The 1980–81 NBA season was Indiana's fifth season in the NBA and their 14th season as a franchise. The Pacers had their first NBA winning season and made their first NBA playoff appearance, which was quickly scuttled by a 2–0 sweep from the Philadelphia 76ers. The Pacers wouldn't return to the playoffs again until 1987.
Jack McKinney was named NBA Coach of the Year for leading the Pacers to the playoffs. McKinney began the previous season as coach of the Los Angeles Lakers, but suffered a near-fatal bicycling accident in November 1979 after only 13 games. The Lakers went on to win the championship under Paul Westhead, and McKinney was forced to step aside by Lakers owner Jerry Buss, who helped him land the Indiana job.
Offseason
NBA draft
| Round
|
Pick
|
Player
|
Position
|
Nationality
|
School/Club Team
|
Roster
1980–81 Indiana Pacers roster
| Players
|
Coaches
|
|
|
Head coach
Assistant(s)
Legend
- (DP) Unsigned draft pick
- (FA) Free agent
- (S) Suspended
Injured
Roster Updated: 2012–10–10
|
Regular season
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
|
NYN
|
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
|
|
|
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: 44–38 (Home: 27–14; Road: 17–24)
|
October: 7–3 (home: 4–2; road: 3–1)
|
November: 7–8 (home: 5–2; road: 2–6)
| Game |
Date |
Team |
Score |
High points |
High rebounds |
High assists |
Location Attendance |
Record
|
| 11
|
|
New Jersey
|
W 113–100
|
|
|
|
Market Square Arena
|
8–3
|
| 12
|
8:30 p.m. EST
|
@ Milwaukee
|
L 121–135
|
Edwards (23)
|
Knight (7)
|
Bradley, Davis, Knight (5)
|
MECCA Arena 10,980
|
8–4
|
| 13
|
9:35 p.m. EST
|
@ Phoenix
|
L 108–109
|
Bantom (18)
|
Edwards, C. Johnson (9)
|
Bradley (5)
|
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12,018
|
8–5
|
| 14
|
|
@ Golden State
|
L 111–118
|
|
|
|
Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena
|
8–6
|
| 15
|
|
@ Utah
|
L 106–108
|
|
|
|
Salt Palace Acord Arena
|
8–7
|
| 16
|
8:30 p.m. EST
|
@ San Antonio
|
W 119–113
|
Knight (52)
|
Edwards (6)
|
Bradley (10)
|
HemisFair Arena 11,282
|
9–7
|
| 17
|
8:00 p.m. EST
|
Philadelphia
|
L 103–130
|
Orr (20)
|
G. Johnson (10)
|
Bradley (6)
|
Market Square Arena 11,421
|
9–8
|
| 18
|
|
Washington
|
W 118–108
|
|
|
|
Market Square Arena
|
10–8
|
| 18
|
|
@ Detroit
|
W 102–97
|
|
|
|
Pontiac Silverdome
|
11–8
|
| 20
|
7:35 p.m. EST
|
Boston
|
L 91–103
|
Knight (27)
|
G. Johnson, Knight (11)
|
Davis (7)
|
Market Square Arena 10,815
|
11–9
|
| 21
|
8:05 p.m. EST
|
@ Philadelphia
|
L 88–97
|
G. Johnson (19)
|
G. Johnson (16)
|
Davis (7)
|
The Spectrum 8,237
|
11–10
|
| 22
|
7:35 p.m. EST
|
Houston
|
W 129–120
|
Knight (22)
|
C. Johnson (11)
|
Davis (10)
|
Market Square Arena 7,357
|
12–10
|
| 23
|
|
Atlanta
|
W 110–89
|
|
|
|
Market Square Arena
|
13–10
|
| 24
|
|
@ Washington
|
L 108–123
|
|
|
|
Capital Centre
|
13–11
|
| 25
|
|
Cleveland
|
W 117–101
|
|
|
|
Market Square Arena
|
14–11
|
|
December: 7–7 (home: 4–1; road: 3–6)
|
January: 10–5 (home: 7–1; road: 3–4)
|
February: 6–7 (home: 3–4; road: 3–3)
|
March: 7–8 (home: 4–4; road: 3–4)
