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1980–81  Kansas City Kings season
Head coach Cotton Fitzsimmons
General manager H. Paul Rosenberg (interim)
OwnersLeon Karosen
Robert Margolin
H. Paul Rosenberg
Arena Kemper Arena
Results
Record40–42 (.488)
PlaceDivision: 3rd ( Midwest)
Conference: 5th ( Western)
Playoff finish Western Conference finals
(lost to Rockets 1–4)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
Television KBMA-TV 41
Radio KCKN–AM 1340
KCKN-FM 94.1
< 1979–80 1981–82 >

The 1980–81 NBA season was the Kings 32nd season in the NBA and their ninth season in the city of Kansas City. [1] The Kansas City Kings made the playoffs with a 40–42 win-loss record and appeared in the Western Conference finals where they lost to the also 40–42 Houston Rockets. This is the only time two NBA teams with losing records have made it to the conference finals.

Draft picks

Main article: 1980 NBA draft
Round Pick Player Position Nationality School/Club Team
1 16 Hawkeye Whitney SG/SF   United States North Carolina State
3 62 Tony Murphy SG   United States Southern
5 108 Kevin Blakley   United States Eastern Michigan
6 131 Trent Grooms   United States Kent State
7 154 Arnold McDowell   United States Montana State
9 193 Charley Cole   United States Delta State

