1980–81 Denver Nuggets season

NBA professional basketball team season August 2023 March 2026 November 2021 Denver Nuggets 1981 37 45 Midwest 4 8 Donnie Walsh Doug Moe McNichols Sports Arena Did not qualify DEN The 1980–81 Denver Nuggets season was the Nuggets 5th season in the NBA and their 14th season as a franchise. Draft picks 1980 NBA draft The Denver Nuggets made twelve selections in the 1980 NBA Draft.https://www.basketball-reference.com/draft/NBA_1980.html 1980 NBA Draft Basketball Reference August 28, 2020 Round Pick Player Position Nationality School/Club team 1 5 James Ray PF Jacksonville 1 23 Carl Nicks PG Indiana State 2 41 Jawann Oldham C Seattle 3 47 Kurt Nimphius C/PF Arizona State 3 48 Eddie Lee Cincinnati 3 51 Ronnie Valentine PF Old Dominion 4 73 Sammie Ellis Pittsburgh 5 97 James Patrick Southwest Texas State 6 119 Ernie Hill Oklahoma City 7 143 Tommy Springer Vanderbilt 9 184 Jim Graziano South Carolina 10 202 Earl Sango Regis Roster Denver Nuggets 1980–81 #2C3292 #EFE328 #2C3292 #EFE328 23 T.R. Dunn SG 6 4 192 Alabama 2 Alex English SF 6 7 190 South Carolina 22 Glen Gondrezick F 6 6 218 UNLV 1 Kenny Higgs G 6 0 180 LSU 34 Cedrick Hordges F 6 8 220 South Carolina 44 Dan Issel C 6 9 235 Kentucky 7 Billy McKinney basketball G 6 0 170 Northwestern 43 James Ray basketball F 6 8 215 Jacksonville 25 Dave Robisch C 6 10 235 Kansas 10 John Roche basketball G 6 3 170 South Carolina 33 David Thompson basketball SF 6 4 195 North Carolina State 42 Ronnie Valentine F 6 7 210 Old Dominion 55 Kiki Vandeweghe PF 6 8 220 UCLA USA Doug Moe Regular season Season standings DEN DEN Notes z, y – division champions x – clinched playoff spot Game log Regular season Denver Nuggets 1981 #0000CD #FFD700 Total: 37–45 (home: 23–18; road: 14–27) Denver Nuggets October yes #FFD700 #0000CD 1 4 1 3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 1 | October 10, 1980 | San Antonio | L 112–113 | | | | McNichols Sports Arena | 0–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 2 | October 12, 1980 | Utah | L 121–125 (OT) | | | | McNichols Sports Arena | 0–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 3 | October 15, 1980 | Dallas | W 133–98 | | | | McNichols Sports Arena | 1–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 4 | October 17, 1980 | @ San Diego | W 129–116 | | | | San Diego Sports Arena | 2–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 5 | October 18, 1980 | @ Utah | L 115–117 | | | | Salt Palace Acord Arena | 2–3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 6 | October 21, 1980 | Houston | L 117–119 | | | | McNichols Sports Arena | 2–4 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 7 | October 24, 1980 | Phoenix | L 94–117 | | | | McNichols Sports Arena | 2–5 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 8 | October 25, 1980 | @ Kansas City | L 122–125 | | | | Kemper Arena | 2–6 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 9 | October 29, 1980 | @ Golden State | L 109–115 | | | | Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena | 2–7 Denver Nuggets November #FFD700 #0000CD 4 2 4 5 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 10 | November 1, 1980 | Seattle | W 123–118 | | | | McNichols Sports Arena | 3–7 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 11 | November 2, 1980 | @ Los Angeles | W 123–121 | | | | The Forum | 4–7 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 12 | November 5, 1980 | @ Seattle | W 125–117 | | | | Kingdome | 5–7 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 13 | November 7, 1980 | New York | L 115–124 | | | | McNichols Sports Arena | 5–8 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 14 | November 8, 1980 | @ Chicago | W 130–126 (2OT) | | | | Chicago Stadium | 6–8 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 15 | November 11, 1980 | @ Washington | L 92–107 | | | | Capital Centre | 6–9 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 16 | November 12, 1980 | @ New Jersey | L 111–118 | | | | Rutgers Athletic Center | 6–10 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 17 | November 15, 1980 | Portland | W 125–123 | | | | McNichols Sports Arena | 7–10 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 18 | November 18, 1980 | @ Portland | L 103–122 | | | | Memorial Coliseum | 7–11 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 19 | November 21, 1980 | Kansas City | W 134–121 | | | | McNichols Sports Arena | 8–11 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 