1981–82 Milwaukee Bucks season

The 1981–82 Milwaukee Bucks season was the 14th season for the Bucks.

1981–82 Milwaukee Bucks season
Division champions
Head coach	Don Nelson
General manager	Don Nelson
Owner(s)	Jim Fitzgerald
Arena	MECCA Arena
Results
Record	55–27 (.671)
Place	Division: 1st (Central) Conference: 2nd (Eastern)
Playoff finish	Conference semifinals (lost to 76ers 2–4)
Stats at Basketball Reference
< 1980–81 1982–83 >

Draft picks

Main article: 1981 NBA draft

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	School/Club Team
1	21	Alton Lister	PF/C	United States	Arizona State
3	67	Mark Smith		United States	Illinois
4	90	Kris Anderson		United States	Florida State
5	113	Kelvin Troy		United States	Rutgers
6	136	Jo Jo Hunter		United States	Colorado
7	159	Lewis Latimore		United States	Virginia
8	181	Mike Brkovich		Canada	Michigan State
9	201	Chip Rucker		United States	Northeastern
10	221	Artie Green		United States	Marquette

Roster

1981–82 Milwaukee Bucks roster

Players

Coaches

Pos. No. Player Height Weight DOB From SF 2 Junior Bridgeman  6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1953–09–17 Louisville PG 21 Quinn Buckner  6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1954–08–20 Indiana PF 42 Harvey Catchings 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 218 lb (99 kg) 1951–09–02 Hardin–Simmons C 54 Geoff Crompton 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 280 lb (127 kg) 1955–07–04 North Carolina G 15 Charlie Criss 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) 165 lb (75 kg) 1948–11–06 New Mexico State PF 6 Pat Cummings 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1956–07–11 Cincinnati SF 8 Marques Johnson 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 218 lb (99 kg) 1956–02–08 UCLA PF 43 Mickey Johnson 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1952–08–31 Aurora C 16 Bob Lanier 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 250 lb (113 kg) 1948–09–10 St. Bonaventure C 53 Alton Lister 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1958–10–01 Arizona State F 7 Scott May 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1954–03–19 Indiana PG 4 Sidney Moncrief 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1957–09–21 Arkansas SG 32 Brian Winters 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1952–03–01 South Carolina

Head coach Don Nelson Assistant(s) John Killilea Garry St. Jean Dave Wohl 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-Milwaukee Bucks	55	27	.671	–	31–10	24–17	24–6
x-Atlanta Hawks	42	40	.512	13.0	24–17	18–23	15–14
Detroit Pistons	39	43	.476	16.0	23–18	16–25	19–11
Indiana Pacers	35	47	.427	20.0	25–16	10–31	14–16
Chicago Bulls	34	48	.415	21.0	22–19	12–29	12–17
Cleveland Cavaliers	15	67	.183	40.0	9–32	6–35	5–25

#	Eastern Conference v t e
	Team	W	L	PCT	GB
1	z-Boston Celtics	63	19	.768	–
2	y-Milwaukee Bucks	55	27	.671	8
3	x-Philadelphia 76ers	58	24	.707	5
4	x-New Jersey Nets	44	38	.537	19
5	x-Washington Bullets	43	39	.524	20
6	x-Atlanta Hawks	42	40	.512	21
7	Detroit Pistons	39	43	.476	24
8	Indiana Pacers	35	47	.427	28
9	Chicago Bulls	34	48	.415	29
10	New York Knicks	33	49	.402	30
11	Cleveland Cavaliers	15	67	.183	48

