1980 NBA Finals

North America basketball championship August 2023 Magic Johnson at Lakers NBA championship rally.jpg A crowd surrounds Magic Johnson at the Lakers championship parade NBA 1980 Philadelphia 76ers Billy Cunningham 2 Los Angeles Lakers Paul Westhead 4 May 4–16 Magic Johnson(Los Angeles Lakers) Lakers:Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (1995)Michael Cooper (2024)Spencer Haywood (2015)Magic Johnson (2002)Jamaal Wilkes (2012)76ers:Maurice Cheeks (2018)Doug Collins (2024; did not play)Julius Erving (1993)Bobby Jones (2019)Coaches:Billy Cunningham (1986)Chuck Daly (1994)Pat Riley (2008)Officials:Darell Garretson (2016)Earl Strom (1995) 76ers defeated Celtics, 4–1 Lakers defeated SuperSonics, 4–1 The 1980 NBA World Championship Series was the championship round of the National Basketball Association (NBA)'s 1979–80 season, and the conclusion of the season's playoffs. The Western Conference champion Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Eastern Conference champion Philadelphia 76ers in six games to win their seventh NBA championship.https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/magic-plays-center-as-a-rookie-wins-championship Basketball great, Magic Johnson, plays center as a rookie, wins championships History June 5, 2020 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was the league's MVP, but midway through Game 5, the Lakers center suffered a severely sprained ankle.Rhiannon Walker https://andscape.com/features/the-day-magic-johnson-stepped-in-at-center-and-dropped-42-points-on-philly/ The day Magic Johnson stepped in at center and dropped 42 points on Philly Andscape May 16, 2018 June 5, 2020 He managed to come back in the game in the fourth quarter to lead the Lakers to victory and a 3–2 lead in the best-of-seven series. But the Lakers still had to travel to Philadelphia for Game 6. Abdul-Jabbar was listed as out of Game 6, although 76ers coach Billy Cunningham was quoted as saying "I won't believe he's not playing until their plane lands and he's not on it." As it turned out, Kareem did not make the trip and was listed as doubtful if Game 7 had been needed. In Game 6, Magic Johnson played what may have been the greatest game of his career. Playing on the road, Johnson (a 6'9" rookie point guard) started the game at center and eventually played all five positions in a dominating performance. Scoring a game-high 42 points and grabbing a game-high 15 rebounds—and handing out seven assists— Johnson led the Lakers to the NBA crown. The Lakers also received strong performances from Jamaal Wilkes with 37 points and 10 rebounds,Media Mark Magic, Kareem among Jamaal Wilkes' presenters at Hall of Fame August 29, 2012 Los Angeles Times http://www.latimes.com/sports/lakersnow/la-sp-ln-la-magic-kareem-among-jamaal-wilkes-presenters-at-hall-of-fame-20120829,0,532696.story https://web.archive.org/web/20120903020606/http://www.latimes.com/sports/lakersnow/la-sp-ln-la-magic-kareem-among-jamaal-wilkes-presenters-at-hall-of-fame-20120829,0,532696.story 2012-09-03 live 2012-09-01 and Norm Nixon. Jim Chones played strong defense on 76ers center Darryl Dawkins, while Mark Landsberger provided rebounding off the bench, and little used Brad Holland who chipped in eight key points. Magic Johnson's performance in Game 6 and the series earned him the 1980 NBA Finals Most Valuable Player (MVP). What made Johnson's performance even more remarkable was that he was an NBA rookie—and, indeed, one who had left college after only two years, and was only 20 years old. "Jamaal Wilkes had an unbelievable game", said Johnson in 2011. "Everybody talked about my 42 points, but it was also his 37-point effort." In Game 4 of the 1980 Finals, Julius Erving executed the legendary Baseline Move, a behind-the-board reverse layup that seemed to defy gravity.https://www.nba.com/top-nba-finals-moments-julius-erving-layup-game-4-finals