20 | November 23, 1980 | @ Phoenix | L 113–131 | | | | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum | 8–12 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 21 | November 25, 1980 | @ San Diego | L 94–108 | | | | San Diego Sports Arena | 8–13 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 22 | November 26, 1980 | San Diego | W 113–109 | | | | McNichols Sports Arena | 9–13 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 23 | November 28, 1980 | @ Dallas | W 119–117 (OT) | | | | Reunion Arena | 10–13 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 24 | November 29, 1980 | Los Angeles | L 123–124 (2OT) | | | | McNichols Sports Arena | 10–14 Denver Nuggets December #FFD700 #0000CD 3 3 0 7 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 25 | December 2, 1980 | Chicago | L 124–129 | | | | McNichols Sports Arena | 10–15 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 26 | December 4, 1980 | @ Utah | L 118–122 | | | | Salt Palace Acord Arena | 10–16 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 27 | December 5, 1980 | Golden State | L 114–119 | | | | McNichols Sports Arena | 10–17 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 28 | December 6, 1980 | @ Houston | L 108–111 | | | | The Summit | 10–18 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 29 | December 10, 1980 | Dallas | W 116–107 | | | | McNichols Sports Arena | 11–18 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 30 | December 13, 1980 | @ San Antonio | L 123–147 | | | | HemisFair Arena | 11–19 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 31 | December 16, 1980 | Kansas City | L 118–133 | | | | McNichols Sports Arena | 11–20 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 32 | December 18, 1980 | @ Cleveland | L 122–130 | | | | Richfield Coliseum | 11–21 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 33 | December 20, 1980 | @ New York | L 114–120 | | | | Madison Square Garden | 11–22 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 34 | December 23, 1980 | @ Boston | L 128–136 | | | | Boston Garden | 11–23 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 35 | December 26, 1980 | @ Dallas | L 111–119 | | | | Reunion Arena | 11–24 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 36 | December 27, 1980 | Philadelphia | W 125–121 | | | | McNichols Sports Arena | 12–24 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 37 | December 30, 1980 | Indiana | W 127–110 | | | | McNichols Sports Arena | 13–24 Denver Nuggets January #FFD700 #0000CD 4 4 3 4 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 38 | January 1, 1981 | @ Portland | L 119–122 | | | | Memorial Coliseum | 13–25 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 39 | January 2, 1981 | Phoenix | L 132–133 | | | | McNichols Sports Arena | 13–26 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 40 | January 3, 1981 | @ Houston | W 134–132 | | | | The Summit | 14–26 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 41 | January 7, 1981 | Utah | L 117–121 | | | | McNichols Sports Arena | 14–27 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 42 | January 9, 1981 | @ San Diego | W 130–116 | | | | San Diego Sports Arena | 15–27 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 43 | January 10, 1981 | @ Seattle | L 116–119 | | | | Kingdome | 15–28 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 44 | January 13, 1981 | Atlanta | W 135–132 | | | | McNichols Sports Arena | 16–28 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 45 | January 14, 1981 | @ Phoenix | L 102–128 | | | | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum | 16–29 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 46 | January 17, 1981 | @ Kansas City | W 123–122 | | | | Kemper Arena | 17–29 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 47 | January 18, 1981 | Houston | L 97–98 | | | | McNichols Sports Arena | 17–30 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 48 | January 21, 1981 | San Diego | L 116–125 | | | | McNichols Sports Arena | 17–31 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 49 | January 23, 1981 | @ Los Angeles | L 105–110 | | | | The Forum | 17–32 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 50 | January 24, 1981 | San Antonio | W 129–115 | | | | McNichols Sports Arena | 18–32 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 51 | January 27, 1981 | Detroit | W 143–123 | | | | McNichols Sports Arena | 19–32 