1980–81 Milwaukee Bucks season

NBA professional basketball team season March 2026 August 2023 Milwaukee Bucks 1981 yes 60 22 Central 1 2 Don Nelson Don Nelson Jim Fitzgerald MECCA Arena WVTV WTMJ Conference semifinals(lost to 76ers 3–4) MIL The 1980–81 Milwaukee Bucks season was the Bucks 13th season in the NBA.1980-81 Milwaukee Bucks They finished with 60 wins and 22 losses, placing first in their division and second in the Eastern Conference behind the Boston Celtics. It was the Bucks' best regular season record since 1972–73, and their only 60-win season without Kareem Abdul-Jabbar on their roster until the 2018-19 season. The team's top scorer, fourth-year small forward Marques Johnson finished sixth in the MVP voting. Draft picks 1980 NBA draft Round Pick Player Position Nationality School/Club team 3 63 Al Beal Oklahoma 4 86 Jeff Wolf North Carolina 5 109 Ken Jones Virginia Commonwealth 6 132 Alex Gilbert Indiana State 7 155 Ron White Furman 8 174 Keith Valentine Virginia Union 9 194 Del Yarbrough Illinois State 10 210 Melvin Crayton Alabama State Roster Milwaukee Bucks 1980–81 #255325 #FFFFFF #d4312a #FFFFFF 2 Junior Bridgeman SF 6 5 210 1953–09–17 Louisville 21 Quinn Buckner PG 6 3 190 1954–08–20 Indiana 42 Harvey Catchings PF 6 9 218 1951–09–02 Hardin-Simmons 6 Pat Cummings PF 6 9 230 1956–07–11 Cincinnati 41 Len Elmore C 6 9 220 1952–03–28 Maryland 5 Mike Evans basketball PG 6 1 170 1955–04–19 Kansas State 35 Kim Hughes basketball C 6 11 220 1952–06–04 Wisconsin 8 Marques Johnson SF 6 7 218 1956–02–08 UCLA 43 Mickey Johnson PF 6 10 190 1952–08–31 Aurora 16 Bob Lanier C 6 11 250 1948–09–10 St. Bonaventure 4 Sidney Moncrief PG 6 3 180 1957–09–21 Arkansas 32 Brian Winters SG 6 4 185 1952–03–01 South Carolina Don Nelson John Killilea Dave Wohl Regular season Season standings MIL MIL Notes z, y – division champions x – clinched playoff spot Game log Milwaukee Bucks 1981 #255325 #FFFFFF Total: 60–22 (home: 34–7; road: 26–15) Milwaukee Bucks October yes #d4312a #255325 4 1 5 1 |-style="background:#bbffbb;" | 1 || October 10, 1980 || @ Philadelphia | W 106–103 |Junior Bridgeman (21) | | | The Spectrum | 1–0 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 2 || October 11, 1980 || @ New York | L 109–114 |Marques Johnson (19) | | | Madison Square Garden | 1-1 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 3 || October 16, 1980 || Boston | L 103–110 |Marques Johnson (27) | | | MECCA Arena | 1–2 |-style="background:#bbffbb;" | 4 || October 18, 1980 || @ Cleveland | W 107–105 |Brian Winters (25) | | | Coliseum at Richfield | 2-2 |-style="background:#bbffbb;" | 5 || October 19, 1980 || New Jersey | W 105–93 |Brian Winters (22) | | | MECCA Arena | 3–2 |-style="background:#bbffbb;" | 6 || October 21, 1980 || Cleveland | W 115–95 |Marques Johnson (28) | | | MECCA Arena | 4–2 |-style="background:#bbffbb;" | 7 || October 22, 1980 || @ Indiana | W 119–105 | | | | Market Square Arena | 5–2 |-style="background:#bbffbb;" | 8 || October 25, 1980 || Chicago | W 109–93 |Marques Johnson (21) | | | MECCA Arena | 6–2 |-style="background:#bbffbb;" | 9 || October 26, 1980 || Washington | W 111–88 |Marques Johnson (21) |Marques