The
1980–81 NBA season
The 1980–81 NBA season was the 35th season of the National Basketball Association. The season ended with the Boston Celtics winning the NBA Championship, beating the Houston Rockets 4 games to 2 in the NBA Finals. As of 2022, this was the last t ...
was the Clippers' 11th season in the
NBA and their 3rd season in the city of
San Diego
San Diego ( , ; ) is a city on the Pacific Ocean coast of Southern California located immediately adjacent to the Mexico–United States border. With a 2020 population of 1,386,932, it is the eighth most populous city in the United State ...
.
1980-81 San Diego Clippers
/ref>
Draft picks
Roster
{, class="toccolours" style="font-size: 95%; width: 100%;"
, -
! colspan="2" style="background-color: #87CEEB; color: #FF8C00; text-align: center;" , San Diego Clippers roster
, - style="background-color: #FF8C00; color: #87CEEB; text-align: center;"
! Players !! Coaches
, -
, valign="top" ,
{, class="sortable" style="background:transparent; margin:0px; width:100%;"
! Pos. !! # !! Nat. !! Name !! Ht. !! Wt. !! From
, -
Roster Notes
* Center Bill Walton
William Theodore Walton III (born November 5, 1952) is an American television sportscaster and former professional basketball player. He played college basketball for coach John Wooden and the UCLA Bruins, winning three consecutive national ...
missed the entire season due to a left foot injury.
* This is Gar Heard
Garfield Heard (born May 3, 1948) is an American retired professional basketball player and coach. He played collegiately at the University of Oklahoma and was selected by the Seattle SuperSonics in the third round of the 1970 NBA draft. He had a ...
's second tour of duty with the franchise. He previously played for the Buffalo Braves
The Buffalo Braves were an American professional basketball franchise based in Buffalo, New York. The Braves competed in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member club of the league's Eastern Conference Atlantic Division from 1970 ...
from 1973 to 1976.
Regular season
Season standings
Notes
* z, y – division champions
* x – clinched playoff spot
Record vs. opponents
{, class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%; text-align:center;"
, -
!colspan=24, 1980-81 NBA Records
, -
!width=100, Team
!style="background:#FF0000;color:#FFFFFF;width=35", ATL
!style="background:#006400;color:#FFFFFF;width=35", BOS
!style="background:#FF0000;color:#000000;width=35", CHI
!style="background:#FFD700;color:#8B0000;width=35", CLE
!style="background:#008000;color:#00008B;width=35", DAL
!style="background:#0000CD;color:#FFD700;width=35", DEN
!style="background:#0000FF;color:#FF0000;width=35", DET
!style="background:#0000FF;color:#FFD700;width=35", GSW
!style="background:#FF0000;color:#FFD700;width=35", HOU
!style="background:#000080;color:#FFD700;width=35", IND
!style="background:#0000FF;color:#FFFFFF;width=35", KCK
!style="background:#800080;color:#FFD700;width=35", LAL
!style="background:#006400;color:#B22222;width=35", MIL
!style="background:#B0170C;color:#00056D;width=35", NJN
!style="background:#800000;color:#191970;width=35", NYK
!style="background:#FF0000;color:#0000FF;width=35", PHI
!style="background:#800080;color:#FF4500;width=35", PHO
!style="background:#000000;color:#FF0000;width=35", POR
!style="background:#000000;color:#C0C0C0;width=35", SAS
!style="background:#87CEEB;color:#FF8C00;width=35", SDC
!style="background:#005831;color:#FFC322;width=35", SEA
!style="background:#36004A;color:#FFFF00;width=35", UTA
!style="background:#DC143C;color:#0000CD;width=35", WAS
, -
, style="text-align:left;" , Atlanta
Atlanta ( ) is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Georgia. It is the seat of Fulton County, the most populous county in Georgia, but its territory falls in both Fulton and DeKalb counties. With a population of 498,715 ...
