1980–81 Indiana Pacers season

The 1980–81 Indiana Pacers 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

Regular season

Notes z, y – division champions x – clinched playoff spot

Game log Regular season

| 1 | | @ New Jersey | W 110–91

| Rutgers Athletic Center | 1–0 |- | 2 | | Detroit | W 100–87 | Davis (22) | Edwards (16) | Davis (11) | Market Square Arena | 2–0 |- | 3 | 7:35p.m. EST | Chicago | L 97–108

| Market Square Arena6,909 | 2–1 |- | 4 | 7:35p.m. EST | Boston | W 103–99 | Edwards (18) | McGinnis (11) | Bantom (6) | Market Square Arena11,713 | 3–1 |- | 5 | | @ Atlanta | W 121–116

| The Omni | 4–1 |- | 6 | 7:35p.m. EST | Milwaukee | L 105–119 | Bantom (20) | G. Johnson (14) | Bantom (6) | Market Square Arena7,138 | 4–2 |- | 7 | | Atlanta | W 104–97

| Market Square Arena | 5–2 |- | 8 | | @ Cleveland | L 100–118

| Richfield Coliseum | 5–3 |- | 9 | | New York | W 102–95

| Market Square Arena | 6–3 |- | 10 | 8:35p.m. EST | @ Chicago | W 121–114 | Knight (22) | C. Johnson (7) | Davis (10) | Chicago Stadium5,127 | 7–3

| 11 | | New Jersey | W 113–100

| Market Square Arena | 8–3 |- | 12 | 8:30p.m. EST | @ Milwaukee | L 121–135 | Edwards (23) | Knight (7) | Bradley,Davis,Knight (5) | MECCA Arena10,980 | 8–4 |- | 13 | 9:35p.m. EST | @ Phoenix | L 108–109 | Bantom (18) | Edwards,C. Johnson (9) | Bradley (5) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum12,018 | 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 | 8:30p.m. EST | @ San Antonio | W 119–113 | Knight (52) | Edwards (6) | Bradley (10) | HemisFair Arena11,282 | 9–7 |- | 17 | 8:00p.m. EST | Philadelphia | L 103–130 | Orr (20) | G. Johnson (10) | Bradley (6) | Market Square Arena11,421 | 9–8 |- | 18 | | Washington | W 118–108

| Market Square Arena | 10–8 |- | 18 | | @ Detroit | W 102–97

| Pontiac Silverdome | 11–8 |- | 20 | 7:35p.m. EST | Boston | L 91–103 | Knight (27) | G. Johnson,Knight (11) | Davis (7) | Market Square Arena10,815 | 11–9 |- | 21 | 8:05p.m. EST | @ Philadelphia | L 88–97 | G. Johnson (19) | G. Johnson (16) | Davis (7) | The Spectrum8,237 | 11–10 |- | 22 | 7:35p.m. EST | Houston | W 129–120 | Knight (22) | C. Johnson (11) | Davis (10) | Market Square Arena7,357 | 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

| 26 | | @ New York | W 113–96

| Madison Square Garden | 15–11 |- | 27 | | Washington | W 128–115

| Market Square Arena | 16–11 |- | 28 | 9:00p.m. EST | @ Milwaukee | L 100–102 | Bantom (25) | Bantom (12) | Bantom (8) | MECCA Arena11,052 | 16–12 |- | 29 | 7:35p.m. EST | Kansas City | W 107–88 | Davis (20) | Edwards (10) | Davis (6) | Market Square Arena7,099 | 17–12 |- | 30 | 7:35p.m. EST | Phoenix | W 102–90 | Edwards (17) | Edwards (10) | Davis (7) | Market Square Arena9,140 | 18–12 |- | 31 | | @ Cleveland | W 103–100

| Richfield Coliseum | 19–12 |- | 32 | | @ Washington | L 105–114

| Capital Centre | 19–13 |- | 33 | 7:35p.m. EST | Philadelphia | L 107–109 | Knight (24) | McGinnia (16) | Davis (5) | Market Square Arena12,539 | 19–14 |- | 34 | | @ Detroit | L 106–109

| Pontiac Silverdome | 19–15 |- | 35 | 8:35p.m. EST | @ Kansas City | W 107–103 | Davis (19) | McGinnis (15) | McGinnis (6) | Kemper Arena5,910 | 20–15 |- | 36 | | New Jersey | W 125–109