Roster

1980–81 Kansas City Kings roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB From
SG 10 Birdsong, Otis 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Houston
C 13 Douglas, Leon 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 230 lb (104 kg) Alabama
PG 1 Ford, Phil 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 175 lb (79 kg) North Carolina
F 22 Gerard, Gus 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 205 lb (93 kg) Virginia
SG 20 Grunfeld, Ernie 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 210 lb (95 kg) Tennessee
F 51 King, Reggie 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 225 lb (102 kg) Alabama
C 44 Lacey, Sam 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 235 lb (107 kg) New Mexico State
PF 24 Lambert, John 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 225 lb (102 kg) USC
F/C 50 Meriweather, Joe C. 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 215 lb (98 kg) Southern Illinois
F 4 Sanders, Frankie 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 200 lb (91 kg) Southern
G 11 Walton, Lloyd 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 160 lb (73 kg) Marquette
G 15 Wedman, Scott 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 215 lb (98 kg) Colorado
G 12 White, Jo Jo 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Kansas
G 43 Whitney, Hawkeye 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 235 lb (107 kg) NC State
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (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: 40–42 (home: 24–17; road: 16–25)
October: 5–7 (home: 3–3; road: 2–4)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
1 October 11 Utah W 98–91 Kemper Arena 1–0
2 October 12
8:05 p.m. CDT 		@ Phoenix L 100–109 Birdsong (19) King (8) Ford (5) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
10,131 		1–1
3 October 14
7:35 p.m. CDT 		@ San Antonio L 103–109 Birdsong (33) King (9) Ford (8) HemisFair Arena
9,876 		1–2
4 October 15 Los Angeles L 107–112 (OT) Kemper Arena 1–3
5 October 17 @ Dallas W 103–91 Reunion Arena 2–3
6 October 18 Seattle L 122–127 Kemper Arena 2–4
7 October 21 Golden State L 111–116 Kemper Arena 2–5
8 October 23
8:05 p.m. CDT 		@ Houston W 105–96 Birdsong (37) King (11) Ford (7) The Summit
7,227 		3–5
9 October 25 Denver W 125–122 Kemper Arena 4–5
10 October 28 @ Atlanta L 109–119 The Omni 4–6
11 October 29 Portland W 115–98 Kemper Arena 5–6
12 October 31
6:30 p.m. CST 		@ Boston L 110–115 Birdsong (30) Lacey (12) Ford (7) Boston Garden
14,035 		5–7
November: 5–9 (home: 3–2; road: 2–7)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
13 November 1
7:35 p.m. CST 		Phoenix L 100–127 Birdsong (24) Douglas (8) Wedman (7) Kemper Arena
7,792 		5–8
14 November 4 @ Utah L 104–107 Salt Palace Acord Arena 5–9
15 November 5 New York W 111–102 Kemper Arena 6–9
16 November 7
7:05 p.m. CST 		@ Philadelphia L 100–117 Birdsong,
Ford (23) 		King (13) Ford (10) The Spectrum
11,390 		6–10
17 November 8 Cleveland W 111–106 Kemper Arena 7–10
18 November 11 @ Portland W 102–101 Memorial Coliseum 8–10
19 November 12 @ Golden State L 101–111 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 8–11
20 November 14 @ Seattle L 125–127 Kingdome 8–12
21 November 15 @ San Diego W 96–94 San Diego Sports Arena 9–12
22 November 18 @ Los Angeles L 94–107 The Forum 9–13
23 November 21 @ Denver L 121–134 McNichols Sports Arena 9–14
24 November 26 New Jersey W 118–100 Kemper Arena 10–14
25 November 28 @ Detroit L 94–104 Pontiac Silverdome 10–15
26 November 29
7:35 p.m. CST 		San Antonio L 104–106 Birdsong (37) King (12) Ford (13) Kemper Arena
8,380 		10–16
December: 7–8 (home: 4–3; road: 3–5)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
27 December 2 @ Washington L 103–107 Capital Centre 10–17
28 December 3
7:35 p.m. CST 		Phoenix W 103–100 Birdsong (28) Douglas (8) Ford (11) Kemper Arena
7,719 		11–17
29 December 5
7:35 p.m. CST 		Houston W 108–100 Birdsong (42) King (9) Ford (16) Kemper Arena
6,982 		12–17
30 December 6 @ Indiana L 88–107 Market Square Arena 12–18
31 December 10 San Diego W 112–100 Kemper Arena 13–18
32 December 11
6:35 p.m. CST 		@ San Antonio L 104–122 Birdsong (28) King,
Lacey (6) 		Birdsong (10) HemisFair Arena
7,491 		13–19
33 December 13 Dallas W 114–107 Kemper Arena 14–19
34 December 16 @ Denver W 133–118 McNichols Sports Arena 15–19
35 December 17 @ Seattle L 94–101 Kingdome 15–20
36 December 20 Indiana L 103–107 Kemper Arena 15–21
37 December 23 @ Cleveland W 102–100 Richfield Coliseum 16–21
38 December 26
7:35 p.m. CST 		Philadelphia L 103–113 Ford (19) King (14) Ford (10) Kemper Arena
16,006 		16–22
39 December 27 @ New York L 99–100 Madison Square Garden 16–23
40 December 28 @ New Jersey W 102–99 Rutgers Athletic Center 17–23
41 December 30 Golden State L 104–106 Kemper Arena 17–24
January: 7–6 (home: 4–3; road: 3–3)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
42 January 2 Utah W 101–95 Kemper Arena 18–24
43 January 7
8:05 p.m. CST 		@ Houston W 114–108 Ford (31) King (11) Ford (11) The Summit
8,220 		19–24
44 January 8 Washington W 136–118 Kemper Arena 20–24
45 January 10 @ Utah W 99–92 Salt Palace Acord Arena 21–24
46 January 11 San Diego L 105–115 Kemper Arena 21–25
47 January 14 Portland L 91–110 Kemper Arena 21–26
48 January 16
8:00 p.m. CST 		@ Milwaukee L 112–118 (OT) Wedman (25) King (9) Ford (8) MECCA Arena
11,052 		21–27
49 January 17 Denver L 122–123 Kemper Arena 21–28
50 January 20 @ Dallas W 104–91 Reunion Arena 22–28
51 January 21
7:35 p.m. CST 		San Antonio W 115–108 Ford (32) Lacey (9) Wedman (7) Kemper Arena
7,627 		23–28
52 January 23
7:35 p.m. CST 		Houston W 113–107 Ford (38) King (10) Ford (6) Kemper Arena
7,290 		24–28
53 January 27 @ San Diego L 114–119 San Diego Sports Arena 24–29
54 January 29 @ Los Angeles L 104–118 The Forum 24–30
February: 9–5 (home: 7–1; road: 2–4)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
All-Star Break
55 February 3 @ Dallas W 121–100 Reunion Arena 25–30
56 February 4 Detroit W 91–90 Kemper Arena 26–30
57 February 6 @ Seattle W 102–92 Kingdome 27–30
58 February 8 @ Portland L 123–129 (OT) Memorial Coliseum 27–31
59 February 10
7:30 p.m. CST 		@ Chicago L 115–116 Birdsong (26) King (8) Ford (9) Chicago Stadium
4,647 		27–32
60 February 11 Utah W 99–87 Kemper Arena 28–32
61 February 13 Atlanta W 113–106 Kemper Arena 29–32
62 February 15 Seattle W 107–105 Kemper Arena 30–32
63 February 18
7:35 p.m. CST 		Boston W 114–113 Ford (28) Lacey (10) Lacey (12) Kemper Arena
11,810 		31–32
64 February 20
7:35 p.m. CST 		Milwaukee W 112–109 Birdsong (31) King (12) Ford (10) Kemper Arena
11,046 		32–32
65 February 21 @ Denver L 109–129 McNichols Sports Arena 32–33
66 February 22 @ Golden State L 96–104 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 33–33
67 February 26 Dallas W 105–102 Kemper Arena 33–34
68 February 28 Golden State L 101–110 Kemper Arena 33–35
March: 7–7 (home: 3–5; road: 4–2)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
69 March 3 Los Angeles L 98–99 Kemper Arena 33–36
70 March 4
7:35 p.m. CST 		@ San Antonio W 111–97 Birdsong (39) Meriweather (10) Lacey (12) HemisFair Arena
9,280 		34–36
71 March 5 Portland W 106–100 Kemper Arena 35–36
72 March 8
2:05 p.m. CST 		Phoenix W 105–68 Birdsong (30) King (20) Grunfeld (12) Kemper Arena
8,260 		36–36
73 March 10 @ San Diego W 107–100 San Diego Sports Arena 37–36
74 March 13 @ Los Angeles L 101–116 The Forum 37–37
75 March 15
12 Noon CST 		Chicago L 87–97 King (27) King (16) Lacey (8) Kemper Arena
14,560 		37–38
76 March 18 Denver L 124–126 (2OT) Kemper Arena 37–39
77 March 20
7:35 p.m. CST 		San Antonio L 111–114 (OT) Wedman (25) King,
Lacey (7) 		Birdsong (6) Kemper Arena
8,740 		37–40
78 March 22
2:05 p.m. CST 		Houston L 108–114 Birdsong (24) King (15) Birdsong,
Grunfeld,
Walton (5) 		Kemper Arena
7,942 		37–41
79 March 24 @ Utah W 105–92 Salt Palace Acord Arena 38–41
80 March 25
8:35 p.m. CST 		@ Phoenix W 110–101 Grunfeld (25) Douglas (7) Grunfeld (12) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
12,660 		39–41
81 March 27
8:05 p.m. CST 		@ Houston L 84–91 King (27) King (14) Lacey (7) The Summit
15,676 		39–42
82 March 29 Dallas W 113–104 Kemper Arena 40–42
1980–81 schedule