Top NBA Finals moments: Erving's amazing baseline reverse layup National Basketball Association May 17, 2017 June 5, 2020 Play-by-play announcer Brent Musburger has noted that Erving made such moves almost routinely in his ABA days—but the ABA had no national TV contract in those days.Matt Christopher https://books.google.com/books?id=JF62rqvsscUC&pg=PA1975 Greatest Moments in Basketball History Little, Brown Books for Young Readers October 1, 2009 9780316082488 June 5, 2020 This Game 4 move, played to a national audience in a title game, has probably become Julius Erving's most famous move.Brian Chen https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2461308-35th-anniversary-of-dr-js-iconic-reverse-layup-versus-lakers-in-nba-finals 35th Anniversary of Dr. J's Iconic Reverse Layup Versus Lakers in NBA Finals Bleacher Report May 11, 2015 June 5, 2020 This was also the first NBA Finals to make use of the three-point line, which debuted that season.Victor Mather https://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/21/sports/basketball/how-the-nba-3-point-shot-went-from-gimmick-to-game-changer.html How the N.B.A. 3-Point Shot Went From Gimmick to Game Changer The New York Times January 20, 2016 June 5, 2020 Many consider this victory as the birth of Showtime. Background Los Angeles Lakers 1979–80 Los Angeles Lakers season The last time the Lakers had won the NBA championship was in 1972. In the eight years between championships, the Lakers made the NBA Finals again in 1973 and lost to the New York Knicks in five games. Then Wilt Chamberlain and Jerry West retired, and the Lakers missed the playoffs in 1975 and 1976. In between, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was acquired (in the off-season in 1975), and the Lakers returned to prominence in 1977 with a 53–29 record, but a loss via the champion-Portland Trail Blazers in the Western Conference Finals.1977 NBA Western Conference Finals - Trail Blazers vs. Lakers https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/1977-nba-western-conference-finals-trail-blazers-vs-lakers.html 2026-06-21 Basketball-Reference.com However, the Lakers traded key pieces of their roster for Kareem and did surround him with much talent in his first three seasons in Los Angeles.Writer Staff 2026-06-16 This Day In Lakers History: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Acquired In Trade With Bucks https://lakersnation.com/this-day-lakers-history-kareem-abdul-jabbar-trade-with-bucks/ 2026-06-21 Lakers Nation The Lakers earned the top pick of the 1979 NBA draft (traded as compensation by the New Orleans Jazz after signing Gail Goodrich in 1976) and selected Magic Johnson from Michigan State. It was one of then-owner Jack Kent Cooke's final acts before selling the team to Jerry Buss during that summer. While Magic dazzled in his rookie season, Kareem would enjoy an MVP campaign in the Lakers' 60–22 regular season. The Lakers began the season being coached by Jack McKinney as owner Jerry Buss, who had recently acquired the team, wanted games to be entertaining, and hired the coach to install a running offense.Medina Mark Lakers owner Jerry Buss sets the standard for winning August 13, 2010 Los Angeles Times http://lakersblog.latimes.com/lakersblog/2010/08/jerry-buss-sets-the-standard-on-winning.html https://web.archive.org/web/20130903234422/http://lakersblog.latimes.com/lakersblog/2010/08/jerry-buss-sets-the-standard-on-winning.html September 3, 2013 liveOstler Scott Springer Steve Winnin' times : the magical journey of the Los Angeles Lakers 1988 104–107, 225 Collier Books 0-02-029591-X ostler1988 On November 8, 1979, the Lakers were 9–4 after 13 games, when McKinney suffered a near fatal head injury after falling while bicycling.Sandomir Richard Jack McKinney, N.B.A. Coach Trailed by a 'What if?' Dies at 83 September 26, 2018 