Johnson, Sidney Moncrief (9) |Quinn Buckner, Brian Winters (7) | MECCA Arena | 7–2 |-style="background:#bbffbb;" | 10 || October 28, 1980 || @ Chicago | W 106–99 | | | | Chicago Stadium | 8–2 |-style="background:#bbffbb;" | 11 || October 29, 1980 || @ New Jersey | W 132–116 |Junior Bridgeman (26) | | | Rutgers Athletic Center | 9–2 Milwaukee Bucks November #d4312a #255325 2 3 7 0 |-style="background:#bbffbb;" | 12 || November 1, 1980 || @ Atlanta | W 99–93 | | | | Omni Coliseum | 10–2 |-style="background:#bbffbb;" | 13 || November 2, 1980 || Indiana | W 135–121 |Marques Johnson (40) | | | MECCA Arena | 11–2 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 14 || November 4, 1980 || Detroit | L 96–98 | | | | MECCA Arena | 11–3 |-style="background:#bbffbb;" | 15 || November 7, 1980 || @ Boston | w 102–101 | | | | Boston Garden | 12–3 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 16 || November 9, 1980 || Philadelphia | L 121–136 | | | | MECCA Arena | 12–4 |-style="background:#bbffbb;" | 17 || November 11, 1980 || @ Cleveland | W 100–96 |Marques Johnson (19) | | | Coliseum at Richfield | 13–4 |-style="background:#bbffbb;" | 18 || November 12, 1980 || @ Detroit | W 122–98 |Junior Bridgeman (27) | | | Pontiac Silverdome | 14–4 |-style="background:#bbffbb;" | 19 || November 14, 1980 || New York | W 125–106 | | | | MECCA Arena | 15–4 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 20 || November 16, 1980 || Chicago | L 108–114 | | | | MECCA Arena | 15–5 |-style="background:#bbffbb;" | 21 || November 18, 1980 || @ Utah | W 126–93 |Sidney Moncrief (21) | | | Salt Palace | 16–5 |-style="background:#bbffbb;" | 22 || November 20, 1980 || @ Portland | W 97–93 |Mickey Johnson (22) | | | Memorial Coliseum | 17–5 |-style="background:#bbffbb;" | 23 || November 23, 1980 || @ Los Angeles | W 110–94 |Marques Johnson (24) | | | The Forum | 18–5 |-style="background:#bbffbb;" | 24 || November 28, 1980 || Atlanta | W 114–108 OT | | | | MECCA Arena | 19–5 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 25 || November 29, 1980 || @ Washington | L 89–98 | | | | Capital Centre | 19–6 |-style="background:#bbffbb;" | 26 || November 30, 1980 || Boston | W 107–105 | | | | MECCA Arena | 20–6 Milwaukee Bucks December #d4312a #255325 7 0 1 5 |-style="background:#bbffbb;" | 27 || December 2, 1980 || Utah | W 119–108 | | | | MECCA Arena | 21–6 |-style="background:#bbffbb;" | 28 || December 5, 1980 || Indiana | W 102–100 | | | | MECCA Arena | 22–6 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 29 || December 6, 1980 || @ New York | L 94–104 | | | | Madison Square Garden | 22–7 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 30 || December 9, 1980 || @ Boston | L 89–112 | | | | Boston Garden | 22–8 |-style="background:#bbffbb;" | 31 || December 11, 1980 || New York | W 119–107 | | | | MECCA Arena | 23–8 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 32 || December 13, 1980 || @ Atlanta | L 119–122 | | | | Omni Coliseum | 23–9 |-style="background:#bbffbb;" | 33 || December 14, 1980 || San Antonio | W 115–98 | | | | MECCA Arena | 24–9 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 34 || December 17, 