1980–81 Portland Trail Blazers season

NBA professional basketball team season March 2026 August 2023 Portland Trail Blazers 1981 45 37 Pacific 3 4 Jack Ramsay Harry Glickman Larry Weinberg Memorial Coliseum First round(lost to Kings 1–2) POR The 1980–81 Portland Trail Blazers season was the 11th season of the Portland Trail Blazers in the National Basketball Association (NBA).1980-81 Portland Trail Blazers The Blazers won seven more games than the previous season, ending with a record of 45–37 and making the playoffs for the fifth consecutive season. The Blazers were eliminated from the 1981 NBA Playoffs after losing their best-of-three first-round series to the Kansas City Kings, two games to one. Draft picks 1980 NBA draft Note: This is not a complete list; only the first two rounds are covered, as well as any other picks by the franchise who played at least one NBA game. Round Pick Player Position Nationality School/Club team 1 10 Ronnie Lester G United States Iowa 2 32 David Lawrence F United States McNeese State 2 33 Bruce Collins G/F United States Weber State 3 56 Mike Harper F/C United States North Park 8 168 John Stroeder F United States Montana Roster Portland Trail Blazers 1980–81 #000000 #FFFFFF #d1210a #FFFFFF 12 Billy Ray Bates G 6 4 210 1956–05–31 Kentucky State 45 Geoff Crompton C 6 11 280 1955–07–04 North Carolina 11 Mike Gale G 6 4 185 1950–07–18 Elizabeth City State 30 Bob Gross F 6 6 200 1953–08–03 Long Beach State 32 Mike Harper basketball F 6 10 195 1957–12–09 North Park 44 Kevin Kunnert C 6 9 230 1951–11–11 Iowa 33 Calvin Natt SF 6 6 220 1957–01–08 Louisiana-Monroe 25 Tom Owens F/C 6 10 215 1949–06–28 South Carolina 4 Jim Paxson G 6 6 200 1957–07–09 Dayton 14 Kelvin Ransey PG 6 1 170 1958–05–03 Ohio State 43 Mychal Thompson C/F 6 10 226 1955–01–30 Minnesota 42 Kermit Washington F 6 8 230 1951–09–17 American Jack Ramsay Bucky Buckwalter Regular season thumb|The Trail Blazers played their home games at Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Season standings POR POR z – clinched division title y – clinched division title x – clinched playoff spot Game log Regular season Portland Trail Blazers 1981 #000000 #FF0000 Total: 45–37 (home: 30–11; road: 15–26) Portland Trail Blazers October yes #FF0000 #000000 3 1 0 6 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 1 | October 10 | @ Utah | L 86–96 | | | | Salt Palace Acord Arena | 0–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 2 | October 12 | Seattle | W 107–96 | | | | Memorial Coliseum | 1–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 3 | October 15 | @ Golden State | L 92–95 | | | | Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena | 1–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 4 | October 17 | Houston | L 99–102 | | | | Memorial Coliseum | 1–3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 5 | October 21 | Los Angeles | W 107–103 | | | | Memorial Coliseum | 2–3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 6 | October 24 | Dallas | W 120–105 | | | | Memorial Coliseum | 3–3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 7 | October 26 | @ Seattle | L 98–111 | | | | Kingdome | 3–4 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 8 | October 28 | @ San Antonio | L 112–120 | | | | HemisFair Arena | 3–5 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 9 | October 29 | @ Kansas City | L 98–115 | | | | Kemper Arena | 3–6 Portland Trail Blazers November #FF0000 #000000 4 4 0 8 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 10 | November 1 | Utah | L 87–95 | | | | Memorial Coliseum | 3–7 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 11 | November 2 | Cleveland | W 102–96 | | | | Memorial Coliseum | 4–7 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 12 | November 4 | @ Los Angeles | L 118–119 | | | | The Forum | 4–8 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 13 | November 7 | Golden State | W 122–113 | | | | Memorial Coliseum | 5–8 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 14 | November 8 | San Diego | L 106–110 (OT) | | | | Memorial Coliseum | 5–9 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 15 | November 11 | Kansas City | L 101–102 | | | | Memorial Coliseum | 5–10 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 16 | November 14 | @ Dallas | L 106–113 | | | | Reunion Arena | 5–11 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 17 | November 15 | @ Denver | L 123–125 | | | | McNichols Sports Arena | 5–12 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 18 | November 16 | @ Phoenix | L 107–119 | | | | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum | 5–13 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 19 | November 18 | Denver | W 122–103 | | | | Memorial Coliseum | 6–13 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 20 | November 20 | Milwaukee | L 93–97 | | | | Memorial Coliseum | 6–14 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 21 | November 23 | Dallas | W 116–96 | | | | Memorial Coliseum | 7–14 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 22 | November 25 | @ Atlanta | L 108–112 | | | | The Omni | 7–15 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 23 | November 26 | @ Boston | L 101–126 | | | | Boston Garden | 7–16 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 24 | November 28 | @ Philadelphia | L 103–116 | | | | The Spectrum | 7–17 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 25 | November 29 | @ New York | L 110–111 | | | | Madison Square Garden | 7–18 Portland Trail Blazers December #FF0000 #000000 8 2 5 0 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 26 | December 2 | New Jersey | L 105–118 | | | | Memorial Coliseum | 7–19 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 27 | December 4 | @ San Diego | W 103–100 | | | | San