The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/26/obituaries/jack-mckinney-dead.html September 27, 2018 Assistant coach Paul Westhead, who also worked under McKinney at St. Joseph's, was named the interim head coach.Elderkin Phil The no-name who's making his name with the Lakers April 8, 1980 The Christian Science Monitor https://www.csmonitor.com/1980/0408/040821.html October 6, 2018 However, the length of the recovery and lingering doubts about the complete return of McKinney's mental faculties, combined with the team's level of success under Westhead, ultimately meant that McKinney would never get the chance to return to the job. Westhead continued to use McKinney's offense, a creative and spontaneous offense that came to be known as Showtime,Markazi Arash Methods to the madness July 28, 2008 SI.com http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/writers/the_bonus/07/27/westhead/2.html https://archive.today/20130119153357/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/writers/the_bonus/07/27/westhead/2.html January 19, 2013 dead September 27, 2018Ostler, Springer 1988, pp. 110–11, 144–5. and the team finished the season with a record of 60–22. The Lakers advanced to that year's NBA Finals and McKinney was fired by Buss mid-series on May 13, 1980.Galluzo Steve Jack McKinney February 12, 2011 Los Angeles Times http://projects.latimes.com/lakers/coach/jack-mckinney/ September 27, 2018Livingston Bill Lakers coach McKinney dropped by owner Jerry Buss May 14, 1980 The Philadelphia Inquirer E-1 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/24084368/the_philadelphia_inquirer/ Newspapers.com September 27, 2018 After the Lakers won the series for their first of five NBA titles in nine seasons, Buss hired Westhead to permanently replace McKinney, who was hired by the Indiana Pacers as successor to Slick Leonard.Elliot Helene Jack McKinney's bike ride changed Lakers' history February 9, 2012 Los Angeles Times https://www.latimes.com/sports/la-xpm-2012-feb-09-la-sp-lakers-mckinney-20120210-story.html September 27, 2018 Behind Johnson's passing, Abdul-Jabbar's post play and Michael Cooper's perimeter shooting and defense, the trio formed the core of the Lakers' Showtime-era teams. The chemistry between the three was evident early on, as the Lakers eliminated the Phoenix Suns and defending champions Seattle SuperSonics in a pair of five-game playoff series to advance to the NBA Finals.1980 NBA Western Conference Finals - SuperSonics vs. Lakers https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/1980-nba-western-conference-finals-supersonics-vs-lakers.html 2026-06-21 Basketball-Reference.com Philadelphia 76ers 1979–80 Philadelphia 76ers season Julius Erving arrived before the 1976–77 season, and with him as the focal point of the offense, the 76ers soon transformed into a title contender. But after losing to the Portland Trail Blazers in the 1977 NBA Finals, the 76ers realized that a fancy and one-on-one style of play would not take them all the way. Thus they hired former player Billy Cunningham as head coach, and in 1978 the team traded for defensive stalwart Bobby Jones and drafted Maurice Cheeks, while letting go players such as George McGinnis and World B. Free. In the 1979–80 season the 76ers finished 59–23, two games behind the Boston Celtics in the Atlantic Division. In the playoffs, they eliminated the Washington Bullets in two games, and the Atlanta Hawks in five games. In the Eastern Conference finals, the 76ers faced NBA Rookie of the Year Award winner Larry Bird and the 61–win Celtics, and owing to the core's three consecutive playoff appearances, the more experienced 76ers were favored to win the series. Proving the prognosticators right, Philadelphia won in five games, preventing the first Celtics–Lakers final since 1969.1980 NBA Eastern Conference Finals - 76ers vs. Celtics