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1980–81 Denver Nuggets season

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NBA professional basketball team season
1980–81 Denver Nuggets season
Head coachDonnie Walsh
Doug Moe
ArenaMcNichols Sports Arena
Results
Record37–45 (.451)
PlaceDivision: 4th (Midwest)
Conference: 8th (Western)
Playoff finishDid not qualify
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
< 1979–80 1981–82 >

The 1980–81 NBA season was the Nuggets 5th season in the NBA and their 14th season as a franchise.

Draft picks

Main article: 1980 NBA draft

The Denver Nuggets made twelve selections in the 1980 NBA Draft.

Round Pick Player Position Nationality School/Club Team
1 5 James Ray PF  United States Jacksonville
1 23 Carl Nicks PG  United States Indiana State
2 41 Jawann Oldham C  United States Seattle
3 47 Kurt Nimphius C/PF  United States Arizona State
3 48 Eddie Lee  United States Cincinnati
3 51 Ronnie Valentine PF  United States Old Dominion
4 73 Sammie Ellis  United States Pittsburgh
5 97 James Patrick  United States Southwest Texas State
6 119 Ernie Hill  United States Oklahoma City
7 143 Tommy Springer  United States Vanderbilt
9 184 Jim Graziano  United States South Carolina
10 202 Earl Sango  United States Regis

Roster

1980–81 Denver Nuggets roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB From
SG 23 Dunn, T.R. 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 192 lb (87 kg) Alabama
SF 2 English, Alex 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 190 lb (86 kg) South Carolina
F 22 Gondrezick, Glen 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 218 lb (99 kg) UNLV
G 1 Higgs, Kenny 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 180 lb (82 kg) LSU
F 34 Hordges, Cedrick 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 220 lb (100 kg) South Carolina
C 44 Issel, Dan 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 235 lb (107 kg) Kentucky
G 7 McKinney, Billy 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 170 lb (77 kg) Northwestern
F 43 Ray, James 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 215 lb (98 kg) Jacksonville
C 25 Robisch, Dave 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 235 lb (107 kg) Kansas
G 10 Roche, John 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 170 lb (77 kg) South Carolina
SF 33 Thompson, David 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 195 lb (88 kg) NC State
F 42 Valentine, Ronnie 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 210 lb (95 kg) Old Dominion
PF 55 Vandeweghe, Kiki 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 220 lb (100 kg) UCLA
Head coach
Legend
  • (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 Spurs 52 30 .634 – 34–7 18–23 21–9
x-Kansas City Kings 40 42 .488 12.0 24–17 16–25 19–11
x-Houston Rockets 40 42 .488 12.0 25–16 15–26 19–11
Denver Nuggets 37 45 .451 15.0 23–18 14–27 13–17
Utah Jazz 28 54 .341 24.0 20–21 8–33 13–17
Dallas Mavericks 15 67 .183 37.0 11–30 4–37 5–25
# Western Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1 c-Phoenix Suns 57 25 .695 –
2 y-San Antonio Spurs 52 30 .634 5
3 x-Los Angeles Lakers 54 28 .659 3
4 x-Portland Trail Blazers 45 37 .549 12
5 x-Kansas City Kings 40 42 .488 17
6 x-Houston Rockets 40 42 .488 17
7 Golden State Warriors 39 43 .476 18
8 Denver Nuggets 37 45 .451 20
9 San Diego Clippers 36 46 .439 21
10 Seattle SuperSonics 34 48 .415 23
11 Utah Jazz 28 54 .341 29
12 Dallas Mavericks 15 67 .183 42

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 — 2–4 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
Boston 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
Chicago 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
Cleveland 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
Dallas 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
Denver 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
Detroit 2–4 1–4 1–5 3–3 2–0 0–2 — 0–2 1–1 2–4 1–1 0–2 1–5 3–3 1–5 1–4 0–2 0–2 0–2 1–1 0–2 0–2 1–5
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
Houston 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
Indiana 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
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
Los Angeles 2–0 0–2 1–1 2–0 5–0 2–3 2–0 5–1 3–2 2–0 5–0 — 0–2 2–0 2–0 1–1 2–4 3–3 2–3 3–3 6–0 3–2 1–1
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
New Jersey 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
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
Philadelphia 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
Phoenix 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
Portland 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
San Antonio 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
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
Seattle 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
Utah 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
Washington 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

