Misplaced Pages

1980–81 Washington Bullets season

Article snapshot taken from[REDACTED] with creative commons attribution-sharealike license. Give it a read and then ask your questions in the chat. We can research this topic together.
NBA professional basketball team season

NBA professional basketball team season
1980–81 Washington Bullets season
Head coachGene Shue
ArenaCapital Centre
Results
Record39–43 (.476)
PlaceDivision: 4th (Atlantic)
Conference: 7th (Eastern)
Playoff finishDid not qualify
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionWDCA
RadioWTOP
< 1979–80 1981–82 >

The 1980–81 NBA season was the Bullets 20th season in the NBA and their 8th season in the city of Washington, D.C. Following the season, Wes Unseld retired, Elvin Hayes was traded to the Houston Rockets, and Mitch Kupchak signed with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Draft picks

Main article: 1980 NBA draft
Round Pick Player Position Nationality School/Club Team
1 14 Wes Matthews G  United States Wisconsin
2 35 Rick Mahorn C/PF  United States Hampton
4 81 Francois Wise  United States California State-Long Beach
5 105 Daryl Strickland  United States Rutgers
6 127 Ken Dancy  United States Chicago State
7 151 Karl Godine  United States Stephen F. Austin State
8 170 Rich Valavicius  United States Auburn
9 191 Clinton Wyatt  United States Alcorn State
10 207 Don Youman  United States Oklahoma State

Roster

1980–81 Washington Bullets roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB From
F 42 Ballard, Greg 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 215 lb (98 kg) Oregon
SG 34 Carr, Austin 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 200 lb (91 kg) Notre Dame
G/F 22 Collins, Don 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Washington State
SF 10 Dandridge, Bob 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 195 lb (88 kg) Norfolk State
F 35 Grevey, Kevin 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 210 lb (95 kg) Kentucky
C 11 Hayes, Elvin 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 235 lb (107 kg) Houston
PF 25 Kupchak, Mitch 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 230 lb (104 kg) North Carolina
PF 44 Mahorn, Rick 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 240 lb (109 kg) Hampton
G 33 McCarter, Andre 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 190 lb (86 kg) UCLA
PG 1 Porter, Kevin 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 170 lb (77 kg) Saint Francis (PA)
F 20 Roberts, Anthony 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 185 lb (84 kg) Oral Roberts
G 12 Terry, Carlos 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 210 lb (95 kg) Winston-Salem State
F 41 Unseld, Wes 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 245 lb (111 kg) Louisville
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured Injured

Regular season

Season standings

Atlantic Division W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-Boston Celtics 62 20 .756 – 35–6 27–14 19–5
x-Philadelphia 76ers 62 20 .756 – 37–4 25–16 15–9
x-New York Knicks 50 32 .610 12.0 28–13 22–19 14–10
Washington Bullets 39 43 .476 23.0 26–15 13–28 8–16
New Jersey Nets 24 58 .293 38.0 16–25 8–33 8–16
# Eastern Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1 z-Boston Celtics 62 20 .756  –
2 y-Milwaukee Bucks 60 22 .732 2
3 x-Philadelphia 76ers 62 20 .756 –
4 x-New York Knicks 50 32 .610 12
5 x-Chicago Bulls 45 37 .549 17
6 x-Indiana Pacers 44 38 .537 18
7 Washington Bullets 39 43 .476 23
8 Atlanta Hawks 31 51 .378 31
9 Cleveland Cavaliers 28 54 .341 34
10 New Jersey Nets 24 58 .293 38
11 Detroit Pistons 21 61 .256 41