| Market Square Arena | 21–15 |- | 37 | | @ Los Angeles | L 115–116

| The Forum | 21–16 |- | 38 | | @ San Diego | L 109–121

| San Diego Sports Arena | 21–17 |- | 39 | | @ Denver | L 110–127

| McNichols Sports Arena | 21–18

| 40 | | @ Atlanta | W 109–106

| The Omni | 22–18 |- | 41 | | San Diego | W 128–104

| Market Square Arena | 23–18 |- | 42 | | @ New Jersey | W 113–104

| Rutgers Athletic Center | 24–18 |- | 43 | | New Jersey | W 112–103

| Market Square Arena | 25–18 |- | 44 | | @ New York | W 117–116 (OT)

| Madison Square Garden | 26–18 |- | 45 | 7:35p.m. EST | Milwaukee | W 106–102 | Knight (21) | McGinnis (16) | Buse (6) | Market Square Arena14,505 | 27–18 |- | 46 | | Detroit | W 101–99

| Market Square Arena | 28–18 |- | 47 | | Seattle | L 94–95

| Market Square Arena | 28–19 |- | 48 | | Utah | W 110–89

| Market Square Arena | 29–19 |- | 49 | 8:35p.m. EST | @ Chicago | L 105–121 | Bantom (25) | C Johnson (9) | Edwards (7) | Chicago Stadium5,519 | 29–20 |- | 50 | 8:05p.m. EST | @ Philadelphia | L 104–118 | McGinnis (25) | Edwards (8) | Bradley,Davis,McGinnis (4) | The Spectrum9,752 | 29–21 |- | 51 | 7:30p.m. EST | @ Boston | L 103–104 | Edwards (19) | McGinnis (9) | Bantom (5) | Boston Garden15,320 | 29–22 |- | 52 | | Dallas | W 107–89

| Market Square Arena | 30–22 |- | 53 | | @ Cleveland | L 109–114

| Richfield Coliseum | 30–23 |- | 54 | | Golden State | W 108–102

| Market Square Arena | 31–23

|- align="center" |colspan="9" bgcolor="#bbcaff"|All-Star Break |- style="background:#cfc;" |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" |- | 55 | 8:30p.m. EST | @ Milwaukee | W 108–99 | Knight (24) | Orr (11) | Bantom,Davis (9) | MECCA Arena11,052 | 32–23 |- | 56 | | Los Angeles | L 96–102

| Market Square Arena | 32–24 |- | 57 | 7:30p.m. EST | @ Boston | L 98–111 | Bantom (24) | Orr (7) | McGinnis (7) | Boston Garden15,320 | 32–25 |- | 58 | | Cleveland | W 99–96

| Market Square Arena | 33–25 |- | 59 | | @ Detroit | W 124–101

| Pontiac Silverdome | 34–25 |- | 60 | 7:35p.m. EST | Milwaukee | L 101–107 | Orr (21) | Orr (11) | Davis (7) | Market Square Arena11,817 | 34–26 |- | 61 | | @ New Jersey | L 100–103

| Rutgers Athletic Center | 34–27 |- | 62 | 4:05p.m. EST | Chicago | W 113–107 | McGinnis (27) | Bantom (11) | Davis (6) | Market Square Arena10,513 | 35–27 |- | 63 | | Atlanta | L 96–99

| Market Square Arena | 35–28 |- | 64 | 7:35p.m. EST | San Antonio | W 109–106 | McGinnis (24) | McGinnis (12) | Davis (8) | Market Square Arena10,419 | 36–28 |- | 65 | | Portland | L 109–113 (OT)

| Market Square Arena | 36–29 |- | 66 | 9:00p.m. EST | @ Houston | L 100–101 | Edwards (25) | Edwards (11) | Davis (12) | The Summit13,121 | 36–30 |- | 67 | | @ Dallas | W 118–111

| Reunion Arena | 37–30

| 68 | | @ Portland | L 112–117

| Memorial Coliseum | 37–31 |- | 69 | | @ Seattle | L 93–105

| Kingdome | 37–32 |- | 70 | 7:35p.m. EST | Boston | W 110–104 | Knight (32) | Bantom (6) | Davis (6) | Market Square Arena17,032 | 38–32 |- | 71 | | Denver | W 129–119

| Market Square Arena | 39–32 |- | 72 | 7:35p.m. EST | Philadelphia | L 102–103 | Knight (22) | Edwards,Knight (8) | Davis (11) | Market Square Arena17,032 | 39–33 |- | 73 | | @ Washington | W 114–107

| Capital Centre | 40–33 |- | 74 | 7:30p.m. EST | @ Boston | W 101–94 | Davis (24) | C. Johnson (17) | Davis (9) | Hartford Civic Center15,622 | 41–33 |- | 75 | | Detroit | L 94–101

| Market Square Arena | 41–34 |- | 76 | | @ New York | L 89–114

| Madison Square Garden | 41–35 |- | 77 | 8:05p.m. EST | @ Philadelphia | L 95–107 | McGinnis (22) | Edwards,McGinnis (9) | Knight (4) | The Spectrum12,756 | 41–36 |- | 78 | | New York | L 107–110

| Market Square Arena | 41–37 |- | 79 | | Cleveland | W 107–101

| Market Square Arena | 42–37 |- | 80 | | @ Atlanta | W 115–107

| The Omni | 43–37 |- | 81 | | Washington | W 122–107

| Market Square Arena | 44–37 |- | 82 | 1:05p.m. EST | Chicago | L 97–101 | Knight (25) | Edwards (9) | Davis (12) | Market Square Arena16,663 | 44–38