, , – , , 2–4 , , 2–4 , , 1–5 , , 2–0 , , 1–1 , , 4–2 , , 2–0 , , 1–1 , , 1–5 , , 1–1 , , 0–2 , , 1–5 , , 3–2 , , 2–4 , , 1–5 , , 0–2 , , 1–1 , , 1–1 , , 1–1 , , 1–1 , , 2–0 , , 1–4
, -
, style="text-align:left;" , Boston
Boston (), officially the City of Boston, is the state capital and most populous city of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as well as the cultural and financial center of the New England region of the United States. It is the 24th- mo ...
, , 4–2 , , – , , 5–1 , , 4–1 , , 2–0 , , 2–0 , , 4–1 , , 1–1 , , 2–0 , , 3–3 , , 1–1 , , 2–0 , , 3–3 , , 6–0 , , 5–1 , , 3–3 , , 2–0 , , 2–0 , , 2–0 , , 2–0 , , 1–1 , , 1–1 , , 5–1
, -
, style="text-align:left;" , Chicago
(''City in a Garden''); I Will
, image_map =
, map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago
, coordinates =
, coordinates_footnotes =
, subdivision_type = Country
, subdivision_name ...
, , 4–2 , , 1–5 , , – , , 5–1 , , 1–1 , , 1–1 , , 5–1 , , 1–1 , , 1–1 , , 3–2 , , 2–0 , , 1–1 , , 3–3 , , 3–2 , , 3–3 , , 2–4 , , 0–2 , , 0–2 , , 0–2 , , 1–1 , , 1–1 , , 2–0 , , 5–1
, -
, style="text-align:left;" , Cleveland
Cleveland ( ), officially the City of Cleveland, is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Cuyahoga County. Located in the northeastern part of the state, it is situated along the southern shore of Lake Erie, across the U.S. ...
, , 5–1 , , 1–4 , , 1–5 , , – , , 2–0 , , 1–1 , , 3–3 , , 1–1 , , 0–2 , , 2–4 , , 0–2 , , 0–2 , , 0–6 , , 3–3 , , 0–5 , , 0–6 , , 1–1 , , 1–1 , , 1–1 , , 1–1 , , 0–2 , , 1–1 , , 4–2
, -
, style="text-align:left;" , Dallas
Dallas () is the List of municipalities in Texas, third largest city in Texas and the largest city in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, the List of metropolitan statistical areas, fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States at 7.5 ...
, , 0–2 , , 0–2 , , 1–1 , , 0–2 , , – , , 3–3 , , 0–2 , , 2–3 , , 0–6 , , 0–2 , , 0–6 , , 0–5 , , 0–2 , , 1–1 , , 1–1 , , 0–2 , , 1–4 , , 1–4 , , 1–5 , , 2–3 , , 1–4 , , 1–5 , , 0–2
, -
, style="text-align:left;" , Denver
Denver () is a consolidated city and county, the capital, and most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Its population was 715,522 at the 2020 census, a 19.22% increase since 2010. It is the 19th-most populous city in the Unit ...
, , 1–1 , , 0–2 , , 1–1 , , 1–1 , , 3–3 , , – , , 2–0 , , 3–2 , , 2–4 , , 1–1 , , 4–2 , , 3–2 , , 1–1 , , 1–1 , , 0–2 , , 1–1 , , 1–4 , , 2–3 , , 2–4 , , 3–2 , , 3–2 , , 2–4 , , 0–2
, -
, style="text-align:left;" , Detroit
Detroit ( , ; , ) is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is also the largest U.S. city on the United States–Canada border, and the seat of government of Wayne County. The City of Detroit had a population of 639,111 at t ...