Regular season

1980–81 game log
Total: 37–45 (home: 23–18; road: 14–27)
October: 2–7 (home: 1–4; road: 1–3)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
1 October 10 San Antonio L 112–113 McNichols Sports Arena 0–1
2 October 12 Utah L 121–125 (OT) McNichols Sports Arena 0–2
3 October 15 Dallas W 133–98 McNichols Sports Arena 1–2
4 October 17 @ San Diego W 129–116 San Diego Sports Arena 2–2
5 October 18 @ Utah L 115–117 Salt Palace Acord Arena 2–3
6 October 21 Houston L 117–119 McNichols Sports Arena 2–4
7 October 24 Phoenix L 94–117 McNichols Sports Arena 2–5
8 October 25 @ Kansas City L 122–125 Kemper Arena 2–6
9 October 29 @ Golden State L 109–115 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 2–7
November: 8–7 (home: 4–2; road: 4–5)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
10 November 1 Seattle W 123–118 McNichols Sports Arena 3–7
11 November 2 @ Los Angeles W 123–121 The Forum 4–7
12 November 5 @ Seattle W 125–117 Kingdome 5–7
13 November 7 New York L 115–124 McNichols Sports Arena 5–8
14 November 8 @ Chicago W 130–126 (2OT) Chicago Stadium 6–8
15 November 11 @ Washington L 92–107 Capital Centre 6–9
16 November 12 @ New Jersey L 111–118 Rutgers Athletic Center 6–10
17 November 15 Portland W 125–123 McNichols Sports Arena 7–10
18 November 18 @ Portland L 103–122 Memorial Coliseum 7–11
19 November 21 Kansas City W 134–121 McNichols Sports Arena 8–11
20 November 23 @ Phoenix L 113–131 Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 8–12
21 November 25 @ San Diego L 94–108 San Diego Sports Arena 8–13
22 November 26 San Diego W 113–109 McNichols Sports Arena 9–13
23 November 28 @ Dallas W 119–117 (OT) Reunion Arena 10–13
24 November 29 Los Angeles L 123–124 (2OT) McNichols Sports Arena 10–14
December: 3–10 (home: 3–3; road: 0–7)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
25 December 2 Chicago L 124–129 McNichols Sports Arena 10–15
26 December 4 @ Utah L 118–122 Salt Palace Acord Arena 10–16
27 December 5 Golden State L 114–119 McNichols Sports Arena 10–17
28 December 6 @ Houston L 108–111 The Summit 10–18
29 December 10 Dallas W 116–107 McNichols Sports Arena 11–18
30 December 13 @ San Antonio L 123–147 HemisFair Arena 11–19
31 December 16 Kansas City L 118–133 McNichols Sports Arena 11–20
32 December 18 @ Cleveland L 122–130 Richfield Coliseum 11–21
33 December 20 @ New York L 114–120 Madison Square Garden 11–22
34 December 23 @ Boston L 128–136 Boston Garden 11–23
35 December 26 @ Dallas L 111–119 Reunion Arena 11–24
36 December 27 Philadelphia W 125–121 McNichols Sports Arena 12–24
37 December 30 Indiana W 127–110 McNichols Sports Arena 13–24
January: 7–8 (home: 4–4; road: 3–4)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
38 January 1 @ Portland L 119–122 Memorial Coliseum 13–25
39 January 2 Phoenix L 132–133 McNichols Sports Arena 13–26
40 January 3 @ Houston W 134–132 The Summit 14–26
41 January 7 Utah L 117–121 McNichols Sports Arena 14–27
42 January 9 @ San Diego W 130–116 San Diego Sports Arena 15–27
43 January 10 @ Seattle L 116–119 Kingdome 15–28
44 January 13 Atlanta W 135–132 McNichols Sports Arena 16–28
45 January 14 @ Phoenix L 102–128 Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 16–29
46 January 17 @ Kansas City W 123–122 Kemper Arena 17–29
47 January 18 Houston L 97–98 McNichols Sports Arena 17–30
48 January 21 San Diego L 116–125 McNichols Sports Arena 17–31
49 January 23 @ Los Angeles L 105–110 The Forum 17–32
