1980–81 Kansas City Kings season

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.

1980–81 Kansas City Kings season
Head coach	Cotton Fitzsimmons
General manager	H. Paul Rosenberg (interim)
Owners	Leon Karosen Robert Margolin H. Paul Rosenberg
Arena	Kemper Arena
Results
Record	40–42 (.488)
Place	Division: 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 >

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 Cotton Fitzsimmons Assistant coach(es) Frank Hamblen Legend (C) Team captain (DP) Unsigned draft pick (FA) Free agent (S) Suspended   Injured

Regular season

Season standings

Midwest Division v t e	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 v t e
	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

• Otis Birdsong, All-NBA Second Team

Transactions

References

1. 1980-81 Kansas City Kings