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, -
, style="text-align:left;" , Golden State
, , 0–2 , , 1–1 , , 1–1 , , 1–1 , , 3–2 , , 2–3 , , 2–0 , , – , , 3–2 , , 1–1 , , 5–0 , , 1–5 , , 1–1 , , 1–1 , , 2–0 , , 0–2 , , 2–4 , , 2–4 , , 1–4 , , 2–4 , , 3–3 , , 4–1 , , 1–1
, -
, style="text-align:left;" , Houston
Houston (; ) is the most populous city in Texas, the most populous city in the Southern United States, the fourth-most populous city in the United States, and the sixth-most populous city in North America, with a population of 2,304,580 i ...
, , 1–1 , , 0–2 , , 1–1 , , 2–0 , , 6–0 , , 4–2 , , 1–1 , , 2–3 , , – , , 1–1 , , 2–4 , , 2–3 , , 0–2 , , 2–0 , , 0–2 , , 0–2 , , 1–4 , , 3–2 , , 3–3 , , 1–4 , , 4–1 , , 4–2 , , 0–2
, -
, style="text-align:left;" , Indiana
Indiana () is a U.S. state in the Midwestern United States. It is the 38th-largest by area and the 17th-most populous of the 50 States. Its capital and largest city is Indianapolis. Indiana was admitted to the United States as the 19th s ...
, , 5–1 , , 3–3 , , 2–3 , , 4–2 , , 2–0 , , 1–1 , , 4–2 , , 1–1 , , 1–1 , , – , , 2–0 , , 0–2 , , 2–4 , , 5–1 , , 3–2 , , 0–6 , , 1–1 , , 0–2 , , 2–0 , , 1–1 , , 0–2 , , 1–1 , , 4–2
, -
, style="text-align:left;" , Kansas City
, , 1–1 , , 1–1 , , 0–2 , , 2–0 , , 6–0 , , 2–4 , , 1–1 , , 0–5 , , 4–2 , , 0–2 , , – , , 0–5 , , 1–1 , , 2–0 , , 1–1 , , 0–2 , , 3–2 , , 3–2 , , 2–4 , , 3–2 , , 2–3 , , 5–1 , , 1–1
, -
, style="text-align:left;" , Los Angeles
Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, largest city in the U.S. state, state of California and the List of United States cities by population, sec ...
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, -
, style="text-align:left;" , Milwaukee
Milwaukee ( ), officially the City of Milwaukee, is both the most populous and most densely populated city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the county seat of Milwaukee County. With a population of 577,222 at the 2020 census, Milwaukee ...
, , 5–1 , , 3–3 , , 3–3 , , 6–0 , , 2–0 , , 1–1 , , 5–1 , , 1–1 , , 2–0 , , 4–2 , , 1–1 , , 2–0 , , – , , 5–1 , , 3–3 , , 3–2 , , 1–1 , , 2–0 , , 1–1 , , 2–0 , , 2–0 , , 2–0 , , 4–1
, -
, style="text-align:left;" , New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York; on the east, southeast, and south by the Atlantic Ocean; on the west by the Delaware ...
, , 2–3 , , 0–6 , , 2–3 , , 3–3 , , 1–1 , , 1–1 , , 3–3 , , 1–1 , , 0–2 , , 1–5 , , 0–2 , , 0–2 , , 1–5 , , – , , 0–6 , , 1–5 , , 1–1 , , 2–0 , , 0–2 , , 0–2 , , 1–1 , , 1–1 , , 3–3
, -
, style="text-align:left;" , New York
, , 4–2 , , 1–5 , , 3–3 , , 5–0 , , 1–1 , , 2–0 , , 5–1 , , 0–2 , , 2–0 , , 2–3 , , 1–1 , , 0–2 , , 3–3 , , 6–0 , , – , , 3–3 , , 1–1 , , 1–1 , , 0–2 , , 2–0 , , 2–0 , , 2–0 , , 4–2
, -
, style="text-align:left;" , Philadelphia
Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania#Municipalities, largest city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the List of United States cities by population, sixth-largest city i ...