z = clinched division title

y = clinched division title

x = clinched playoff spot

Record vs. opponents

1981-82 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	—	1–5	2–3	4–2	1–1	1–1	2–4	0–2	2–0	4–2	1–1	0–2	3–3	3–2	5–1	3–3	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–1	2–0	2–4
Boston	5–1	—	4–2	5–0	2–0	1–1	6–0	1–1	1–1	4–1	2–0	1–1	3–3	5–1	5–1	4–2	1–1	1–1	2–0	2–0	0–2	2–0	6–0
Chicago	3–2	2–4	—	5–1	1–1	1–1	0–6	0–2	1–1	3–3	1–1	2–0	1–5	2–4	3–2	1–5	0–2	1–1	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	2–4
Cleveland	2–4	0–5	1–5	—	2–0	0–2	1–5	1–1	1–1	1–5	1–1	0–2	0–6	0–6	0–6	0–5	0–2	1–1	0–2	1–1	0–2	2–0	1–5
Dallas	1–1	0–2	1–1	0–2	—	1–5	1–1	0–5	2–4	1–1	4–2	1–4	1–1	2–0	1–1	0–2	2–3	2–3	1–5	2–3	1–4	3–3	1–1
Denver	1–1	1–1	1–1	2–0	5–1	—	1–1	3–2	5–1	0–2	4–2	1–4	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	2–3	2–3	2–4	5–0	2–3	3–3	2–0
Detroit	4–2	0–6	6–0	5–1	1–1	1–1	—	2–0	2–0	2–4	2–0	0–2	2–4	2–4	3–3	2–3	0–2	0–2	0–2	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–4
Golden State	2–0	1–1	2–0	1–1	5–0	2–3	0–2	—	1–4	2–0	3–2	3–3	2–0	1–1	1–1	0–2	4–2	2–4	3–2	5–1	1–5	3–2	1–1
Houston	0–2	1–1	1–1	1–1	4–2	1–5	0–2	4–1	—	2–0	3–3	1–4	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	3–2	4–1	3–3	4–1	2–3	6–0	2–0
Indiana	2–4	1–5	3–3	5–1	1–1	2–0	4–2	0–2	0–2	—	1–1	0–2	0–6	4–2	3–2	0–6	1–1	1–1	2–0	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–5
Kansas City	1–1	0–2	1–1	1–1	2–4	2–4	0–2	2–3	3–3	1–1	—	1–4	1–1	1–1	2–0	0–2	2–3	0–5	1–5	4–1	2–3	3–3	0–2
Los Angeles	2–0	1–1	0–2	2–0	4–1	4–1	2–0	3–3	4–1	2–0	4–1	—	0–2	1–1	0–2	1–1	4–2	5–1	2–3	5–1	4–2	5–0	2–0
Milwaukee	3–3	3–3	5–1	6–0	1–1	1–1	4–2	0–2	1–1	6–0	1–1	2–0	—	4–1	3–3	4–2	1–1	2–0	1–1	2–0	0–2	2–0	3–2
New Jersey	2–3	1–5	4–2	6–0	0–2	1–1	4–2	1–1	1–1	2–4	1–1	1–1	1–4	—	4–2	3–3	2–0	1–1	1–1	2–0	0–2	2–0	4–2
New York	1–5	1–5	2–3	6–0	1–1	1–1	3–3	1–1	1–1	2–3	0–2	2–0	3–3	2–4	—	1–5	0–2	1–1	0–2	2–0	0–2	2–0	1–5
Philadelphia	3–3	2–4	5–1	5–0	2–0	1–1	3–2	2–0	1–1	6–0	2–0	1–1	2–4	3–3	5–1	—	1–1	2–0	0–2	2–0	2–0	2–0	6–0
Phoenix	1–1	1–1	2–0	2–0	3–2	3–2	2–0	2–4	2–3	1–1	3–2	2–4	1–1	0–2	2–0	1–1	—	3–3	4–1	4–2	3–3	3–2	1–1
Portland	0–2	1–1	1–1	1–1	3–2	3–2	2–0	4–2	1–4	1–1	5–0	1–5	0–2	1–1	1–1	0–2	3–3	—	3–2	4–2	3–3	4–1	0–2
San Antonio	1–1	0–2	1–1	2–0	5–1	4–2	2–0	2–3	3–3	0–2	5–1	3–2	1–1	1–1	2–0	2–0	1–4	2–3	—	3–2	4–1	3–3	1–1
San Diego	1–1	0–2	0–2	1–1	3–2	0–5	0–2	1–5	1–4	0–2	1–4	1–5	0–2	0–2	0–2	0–2	2–4	2–4	2–3	—	1–5	1–4	0–2
Seattle	1–1	2–0	1–1	2–0	4–1	3–2	1–1	5–1	3–2	1–1	3–2	2–4	2–0	2–0	2–0	0–2	3–3	3–3	1–4	5–1	—	5–0	1–1
Utah	0–2	0–2	1–1	0–2	3–3	3–3	1–1	2–3	0–6	1–1	3–3	0–5	0–2	0–2	0–2	0–2	2–3	1–4	3–3	4–1	0–5	—	1–1
Washington	4–2	0–6	4–2	5–1	1–1	0–2	4–1	1–1	0–2	5–1	2–0	0–2	2–3	2–4	5–1	0–6	1–1	2–0	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	—