https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/1980-nba-eastern-conference-finals-76ers-vs-celtics.html 2026-06-21 Basketball-Reference.com en The 76ers were the first of the four Philadelphia professional sports teams to play for their respective sports' championships in the 1980 season. The Flyers lost the Stanley Cup Final against the New York Islanders in overtime of Game 6, eight days after the 76ers fell to the Lakers in their Game 6. The Phillies beat the Kansas City Royals, themselves in six games, in the World Series. The Eagles lost Super Bowl XV to the Oakland Raiders in January 1981.Uniquely Successful; In this decade, all 4 pro teams reached finals Frank Fitzpatrick Philadelphia Inquirer May 26, 2010 C1 Among those cities with teams in the four major sports (not including metropolitan regions), only Philadelphia has reached championship rounds in all four in the new millennium.The five best years in Philadelphia sports history https://www.nbcsportsphiladelphia.com/news/the-five-best-years-in-philadelphia-sports-history/348153/ Casey Feeney NBC Sports Philadelphia March 14, 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20241106171339/https://www.nbcsportsphiladelphia.com/news/the-five-best-years-in-philadelphia-sports-history/348153/ November 6, 2024 Of note, this marked the first of the ten NBA Finals played in the 1980s, all of which featured either the Boston Celtics or the Los Angeles Lakers (three Finals featured both teams).2026-06-20 Lakers Vs Celtics In The NBA Finals During The 1980s https://www.statmuse.com/nba/ask/lakers-vs-celtics-in-the-nba-finals-during-the-1980s 2026-06-21 StatMuse en Road to the Finals 1980 NBA playoffs Los Angeles Lakers (Western Conference champion) Philadelphia 76ers (Eastern Conference champion)LAL1st seed in the West, 2nd best league recordRegular seasonPHI3rd seed in the East, 3rd best league recordEarned first-round byeFirst roundDefeated the (6) Washington Bullets, 2–0Defeated the (4) Phoenix Suns, 4–1Conference semifinalsDefeated the (2) Atlanta Hawks, 4–1Defeated the (3) Seattle SuperSonics, 4–1Conference finalsDefeated the (1) Boston Celtics, 4–1 Regular season series Both teams split the two meetings, each won by the home team: #fff January 25, 1980 Philadelphia 76ers 103 Los Angeles Lakers |score2=124 The Forum, Los Angeles February 10, 1980 Los Angeles Lakers 104 Philadelphia 76ers |score2=105 The Spectrum, Philadelphia Series summary Game Date Home team Result Road team Game 1 May 4 Los Angeles Lakers 109–102 (1–0) Philadelphia 76ers Game 2 May 7 Los Angeles Lakers 104–107 (1–1) Philadelphia 76ers Game 3 May 10 Philadelphia 76ers 101–111 (1–2) Los Angeles Lakers Game 4 May 11 Philadelphia 76ers 105–102 (2–2) Los Angeles Lakers Game 5 May 14 Los Angeles Lakers 108–103 (3–2) Philadelphia 76ers Game 6 May 16 Philadelphia 76ers 107–123 (2–4) Los Angeles Lakers Game summaries Game 1 #eee May 4 12:30 p.m. PDT The Forum, Inglewood, California CBS Philadelphia 76ers 102 Los Angeles Lakers |score2=109 28–26 25–27 17–31 32–25 Julius Erving 20 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 33 Bobby Jones 10 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 14 Lionel Hollins 8 Magic Johnson 10 17,505 No. 12 Earl Strom No. 14 Jack Madden Los Angeles leads the series, 1–0 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, playing on a mission and finally with an effective supporting cast around him, scored 33 points, pulled down 14 rebounds, and had six blocks and five assists on the way to a 109–102 win in the Forum. Norm Nixon had 23 points and Jamaal Wilkes finished with 20 while the Lakers did an excellent job double-teaming Julius Erving. Rookie Magic Johnson contributed 16 points, 10 assists and 9 rebounds.