, , 5–1 , , 3–3 , , 4–2 , , 6–0 , , 2–0 , , 1–1 , , 4–1 , , 2–0 , , 2–0 , , 6–0 , , 2–0 , , 1–1 , , 2–3 , , 5–1 , , 3–3 , , – , , 1–1 , , 1–1 , , 2–0 , , 2–0 , , 2–0 , , 2–0 , , 4–2
, -
, style="text-align:left;" , Phoenix
Phoenix most often refers to:
* Phoenix (mythology), a legendary bird from ancient Greek folklore
* Phoenix, Arizona, a city in the United States
Phoenix may also refer to:
Mythology
Greek mythological figures
* Phoenix (son of Amyntor), a ...
, , 2–0 , , 0–2 , , 2–0 , , 1–1 , , 4–1 , , 4–1 , , 2–0 , , 4–2 , , 4–1 , , 1–1 , , 2–3 , , 4–2 , , 1–1 , , 1–1 , , 1–1 , , 1–1 , , – , , 3–3 , , 3–2 , , 6–0 , , 5–1 , , 5–0 , , 1–1
, -
, style="text-align:left;" , Portland
Portland most commonly refers to:
* Portland, Oregon, the largest city in the state of Oregon, in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States
* Portland, Maine, the largest city in the state of Maine, in the New England region of the northeas ...
, , 1–1 , , 0–2 , , 2–0 , , 1–1 , , 4–1 , , 3–2 , , 2–0 , , 4–2 , , 2–3 , , 2–0 , , 2–3 , , 3–3 , , 0–2 , , 0–2 , , 1–1 , , 1–1 , , 3–3 , , – , , 2–3 , , 4–2 , , 4–2 , , 2–3 , , 2–0
, -
, style="text-align:left;" , San Antonio
("Cradle of Freedom")
, image_map =
, mapsize = 220px
, map_caption = Interactive map of San Antonio
, subdivision_type = Country
, subdivision_name = United States
, subdivision_type1= State
, subdivision_name1 = Texas
, subdivision_t ...
, , 1–1 , , 0–2 , , 2–0 , , 1–1 , , 5–1 , , 4–2 , , 2–0 , , 4–1 , , 3–3 , , 0–2 , , 4–2 , , 3–2 , , 1–1 , , 2–0 , , 2–0 , , 0–2 , , 2–3 , , 3–2 , , – , , 4–1 , , 3–2 , , 5–1 , , 1–1
, -
, style="text-align:left;" , San Diego
, , 1–1 , , 0–2 , , 1–1 , , 1–1 , , 3–2 , , 2–3 , , 1–1 , , 4–2 , , 4–1 , , 1–1 , , 2–3 , , 3–3 , , 0–2 , , 2–0 , , 0–2 , , 0–2 , , 0–6 , , 2–4 , , 1–4 , , – , , 5–1 , , 3–2 , , 0–2
, -
, style="text-align:left;" , Seattle
Seattle ( ) is a seaport city on the West Coast of the United States. It is the seat of King County, Washington. With a 2020 population of 737,015, it is the largest city in both the state of Washington and the Pacific Northwest regio ...
, , 1–1 , , 1–1 , , 1–1 , , 2–0 , , 4–1 , , 2–3 , , 2–0 , , 3–3 , , 1–4 , , 2–0 , , 3–2 , , 0–6 , , 0–2 , , 1–1 , , 0–2 , , 0–2 , , 1–5 , , 2–4 , , 2–3 , , 1–5 , , – , , 4–1 , , 1–1
, -
, style="text-align:left;" , Utah
Utah ( , ) is a state in the Mountain West subregion of the Western United States. Utah is a landlocked U.S. state bordered to its east by Colorado, to its northeast by Wyoming, to its north by Idaho, to its south by Arizona, and to it ...