Diego Sports Arena | 8–19 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 28 | December 5 | Chicago | W 116–115 | | | | Memorial Coliseum | 9–19 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 29 | December 7 | San Antonio | W 116–115 | | | | Memorial Coliseum | 10–19 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 30 | December 9 | Seattle | W 111–98 | | | | Memorial Coliseum | 11–19 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 31 | December 12 | Houston | W 106–100 | | | | Memorial Coliseum | 12–19 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 32 | December 14 | @ Phoenix | W 116–110 | | | | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum | 13–19 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 33 | December 17 | @ Golden State | W 115–113 | | | | Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena | 14–19 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 34 | December 19 | @ Los Angeles | W 110–106 | | | | The Forum | 15–19 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 35 | December 20 | Atlanta | W 122–119 (OT) | | | | Memorial Coliseum | 16–19 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 36 | December 21 | Phoenix | L 100–111 | | | | Memorial Coliseum | 16–20 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 37 | December 23 | Los Angeles | W 108–102 | | | | Memorial Coliseum | 17–20 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 38 | December 25 | Golden State | W 115–114 | | | | Memorial Coliseum | 18–20 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 39 | December 26 | @ Seattle | W 96–90 | | | | Kingdome | 19–20 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 40 | December 30 | Philadelphia | W 109–108 | | | | Memorial Coliseum | 20–20 Portland Trail Blazers January #FF0000 #000000 4 1 3 6 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 41 | January 1 | Denver | W 122–119 | | | | Memorial Coliseum | 21–20 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 42 | January 3 | @ Utah | L 103–109 | | | | Salt Palace Acord Arena | 21–21 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 43 | January 4 | Boston | L 111–120 | | | | Memorial Coliseum | 21–22 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 44 | January 6 | Detroit | W 110–90 | | | | Memorial Coliseum | 22–22 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 45 | January 9 | @ San Antonio | L 86–102 | | | | HemisFair Arena | 22–23 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 46 | January 10 | @ Houston | L 105–106 | | | | The Summit | 22–24 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 47 | January 14 | @ Kansas City | W 110–91 | | | | Kemper Arena | 23–24 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 48 | January 16 | @ Chicago | W 113–112 | | | | Chicago Stadium | 24–24 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 49 | January 18 | @ Milwaukee | L 103–110 | | | | MECCA Arena | 24–25 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 50 | January 20 | @ Cleveland | L 94–99 | | | | Richfield Coliseum | 24–26 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 51 | January 23 | New York | W 117–90 | | | | Memorial Coliseum | 25–26 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 52 | January 25 | San Antonio | W 118–100 | | | | Memorial Coliseum | 26–26 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 53 | January 26 | @ Los Angeles | L 112–124 | | | | The Forum | 26–27 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 54 | January 29 | @ San Diego | W 108–106 | | | | San Diego Sports Arena | 27–27 Portland Trail Blazers February #FF0000 #000000 4 2 3 4 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 55 | February 3 | Washington | W 111–104 (OT) | | | | Memorial Coliseum | 28–27 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 56 | February 4 | @ Golden State | L 100–115 | | | | Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena | 28–28 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 57 | February 6 | @ San Antonio | L 96–122 | | | | HemisFair Arena | 28–29 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 58 | February 8 | Kansas City | W 129–123 (OT) | | | | Memorial Coliseum | 29–29 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 59 | February 12 | Seattle | L 109–112 | | | | Memorial Coliseum | 29–30 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 60 | February 13 | @ Denver | L 143–162 | | | | McNichols Sports Arena | 29–31 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 61 | February 15 | Utah | W 118–84 | | | | Memorial Coliseum | 30–31 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 62 | February 17 | @ Washington | W 124–104 | | | | Capital Centre | 31–31 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 63 | February 19 | @ Detroit | W 115–106 | | | | Pontiac Silverdome | 32–31 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 64 | February 20 | @ New Jersey | L 113–123 | | | | Rutgers Athletic Center | 32–32 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 65 | February 22 | @ Indiana | W 113–109 (OT) | | | | Market Square Arena | 33–32 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 66 | February 24 | San Diego | L 107–121 | | | | Memorial Coliseum | 33–33 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 67 | February 27 | Phoenix | W 121–117 | | | | Memorial Coliseum | 34–33 Portland Trail Blazers March #FF0000 #000000 7 1 4 3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 68 | March 1 | Utah | W 108–97 | | | | Memorial Coliseum | 35–33 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 69 | March 3 | Indiana | W 117–112 | | | | Memorial Coliseum | 36–33 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 70 | March 5 | @ Kansas City | L 100–106 | | | | Kemper Arena | 36–34 