|
| 1980–81 schedule
|
Playoffs
| 1981 playoff game log
|
Eastern Conference First Round: 0–2 (home: 0–1; road: 0–1)
|
| 1981 schedule
|
Starting Lineups
Pre season
Regular season
Playoffs
Game officials
Pre season
Regular season
| Game
|
Date
|
Opponent
|
Officials
|
| 4
|
10–18–1980
|
Boston
|
Tommy Nunez and John Vanak
|
| 6
|
10–22–1980
|
Milwaukee
|
Hugh Evans and Darell Garretson
|
| 13
|
11–4–1980
|
@ Phoenix
|
Dick Bavetta and Lee Jones
|
| 17
|
11–13–1980
|
Philadelphia
|
Hugh Evans and Paul Mihalak
|
| 20
|
11–19–1980
|
Boston
|
Joe Crawford and Joe Gushue
|
| 21
|
11–21–1980
|
@ Philadelphia
|
Hugh Evans and Ed Middleton
|
| 22
|
11–22–1980
|
Houston
|
Jim Capers and Darell Garretson
|
| 29
|
12–6–1980
|
Kansas City
|
Joe Crawford and Joe Gushue
|
| 30
|
12–10–1980
|
Phoenix
|
Jess Kersey and Earl Strom
|
| 33
|
12–16–1980
|
Philadelphia
|
Darell Garretson and Tommy Nunez
|
| 35
|
12–20–1980
|
@ Kansas City
|
Jim Capers and Wally Rooney
|
| 50
|
1–21–1981
|
@ Philadelphia
|
Jess Kersey and Ralph Lembo
|
| 51
|
1–23–1981
|
@ Boston
|
Leroy Alexander and Jake O'Donnell
|
| 57
|
2–6–1981
|
@ Boston
|
Jim Capers and Tommy Nunez
|
| 66
|
2–25–1981
|
@ Houston
|
Mike Mathis and Ed Rush
|
| 70
|
3–6–1981
|
Boston
|
Hue Hollins and Jack Madden
|
| 72
|
3–10–1981
|
Philadelphia
|
Jess Kersey and Wally Rooney
|
| 74
|
3–13–1981
|
@ Boston
|
Ed Middleton and Earl Strom
|
| 77
|
3–18–1981
|
@ Philadelphia
|
Hugh Evans and Joe Gushue
|
Playoffs
Player statistics
Ragular season
| Player
|
POS
|
GP
|
GS
|
MP
|
REB
|
AST
|
STL
|
BLK
|
PTS
|
MPG
|
RPG
|
APG
|
SPG
|
BPG
|
PPG
|
| Billy Knight |
SG
|
82 |
|
2,385 |
410 |
157 |
84 |
12 |
1,436 |
29.1 |
5.0 |
1.9 |
1.0 |
.1 |
17.5
|
| Dudley Bradley |
SG
|
82 |
|
1,867 |
193 |
188 |
186 |
37 |
657 |
22.8 |
2.4 |
2.3 |
2.3 |
.5 |
8.0
|
| Louis Orr |
SF
|
82 |
|
1,787 |
361 |
132 |
55 |
25 |
859 |
21.8 |
4.4 |
1.6 |
.7 |
.3 |
10.5
|
| James Edwards |
C
|
81 |
|
2,375 |
571 |
212 |
32 |
128 |
1,266 |
29.3 |
7.0 |
2.6 |
.4 |
1.6 |
15.6
|
| Clemon Johnson |
C
|
81 |
|
1,643 |
468 |
144 |
44 |
119 |
582 |
20.3 |
5.8 |
1.8 |
.5 |
1.5 |
7.2
|
| Johnny Davis |
PG
|
76 |
|
2,536 |
170 |
480 |
95 |
14 |
1,094 |
33.4 |
2.2 |
6.3 |
1.3 |
.2 |
14.4
|
| Mike Bantom |
SF
|
76 |
|
2,375 |
427 |
240 |
80 |
85 |
1,061 |
31.3 |
5.6 |
3.2 |
1.1 |
1.1 |
14.0
|
| George McGinnis |
PF
|
69 |
|
1,845 |
528 |
210 |
99 |
28 |
903 |
26.7 |
7.7 |
3.0 |
1.4 |
.4 |
13.1
|
| Don Buse |
SG
|
58 |
|
1,095 |
84 |
140 |
74 |
8 |
297 |
18.9 |
1.4 |
2.4 |
1.3 |
.1 |
5.1
|
| Jerry Sichting |
PG
|
47 |
|
450 |
43 |
70 |
23 |
1 |
93 |
9.6 |
.9 |
1.5 |
.5 |
.0 |
2.0
|
| George L. Johnson |
PF
|
43 |
|
930 |
278 |
86 |
47 |
23 |
457 |
21.6 |
6.5 |
2.0 |
1.1 |
.5 |
10.6
|
| Tom Abernethy† |
SF
|
29 |
|
259 |
40 |
18 |
6 |
3 |
59 |
8.9 |
1.4 |
.6 |
.2 |
.1 |
2.0
|
| Kenny Natt |
SG
|
19 |
|
149 |
15 |
10 |
5 |
1 |
59 |
7.8 |
.8 |
.5 |
.3 |
.1 |
3.1
|
| Dick Miller† |
SF
|
5 |
|
34 |
4 |
4 |
3 |
0 |
4 |
6.8 |
.8 |
.8 |
.6 |
.0 |
.8
|
- † Denotes player spent time with another team in the season. Stats reflect time with the Pacers only.