1980 || @ New Jersey | L 112–115 | | | | Rutgers Athletic Center | 24–10 |-style="background:#bbffbb;" | 35 || December 18, 1980 || Detroit | W 121–104 | | | | MECCA Arena | 25–10 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 36 || December 19, 1980 || @ Chicago | L 106–129 | | | | Chicago Stadium | 25–11 |-style="background:#bbffbb;" | 37 || December 21, 1980 || Houston | W 123–91 | | | | MECCA Arena | 26–11 |-style="background:#bbffbb;" | 38 || December 27, 1980 || Dallas | W 112–96 | | | | MECCA Arena | 27–11 |-style="background:#bbffbb;" | 39 || December 30, 1980 || @ Washington | W 115–94 | | | | Capital Centre | 28–11 Milwaukee Bucks January #d4312a #255325 6 0 4 3 |-style="background:#bbffbb;" | 40 || January 4, 1981 || San Diego | W 128–95 | | | | MECCA Arena | 29–11 |-style="background:#bbffbb;" | 41 || January 6, 1981 || New Jersey | W 102–86 | | | | MECCA Arena | 30–11 |-style="background:#bbffbb;" | 42 || January 8, 1981 || Atlanta | W 98–95 | | | | MECCA Arena | 31–11 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 43 || January 10, 1981 || @ Indiana | L 102–106 | | | | Market Square Arena | 31–12 |-style="background:#bbffbb;" | 44 || January 11, 1981 || Phoenix | W 123–109 | | | | MECCA Arena | 32–12 |-style="background:#bbffbb;" | 45 || January 13, 1981 || @ Detroit | W 119–96 | | | | Pontiac Silverdome | 33–12 |-style="background:#bbffbb;" | 46 || January 15, 1981 || Philadelphia | W 113–110 | | | | MECCA Arena | 34–12 |-style="background:#bbffbb;" | 47 || January 16, 1981 || Kansas City | W 118–112 OT | | | | MECCA Arena | 35–12 |-style="background:#bbffbb;" | 48 || January 18, 1981 || Portland | W 110–103 | | | | MECCA Arena | 36–12 |-style="background:#bbffbb;" | 49 || January 21, 1981 || @ Golden State | W 105–98 | | | | Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena | 37–12 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 50 || January 23, 1981 || @ Phoenix | L 122–131 | | | | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum | 37–13 |-style="background:#bbffbb;" | 51 || January 24, 1981 || @ San Diego | W 121–117 | | | | San Diego Sports Arena | 38–13 |-style="background:#bbffbb;" | 52 || January 28, 1981 || @ Seattle | W 119–110 | | | | Kingdome | 39–13 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 53 || January 29, 1981 || @ Denver | W 188–131 | | | | McNichols Sports Arena | 39–14 Milwaukee Bucks February #d4312a #255325 0 0 1 0 |-style="background:#bbffbb;" | 62 || February 17, 1981 || @ Dallas | W 114–106 | | | | Reunion Arena | 45–17 Milwaukee Bucks March #d4312a #255325 0 0 0 0 MIL 1981 Playoffs Milwaukee Bucks 1981 yes #255325 #FFFFFF Milwaukee Bucks Conference semifinals yes yes no #D4312A #255325 2 1 1 3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 1 | April 5 | @ Philadelphia | L 122–125 | Junior Bridgeman (32) | Marques Johnson (14) | Quinn Buckner (8) | Spectrum9,727 | 0–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 2 | April 7 | @ Philadelphia | W 109–99 | Marques Johnson (22) | Bob Lanier (10) | Quinn Buckner (6) | Spectrum15,259 | 1–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 3 | April 10 | Philadelphia | L 