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 71 | March 6 | @ Phoenix | L 107–128 | | | | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum | 36–35 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 72 | March 8 | Golden State | W 120–112 (OT) | | | | Memorial Coliseum | 37–35 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 73 | March 10 | @ Denver | W 142–137 | | | | McNichols Sports Arena | 38–35 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 74 | March 13 | @ Houston | L 104–126 | | | | The Summit | 38–36 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 75 | March 15 | Dallas | W 135–110 | | | | Memorial Coliseum | 39–36 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 76 | March 17 | San Diego | W 127–112 | | | | Memorial Coliseum | 40–36 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 77 | March 20 | Houston | W 107–103 | | | | Memorial Coliseum | 41–36 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 78 | March 21 | Los Angeles | L 111–117 | | | | Memorial Coliseum | 41–37 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 79 | March 24 | Phoenix | W 120–111 | | | | Memorial Coliseum | 42–37 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 80 | March 25 | @ Seattle | W 112–103 | | | | Kingdome | 43–37 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 81 | March 27 | @ Dallas | W 123–109 | | | | Reunion Arena | 44–37 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 82 | March 29 | @ San Diego | W 144–129 | | | | San Diego Sports Arena | 45–37 POR 1981 Playoffs Portland Trail Blazers 1981 yes #000000 #FF0000 Portland Trail Blazers First round no yes yes #FF0000 #000000 0 2 1 0 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 1 | April 1 | Kansas City | L 97–98 (OT) | Billy Ray Bates (25) | Kermit Washington (17) | Kelvin Ransey (10) | Memorial Coliseum12,666 | 0–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 2 | April 3 | @ Kansas City | W 124–119 (OT) | Mychal Thompson (40) | Kermit Washington (18) | Kelvin Ransey (7) | Kemper Arena11,088 | 1–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 3 | April 5 | Kansas City | L 95–104 | Billy Ray Bates (34) | Kermit Washington (17) | Kelvin Ransey (8) | Memorial Coliseum12,666 | 1–2 |- POR 1981 yes Awards and honors Kelvin Ransey, All-NBA Rookie Team Kermit Washington, NBA All-Defensive Second Team Transactions July 21, 1980 Waived Charles JonesCharles Jones NBA & ABA Stats https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/j/jonesch01.html Basketball-Reference.com 9 July 2014 August 15, 1980 Traded T. R. Dunn and a first round pick in the 1983 NBA draft to the Denver Nuggets in exchange for a 1983 first round draft pick and a second round pick in the 1984 NBA draft.T. R. Dunn NBA & ABA Stats https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/d/dunntr01.html Basketball-Reference.com 9 July 2014 Denver drafted Howard Carter and the Trail Blazers selected Clyde Drexler in 1983 and Steve Colter in 1984.Howard Carter NBA & ABA Stats https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/c/carteho01.html Basketball-Reference.com 9 July 2014Clyde Drexler NBA & ABA Stats https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/d/drexlcl01.html Basketball-Reference.com 9 July 2014Steve Colter NBA & ABA Stats https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/c/coltest01.html Basketball-Reference.com 9 July 2014 September 24, 1980 Signed free agent Roy HamiltonRoy Hamilton NBA & ABA Stats https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/h/hamilro01.html Basketball-Reference.com 9 July 2014 October 8, 1980 Traded Jim Brewer to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for the a second round draft pick in the 1984 NBA draft. During the draft the Trail Blazers had the option to swap first round picks with the Lakers but declined. Portland selected Jerome Kersey with the Lakers pick. October 13, 1980 Waived Roy Hamilton December 19, 1980 Traded Ron Brewer to the San Antonio Spurs in exchange for Mike Gale and a first round pick in the 1982 NBA draft.Ron Brewer NBA & ABA Stats https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/brewero01.html Basketball-Reference.com 9 July 2014Mike Gale NBA & ABA Stats https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/g/galemi01.html Basketball-Reference.com 9 July 2014 The Trail Blazers later traded that pick which the Detroit Pistons used to select Ricky Pierce.Ricky Pierce NBA & ABA Stats https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/p/piercri01.html Basketball-Reference.com 9 July 2014 February 2, 1981 Signed free agent Geoff CromptonGeoff Crompton NBA & ABA Stats https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/c/crompge01.html Basketball-Reference.com 9 July 2014 June 5, 1981 Traded Tom Owens to the Indiana Pacers in exchange for a first round pick in the 1984 NBA draft.Tom Owens NBA & ABA Stats https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/o/owensto01.html Basketball-Reference.com 9 July 2014 Portland selected Sam Bowie with the pick.Sam Bowie NBA & ABA Stats https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/bowiesa01.html Basketball-Reference.com 9 July 2014 June 8, 1981 Traded Mike Gale to the Golden State Warriors in exchange for a second round pick in 1982 NBA draft and a 1985 second round pick. In 1982 Portland selected Audie Norris and Mike Smrek was chosen in 1985.Audie Norris NBA & ABA Stats https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/n/norriau01.html Basketball-Reference.com 9 July 2014Mike Smrek NBA & ABA Stats https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/s/smrekmi01.html Basketball-Reference.com 9 July 2014 References Category:Portland Trail Blazers seasons Portland Trail Blazers 1980 Portland Trail Blazers 1980 Po Portland Portland