1980–81 San Antonio Spurs season

1980–81 San Antonio Spurs season
Midwest Division Champions
Head coach Stan Albeck
Owner(s) Angelo Drossos
Arena HemisFair Arena
Results
Record 52–30 (.634)
Place Division: 1st (Midwest)
Conference: 2nd (Western)
Playoff finish West Semifinals
(Eliminated 3–4)
Stats @ Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
Television KMOL
Radio KCTI
< 1979–80 1981–82 >

The 1980-81 NBA season was the 5th season in the NBA, the 7th in San Antonio, and the 13th as a franschise. This would be a landmark season in many ways. The San Antonio Spurs moved to the Western Conference along with the Houston Rockets. The Spurs would win their first Midwest Division title, their third division title overall (the Spurs also won the Central Division in 1977-78 and 1978–79).

Draft picks

Round Pick Player Position Nationality School/Club Team
1 15 Reggie Johnson[1] PF/C  United States Tennessee
2 39 Michael Miley  United States California State-Long Beach
3 60 Lavon Mercer  United States Georgia
3 61 Rich Yonakor  United States North Carolina
4 83 Calvin Roberts  United States California State-Fullerton
5 107 Gib Hinz  United States Wisconsin-Eau Claire
6 129 Dean Uthoff  United States Iowa State
7 153 Allan Zahn  United States Arkansas
8 172 Bill Bailey  United States Texas Pan-American
9 192 Al Williams  United States North Texas State
10 209 Steve Schall  United States Arkansas

Regular season

Under realignment, the Spurs were shifted to the Midwest Division in the Western Conference.[2] Looking to improve on the previous season, the Spurs looked to shore up the defense by acquiring Dave Corzine, Dave Johnson, and Reggie Johnson. The moves paid immediate dividends as the Spurs got off to a 10-2 start, on the way to a Division Crown with a 52-30 record.[2] In the playoffs, the Spurs would lose in 7 games to the cross-state rival Houston Rockets.

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

Player stats

Note: GP= Games played; FG= Field Goals; FT= Free Throws; REB= Rebounds; AST= Assists; STL = Steals; BLK = Blocks; PTS = Points; AVG = Average

Player GP FG FT REB AST STL BLK PTS AVG
George Gervin 82 850 512 419 260 94 55 2221 27.0
James Silas 75 456 374 231 285 51 12 1326 17.7
Mark Olberding 82 348 315 471 277 75 31 1012 12.3
Dave Corzine 82 366 125 636 117 42 99 857 10.5
Reggie Johnson 79 340 128 348 78 45 48 808 10.2
Ron Brewer 46 180 65 53 93 27 24 425 9.2
Johnny Moore 82 249 105 196 373 120 22 604 7.4
Kevin Restani 64 192 62 174 81 16 14 449 7.0
Paul Griffin 82 166 170 505 249 77 38 502 6.1
Michael Wiley 33 76 36 64 11 8 6 188 5.7
George Johnson 82 164 80 602 92 47 278 408 5.0
John Shumate 22 56 53 87 24 21 9 165 7.5
Mike Gale 35 86 19 52 99 55 2 192 5.5
Gus Gerrard 11 22 8 38 9 7 4 52 4.7

Playoffs

West First Round

The Spurs had a first round bye.

West Conference Semifinals

(2) San Antonio Spurs vs. (6) Houston Rockets: Rockets win series 4-3

Award winners

References

  1. ↑ http://www.nba.com/history/draft_round1_1980s.html#1980
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 San Antonio Spurs (1973-Present)