, , 0–2 , , 1–1 , , 0–2 , , 1–1 , , 5–1 , , 4–2 , , 2–0 , , 1–4 , , 2–4 , , 1–1 , , 1–5 , , 2–3 , , 0–2 , , 1–1 , , 0–2 , , 0–2 , , 0–5 , , 3–2 , , 1–5 , , 2–3 , , 1–4 , , – , , 0–2
, -
, style="text-align:left;" , Washington
Washington commonly refers to:
* Washington (state), United States
* Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States
** A metonym for the federal government of the United States
** Washington metropolitan area, the metropolitan area centered o ...
, , 4–1 , , 1–5 , , 1–5 , , 2–4 , , 2–0 , , 2–0 , , 5–1 , , 1–1 , , 2–0 , , 2–4 , , 1–1 , , 1–1 , , 1–4 , , 3–3 , , 2–4 , , 2–4 , , 1–1 , , 0–2 , , 1–1 , , 2–0 , , 1–1 , , 2–0 , , —
Game log
Player statistics
{, class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:90%;"
, -
! style="background-color: #E23B45; color: #FFFFFF" width:10%;", Player
! style="background-color: #E23B45; color: #FFFFFF" width:6%;", GP
! style="background-color: #E23B45; color: #FFFFFF" width:6%;", GS
! style="background-color: #E23B45; color: #FFFFFF" width:6%;", MPG
! style="background-color: #E23B45; color: #FFFFFF" width:6%;", FG%
! style="background-color: #E23B45; color: #FFFFFF" width:6%;", 3FG%
! style="background-color: #E23B45; color: #FFFFFF" width:6%;", FT%
! style="background-color: #E23B45; color: #FFFFFF" width:6%;", RPG
! style="background-color: #E23B45; color: #FFFFFF" width:6%;", APG
! style="background-color: #E23B45; color: #FFFFFF" width:6%;", SPG
! style="background-color: #E23B45; color: #FFFFFF" width:6%;", BPG
! style="background-color: #E23B45; color: #FFFFFF" width:6%;", PPG
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Awards, records and milestones
Awards
* Guard Brian Taylor led the league in 3-point field goal
A three-point field goal (also 3-pointer, three, or trey) is a field goal in a basketball game made from beyond the three-point line, a designated arc surrounding the basket. A successful attempt is worth three points, in contrast to the two po ...
percentage this season at .383 (44/115)
Week/Month
All-Star
Season
Records
Milestones
Transactions
The Clippers were involved in the following transactions during the 1980–81 season.
Trades
{, border=1 style="border-collapse:collapse; text-align: center; width: 100%" bordercolor="#DFDFDF" cellpadding="5"
, -
, - bgcolor="eeeeee"
, style="width:12%" , August 28, 1980
, style="width:30%" valign="top", To San Diego Clippers
The Los Angeles Clippers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles. The Clippers compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Pacific Division in the league's Western Conference. The Clipper ...
* Phil Smith & 1984 first-round draft pick
, style="width:30%" valign="top", To Golden State Warriors
* World B. Free
, -
, - bgcolor="eeeeee"
, style="width:12%" , October 14, 1980
, style="width:30%" valign="top", To San Diego Clippers
The Los Angeles Clippers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles. The Clippers compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Pacific Division in the league's Western Conference. The Clipper ...
* The right to sign Gar Heard
Garfield Heard (born May 3, 1948) is an American retired professional basketball player and coach. He played collegiately at the University of Oklahoma and was selected by the Seattle SuperSonics in the third round of the 1970 NBA draft. He had a ...
as a veteran free agent
, style="width:30%" valign="top", To Phoenix Suns
* 1981 3rd round draft pick & 1983 3rd round draft pick as compensation
Free agents
Additions
{, class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
, - align="center" bgcolor="#dddddd"
, style="width:140px", Player , , style="width:70px", Signed , , style="width:210px", Former team
, - style="height:40px"
, , , style="font-size: 80%", , ,
Subtractions
{, class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
, - align="center" bgcolor="#dddddd"
, style="width:140px", Player , , style="width:70px", Left , , style="width:210px", New team
, - style="height:40px"
, , , style="font-size: 80%", , ,
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:1980-81 San Diego Clippers Season
Los Angeles Clippers seasons
San