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: 39–43 (Home: 26–15; Road: 13–28)
October: 2–8 (home: 1–3; road: 1–5)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
1 October 10 @ Detroit W 95–85 Pontiac Silverdome 1–0
2 October 11 Philadelphia L 120–126 (2OT) Capital Centre 1–1
3 October 16 @ Cleveland L 88–90 Richfield Coliseum 1–2
4 October 17 New Jersey L 112–114 Capital Centre 1–3
5 October 18 @ Philadelphia L 101–117 The Spectrum 1–4
6 October 22 Cleveland W 109–96 Capital Centre 2–4
7 October 24 @ Chicago L 96–104 Chicago Stadium 2–5
8 October 25 Boston L 87–103 Capital Centre 2–6
9 October 26 @ Milwaukee L 88–111 MECCA Arena 2–7
10 January 25 @ New Jersey L 98–100 Rutgers Athletic Center 2–8
November: 8–6 (home: 7–1; road: 1–5)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
11 November 1 @ New York L 93–111 Madison Square Garden 2–9
12 November 4 Atlanta W 122–98 Capital Centre 3–9
13 November 6 Dallas W 116–95 Capital Centre 4–9
14 November 7 Detroit W 114–88 Capital Centre 5–9
15 November 11 Denver W 107–92 Capital Centre 6–9
16 November 12 @ Boston L 86–93 Boston Garden 6–10
17 November 14 @ Indiana L 108–118 Market Square Arena 6–11
18 November 15 @ Atlanta W 100–88 The Omni 7–11
19 November 18 Golden State L 97–103 Capital Centre 7–12
20 November 21 San Diego W 102–90 Capital Centre 8–12
21 November 22 @ Chicago L 101–114 Chicago Stadium 8–13
22 November 27 Indiana W 123–108 Capital Centre 9–13
24 November 28 @ Cleveland L 105–126 Richfield Coliseum 9–14
24 November 29 Milwaukee W 98–89 Capital Centre 10–14
December: 6–8 (home: 5–4; road: 1–4)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
25 December 2 Kansas City W 107–103 Capital Centre 11–14
26 December 3 @ Indiana L 115–128 Market Square Arena 11–15
27 December 5 Detroit W 103–92 Capital Centre 12–15
28 December 7 @ Boston
(at Hartford, Connecticut) 		W 113–103 Hartford Civic Center 13–15
29 December 9 @ New York L 104–107 Madison Square Garden 13–16
30 December 10 Boston L 99–101 Capital Centre 13–17
31 December 12 @ Philadelphia L 79–95 The Spectrum 13–18
32 December 13 Indiana W 114–105 Capital Centre 14–18
33 December 16 Chicago L 94–96 Capital Centre 14–19
34 December 19 New York L 96–102 Capital Centre 14–20
35 December 23 @ Atlanta L 83–100 The Omni 14–21
36 December 25 New Jersey W 109–94 Capital Centre 15–21
37 December 27 Houston W 115–97 Capital Centre 16–21
38 December 30 Milwaukee L 94–115 Capital Centre 16–22
January: 10–6 (home: 6–2; road: 4–4)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
39 January 2 Chicago L 82–92 Capital Centre 16–23
40 January 3 @ Cleveland L 112–132 Richfield Coliseum 16–24
41 January 6 @ Los Angeles L 98–107 The Forum 16–25
42 January 8 @ Kansas City L 118–136 Kemper Arena 16–26
43 January 10 @ Dallas W 106–94 Reunion Arena 17–26
44 January 11 @ San Antonio L 106–137 HemisFair Arena 17–27
45 January 14 Los Angeles W 114–104 Capital Centre 18–27
46 January 15 @ Detroit W 106–89 Pontiac Silverdome 19–27
47 January 17 San Antonio W 103–93 Capital Centre 20–27
48 January 18 New Jersey W 110–99 Capital Centre 21–27
49 January 20 Utah W 121–113 Capital Centre 22–27
50 January 22 Philadelphia L 116–128 Capital Centre 22–28
51 January 23 Seattle W 103–91 Capital Centre 23–28
54 January 25 @ New Jersey W 118–100 Rutgers Athletic Center 24–28
53 January 27 @ Atlanta W 105–104 The Omni 25–28
54 January 28 Phoenix W 108–98 Capital Centre 26–28
February: 5–8 (home: 2–2; road: 3–6)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
55 February 3 @ Portland L 104–111 (OT) Memorial Coliseum 26–29
56 February 4 @ Seattle L 99–108 Kingdome 26–30
57 February 6 @ Golden State W 116–110 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 27–30
58 February 8 @ Phoenix L 107–113 (OT) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 27–31
59 February 10 @ Denver W 115–110 McNichols Sports Arena 28–31
60 February 13 @ Philadelphia W 104–102 The Spectrum 29–31
61 February 14 @ Detroit L 103–105 Pontiac Silverdome 29–32
62 February 17 Portland L 104–124 Capital Centre 29–33
63 February 19 Philadelphia W 129–108 Capital Centre 30–33
64 February 20 @ New York L 112–124 Madison Square Garden 30–34
65 February 22 Milwaukee L 93–102 Capital Centre 30–35
66 February 25 New York W 120–105 Capital Centre 31–35
67 February 27 @ Chicago L 100–112 Chicago Stadium 31–36
March: 8–7 (home: 5–3; road: 3–4)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
68 March 1 @ Milwaukee L 107–137 MECCA Arena 31–37
69 March 3 @ Utah W 121–113 Salt Palace Acord Arena 32–37
70 March 4 @ San Diego W 115–103 San Diego Sports Arena 33–37
71 March 6 @ Houston W 105–104 The Summit 34–37
72 March 8 Chicago W 103–99 Capital Centre 35–37
73 March 11 @ New Jersey L 104–109 Rutgers Athletic Center 35–38
74 March 12 Indiana L 107–114 Capital Centre 35–39
75 March 15 Cleveland L 100–101 Capital Centre 35–40
76 March 17 Boston L 91–112 Capital Centre 35–41
77 March 20 @ Boston L 116–128 Boston Garden 35–42
78 March 22 Atlanta W 121–101 Capital Centre 36–42
79 March 25 New York W 120–105 Capital Centre 37–42
80 March 27 @ Indiana L 107–122 Market Square Arena 37–43
81 March 28 Detroit W 108–103 Capital Centre 38–43
82 March 29 Cleveland W 138–103 Capital Centre 39–43
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

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. 1980-81 Washington Bullets
Washington Wizards seasons
1960s
1961–62 1962–63 1963–64 1964–65 1965–66 1966–67 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
1980–81 NBA season
Eastern
Atlantic
Central
Western
Midwest
Pacific
Categories:
1980–81 Washington Bullets season Add topic