	2,912	226	440	110	23	1,300	35.5	2.8	5.4	1.3	.3	15.9
James Edwards	C	82	82	2,314	578	127	55	104	1,287	28.2	7.0	1.5	.7	1.3	15.7
Mickey Johnson	PF	82		2,647	681	344	153	112	1,566	32.3	8.3	4.2	1.9	1.4	19.1
Dudley Bradley	SG	82		2,027	223	252	211	48	688	24.7	2.7	3.1	2.6	.6	8.4
Clemon Johnson	C	79		1,541	394	115	48	121	472	19.5	5.0	1.5	.6	1.5	6.0
Mike Bantom	SF	77		2,330	456	279	85	49	908	30.3	5.9	3.6	1.1	.6	11.8
Billy Knight	SF	75		1,910	361	155	82	9	986	25.5	4.8	2.1	1.1	.1	13.1
Joe Hassett	SG	74		1,135	94	104	46	8	523	15.3	1.3	1.4	.6	.1	7.1
Alex English†	SF	54		1,526	380	142	45	33	806	28.3	7.0	2.6	.8	.6	14.9
George McGinnis†	PF	28		784	237	112	32	6	369	28.0	8.5	4.0	1.1	.2	13.2
John Kuester	PG	24		100	14	16	7	1	29	4.2	.6	.7	.3	.0	1.2
Phil Chenier†	SG	23		380	35	47	15	10	124	16.5	1.5	2.0	.7	.4	5.4
Ron Carter	SG	13		117	19	9	2	3	32	9.0	1.5	.7	.2	.2	2.5
Tony Zeno	SF	8		59	14	1	4	3	14	7.4	1.8	.1	.5	.4	1.8
Corky Calhoun	SF	7		30	10	0	2	0	8	4.3	1.4	.0	.3	.0	1.1
Brad Davis†	PG	5		43	2	5	3	0	7	8.6	.4	1.0	.6	.0	1.4

• ^† Denotes player spent time with another team in the season. Stats reflect time with the Pacers only.

Awards and records

• Don Buse, NBA All-Defensive First Team

Transactions