Game log

1981–82 game log Total: 55–27 (home: 31–10; road: 24–17)
October: 1–1 (home: 1–0; road: 0–1) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 1 October 30, 1981 @ Detroit L 113–118 Sidney Moncrief (22) Mickey Johnson (10) Quinn Buckner (8) Pontiac Silverdome 0–1 2 October 31, 1981 Boston W 119–103 Sidney Moncrief (29) Harvey Catchings, Mickey Johnson (10) MECCA Arena 1–1
November: 8–5 (home: 6–1; road: 2–4) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 3 November 5, 1981 Washington W 98–90 Brian Winters (25) Mickey Johnson (11) MECCA Arena 2–1 4 November 7, 1981 San Diego W 105–102 Brian Winters (22) MECCA Arena 3–1 5 November 10, 1981 @ Atlanta L 83—94 Mickey Johnson (20) The Omni 3–2 6 November 11, 1981 @ New Jersey W 100—88 Bob Lanier (20) Brendan Byrne Arena 4–2 7 November 13, 1981 New York W 105–102 Quinn Buckner (21) MECCA Arena 5–2 8 November 15, 1981 Cleveland W 98–96 Sidney Moncrief (28) MECCA Arena 6–2 9 November 17, 1981 @ Washington W 99—95 Capital Centre 7–2 10 November 18, 1981 @ Philadelphia L 100—102 The Spectrum 7–3 11 November 20, 1981 @ Boston L 89–112 Boston Garden 7–4 12 November 21, 1981 @ New York L 112—118 Madison Square Garden 7–5 13 November 24, 1981 Detroit W 103–95 MECCA Arena 8–5 14 November 27, 1981 Golden State L 96–113 MECCA Arena 8–6 15 November 29, 1981 San Antonio W 105–89 MECCA Arena 9–6
December: 10–2 (home: 5–2; road: 5–0) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 16 December 1, 1981 @ Cleveland W 126—110 Sidney Moncrief (39) Coliseum at Richfield 10–6 17 December 4, 1981 Atlanta W 97–80 MECCA Arena 11–6 18 December 5, 1981 @ Detroit W 111–108 Pontiac Silverdome 12–6 19 December 9, 1981 Houston W 89–83 MECCA Arena 13–6 20 December 11, 1981 Indiana W 103–100 OT MECCA Arena 14–6 21 December 12, 1981 @ New York W 104—86 Madison Square Garden 15–6 22 December 13, 1981 Philadelphia W 127–108 MECCA Arena 16–6 23 December 15, 1981 @ Indiana W 104–96 Market Square Arena 17–6 24 December 18, 1981 New Jersey L 88–100 MECCA Arena 17–7 25 December 22, 1981 Kansas City L 101–106 MECCA Arena 17–8 26 December 26, 1981 @ Cleveland W 109—102 Coliseum at Richfield 18–8 27 December 27, 1981 Chicago W 108–96 MECCA Arena 19–8
January: 2–1 (home: 0–0; road: 2–1) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 39 January 20, 1982 @ Dallas L 104–109 Reunion Arena 26–13 42 January 26, 1982 @ Los Angeles W 96–94 Marques Johnson (20) The Forum 28–14 43 January 28, 1982 @ Utah W 119–101 Salt Palace 29–14
February: 3–0 (home: 3–0; road: 0–0) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 44 February 3, 1982 Chicago W 113–98 Brian Winters (25) MECCA Arena 30–14 45 February 5, 1982 Dallas W 117–92 Sidney Moncrief, Brian Winters (19) MECCA Arena 31–14 46 February 7, 1982 Phoenix W 107–92 Scott May, Brian Winters (32) MECCA Arena 32–14
March: 1–2 (home: 1–1; road: 0–1) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 59 March 6, 1982 @ San Antonio L 166–171 3OT HemisFair Arena 42–17 63 March 12, 1982 Seattle L 110–112 MECCA Arena 42–21 64 March 14, 1982 Utah W 129–100 MECCA Arena 43–21
April: 0–0 (home: 0–0; road: 0–0) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record
1981–82 schedule

