# 1980–81 Milwaukee Bucks season

The 1980–81 NBA season was the Bucks 13th season in the NBA. 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

| Round | Pick | Player | Nationality | School/Club Team |
| 3 | 63 | Al Beal | United States | Oklahoma |
| 4 | 86 | Jeff Wolf | United States | North Carolina |
| 5 | 109 | Ken Jones | United States | Virginia Commonwealth |
| 6 | 132 | Alex Gilbert | United States | Indiana State |
| 7 | 155 | Ron White | United States | Furman |
| 8 | 174 | Keith Valentine | United States | Virginia Union |
| 9 | 194 | Del Yarbrough | United States | Illinois State |
| 10 | 210 | Melvin Crayton | United States | Alabama State |

## Regular season
### Season standings

| Central Divisionvte | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div |
| y-Milwaukee Bucks | 60 | 22 | .732 | – | 34–7 | 26–15 | 23–7 |
| x-Chicago Bulls | 45 | 37 | .549 | 15.0 | 26–15 | 19–22 | 20–9 |
| x-Indiana Pacers | 44 | 38 | .537 | 16.0 | 27–14 | 17–24 | 17–12 |
| Atlanta Hawks | 31 | 51 | .378 | 29.0 | 20–21 | 11–30 | 9–21 |
| Cleveland Cavaliers | 28 | 54 | .341 | 32.0 | 20–21 | 8–33 | 9–21 |
| Detroit Pistons | 21 | 61 | .256 | 39.0 | 14–27 | 7–34 | 9–21 |
| # | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte |
| # | Team | W | L | PCT | GB |
| 1 | z-Boston Celtics | 62 | 20 | .756 | – |
| 2 | y-Milwaukee Bucks | 60 | 22 | .732 | 2 |
| 3 | x-Philadelphia 76ers | 62 | 20 | .756 | – |
| 4 | x-New York Knicks | 50 | 32 | .610 | 12 |
| 5 | x-Chicago Bulls | 45 | 37 | .549 | 17 |
| 6 | x-Indiana Pacers | 44 | 38 | .537 | 18 |
| 7 | Washington Bullets | 39 | 43 | .476 | 23 |
| 8 | Atlanta Hawks | 31 | 51 | .378 | 31 |
| 9 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 28 | 54 | .341 | 34 |
| 10 | New Jersey Nets | 24 | 58 | .293 | 38 |
| 11 | Detroit Pistons | 21 | 61 | .256 | 41 |
Notes
* z, y – division champions
* x – clinched playoff spot