103–108 | Marques Johnson (29) | Marques Johnson (9) | Marques Johnson (8) | MECCA Arena11,052 | 1–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 4 | April 12 | Philadelphia | W 109–98 | Marques Johnson (35) | Sidney Moncrief (10) | Marques Johnson (7) | MECCA Arena11,052 | 2–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 5 | April 15 | @ Philadelphia | L 99–116 | Mickey Johnson, Moncrief (20) | Mickey Johnson (13) | Marques Johnson (7) | Spectrum15,384 | 2–3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 6 | April 17 | Philadelphia | W 109–86 | Mickey Johnson (22) | Mickey Johnson (12) | Lanier, Buckner (6) | MECCA Arena11,052 | 3–3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 7 | April 19 | @ Philadelphia | L 98–99 | Marques Johnson (36) | Bob Lanier (10) | four players tied (4) | Spectrum6,704 | 3–4 |- MIL 1981 yes Player statistics Season +Season1980-81 Milwaukee Bucks Roster and Stats https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/MIL/1981.html 2021-06-06 Basketball-Reference.com en Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG Marques Johnson 76 33.455.2 0.070.6 6.8 4.6 1.5 0.520.3 Junior Bridgeman 77 28.8 48.7 14.3 88.4 3.8 3.0 1.1 0.416.8 Bob Lanier 67 26.2 52.5 100.0 75.1 6.2 2.7 1.1 1.214.3 Sidney Moncrief 80 30.2 54.1 22.2 80.4 5.1 3.3 1.1 0.514.0 Quinn Buckner 82 29.1 49.3 16.7 73.4 3.6 4.7 2.4 0.013.3 Mickey Johnson 82 25.8 44.8 16.7 78.9 6.6 3.5 1.1 0.912.5 Brian Winters 69 25.7 47.5 35.3 86.9 2.0 3.3 1.0 0.111.6 Pat Cummings 74 14.6 53.9 0.0 70.7 3.9 0.8 0.4 0.38.0 Mike Evans 71 12.8 46.0 14.3 78.1 1.2 2.4 0.5 0.14.5 Harvey Catchings 77 21.2 44.7 0.0 64.1 6.1 1.3 0.4 2.44.2 Len Elmore 72 12.8 35.8 0.0 72.0 2.9 1.0 0.5 0.72.9Kim Hughes45 7.4 35.6 0.0 0.0 1.7 0.5 0.4 0.5 0.7 Playoffs +Playoffs Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG Marques Johnson 7 7 38.0 55.6 0.0 71.9 9.4 4.9 1.4 1.024.7 Bob Lanier 7 7 33.7 58.8 0.0 71.9 7.4 4.0 1.7 1.117.6 Sidney Moncrief 7 7 39.6 43.5 0.0 74.5 6.7 2.9 1.7 0.414.0 Junior Bridgeman 7 0 26.1 46.2 100.0 81.3 2.1 3.3 0.9 0.014.0 Mickey Johnson 7 7 24.3 40.0 0.0 85.7 6.7 1.9 1.3 0.911.7 Brian Winters 7 0 25.9 45.9 33.3 75.0 3.3 3.1 1.4 0.110.0 Quinn Buckner 7 7 26.1 43.3 0.0 68.8 2.9 5.0 1.6 0.09.0 Mike Evans 4 0 9.5 52.9 0.0 87.5 0.3 1.5 0.0 0.36.3 Pat Cummings 5 0 5.0 27.3 0.0 75.0 1.2 0.0 0.2 0.01.8 Harvey Catchings 7 0 15.6 18.8 0.0 100.0 3.7 1.1 0.0 1.61.1 Len Elmore 4 0 3.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.00.0 Awards, records and milestones Awards Week/Month All-Star Season Marques Johnson, All-NBA Second Team Quinn Buckner, NBA All-Defensive Second Team Records Milestones Transactions Trades September 11, 1980 To Milwaukee Bucks---- Mickey Johnson To Indiana Pacers---- George L. Johnson Free agents Player Signed Former teamKim HughesOctober 31, 1980Denver Nuggets SubtractionsPlayerDate signedNew teamDave MeyersApril 30, 1980RetiredRichard WashingtonExpansion Draft May 28, 1980Dallas MavericksLloyd WaltonOctober 6, 1980Kansas City KingsScott LloydOctober 20, 1980Dallas Mavericks References See also 1980-81 NBA season Category:Milwaukee Bucks seasons Mil Milwaukee Bucks Milwaukee Bucks