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4rQH1LjmVVE 1980 NBA FINALS GAME 1 PHI @ LAL 2024-03-26 Stanley Hudson 2026-06-21 YouTube Game 2 #eee May 7 8:30 p.m. PDT The Forum, Inglewood, California CBS Philadelphia 76ers |score1=107 Los Angeles Lakers 104 31–21 28–20 30–30 18–33 Darryl Dawkins 25 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 38 Julius Erving 10 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 14 Maurice Cheeks 10 Magic Johnson 11 17,505 No. 7 Joe Gushue No. 11 Jake O'Donnell Series tied, 1–1 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar continued to dominate, with 38 points in Game 2. But, this time, he got very little help as the Laker break never got going. Julius Erving scored 12 points in the first quarter on his way to 23, beginning the game with a dunk over Abdul-Jabbar. Maurice Cheeks matched Erving's total of 23 points, while Bobby Jones added 13 off the bench. The key was Darryl Dawkins, who had one of his best games of the season by scoring 25 points, many of them on outside shots trying to draw Abdul-Jabbar away from the basket. The Sixers led by as much as 20 in the fourth period, but the Lakers roared back, trimming the lead to 105–104 late in the game. Then, Jones popped in a jumper with seven seconds left, and that was enough for a 107–104 Philly win that tied the series at a game apiece.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b9TB0V2Ybfs 1980 NBA FINALS GAME 2 PHI @ LAL 2024-03-27 Stanley Hudson 2026-06-21 YouTube Game 3 #eee May 10 3:30 p.m. EDT The Spectrum, Philadelphia CBS Los Angeles Lakers |score1=111 Philadelphia 76ers 101 31–18 27–26 26–21 27–36 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 33 Julius Erving 24 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 14 Caldwell Jones 11 Norm Nixon 7 Lionel Hollins 9 18,726 No. 10 Darell Garretson No. 4 Ed T. Rush Los Angeles leads the series, 2–1 With a split in L.A., the Sixers were hoping to take command of the series with the next two games in Philadelphia. The Lakers, however, ended those hopes by taking a 15-point lead in the first quarter. Julius Erving led a short comeback in the second, but a 9–0 run by the Lakers extended their lead to 14 at the half. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar once again had a big game with 33 points, 14 rebounds, four blocks and three assists as the Lakers cruised to a 111–101 win. Julius Erving scored the only three-pointer of the series (and first in NBA Finals history) in this game.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OCgje4iOmfE 1980 NBA FINALS GAME 3 LAL @ PHI 2024-04-13 Stanley Hudson 2026-06-21 YouTube Game 4 #eee May 11 1 p.m. EDT The Spectrum, Philadelphia CBS Los Angeles Lakers 102 Philadelphia 76ers |score2=105 21–28 30–21 25–32 26–24 Magic Johnson 28 Darryl Dawkins 26 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 11 Caldwell Jones 10 Magic Johnson 9 Lionel Hollins 13 18,726 No. 11 Jake O'Donnell No. 22 Paul Mihalak Series tied, 2–2 This game was a nip-and-tuck affair that was highlighted by Julius Erving's signature "Baseline Move" in the fourth quarter. The Sixers went on to even the series with a 105–102 win. Darryl Dawkins led the Sixers with 26 points and Erving added 23.1980 NBA Finals Game 4: Lakers vs 76ers, May 11, 1980 https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198005110PHI.html 2026-06-21 Basketball-Reference.com Game 5 #eee May 14 8:30 p.m. PDT The Forum, Inglewood, California CBS Philadelphia 76ers 103 Los Angeles Lakers |score2=108 22–25 31–25 20–31 30–27 Julius Erving 36 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 40 Caldwell Jones 10 Abdul-Jabbar, Johnson 15 each Lionel Hollins 10 Magic Johnson 10 17,505 No. 10 Darell Garretson No. 12 Earl Strom Los Angeles leads the series, 3–2 Back at the Forum, the Lakers held a two-point lead late in the third quarter when Kareem Abdul-Jabbar stepped on Lionel Hollins' foot as he was running upcourt after a Laker basket and twisted his ankle. At that point, Kareem had scored 26 points