### Record vs. opponents

1980-81 NBA Records :
| Team | ATL | BOS | CHI | CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GSW | HOU | IND | KCK | LAL | MIL | NJN | NYK | PHI | PHO | POR | SAS | SDC | SEA | UTA | WAS |
| Atlanta | — | 2–4 | 2–4 | 1–5 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 3–2 | 2–4 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–4 |
| Boston | 4–2 | — | 5–1 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 6–0 | 5–1 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 5–1 |
| Chicago | 4–2 | 1–5 | — | 5–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 3–2 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 5–1 |
| Cleveland | 5–1 | 1–4 | 1–5 | — | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–6 | 3–3 | 0–5 | 0–6 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 4–2 |
| Dallas | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | — | 3–3 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 0–6 | 0–2 | 0–6 | 0–5 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–4 | 1–4 | 1–5 | 2–3 | 1–4 | 1–5 | 0–2 |
| Denver | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 | — | 2–0 | 3–2 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–4 | 2–3 | 2–4 | 3–2 | 3–2 | 2–4 | 0–2 |
| Detroit | 2–4 | 1–4 | 1–5 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 0–2 | — | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 3–3 | 1–5 | 1–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–5 |
| Golden State | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 2–3 | 2–0 | — | 3–2 | 1–1 | 5–0 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 1–4 | 2–4 | 3–3 | 4–1 | 1–1 |
| Houston | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 6–0 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 2–3 | — | 1–1 | 2–4 | 2–3 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–4 | 3–2 | 3–3 | 1–4 | 4–1 | 4–2 | 0–2 |
| Indiana | 5–1 | 3–3 | 2–3 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | — | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 5–1 | 3–2 | 0–6 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 4–2 |
| Kansas City | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 6–0 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 0–5 | 4–2 | 0–2 | — | 0–5 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–2 | 3–2 | 2–4 | 3–2 | 2–3 | 5–1 | 1–1 |
| Los Angeles | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 5–0 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 5–0 | — | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 3–3 | 2–3 | 3–3 | 6–0 | 3–2 | 1–1 |
| Milwaukee | 5–1 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 6–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | — | 5–1 | 3–3 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–1 |
| New Jersey | 2–3 | 0–6 | 2–3 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–5 | — | 0–6 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 |
| New York | 4–2 | 1–5 | 3–3 | 5–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 6–0 | — | 3–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–2 |
| Philadelphia | 5–1 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 6–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 6–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 5–1 | 3–3 | — | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–2 |
| Phoenix | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | — | 3–3 | 3–2 | 6–0 | 5–1 | 5–0 | 1–1 |
| Portland | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 2–3 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 | — | 2–3 | 4–2 | 4–2 | 2–3 | 2–0 |
| San Antonio | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 4–1 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 3–2 | — | 4–1 | 3–2 | 5–1 | 1–1 |
| San Diego | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–6 | 2–4 | 1–4 | — | 5–1 | 3–2 | 0–2 |
| Seattle | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–1 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 1–4 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 0–6 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 2–4 | 2–3 | 1–5 | — | 4–1 | 1–1 |
| Utah | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 1–4 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 1–5 | 2–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–5 | 3–2 | 1–5 | 2–3 | 1–4 | — | 0–2 |
| Washington | 4–1 | 1–5 | 1–5 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–4 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | — |

### Game log

1980–81 game log Total: 60–22 (home: 34–7; road: 26–15) :
October: 9–2 (home: 4–1; road: 5–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
1October 10, 1980@ Philadelphia
W 106–103
Junior Bridgeman (21)
The Spectrum
1–0
2October 11, 1980@ New York
L 109–114
Marques Johnson (19)
Madison Square Garden
1-1
3October 16, 1980Boston
L 103–110
Marques Johnson (27)
MECCA Arena
1–2
4October 18, 1980@ Cleveland
W 107–105
Brian Winters (25)
Coliseum at Richfield
2-2
5October 19, 1980New Jersey
W 105–93
Brian Winters (22)
MECCA Arena
3–2
6October 21, 1980Cleveland
W 115–95
Marques Johnson (28)
MECCA Arena
4–2
7October 22, 1980@ Indiana
W 119–105
Market Square Arena
5–2
8October 25, 1980Chicago
W 109–93
Marques Johnson (21)
MECCA Arena
6–2
8October 26, 1980Washington
W 111–88
Marques Johnson (21)
Marques Johnson, Sidney Moncrief (9)
Quinn Buckner, Brian Winters (7)
MECCA Arena
7–2
9October 28, 1980@ Chicago
W 106–99
Chicago Stadium
8–2
10October 29, 1980@ New Jersey
W 132–116
Junior Bridgeman (26)
Rutgers Athletic Center
9–2 :
November: 9–3 (home: 2–3; road: 7–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
11November 1, 1980@ Atlanta
W 99–93
Omni Coliseum
10–2
12November 2, 1980Indiana
W 135–121
Marques Johnson (40)
MECCA Arena
11–2
13November 4, 1980Detroit
L 96–98
MECCA Arena
11–3
14November 7, 1980@ Boston
w 102–101
Boston Garden
12–3
15November 9, 1980Philadelphia
L 121–136
MECCA Arena
12–4
16November 11, 1980@ Cleveland
W 100–96
Marques Johnson (19)
Coliseum at Richfield
13–4
17November 12, 1980@ Detroit
W 122–98
Junior Bridgeman (27)
Pontiac Silverdome
14–4
18November 14, 1980New York
W 125–106
MECCA Arena
15–4
19November 16, 1980Chicago
L 108–114
MECCA Arena
15–5
20November 18, 1980@ Utah
W 126–93
Sidney Moncrief (21)
Salt Palace
16–5
21November 20, 1980@ Portland
W 97–93
Mickey Johnson (22)
Memorial Coliseum
17–5
22November 23, 1980@ Los Angeles
W 110–94
Marques Johnson (24)
The Forum
18–5
23November 28, 1980Atlanta
W 114–108 OT
MECCA Arena
19–5
24November 29, 1980@ Washington
L 89–98
Capital Centre
19–6
25November 30, 1980Boston
W 107–105
MECCA Arena
20–6 :
December: 3–1 (home: 3–0; road: 0–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
27December 2, 1980Utah
W 119–108
MECCA Arena
21–6
28December 5, 1980Indiana
W 102–100
MECCA Arena
22–6
29December 6, 1980@ New York
L 94–104
Madison Square Garden
22–7
30December 9, 1980@ Boston
L 89–112
Boston Garden
22–8
31December 11, 1980New York
W 119–107
MECCA Arena
23–8
32December 13, 1980@ Atlanta
L 119–122
Omni Coliseum
23–9
33December 14, 1980San Antonio
W 115–98
MECCA Arena
24–9
34December 17, 1980@ New Jersey
L 112–115
Rutgers Athletic Center
24–10
35December 18, 1980Detroit
W 121–104
MECCA Arena
25–10
37December 21, 1980Houston
W 123–91
MECCA Arena
26–11
38December 27, 1980Dallas
W 112–96
MECCA Arena
27–11 :
January: 3–0 (home: 3–0; road: 0–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
40January 4, 1980San Diego
W 128–95
MECCA Arena
29–11
41January 6, 1980New Jersey
W 102–86
MECCA Arena
30–11
42January 8, 1980Atlanta
W 98–95
MECCA Arena
31–11 :
February: 1–0 (home: 0–0; road: 1–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
62February 17, 1981@ Dallas
W 114–106
Reunion Arena
45–17 :
March: 0–0 (home: 0–0; road: 0–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord :
1980–81 schedule :

## Playoffs

1981 playoff game log :
Conference semifinals: 3–4 (home: 2–1; road: 1–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceSeries
1
April 5
@ Philadelphia
L 122–125
Junior Bridgeman (32)
Marques Johnson (14)
Quinn Buckner (8)
Spectrum 9,727
0–1
2
April 7
@ Philadelphia
W 109–99
Marques Johnson (22)
Bob Lanier (10)
Quinn Buckner (6)
Spectrum 15,259
1–1
3
April 10
Philadelphia
L 103–108
Marques Johnson (29)
Marques Johnson (9)
Marques Johnson (8)
MECCA Arena 11,052
1–2
4
April 12
Philadelphia
W 109–98
Marques Johnson (35)
Sidney Moncrief (10)
Marques Johnson (7)
MECCA Arena 11,052
2–2
5
April 15
@ Philadelphia
L 99–116
Mickey Johnson, Moncrief (20)
Mickey Johnson (13)
Marques Johnson (7)
Spectrum 15,384
2–3
6
April 17
Philadelphia
W 109–86
Mickey Johnson (22)
Mickey Johnson (12)
Lanier, Buckner (6)
MECCA Arena 11,052
3–3
7
April 19
@ Philadelphia
L 98–99
Marques Johnson (36)
Bob Lanier (10)
four players tied (4)
Spectrum 6,704
3–4 :
1981 schedule :