Playoffs
Player totals
Season
| Player
|
GP
|
GS
|
MP
|
FGM
|
FGA
|
3FGM
|
3FGA
|
FTM
|
FTA
|
ORB
|
DRB
|
TRB
|
AST
|
STL
|
BLK
|
TOV
|
PF
|
PTS
|
| Knight
|
82
|
|
2385
|
546
|
1025
|
3
|
19
|
341
|
410
|
191
|
219
|
410
|
157
|
84
|
12
|
177
|
155
|
1436
|
| Edwards
|
81
|
|
2375
|
511
|
1004
|
0
|
3
|
244
|
347
|
191
|
380
|
571
|
212
|
32
|
128
|
164
|
304
|
1266
|
| Davis
|
76
|
|
2536
|
426
|
917
|
4
|
33
|
238
|
299
|
56
|
114
|
170
|
480
|
95
|
14
|
167
|
179
|
1094
|
| Bantom
|
76
|
|
2375
|
431
|
882
|
0
|
6
|
199
|
281
|
150
|
277
|
427
|
240
|
80
|
85
|
197
|
284
|
1061
|
| McGinnis
|
69
|
|
1845
|
348
|
768
|
0
|
7
|
207
|
385
|
164
|
364
|
528
|
210
|
99
|
28
|
221
|
242
|
903
|
| Johnson
|
43
|
|
930
|
182
|
394
|
0
|
5
|
93
|
122
|
99
|
179
|
278
|
86
|
47
|
23
|
85
|
120
|
457
|
| Orr
|
82
|
|
1787
|
348
|
709
|
0
|
6
|
163
|
202
|
172
|
189
|
361
|
132
|
55
|
25
|
123
|
153
|
859
|
| Abernethy
|
29
|
|
259
|
24
|
56
|
0
|
1
|
11
|
19
|
19
|
21
|
40
|
18
|
6
|
3
|
6
|
29
|
59
|
| Natt
|
19
|
|
149
|
25
|
77
|
2
|
8
|
7
|
11
|
9
|
6
|
15
|
10
|
5
|
1
|
10
|
18
|
59
|
| Miller
|
5
|
|
34
|
2
|
6
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
3
|
4
|
4
|
3
|
0
|
4
|
2
|
4
|
Playoffs
| Player
|
GP
|
GS
|
MP
|
FGM
|
FGA
|
3FGM
|
3FGA
|
FTM
|
FTA
|
ORB
|
DRB
|
TRB
|
AST
|
STL
|
BLK
|
TOV
|
PF
|
PTS
|
| Davis
|
2
|
|
74
|
14
|
35
|
0
|
1
|
12
|
13
|
2
|
6
|
8
|
11
|
2
|
0
|
1
|
6
|
40
|
| Knight
|
2
|
|
71
|
16
|
30
|
0
|
0
|
5
|
8
|
6
|
6
|
12
|
5
|
1
|
0
|
5
|
5
|
37
|
| Bantom
|
2
|
|
51
|
12
|
16
|
0
|
0
|
5
|
7
|
5
|
3
|
8
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
6
|
10
|
29
|
| Orr
|
2
|
|
56
|
9
|
25
|
0
|
0
|
6
|
7
|
6
|
4
|
10
|
4
|
5
|
1
|
6
|
4
|
24
|
| Edwards
|
2
|
|
56
|
7
|
24
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
4
|
10
|
14
|
5
|
1
|
1
|
4
|
8
|
14
|
| Johnson
|
2
|
|
23
|
5
|
8
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
3
|
4
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
2
|
1
|
10
|
| McGinnis
|
2
|
|
39
|
3
|
15
|
0
|
0
|
4
|
8
|
2
|
8
|
10
|
7
|
2
|
0
|
5
|
6
|
10
|
Awards and records
Transactions
Free agents
References
|
|---|
|
| Franchise | |
|---|
| Arenas | |
|---|
| Personnel | |
|---|
| G League affiliate | |
|---|
Retired numbers
| |
|---|
| ABA championships | |
|---|
| Rivalries | |
|---|
| Culture and lore | |
|---|
|
|---|
|
| 1960s | |
|---|
| 1970s | |
|---|
| 1980s | |
|---|
| 1990s | |
|---|
| 2000s | |
|---|
| 2010s | |
|---|
| 2020s | |
|---|
|