and was carrying the Lakers, but now he was in the locker room. Magic Johnson then asserted himself by scoring six points and added an assist as Los Angeles moved up by eight at the end of the third. Abdul-Jabbar then limped back onto the floor. His appearance aroused the Forum regulars and, despite the bad ankle, scored 11 points and had two key blocked shots down the stretch. The Sixers, however, had Julius Erving who scored 11 of the Sixers last 13 points to complete an 8-point comeback, and tie the game at 103–103 with only 43 seconds remaining. On the Lakers possession, Darryl Dawkins was trying to front Abdul-Jabbar but to no avail as Magic threw a pass overhead so only Erving stood between Kareem and the basket. Abdul-Jabbar, bad ankle and all, dunked emphatically over Erving and drew the foul with 33 seconds left. He converted the 3-point play to take a 106–103 lead. After a timeout, the Sixers put the ball in the hands of Erving, who tried a spectacular, scooping finger-roll, but missed. Magic got the rebound to seemingly seal the win, but the Lakers tried to force the fast-break and ended up turning the ball over, out-of-bounds. However, the Sixers turned the ball right back over by stepping out of bounds on a desperation 3-point attempt. Norm Nixon would finally seal the game at the foul line by making both of his foul shots. The victory gave the Lakers the crucial 3–2 series lead heading back to Philadelphia.Philadelphia 76ers vs Los Angeles Lakers May 7, 1980 Box Scores https://www.nba.com/game/phl-vs-lal-0047900044 2026-06-21 NBA.com Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's 14 point 4th quarter on a bad ankle capped an overall 40-point performance. After Game 5 Abdul-Jabbar was averaging 33.4 points per game as compared to eventual MVP Magic Johnson's 17.4.1980 Finals Game 5: Kareem's heroics lift Lakers https://www.nba.com/watch/video/game-5-1980-finals-kareems-heroics-lift-lakers 2026-06-21 NBA.com Game 6 #eee May 16 9 p.m. EDT The Spectrum, Philadelphia CBS Los Angeles Lakers |score1=123 Philadelphia 76ers 107 32–29 28–31 33–23 30–24 Magic Johnson 42 Julius Erving 27 Magic Johnson 15 Bobby Jones 9 Norm Nixon 9 Maurice Cheeks 8 18,726 No. 7 Joe Gushue No. 14 Jack Madden Los Angeles wins the series, 4–2 2T2z658blzE Full game broadcast by CBS The Lakers' team doctors declared Abdul-Jabbar and his bad ankle unfit for Game 6 (he wasn't even allowed to make the trip to Philadelphia with the team because of the swelling), so Laker coach Paul Westhead made a bold move by asking Magic Johnson to jump center. Johnson had no problem and was up to the challenge, although he would lose the famous opening tip to Caldwell Jones. Early on, the Sixers seemed unsure how to counter the matchup problem. The Lakers went up 7–0, then 11–4. Finally, the Sixers used their newfound size advantage in the second quarter to take a 52–44 lead. The Lakers countered by collapsing more in the paint and rallied for a 60–60 tie at the half. Los Angeles opened the third period with a 14–0 run, keyed by Jamaal Wilkes, who had 16 points in the quarter. In the fourth with a little over five minutes left, the Sixers rallied to cut the Laker lead to 103–101. After a timeout, the Lakers went on one last run, with Magic scoring nine points down the stretch on the way to a final 123–107 margin. Wilkes had a career-high 37 points and added 10 rebounds.Writer Staff 2016-11-10 Throwback Thursday: Jamaal Wilkes, The Forgotten Hero Of The 1980 NBA Finals https://lakersnation.com/throwback-thursday-jamaal-wilkes-the-forgotten-hero-of-the-1980-nba-finals/ 2026-06-21 Lakers Nation Jim Chones effectively shut down the middle in place of Abdul-Jabbar and finished with 11 points and 10 rebounds, and held Darryl Dawkins to 14 points and a scant four rebounds. Michael Cooper, in a rare start, scored 16 points, and Mark Landsberger contributed 10 boards. Magic