## Player statistics
### Season

Season :
| Player | GP | MPG | FG% | 3FG% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
| Marques Johnson | 76 | 33.4 | 55.2 | 0.0 | 70.6 | 6.8 | 4.6 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 20.3 |
| Junior Bridgeman | 77 | 28.8 | 48.7 | 14.3 | 88.4 | 3.8 | 3.0 | 1.1 | 0.4 | 16.8 |
| Bob Lanier | 67 | 26.2 | 52.5 | 100.0 | 75.1 | 6.2 | 2.7 | 1.1 | 1.2 | 14.3 |
| Sidney Moncrief | 80 | 30.2 | 54.1 | 22.2 | 80.4 | 5.1 | 3.3 | 1.1 | 0.5 | 14.0 |
| Quinn Buckner | 82 | 29.1 | 49.3 | 16.7 | 73.4 | 3.6 | 4.7 | 2.4 | 0.0 | 13.3 |
| Mickey Johnson | 82 | 25.8 | 44.8 | 16.7 | 78.9 | 6.6 | 3.5 | 1.1 | 0.9 | 12.5 |
| Brian Winters | 69 | 25.7 | 47.5 | 35.3 | 86.9 | 2.0 | 3.3 | 1.0 | 0.1 | 11.6 |
| Pat Cummings | 74 | 14.6 | 53.9 | 0.0 | 70.7 | 3.9 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 8.0 |
| Mike Evans | 71 | 12.8 | 46.0 | 14.3 | 78.1 | 1.2 | 2.4 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 4.5 |
| Harvey Catchings | 77 | 21.2 | 44.7 | 0.0 | 64.1 | 6.1 | 1.3 | 0.4 | 2.4 | 4.2 |
| Len Elmore | 72 | 12.8 | 35.8 | 0.0 | 72.0 | 2.9 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 0.7 | 2.9 |
| Kim Hughes | 45 | 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 | 1.0 | 24.7 |
| Bob Lanier | 7 | 7 | 33.7 | 58.8 | 0.0 | 71.9 | 7.4 | 4.0 | 1.7 | 1.1 | 17.6 |
| Sidney Moncrief | 7 | 7 | 39.6 | 43.5 | 0.0 | 74.5 | 6.7 | 2.9 | 1.7 | 0.4 | 14.0 |
| Junior Bridgeman | 7 | 0 | 26.1 | 46.2 | 100.0 | 81.3 | 2.1 | 3.3 | 0.9 | 0.0 | 14.0 |
| Mickey Johnson | 7 | 7 | 24.3 | 40.0 | 0.0 | 85.7 | 6.7 | 1.9 | 1.3 | 0.9 | 11.7 |
| Brian Winters | 7 | 0 | 25.9 | 45.9 | 33.3 | 75.0 | 3.3 | 3.1 | 1.4 | 0.1 | 10.0 |
| Quinn Buckner | 7 | 7 | 26.1 | 43.3 | 0.0 | 68.8 | 2.9 | 5.0 | 1.6 | 0.0 | 9.0 |
| Mike Evans | 4 | 0 | 9.5 | 52.9 | 0.0 | 87.5 | 0.3 | 1.5 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 6.3 |
| Pat Cummings | 5 | 0 | 5.0 | 27.3 | 0.0 | 75.0 | 1.2 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 1.8 |
| Harvey Catchings | 7 | 0 | 15.6 | 18.8 | 0.0 | 100.0 | 3.7 | 1.1 | 0.0 | 1.6 | 1.1 |
| Len Elmore | 4 | 0 | 3.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |

## Awards, records and milestones
### Awards
#### Season

* Marques Johnson, All-NBA Second Team
* Quinn Buckner, NBA All-Defensive Second Team

### Milestones
## Transactions
### Trades

| September 11, 1980 | To Milwaukee Bucks---- Mickey Johnson | To Indiana Pacers---- George L. Johnson |

### Free agents

| Player | Signed | Former team |
| Kim Hughes | October 31, 1980 | Denver Nuggets |
Subtractions :
| Player | Date signed | New team |
| Dave Meyers | April 30, 1980 | Retired |
| Richard Washington | Expansion Draft May 28, 1980 | Dallas Mavericks |
| Lloyd Walton | October 6, 1980 | Kansas City Kings |
| Scott Lloyd | October 20, 1980 | Dallas Mavericks |