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1980–81 Chicago Bulls season

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(Redirected from 1980-81 Chicago Bulls season) NBA professional basketball team season

NBA professional basketball team season
1980–81 Chicago Bulls season
Head coachJerry Sloan
General managerRod Thorn
Owner(s)Arthur Wirtz and Jonathan Kovler
ArenaChicago Stadium
Results
Record45–37 (.549)
PlaceDivision: 2nd (Central)
Conference: 5th (Eastern)
Playoff finishConference semifinals
(lost to Celtics 0–4)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionWGN-TV/ONTV
(Milo Hamilton, Johnny “Red” Kerr)
RadioWVON
(Jim Durham, Norm Van Lier)
< 1979–80 1981–82 >

The 1980–81 NBA season was the Bulls' 15th season in the NBA and their first season in the Eastern Conference.

Draft picks

Main article: 1980 NBA draft
Round Pick Player Position Nationality College
1 4 Kelvin Ransey PG  United States Ohio State
2 26 Sam Worthen SG  United States Marquette
3 50 James Wilkes SF  United States UCLA
4 74 Ron Charles PF/C  United States Michigan State
5 96 Mike Campbell  United States Northwestern
6 120 Bernard Rencher  United States St. John's
7 142 Robert Byrd  United States Marquette
8 164 Modzel Greer  United States North Park
9 183 Jay Shidler  United States Kentucky
10 203 Billy Foster  United States Montana State-Billings

Roster

1980–81 Chicago Bulls roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB From
C 26 Dietrick, Coby 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1948–07–23 San José State
C 53 Gilmore, Artis 7 ft 2 in (2.18 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1949–09–21 Jacksonville
F 34 Greenwood, Dave 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 222 lb (101 kg) 1957–05–27 UCLA
F 13 Jones, Dwight 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1952–02–27 Houston
F 35 Kenon, Larry 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 1952–12–13 Memphis
G 12 Lester, Ronnie 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1959–01–01 Iowa
F 7 May, Scott 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1954–03–19 Indiana
G 40 Sobers, Ricky 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 198 lb (90 kg) 1953–01–15 UNLV
G 24 Theus, Reggie 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1957–10–13 UNLV
G 33 Wilkerson, Bob 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1954–08–15 Indiana
F 32 Wilkes, James 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1958–04–01 UCLA
G 31 Worthen, Sam 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1958–01–17 Marquette
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured Injured

Roster
Last transaction: November 21, 1980

Regular season

Season standings

Central Division W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-Milwaukee Bucks 60 22 .732 – 34–7 26–15 23–7
x-Chicago Bulls 45 37 .549 15.0 26–15 19–22 20–9
x-Indiana Pacers 44 38 .537 16.0 27–14 17–24 17–12
Atlanta Hawks 31 51 .378 29.0 20–21 11–30 9–21
Cleveland Cavaliers 28 54 .341 32.0 20–21 8–33 9–21
Detroit Pistons 21 61 .256 39.0 14–27 7–34 9–21
# 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
z - clinched division title
y - clinched division title
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: 45–37 (home: 26–15; road: 19–22)
October: 3–7 (home: 2–3; road: 1–4)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
November: 7–7 (home: 4–3; road: 3–4)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
15 November 9 @ Boston L 105–111 Boston Garden 6–9
19 November 18 Boston L 112–113 Chicago Stadium 7–12
December: 9–6 (home: 6–2; road: 3–4)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
31 December 13 Boston L 95–106 Chicago Stadium 12–19
33 December 17 @ Boston L 98–115 Boston Garden 13–20
35 December 20 Houston W 133–109 Chicago Stadium 15–20
January: 8–7 (home: 5–4; road: 3–3)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
43 January 9 @ Boston L 111–117 Boston Garden 21–22
46 January 14 @ Houston L 105–109 The Summit 21–25
54 January 29 Boston W 108–85 Chicago Stadium 27–27
February: 7–8 (home: 4–3; road: 3–5)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
All-Star Break
March: 11–2 (home: 5–0; road: 6–2)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
1980–81 schedule

Playoffs

1981 playoff game log
Eastern Conference First Round: 2–0 (home: 1–0; road: 1–0)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Series
1 March 31 @ New York W 90–80 Sobers (18) Gilmore (16) Sobers (6) Madison Square Garden
14,822 		1–0
2 April 3 New York W 115–114 (OT) Theus (37) Jones (14) Theus (11) Chicago Stadium
19,901 		2–0
Eastern Conference Semifinals: 0–4 (home: 0–2; road: 0–2)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Series
1 April 5 @ Boston L 109–121 Jones (19) Jones (9) Jones,
Sobers (4) 		Boston Garden
15,320 		0–1
2 April 7 @ Boston L 97–106 Theus (21) Gilmore,
Jones (10) 		three players tied (4) Boston Garden
15,320 		0–2
3 April 10 Boston L 107–113 Theus (26) Greenwood (12) Theus (8) Chicago Stadium
19,995 		0–3
4 April 12 Boston L 103–109 Greenwood (24) Gilmore (15) Sobers,
Theus (7) 		Chicago Stadium
18,249 		0–4
1981 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

Season

This section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (January 2011)

Playoffs

Awards and records

Transactions

Free agents

Subtractions
Player Date signed New team
Del Beshore Expansion Draft May 28, 1980 Dallas Mavericks
John Mengelt September 9, 1980 Golden State Warriors
Ollie Mack October 23, 1980 Dallas Mavericks

References

  1. 1980-81 Chicago Bulls

See also

1980–81 NBA season
Eastern
Atlantic
Central
Western
Midwest
Pacific
Chicago Bulls
Franchise
Arenas
Personnel
Owner(s)
Jerry Reinsdorf
President
Michael Reinsdorf
General manager
Marc Eversley
Head coach
Billy Donovan
G League affiliate
Retired numbers
NBA championships
Rivalries
Culture and lore
Chicago Bulls seasons
1960s
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
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