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 52 | January 29, 1981 | Milwaukee | W 131–118 | | | | McNichols Sports Arena | 20–32 Denver Nuggets February #FFD700 #0000CD 6 3 1 3 |- align="center" |colspan="9" bgcolor="#bbcaff"|All-Star Break |- style="background:#cfc;" |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 53 | February 3, 1981 | @ Houston | L 128–135 (OT) | | | | The Summit | 20–33 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 54 | February 4, 1981 | San Antonio | L 132–135 | | | | McNichols Sports Arena | 20–34 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 55 | February 6, 1981 | @ Utah | W 120–116 | | | | Salt Palace Acord Arena | 21–34 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 56 | February 7, 1981 | Golden State | W 135–125 | | | | McNichols Sports Arena | 22–34 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 57 | February 8, 1981 | @ Seattle | L 112–133 | | | | Kingdome | 22–35 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 58 | February 10, 1981 | Washington | L 110–115 | | | | McNichols Sports Arena | 22–36 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 59 | February 13, 1981 | Portland | W 162–143 | | | | McNichols Sports Arena | 23–36 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 60 | February 15, 1981 | Boston | L 118–120 | | | | McNichols Sports Arena | 23–37 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 61 | February 19, 1981 | Phoenix | W 127–126 | | | | McNichols Sports Arena | 24–37 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 62 | February 21, 1981 | Kansas City | W 129–109 | | | | McNichols Sports Arena | 25–37 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 63 | February 22, 1981 | @ San Antonio | L 129–133 (OT) | | | | HemisFair Arena | 25–38 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 64 | February 24, 1981 | New Jersey | W 140–123 | | | | McNichols Sports Arena | 26–38 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 65 | February 27, 1981 | Golden State | W 137–130 | | | | McNichols Sports Arena | 27–38 Denver Nuggets March #FFD700 #0000CD 5 2 5 5 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 66 | March 1, 1981 | Cleveland | W 137–127 | | | | McNichols Sports Arena | 28–38 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 67 | March 4, 1981 | Los Angeles | W 123–114 | | | | McNichols Sports Arena | 29–38 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 68 | March 6, 1981 | @ Philadelphia | L 112–131 | | | | The Spectrum | 29–39 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 69 | March 7, 1981 | @ Detroit | W 121–109 | | | | Pontiac Silverdome | 30–39 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 70 | March 8, 1981 | @ Indiana | L 119–129 | | | | Market Square Arena | 30–40 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 71 | March 10, 1981 | Portland | L 137–142 | | | | McNichols Sports Arena | 30–41 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 72 | March 12, 1981 | @ Milwaukee | L 113–131 | | | | MECCA Arena | 30–42 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 73 | March 13, 1981 | @ Atlanta | L 117–119 | | | | The Omni | 30–43 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 74 | March 15, 1981 | Houston | W 138–127 | | | | McNichols Sports Arena | 31–43 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 75 | March 17, 1981 | Seattle | W 124–112 | | | | McNichols Sports Arena | 32–43 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 76 | March 18, 1981 | @ Kansas City | W 126–124 (2OT) | | | | Kemper Arena | 33–43 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 77 | March 20, 1981 | @ Dallas | L 125–126 | | | | Reunion Arena | 33–44 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 78 | March 22, 1981 | Utah | W 113–108 | | | | McNichols Sports Arena | 34–44 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 79 | March 24, 1981 | @ San Antonio | W 125–123 | | | | HemisFair Arena | 35–44 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 80 | March 25, 1981 | Dallas | L 115–126 | | | | McNichols Sports Arena | 35–45 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 81 | March 28, 1981 | @ Golden State | W 142–139 | | | | Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena | 36–45 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 82 | March 29, 1981 | @ Los Angeles | W 148–146 (OT) | | | | The Forum | 37–45 DEN 1981 References Category:Denver Nuggets seasons De Denver Nugget Denver Nugget