50 January 24 San Antonio W 129–115 McNichols Sports Arena 18–32
51 January 27 Detroit W 143–123 McNichols Sports Arena 19–32
52 January 29 Milwaukee W 131–118 McNichols Sports Arena 20–32
February: 7–6 (home: 6–3; road: 1–3)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
All-Star Break
53 February 3 @ Houston L 128–135 (OT) The Summit 20–33
54 February 4 San Antonio L 132–135 McNichols Sports Arena 20–34
55 February 6 @ Utah W 120–116 Salt Palace Acord Arena 21–34
56 February 7 Golden State W 135–125 McNichols Sports Arena 22–34
57 February 8 @ Seattle L 112–133 Kingdome 22–35
58 February 10 Washington L 110–115 McNichols Sports Arena 22–36
59 February 13 Portland W 162–143 McNichols Sports Arena 23–36
60 February 15 Boston L 118–120 McNichols Sports Arena 23–37
61 February 19 Phoenix W 127–126 McNichols Sports Arena 24–37
62 February 21 Kansas City W 129–109 McNichols Sports Arena 25–37
63 February 22 @ San Antonio L 129–133 (OT) HemisFair Arena 25–38
64 February 24 New Jersey W 140–123 McNichols Sports Arena 26–38
65 February 27 Golden State W 137–130 McNichols Sports Arena 27–38
March: 10–7 (home: 5–2; road: 5–5)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
66 March 1 Cleveland W 137–127 McNichols Sports Arena 28–38
67 March 4 Los Angeles W 123–114 McNichols Sports Arena 29–38
68 March 6 @ Philadelphia L 112–131 The Spectrum 29–39
69 March 7 @ Detroit W 121–109 Pontiac Silverdome 30–39
70 March 8 @ Indiana L 119–129 Market Square Arena 30–40
71 March 10 Portland L 137–142 McNichols Sports Arena 30–41
72 March 12 @ Milwaukee L 113–131 MECCA Arena 30–42
73 March 13 @ Atlanta L 117–119 The Omni 30–43
74 March 15 Houston W 138–127 McNichols Sports Arena 31–43
75 March 17 Seattle W 124–112 McNichols Sports Arena 32–43
76 March 18 @ Kansas City W 126–124 (2OT) Kemper Arena 33–43
77 March 20 @ Dallas L 125–126 Reunion Arena 33–44
78 March 22 Utah W 113–108 McNichols Sports Arena 34–44
79 March 24 @ San Antonio W 125–123 HemisFair Arena 35–44
80 March 25 Dallas L 115–126 McNichols Sports Arena 35–45
81 March 28 @ Golden State W 142–139 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 36–45
82 March 29 @ Los Angeles W 148–146 (OT) The Forum 37–45
1980–81 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 GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG

Awards and records

This section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (February 2013)

Transactions

This section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (February 2013)

References

  1. "1980 NBA Draft". Basketball Reference. Retrieved August 28, 2020.
1980–81 NBA season
Eastern
Atlantic
Central
Western
Midwest
Pacific
Denver Nuggets
Franchise
Arenas
Personnel
Owner(s)
Ann Walton Kroenke
President
Josh Kroenke
General manager
Calvin Booth
Head coach
Michael Malone
G League affiliate
Retired numbers
NBA championships
Rivalries
Culture and lore
Denver Nuggets seasons
1960s
1967–68 1968–69
1970s
1969–70 1970–71 1971–72 1972–73 1973–74 1974–75 1975–76 1976–77 1977–78 1978–79
1980s
1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 1987–88 1988–89
1990s
1989–90 1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99
2000s
1999–00 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09
2010s
2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16 2016–17 2017–18 2018–19
2020s
2019–20 2020–21 2021–22 2022–23 2023–24 2024–25
Bold indicates NBA Finals victory
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