Playoffs

1982 playoff game log
Conference semifinals: 2–4 (home: 1–2; road: 1–2) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Series 1 April 25 @ Philadelphia L 122–125 Mickey Johnson (28) Marques Johnson (7) Brian Winters (5) Spectrum 10,086 0–1 2 April 28 @ Philadelphia L 108–120 Brian Winters (21) Bob Lanier (11) Winters, May (5) Spectrum 14,716 0–2 3 May 1 Philadelphia W 92–91 Mickey Johnson (21) Marques Johnson (11) Marques Johnson (7) MECCA Arena 11,052 1–2 4 May 2 Philadelphia L 93–100 Marques Johnson (23) Mickey Johnson, Moncrief (7) Mickey Johnson (7) MECCA Arena 11,052 1–3 5 May 5 @ Philadelphia W 110–98 Bob Lanier (27) Alton Lister (11) Brian Winters (7) Spectrum 16,668 2–3 6 May 7 Philadelphia L 90–102 Bob Lanier (19) Bob Lanier (10) Brian Winters (6) MECCA Arena 11,052 2–4
1982 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

Player statistics source:^[1]

Season

Player	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3FG%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
Sidney Moncrief	80	80	37.3	52.3	7.1	81.7	6.7	4.8	1.7	0.3	19.8
Marques Johnson	60	52	31.7	53.2	0.0	70.0	6.1	3.6	1.0	0.6	16.5
Brian Winters	61	13	30.0	50.1	38.7	78.8	2.8	4.1	0.9	0.1	15.9
Bob Lanier	74	72	26.8	55.8	0.0	75.2	5.2	3.0	1.0	0.8	13.5
Quinn Buckner	70	70	30.8	48.2	26.7	65.5	3.6	4.7	2.5	0.0	12.9
Mickey Johnson	76	71	25.4	49.1	14.3	80.1	6.0	2.8	0.9	0.6	12.9
Junior Bridgeman	41	4	22.5	48.3	44.4	86.4	3.0	2.7	0.7	0.1	12.5
Scott May	65	7	18.3	50.8	0.0	82.4	3.4	2.0	0.8	0.1	9.0
Robert Smith	17	1	18.6	47.3	20.0	83.3	0.8	2.6	0.6	0.1	6.8
Pat Cummings	78	7	14.5	50.9	0.0	73.6	3.1	1.3	0.3	0.1	6.5
Bob Dandridge	11	0	15.8	38.2	0.0	58.8	1.5	1.2	0.5	0.2	4.7
Alton Lister	80	23	14.8	51.9	0.0	52.0	4.8	1.1	0.2	1.5	4.5
Kevin Stacom	7	0	12.9	41.2	50.0	50.0	1.0	1.0	0.1	0.0	4.3
Mike Evans	14	0	14.0	47.1	0.0	66.7	0.9	1.6	0.6	0.0	4.0
Harvey Catchings	80	9	20.0	42.0	0.0	59.4	4.5	1.2	0.5	1.7	2.9
Geoff Crompton	35	1	5.8	34.4	0.0	40.0	1.2	0.4	0.2	0.3	0.8
Brad Holland	1	0	9.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	2.0	0.0	0.0	0.0

Playoffs

Player	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3FG%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
Mickey Johnson	6		34.3	57.3	0.0	84.6	5.3	3.0	1.3	0.7	19.8
Marques Johnson	6		39.2	44.0	25.0	57.1	7.3	3.3	1.0	0.3	18.8
Brian Winters	6		38.7	49.4	50.0	83.3	2.5	4.7	1.3	0.2	16.8
Bob Lanier	6		35.3	51.3	0.0	56.0	7.5	3.7	1.3	0.8	16.0
Sidney Moncrief	6		42.0	41.9	0.0	78.9	5.0	4.0	1.5	0.3	15.3
Alton Lister	6		18.7	58.3	0.0	71.4	4.5	0.8	0.3	2.5	5.5
Robert Smith	6		11.3	38.5	28.6	87.5	1.2	2.0	0.2	0.0	4.8
Scott May	4		12.5	20.0	0.0	64.3	2.8	2.5	0.5	0.0	4.3
Brad Holland	1		3.0	100.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	1.0	0.0	0.0	2.0
Pat Cummings	6		7.3	36.4	0.0	50.0	1.8	0.3	0.0	0.3	1.5
Harvey Catchings	6		4.3	66.7	0.0	0.0	1.2	0.0	0.0	0.5	0.7

Awards and records

• Sidney Moncrief, All-NBA Second Team
• Sidney Moncrief, NBA All-Defensive Second Team
• Quinn Buckner, NBA All-Defensive Second Team

Transactions

Free agents

Player	Signed	Former team
Scott May	November 16, 1981	Chicago Bulls