Playoffs

1981 playoff game log
Western Conference First Round: 2–1 (home: 0–1; road: 2–0)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Series
1 April 1 @ Portland W 98–97 (OT) Birdsong (29) King,
Lacey (12) 		Lacey (10) Memorial Coliseum
12,666 		1–0
2 April 3 Portland L 119–124 (OT) Wedman (31) Lacey (9) Lacey (8) Kemper Arena
11,088 		1–1
3 April 5 @ Portland W 104–95 King (28) King (15) Grunfeld (6) Memorial Coliseum
12,666 		2–1
Western Conference Semifinals: 4–3 (home: 2–1; road: 2–2)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Series
1 April 7
8:35 p.m. CST 		@ Phoenix L 80–102 King (15) King (8) Walton (6) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
12,660 		0–1
2 April 8
8:35 p.m. CST 		@ Phoenix W 88–83 Wedman (24) King (12) Grunfeld (8) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
12,660 		1–1
3 April 10
7:35 p.m. CST 		Phoenix W 93–92 King (29) Lacey (12) Grunfeld (7) Kemper Arena
13,776 		2–1
4 April 12
2:30 p.m. CST 		Phoenix W 102–95 Grunfeld (27) Lacey (11) Lacey (10) Kemper Arena
11,089 		3–1
5 April 15
8:35 p.m. CST 		@ Phoenix L 89–101 King (29) Douglas,
Lacey (8) 		Grunfeld (8) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
12,660 		3–2
6 April 17
7:05 p.m. CST 		Phoenix L 76–81 Wedman (19) Lacey (12) Grunfeld (8) Kemper Arena
15,232 		3–3
7 April 19
2:30 p.m. CST 		@ Phoenix W 95–88 Grunfeld,
King (23) 		King,
Lacey (7) 		Wedman (9) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
12,660 		4–3
Western Conference Finals: 1–4 (home: 1–2; road: 0–2)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Series
1 April 21
9:05 p.m. CST 		Houston L 78–97 Grunfeld (20) King (12) Ford,
Lacey (7) 		Kemper Arena
13,885 		0–1
2 April 22
9:05 p.m. CST 		Houston W 88–79 King (31) King (10) King,
Lacey (6) 		Kemper Arena
14,326 		1–1
3 April 24
9:00 p.m. CST 		@ Houston L 88–92 King,
Wedman (22) 		King (8) Wedman (7) The Summit
16,121 		1–2
4 April 26
2:30 p.m. CDT 		@ Houston L 89–100 King (24) King,
Lacey (8) 		Ford (10) The Summit
16,121 		1–3
5 April 29
9:00 p.m. CDT 		Houston L 88–97 Wedman (20) King (16) Lacey (7) Kemper Arena
14,640 		1–4
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

Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG

Playoffs

Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG

Awards and records

Transactions

References

  1. ^ 1980-81 Kansas City Kings
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