1980–81 Indiana Pacers season

NBA professional basketball team season March 2026 August 2023 Indiana Pacers 1981 44 38 Central 3 6 Jack McKinney Market Square Arena WTTV–TV 4(Bob Lamey) WIBC–AM 1070(Bob Lamey) Lost to Philadelphia 76ers in East First Round (0-2) IND 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 1980 NBA draft Round Pick Player Position Nationality School/Club team Roster Indiana Pacers 1980–81 #2C3294 #FFFFFF #FCC624 #2C3294 5 Tom Abernethy F 6 7 220 Indiana 1954–05–6 42 Mike Bantom F 6 9 200 St. Joseph's 1951–12–3 7 Dudley Bradley G/F 6 6 195 North Carolina 1957–3–19 10 Don Buse G 6 4 190 Evansville 1950–8–10 16 Johnny Davis basketball, born 1955 G 6 2 170 Dayton 1955–10–21 40 James Edwards basketball C 7 0 225 Washington 1955–11–22 45 Clemon Johnson F/C 6 10 240 Florida A&M 1956–09–12 24 George Johnson George L. Johnson F 6 7 210 St. John's 1956–12–8 25 Billy Knight G/F 6 6 195 Pittsburgh 1952–06–9 30 George McGinnis F 6 8 235 Indiana 1950-08-12 44 Dick Miller basketball F 6 6 215 Toledo 1958–04–26 3 Kenny Natt G 6 3 185 Northeast Louisiana 1958–10–5 55 Louis Orr F 6 8 175 Syracuse 1958–05–7 14 Jerry Sichting G 6 1 168 Purdue 1956–11–29 Jack McKinney George Irvine https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/IND/1981.html 2012–10–10 Regular season IND IND Notes z, y – division champions x – clinched playoff spot Game log Regular season Indiana Pacers 1981 #000080 #FFD700 Total: 44–38 (Home: 27–14; Road: 17–24) Indiana Pacers October yes #FFD700 #000080 4 2 3 1 |- | 1 | October 10, 1980 | @ New Jersey | W 110–91 | | | | Rutgers Athletic Center | 1–0 |- | 2 | October 11, 1980 | Detroit | W 100–87 | Davis (22) | Edwards (16) | Davis (11) | Market Square Arena | 2–0 |- | 3 | October 15, 19807:35p.m. EST | Chicago | L 97–108 | | | | Market Square Arena6,909 | 2–1 |- | 4 | October 18, 19807:35p.m. EST | Boston | W 103–99 | Edwards (18) | McGinnis (11) | Bantom (6) | Market Square Arena11,713 | 3–1 |- | 5 | October 21, 1980 | @ Atlanta | W 121–116 | | | | The Omni | 4–1 |- | 6 | October 22, 19807:35p.m. EST | Milwaukee | L 105–119 | Bantom (20) | G. Johnson (14) | Bantom (6) | Market Square Arena7,138 | 4–2 |- | 7 | October 24, 1980 | Atlanta | W 104–97 | | | | Market Square Arena | 5–2 |- | 8 | October 25, 1980 | @ Cleveland | L 100–118 | | | | Richfield Coliseum | 5–3 |- | 9 | October 29, 1980 | New York | W 102–95 | | | | Market Square Arena | 6–3 |- | 10 | October 31, 19808:35p.m. EST | @ Chicago | W 121–114 | Knight (22) | C. Johnson (7) | Davis (10) | Chicago Stadium5,127 | 7–3 Indiana Pacers November #FFD700 #000080 5 2 2 6 |- | 11 | November 1, 1980 | New Jersey | W 113–100 | | | | Market Square Arena | 8–3 |- | 12 | November 2, 19808:30p.m. EST | @ Milwaukee | L 121–135 | Edwards (23) | Knight (7) | Bradley,Davis,Knight (5) | MECCA Arena10,980 | 8–4 |- | 13 | November 4, 19809:35p.m. EST | @ Phoenix | L 108–109 | Bantom (18) | Edwards,C. Johnson (9) | Bradley (5) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum12,018 | 8–5 |- | 14 | November 8, 1980 | @ Golden State | L 111–118 | | | | Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena | 8–6 |- | 15 | November 10, 1980 | @ Utah | L 106–108 | | | | Salt Palace Acord Arena | 8–7 |- | 16 | November 11, 19808:30p.m. EST | @ San Antonio | W 119–113 | Knight (52) | Edwards (6) | Bradley (10) | HemisFair Arena11,282 | 9–7 |- | 17 | November 13, 19808:00p.m. EST | Philadelphia | L 103–130 | Orr (20) | G. Johnson (10) | Bradley (6) | Market Square Arena11,421 | 9–8 |- | 18 | November 14, 1980 | Washington | W 118–108 | | | | Market Square Arena | 10–8 |- | 18 | November 18, 1980 | @ Detroit | W 102–97 | | | | Pontiac Silverdome | 11–8 |- | 20 | November 19, 19807:35p.m. EST | Boston | L 91–103 | Knight (27) | G. Johnson,Knight (11) | Davis (7) | Market Square Arena10,815 | 11–9 |- | 21 | November 21, 19808:05p.m. EST | @ Philadelphia | L 88–97 | G. Johnson (19) | G. Johnson (16) | Davis (7) | The Spectrum8,237 | 11–10 |- | 22 | November 22, 19807:35p.m. EST | Houston | W 129–120 | Knight (22) | C. Johnson (11) | Davis (10) | Market Square Arena7,357 | 12–10 |- | 23 | November 26, 1980 | Atlanta | W 110–89 | | | | Market Square Arena | 13–10 |- | 24 | November 27, 1980 | @ Washington | L 108–123 | | | | Capital Centre | 13–11 |- | 25 | November 29, 1980 | Cleveland | W 117–101 | | | | Market Square Arena | 14–11 Indiana Pacers December #FFD700 #000080 4 1 3 6 |- | 26 | December 2, 1980 | @ New York | W 113–96 | | | | Madison Square Garden | 15–11 |- | 27 | December 3, 1980 | Washington | W 128–115 | | | | Market Square Arena | 16–11 |- | 28 | December 5, 19809:00p.m. EST | @ Milwaukee | L 100–102 | Bantom (25) | Bantom (12) | Bantom (8) | MECCA Arena11,052 | 16–12 |- | 29 | December 6, 19807:35p.m. EST | Kansas City | W 107–88 | Davis (20) | Edwards (10) | Davis (6) | Market Square Arena7,099 | 17–12 |- | 30 | December 10, 19807:35p.m. EST | Phoenix | W 102–90 | Edwards (17) | Edwards (10) | Davis (7) | Market Square Arena9,140 | 18–12 |- | 31 | December 11, 1980 | @ Cleveland | W 103–100 | | | | Richfield Coliseum | 19–12 |- | 32 | December 13, 1980 | @ Washington | L 105–114 | | | | Capital Centre | 19–13 |- | 33 | December 16, 19807:35p.m. EST | Philadelphia | L 107–109 | Knight (24) | McGinnia (16) | Davis (5) | Market Square Arena12,539 | 19–14 |- | 34 | December 19, 1980 | @ Detroit | L 106–109 | | | | Pontiac Silverdome | 19–15 |- | 35 | December 20, 19808:35p.m. EST | @ Kansas City | W 107–103 | Davis (19) | McGinnis (15) | McGinnis (6) | Kemper Arena5,910 | 20–15 |- | 36 | December 23, 1980 | New Jersey | W 125–109 | | | | Market Square Arena | 21–15 |- | 37 | December 26, 1980 | @ Los Angeles | L 115–116 | | | | The Forum | 21–16 |- | 38 | December 27, 1980 | @ San Diego | L 109–121 | | | | San Diego Sports Arena | 21–17 |- | 39 | December 30, 1980 | @ Denver | L 110–127 | | | | McNichols Sports Arena | 21–18 Indiana Pacers January #FFD700 #000080 7 1 3 4 |- | 40 | January 2, 1981 | @ Atlanta | W 109–106 | | | | The Omni | 22–18 |- | 41 | January 3, 1981 | San Diego | W 128–104 | | | | Market Square Arena | 23–18 |- | 42 | January 4, 1981 | @ New Jersey | W 113–104 | | | | Rutgers Athletic Center | 24–18 |- | 43 | January 7, 1981 | New Jersey | W 112–103 | | | | Market Square Arena | 25–18 |- | 44 | January 8, 1981 | @ New York | W 117–116 (OT) | | | | Madison Square Garden | 26–18 |- | 45 | January 10, 19817:35p.m. EST | Milwaukee | W 106–102 | Knight (21) | McGinnis (16) | Buse (6) | Market Square Arena14,505 | 27–18 |- | 46 | January 14, 1981 | Detroit | W 101–99 | | | | Market Square Arena | 28–18 |- | 47 | January 16, 1981 | Seattle | L 94–95 | | | | Market Square Arena | 28–19 |- | 48 | January 18, 1981 | Utah | W 110–89 | | | | Market Square Arena | 29–19 |- | 49 | January 20, 19818:35p.m. EST | @ Chicago | L 105–121 | Bantom (25) | C Johnson (9) | Edwards (7) | Chicago Stadium5,519 | 29–20 |- | 50 | January 21, 19818:05p.m. EST | @ Philadelphia | L 104–118 | McGinnis (25) | Edwards (8) | Bradley,Davis,McGinnis (4) | The Spectrum9,752 | 29–21 |- | 51 | January 23, 19817:30p.m. EST | @ Boston | L 103–104 | Edwards (19) | McGinnis (9) | Bantom (5) | Boston Garden15,320 | 29–22 |- | 52 | January 24, 1981 | Dallas | W 107–89 | | | | Market Square Arena | 30–22 |- | 53 | January 27, 1981 | @ Cleveland | L 109–114 | | | | Richfield Coliseum | 30–23 |- | 54 | January 28, 1981 | Golden State | W 108–102 | | | | Market Square Arena | 31–23 Indiana Pacers February #FFD700 #000080 3 4 3 3 |- align="center" |colspan="9" bgcolor="#bbcaff"|All-Star Break |- style="background:#cfc;" |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" |- | 55 | February 3, 19818:30p.m. EST | @ Milwaukee | W 108–99 | Knight (24) | Orr (11) | Bantom,Davis (9) | MECCA Arena11,052 | 32–23 |- | 56 | February 4, 1981 | Los Angeles | L 96–102 | | | | Market Square Arena | 32–24 |- | 57 | February 6, 19817:30p.m. EST | @ Boston | L 98–111 | Bantom (24) | Orr (7) | McGinnis (7) | Boston Garden15,320 | 32–25 |- | 58 | February 7, 1981 | Cleveland | W 99–96 | | | | Market Square Arena | 33–25 |- | 59 | February 8, 1981 | @ Detroit | W 124–101 | | | | Pontiac Silverdome | 34–25 |- | 60 | February 11, 19817:35p.m. EST | Milwaukee | L 101–107 | Orr (21) | Orr (11) | Davis (7) | Market Square Arena11,817 | 34–26 |- | 61 | February 13, 1981 | @ New Jersey | L 100–103 | | | | Rutgers Athletic Center | 34–27 |- | 62 | February 15, 19814:05p.m. EST | Chicago | W 113–107 | McGinnis (27) | Bantom (11) | Davis (6) | Market Square Arena10,513 | 35–27 |- | 63 | February 18, 1981 | Atlanta | L 96–99 | | | | Market Square Arena | 35–28 |- | 64 | February 20, 19817:35p.m. EST | San Antonio | W 109–106 | McGinnis (24) | McGinnis (12) | Davis (8) | Market Square Arena10,419 | 36–28 |- | 65 | February 22, 1981 | Portland | L 109–113 (OT) | | | | Market Square Arena | 36–29 |- | 66 | February 25, 19819:00p.m. EST | @ Houston | L 100–101 | Edwards (25) | Edwards (11) | Davis (12) | The Summit13,121 | 36–30 |- | 67 | February 27, 1981 | @ Dallas | W 118–111 | | | | Reunion Arena | 37–30 Indiana Pacers March #FFD700 #000080 4 4 3 4 |- | 68 | March 3, 1981 | @ Portland | L 112–117 | | | | Memorial Coliseum | 37–31 |- | 69 | March 4, 1981 | @ Seattle | L 93–105 | | | | Kingdome | 37–32 |- | 70 | March 6, 19817:35p.m. EST | Boston | W 110–104 | Knight (32) | Bantom (6) | Davis (6) | Market Square Arena17,032 | 38–32 |- | 71 | March 8, 1981 | Denver | W 129–119 | | | | Market Square Arena | 39–32 |- | 72 | March 10, 19817:35p.m. EST | Philadelphia | L 102–103 | Knight (22) | Edwards,Knight (8) | Davis (11) | Market Square Arena17,032 | 39–33 |- | 73 | March 12, 1981 | @ Washington | W 114–107 | | | | Capital Centre | 40–33 |- | 74 | March 13, 19817:30p.m. EST | @ Boston(at Hartford, CT) | W 101–94 | Davis (24) | C. Johnson (17) | Davis (9) | Hartford Civic Center15,622 | 41–33 |- | 75 | March 14, 1981 | Detroit | L 94–101 | | | | Market Square Arena | 41–34 |- | 76 | March 17, 1981 | @ New York | L 89–114 | | | | Madison Square Garden | 41–35 |- | 77 | March 18, 19818:05p.m. EST | @ Philadelphia | L 95–107 | McGinnis (22) | Edwards,McGinnis (9) | Knight (4) | The Spectrum12,756 | 41–36 |- | 78 | March 20, 1981 | New York | L 107–110 | | | | Market Square Arena | 41–37 |- | 79 | March 22, 1981 | Cleveland | W 107–101 | | | | Market Square Arena | 42–37 |- | 80 | March 26, 1981 | @ Atlanta | W 115–107 | | | | The Omni | 43–37 |- | 81 | March 27, 1981 | Washington | W 122–107 | | | | Market Square Arena | 44–37 |- | 82 | March 29, 19811:05p.m. EST | Chicago | L 97–101 | Knight (25) | Edwards (9) | Davis (12) | Market Square Arena16,663 | 44–38 IND 1981 Playoffs Indiana Pacers 1981 yes #000080 #FFD700 Indiana Pacers Eastern Conference First Round no yes yes #FFD700 #000080 0 1 0 1 |- | 1 | March 31, 19818:05p.m. EST | @ Philadelphia | L 108–124 | Knight (25) | C. Johnson,Knight (7) | Davis (8) | The Spectrum7,288 | 0–1 |- | 2 | April 2, 19818:05p.m. EST | Philadelphia | L 85–96 | Davis (21) | C. Johnson (13) | Knight (4) | Market Square Arena8,921 | 0–2 |- IND 1981 yes Player statistics Ragular season Player POS Position GP Games played GS Games starter MP Minutes played REB Rebounds AST Assists STL Steals BLK Blocks PTS Points MPG Minutes per game RPG Rebounds per game APG Assists per game SPG Steals per game BPG Blocks per game PPG Points per gameBilly KnightSG82 2,385 410 157 84 12 1,436 29.1 5.0 1.9 1.0 .1 17.5Dudley BradleySG82 1,867 193 188 186 37 657 22.8 2.4 2.3 2.3 .5 8.0Louis OrrSF82 1,787 361 132 55 25 859 21.8 4.4 1.6 .7 .3 10.5James Edwards basketballC 81 2,375 571 212 32 128 1,266 29.3 7.0 2.6 .4 1.6 15.6Clemon JohnsonC 81 1,643 468 144 44 119 582 20.3 5.8 1.8 .5 1.5 7.2Johnny Davis basketball, born 1955PG 76 2,536 170 480 95 14 1,094 33.4 2.2 6.3 1.3 .2 14.4Mike BantomSF 76 2,375 427 240 80 85 1,061 31.3 5.6 3.2 1.1 1.1 14.0George McGinnisPF 69 1,845 528 210 99 28 903 26.7 7.7 3.0 1.4 .4 13.1Don BuseSG 58 1,095 84 140 74 8 297 18.9 1.4 2.4 1.3 .1 5.1Jerry SichtingPG 47 450 43 70 23 1 93 9.6 .9 1.5 .5 .0 2.0George L. JohnsonPF 43 930 278 86 47 23 457 21.6 6.5 2.0 1.1 .5 10.6Tom Abernethy†SF 29 259 40 18 6 3 59 8.9 1.4 .6 .2 .1 2.0Kenny NattSG 19 149 15 10 5 1 59 7.8 .8 .5 .3 .1 3.1Dick Miller basketball†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 POS Position GP Games played GS Games starter MP Minutes played REB Rebounds AST Assists STL Steals BLK Blocks PTS Points MPG Minutes per game RPG Rebounds per game APG Assists per game SPG Steals per game BPG Blocks per game PPG Points per gameJohnny Davis basketball, born 1955PG2 74 8 11 2 0 40 37.0 4.0 5.5 1.0 .0 20.0Billy KnightSG2 71 12 5 1 0 37 35.5 6.0 2.5 .5 .0 18.5Louis OrrSF2 56 10 4 5 1 24 28.0 5.0 2.0 2.5 .5 12.0James Edwards basketballC2 56 14 5 1 1 14 28.0 7.0 2.5 .5 .5 7.0Clemon JohnsonC2 55 20 3 4 2 15 27.5 10.0 1.5 2.0 1.0 7.5Mike BantomSF2 51 8 1 1 1 29 25.5 4.0 .5 .5 .5 14.5George McGinnisPF2 39 10 7 2 0 10 19.5 5.0 3.5 1.0 .0 5.0Don BuseSG2 35 5 7 3 0 5 17.5 2.5 3.5 1.5 .0 2.5George L. JohnsonPF2 23 4 1 0 0 10 11.5 2.0 .5 .0 .0 5.0Dudley BradleySG2 19 2 2 2 0 9 9.5 1.0 1.0 1.0 .0 4.5Jerry SichtingPG 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 Category:Indiana Pacers seasons In Indiana Indiana