Playoffs

| 1 | 8:05p.m. EST | @ Philadelphia | L 108–124 | Knight (25) | C. Johnson,Knight (7) | Davis (8) | The Spectrum7,288 | 0–1 |- | 2 | 8:05p.m. EST | Philadelphia | L 85–96 | Davis (21) | C. Johnson (13) | Knight (4) | Market Square Arena8,921 | 0–2

Player statistics

Ragular season PlayerSG82 2,385 410 157 84 12 1,436 29.1 5.0 1.9 1.0 .1 17.5SG82 1,867 193 188 186 37 657 22.8 2.4 2.3 2.3 .5 8.0SF82 1,787 361 132 55 25 859 21.8 4.4 1.6 .7 .3 10.5C 81 2,375 571 212 32 128 1,266 29.3 7.0 2.6 .4 1.6 15.6C 81 1,643 468 144 44 119 582 20.3 5.8 1.8 .5 1.5 7.2PG 76 2,536 170 480 95 14 1,094 33.4 2.2 6.3 1.3 .2 14.4SF 76 2,375 427 240 80 85 1,061 31.3 5.6 3.2 1.1 1.1 14.0PF 69 1,845 528 210 99 28 903 26.7 7.7 3.0 1.4 .4 13.1SG 58 1,095 84 140 74 8 297 18.9 1.4 2.4 1.3 .1 5.1PG 47 450 43 70 23 1 93 9.6 .9 1.5 .5 .0 2.0PF 43 930 278 86 47 23 457 21.6 6.5 2.0 1.1 .5 10.6†SF 29 259 40 18 6 3 59 8.9 1.4 .6 .2 .1 2.0SG 19 149 15 10 5 1 59 7.8 .8 .5 .3 .1 3.1†SF 5 34 4 4 3 0 4 6.8 .8 .8 .6 .0 .8

Playoffs PlayerPG2 74 8 11 2 0 40 37.0 4.0 5.5 1.0 .0 20.0SG2 71 12 5 1 0 37 35.5 6.0 2.5 .5 .0 18.5SF2 56 10 4 5 1 24 28.0 5.0 2.0 2.5 .5 12.0C2 56 14 5 1 1 14 28.0 7.0 2.5 .5 .5 7.0C2 55 20 3 4 2 15 27.5 10.0 1.5 2.0 1.0 7.5SF2 51 8 1 1 1 29 25.5 4.0 .5 .5 .5 14.5PF2 39 10 7 2 0 10 19.5 5.0 3.5 1.0 .0 5.0SG2 35 5 7 3 0 5 17.5 2.5 3.5 1.5 .0 2.5PF2 23 4 1 0 0 10 11.5 2.0 .5 .0 .0 5.0SG2 19 2 2 2 0 9 9.5 1.0 1.0 1.0 .0 4.5PG 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 1.0 .0 .0 1.0 .0 .0

Player totals

Season Player GP GS MP FGM FGA 3FGM 3FGA FTM FTA ORB DRB TRB AST STL BLK TOV PF PTSKnight822385546102531934141019121941015784121771551436Edwards812375511100403244347191380571212321281643041266Davis7625364269174332382995611417048095141671791094Bantom7623754318820619928115027742724080851972841061McGinnis691845348768072073851643645282109928221242903Johnson4393018239405931229917927886472385120457Orr821787348709061632021721893611325525123153859Abernethy292592456011119192140186362959Natt1914925772871196151051101859Miller534260100134430424

Playoffs Player GP GS MP FGM FGA 3FGM 3FGA FTM FTA ORB DRB TRB AST STL BLK TOV PF PTSDavis274143501121326811201640Knight2711630005866125105537Bantom2511216005753811161029Orr256925006764104516424Edwards2567240000410145114814Johnson2235800001341002110McGinnis239315004828107205610

Awards and records Jack McKinney, NBA Coach of the Year Award Dudley Bradley, NBA All-Defensive Second Team

Transactions

Free agents

SubtractionsPlayerDate signedNew teamJoe HassettExpansion Draft May 28, 1980Dallas Mavericks

References