Johnson scored 42 points, including all 14 of his free-throw attempts. He added 15 rebounds, seven assists, three steals and a block and was elected MVP of the series. "It was amazing, just amazing", said Erving, who led Philly with 27 points. https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=feST4K8J0scC&dat=19800517&printsec=frontpage&hl=en Magic ! Lakers win title 17 May 1980 St Petersburg Times (page 22) 28 January 2015 Player statistics Los Angeles Lakers Los Angeles Lakers |- | align="left" | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar || 5 || 5 || 40.6 || .549 || || .808 || 13.6 || 3.2 || 0.6 || 4.6 || 33.4 |-! style="background:#FDE910;" | align="left" | Magic Johnson || 6 || 6 || 42.7 || .573 || .000 || .875 || 11.2 || 8.7 || 2.7 || 0.3 || 21.5 |- | align="left" | Jamaal Wilkes || 6 || 6 || 42.0 || .467 || || .824 || 7.7 || 3.2 || 0.8 || 0.2 || 21.3 |- | align="left" | Norm Nixon || 6 || 6 || 42.3 || .435 || .000 || .760 || 3.7 || 7.0 || 2.2 || 0.2 || 15.5 |- | align="left" | Michael Cooper || 6 || 1 || 30.8 || .357 || || .813 || 4.2 || 3.3 || 1.2 || 0.7 || 8.8 |- | align="left" | Jim Chones || 6 || 6 || 30.8 || .528 || || .750 || 7.0 || 1.5 || 0.8 || 0.7 || 8.3 |- | align="left" | Mark Landsberger || 6 || 0 || 14.3 || .387 || .000 || .500 || 6.2 || 0.2 || 0.5 || 0.3 || 4.2 |- | align="left" | Brad Holland || 3 || 0 || 4.3 || .667 || || 1.000 || 0.3 || 1.0 || 1.0 || 0.0 || 3.3 |- | align="left" | Spencer Haywood || 2 || 0 || 2.5|| 1.000 || || || 0.0 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 1.0 |- | align="left" | Marty Byrnes || 1 || 0 || 1.0 || || || || 0.0 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 0.0 Philadelphia 76ers Philadelphia 76ers |- | align="left" | Julius Erving || 6 || 6 || 40.7 || .522 || .250 || .708 || 7.0 || 5.0 || 2.0 || 2.3 || 25.5 |- | align="left" | Darryl Dawkins || 6 || 6 || 33.8 || .531 || .000 || .654 || 6.0 || 2.2 || 1.2 || 2.3 || 20.2 |- | align="left" | Maurice Cheeks || 6 || 6 || 36.8 || .429 || .000 || .762 || 3.2 || 6.7 || 2.5 || 0.2 || 14.7 |- | align="left" | Lionel Hollins || 6 || 6 || 36.0 || .381 || .000 || .929 || 3.7 || 8.8 || 2.0 || 0.3 || 12.8 |- | align="left" | Bobby Jones Bobby Jones (basketball, born 1951) || 6 || 0 || 26.8 || .500 || || .909 || 5.7 || 2.0 || 1.2 || 1.8 || 11.0 |- | align="left" | Caldwell Jones || 6 || 6 || 33.7 || .476 || || .700 || 8.3 || 1.8 || 0.2 || 2.7 || 9.0 |- | align="left" | Steve Mix || 6 || 0 || 15.2 || .483 || || 1.000 || 1.8 || 1.4 || 0.2 || 0.4 || 7.2 |- | align="left" | Henry Bibby || 6 || 0 || 19.0 || .333 || .000 || .750 || 1.8 || 3.2 || 0.2 || 0.0 || 5.0 |- | align="left" | Clint Richardson || 1 || 0 || 1.0 || .000 || .000 || || 0.0 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 0.0 |- | align="left" | Jim Spanarkel || 1 || 0 || 1.0 || || || || 0.0 || 1.0 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 0.0 |- | align="left" | Bernard Toone || 1 || 0 || 1.0 || || || || 0.0 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 0.0 Television coverage The series-deciding Game 6 became the most notorious example of CBS's practice of showing even the most important NBA games on "tape delay" broadcasts. Because May 16, 1980, was a Friday, the network did not want to preempt its two highest-rated shows, The Dukes of Hazzard and Dallas, even though both shows were already in reruns: the 1979–80 TV season had ended early, back in March (Dukes and Dallas both aired their season finale March 21), in anticipation of a strike that summer by the Screen Actors Guild.@darrenrovell Darren Rovell May 16, 2026 May 16, 1980: CBS gives affiliates the choice to air Game 6 of the NBA Finals live. A few markets — notably Philly, LA, Portland & Seattle — do so. The rest air “The Incredible Hulk,” “Dukes of Hazzard” and “Dallas” instead. Viewers watch Magic & Lakers win title on tape delay. https://x.com/darrenrovell/status/996907749400293376?lang=en (X, formerly known as Twitter) So Game 6 was shown at 11:30pm Eastern (10:30pm Central) in all but eight US cities: Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Portland, Las Vegas, Seattle, San Francisco, Sacramento and Reno, who carried it live; all but Philadelphia are located in the Pacific Time Zone, thus could show the game live at 6 p.m. local time, then carry CBS's prime time lineup, delayed by a few minutes for the ending of the game. In Atlanta, the CBS affiliate didn't show Game 6 at all, bumping it to independent station WATL-TV, who at least carried the contest live.TV Week Update Atlanta Constitution, 16 May 1980, p. 12B] (This is often cited as an example of TV's lack of interest in the NBA in the "pre-Magic and Bird" era.)Adgate Brad There Was Once A Time When TV Networks Tape Delayed The NBA Finals https://www.forbes.com/sites/bradadgate/2024/07/15/there-was-once-a-time-when-tv-networks-tape-delayed-the-nba-finals/ 2026-06-21 Forbes Had Game 7 been played, it would have tipped off at noon Pacific (3 p.m. Eastern). The 1980 Finals would mark the last play-by-play assignment for Brent Musburger, who was joined on color commentary by Utah Jazz play-by-play announcer Hot Rod Hundley and Boston Celtics legend Bill Russell. Musburger would remain involved with CBS' NBA coverage until 1989, but his duties for later NBA Finals were as a studio host, though he continued to call play-by-play on various occasions. Musburger later called NBA Finals games from 1996 to 2004 for ESPN Radio.Brent Musburger's Career Timeline https://espnpressroom.com/us/brent-musburgers-career-timeline/ 2026-06-21 ESPN Press Room U.S. en-US Team rosters Los Angeles Lakers Los Angeles Lakers 1979–80 33 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar C 7 2 225 1947-04-16 UCLA 7 Marty Byrnes SF 6 7 215 1956-04-30 Syracuse 9 Jim Chones C 6 11 220 1949-11-30 Marquette 21 Michael Cooper SG 6 5 170 1956-04-15 New Mexico 31 Spencer Haywood PF 6 8 225 1949-04-22 Detroit Mercy 14 Brad Holland SG 6 3 180 1956-12-06 UCLA 32 Magic Johnson SG 6 9 215 1959-08-14 Michigan State 54 Mark Landsberger C 6 8 215 1955-05-21 Arizona State 15 Butch Lee PG 6 0 185 1956-12-05 Marquette 10 Norm Nixon PG 6 2 170 1955-10-11 Duquesne 52 Jamaal Wilkes SF 6 6 190 1953-05-02 UCLA Jack McKinney (first 13 games) Paul Westhead Pat Riley Philadelphia 76ers Philadelphia 76ers 1979–80 14 Henry Bibby G 6 1 185 UCLA 1949–11–24 10 Maurice Cheeks G 6 1 180 West Texas A&M 1956–09–08 20 Doug Collins basketball G 6 6 180 Illinois State 1951-07-28 53 Darryl Dawkins C 6 11 251 Maynard Evans HS (FL) 1957-01-11 6 Julius Erving F 6 7 210 UMass 1950-02-22 9 Lionel Hollins G 6 3 185 Arizona State 1953–10–19 24 Bobby Jones basketball, born 1951 F 6 9 210 North Carolina 1951–12–18 11 Caldwell Jones C 6 11 217 Albany State 1950–08–04 4 Clint Richardson G 6 3 195 Seattle 1956–08–07 50 Steve Mix F 6 7 215 Toledo 1947–12–30 34 Jim Spanarkel G 6 5 190 Duke 1957-06-28 3 Bernard Toone F 6 9 210 Marquette 1956-07-14 Billy Cunningham Chuck Daly Jack McMahon In popular culture The 1980 NBA Finals was dramatized in the Season 1 of HBO's Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty, which was based on the book Showtime: Magic, Kareem, Riley, and the Los Angeles Lakers Dynasty of the 1980s by Jeff Pearlman.Leger Justin 2023-09-18 How 'Winning Time' 1984 NBA Finals episode compares to reality https://www.nbcsportsboston.com/nba/boston-celtics/how-winning-time-1984-nba-finals-episode-compares-to-reality/553663/ 2025-12-20 NBC Sports Boston en-US References External links NBA History Category:NBA Finals Finals NBA Finals NBA Finals Category:1980s in Los Angeles County, California NBA Finals Category:1980s in Philadelphia Category:Basketball competitions in Philadelphia Category:Basketball competitions in Inglewood, California NBA Finals NBA Finals