# 1981–82 Milwaukee Bucks season

The 1981–82 Milwaukee Bucks season was the 14th season for the Bucks.

## Draft picks

| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | School/Club Team |
| 1 | 21 | Alton Lister | PF/C | United States | Arizona State |
| 3 | 67 | Mark Smith | | United States | Illinois |
| 4 | 90 | Kris Anderson | | United States | Florida State |
| 5 | 113 | Kelvin Troy | | United States | Rutgers |
| 6 | 136 | Jo Jo Hunter | | United States | Colorado |
| 7 | 159 | Lewis Latimore | | United States | Virginia |
| 8 | 181 | Mike Brkovich | | Canada | Michigan State |
| 9 | 201 | Chip Rucker | | United States | Northeastern |
| 10 | 221 | Artie Green | | United States | Marquette |

## Regular season
### Season Standings

| Central Divisionvte | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div |
| y-Milwaukee Bucks | 55 | 27 | .671 | – | 31–10 | 24–17 | 24–6 |
| x-Atlanta Hawks | 42 | 40 | .512 | 13.0 | 24–17 | 18–23 | 15–14 |
| Detroit Pistons | 39 | 43 | .476 | 16.0 | 23–18 | 16–25 | 19–11 |
| Indiana Pacers | 35 | 47 | .427 | 20.0 | 25–16 | 10–31 | 14–16 |
| Chicago Bulls | 34 | 48 | .415 | 21.0 | 22–19 | 12–29 | 12–17 |
| Cleveland Cavaliers | 15 | 67 | .183 | 40.0 | 9–32 | 6–35 | 5–25 |
| # | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte |
| # | Team | W | L | PCT | GB |
| 1 | z-Boston Celtics | 63 | 19 | .768 | – |
| 2 | y-Milwaukee Bucks | 55 | 27 | .671 | 8 |
| 3 | x-Philadelphia 76ers | 58 | 24 | .707 | 5 |
| 4 | x-New Jersey Nets | 44 | 38 | .537 | 19 |
| 5 | x-Washington Bullets | 43 | 39 | .524 | 20 |
| 6 | x-Atlanta Hawks | 42 | 40 | .512 | 21 |
| 7 | Detroit Pistons | 39 | 43 | .476 | 24 |
| 8 | Indiana Pacers | 35 | 47 | .427 | 28 |
| 9 | Chicago Bulls | 34 | 48 | .415 | 29 |
| 10 | New York Knicks | 33 | 49 | .402 | 30 |
| 11 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 15 | 67 | .183 | 48 |
    z = clinched division title
    y = clinched division title
    x = clinched playoff spot

### Record vs. opponents

1981-82 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 | — | 1–5 | 2–3 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 3–2 | 5–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–4 |
| Boston | 5–1 | — | 4–2 | 5–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 6–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 5–1 | 5–1 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 6–0 |
| Chicago | 3–2 | 2–4 | — | 5–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–6 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–5 | 2–4 | 3–2 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–4 |
| Cleveland | 2–4 | 0–5 | 1–5 | — | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–6 | 0–6 | 0–6 | 0–5 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–5 |
| Dallas | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | — | 1–5 | 1–1 | 0–5 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 2–3 | 1–5 | 2–3 | 1–4 | 3–3 | 1–1 |
| Denver | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 5–1 | — | 1–1 | 3–2 | 5–1 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 2–3 | 2–4 | 5–0 | 2–3 | 3–3 | 2–0 |
| Detroit | 4–2 | 0–6 | 6–0 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | — | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 3–3 | 2–3 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–4 |
| Golden State | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 5–0 | 2–3 | 0–2 | — | 1–4 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 2–4 | 3–2 | 5–1 | 1–5 | 3–2 | 1–1 |
| Houston | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 4–1 | — | 2–0 | 3–3 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 4–1 | 3–3 | 4–1 | 2–3 | 6–0 | 2–0 |
| Indiana | 2–4 | 1–5 | 3–3 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | — | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–6 | 4–2 | 3–2 | 0–6 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–5 |
| Kansas City | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 3–3 | 1–1 | — | 1–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 0–5 | 1–5 | 4–1 | 2–3 | 3–3 | 0–2 |
| Los Angeles | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 4–1 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 4–1 | — | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 5–1 | 2–3 | 5–1 | 4–2 | 5–0 | 2–0 |
| Milwaukee | 3–3 | 3–3 | 5–1 | 6–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 6–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | — | 4–1 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–2 |
| New Jersey | 2–3 | 1–5 | 4–2 | 6–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–4 | — | 4–2 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 4–2 |
| New York | 1–5 | 1–5 | 2–3 | 6–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 2–4 | — | 1–5 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–5 |
| Philadelphia | 3–3 | 2–4 | 5–1 | 5–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 6–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 3–3 | 5–1 | — | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 6–0 |
| Phoenix | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 2–4 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | — | 3–3 | 4–1 | 4–2 | 3–3 | 3–2 | 1–1 |
| Portland | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 5–0 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–3 | — | 3–2 | 4–2 | 3–3 | 4–1 | 0–2 |
| San Antonio | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 2–3 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 5–1 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–4 | 2–3 | — | 3–2 | 4–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 |
| San Diego | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 0–5 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 1–4 | 0–2 | 1–4 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 2–3 | — | 1–5 | 1–4 | 0–2 |
| Seattle | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–1 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 1–4 | 5–1 | — | 5–0 | 1–1 |
| Utah | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 0–6 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 0–5 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 1–4 | 3–3 | 4–1 | 0–5 | — | 1–1 |
| Washington | 4–2 | 0–6 | 4–2 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 2–4 | 5–1 | 0–6 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | — |

### Game log

1981–82 game log Total: 55–27 (home: 31–10; road: 24–17) :
October: 1–1 (home: 1–0; road: 0–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
1October 30, 1981@ Detroit
L 113–118
Sidney Moncrief (22)
Mickey Johnson (10)
Quinn Buckner (8)
Pontiac Silverdome
0–1
2October 31, 1981Boston
W 119–103
Sidney Moncrief (29)
Harvey Catchings, Mickey Johnson (10)
MECCA Arena
1–1 :
November: 8–5 (home: 6–1; road: 2–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
3November 5, 1981Washington
W 98–90
Brian Winters (25)
Mickey Johnson (11)
MECCA Arena
2–1
4November 7, 1981San Diego
W 105–102
Brian Winters (22)
MECCA Arena
3–1
5November 10, 1981@ Atlanta
L 83—94
Mickey Johnson (20)
The Omni
3–2
6November 11, 1981@ New Jersey
W 100—88
Bob Lanier (20)
Brendan Byrne Arena
4–2
7November 13, 1981New York
W 105–102
Quinn Buckner (21)
MECCA Arena
5–2
8November 15, 1981Cleveland
W 98–96
Sidney Moncrief (28)
MECCA Arena
6–2
9November 17, 1981@ Washington
W 99—95
Capital Centre
7–2
10November 18, 1981@ Philadelphia
L 100—102
The Spectrum
7–3
11November 20, 1981@ Boston
L 89–112
Boston Garden
7–4
12November 21, 1981@ New York
L 112—118
Madison Square Garden
7–5
13November 24, 1981Detroit
W 103–95
MECCA Arena
8–5
14November 27, 1981Golden State
L 96–113
MECCA Arena
8–6
15November 29, 1981San Antonio
W 105–89
MECCA Arena
9–6 :
December: 10–2 (home: 5–2; road: 5–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
16December 1, 1981@ Cleveland
W 126—110
Sidney Moncrief (39)
Coliseum at Richfield
10–6
17December 4, 1981Atlanta
W 97–80
MECCA Arena
11–6
18December 5, 1981@ Detroit
W 111–108
Pontiac Silverdome
12–6
19December 9, 1981Houston
W 89–83
MECCA Arena
13–6
20December 11, 1981Indiana
W 103–100 OT
MECCA Arena
14–6
21December 12, 1981@ New York
W 104—86
Madison Square Garden
15–6
22December 13, 1981Philadelphia
W 127–108
MECCA Arena
16–6
23December 15, 1981@ Indiana
W 104–96
Market Square Arena
17–6
24December 18, 1981New Jersey
L 88–100
MECCA Arena
17–7
25December 22, 1981Kansas City
L 101–106
MECCA Arena
17–8
26December 26, 1981@ Cleveland
W 109—102
Coliseum at Richfield
18–8
27December 27, 1981Chicago
W 108–96
MECCA Arena
19–8 :
January: 2–1 (home: 0–0; road: 2–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
39January 20, 1982@ Dallas
L 104–109
Reunion Arena
26–13
42January 26, 1982@ Los Angeles
W 96–94
Marques Johnson (20)
The Forum
28–14
43January 28, 1982@ Utah
W 119–101
Salt Palace
29–14 :
February: 3–0 (home: 3–0; road: 0–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
44February 3, 1982Chicago
W 113–98
Brian Winters (25)
MECCA Arena
30–14
45February 5, 1982Dallas
W 117–92
Sidney Moncrief, Brian Winters (19)
MECCA Arena
31–14
46February 7, 1982Phoenix
W 107–92
Scott May, Brian Winters (32)
MECCA Arena
32–14 :
March: 1–2 (home: 1–1; road: 0–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
59March 6, 1982@ San Antonio
L 166–171 3OT
HemisFair Arena
42–17
63March 12, 1982Seattle
L 110–112
MECCA Arena
42–21
64March 14, 1982Utah
W 129–100
MECCA Arena
43–21 :
April: 0–0 (home: 0–0; road: 0–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord :
1981–82 schedule :

## Playoffs

1982 playoff game log :
Conference semifinals: 2–4 (home: 1–2; road: 1–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceSeries
1
April 25
@ Philadelphia
L 122–125
Mickey Johnson (28)
Marques Johnson (7)
Brian Winters (5)
Spectrum 10,086
0–1
2
April 28
@ Philadelphia
L 108–120
Brian Winters (21)
Bob Lanier (11)
Winters, May (5)
Spectrum 14,716
0–2
3
May 1
Philadelphia
W 92–91
Mickey Johnson (21)
Marques Johnson (11)
Marques Johnson (7)
MECCA Arena 11,052
1–2
4
May 2
Philadelphia
L 93–100
Marques Johnson (23)
Mickey Johnson, Moncrief (7)
Mickey Johnson (7)
MECCA Arena 11,052
1–3
5
May 5
@ Philadelphia
W 110–98
Bob Lanier (27)
Alton Lister (11)
Brian Winters (7)
Spectrum 16,668
2–3
6
May 7
Philadelphia
L 90–102
Bob Lanier (19)
Bob Lanier (10)
Brian Winters (6)
MECCA Arena 11,052
2–4 :
1982 schedule :

## Player statistics

Player statistics source:

### Season

| Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3FG% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
| Sidney Moncrief | 80 | 80 | 37.3 | 52.3 | 7.1 | 81.7 | 6.7 | 4.8 | 1.7 | 0.3 | 19.8 |
| Marques Johnson | 60 | 52 | 31.7 | 53.2 | 0.0 | 70.0 | 6.1 | 3.6 | 1.0 | 0.6 | 16.5 |
| Brian Winters | 61 | 13 | 30.0 | 50.1 | 38.7 | 78.8 | 2.8 | 4.1 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 15.9 |
| Bob Lanier | 74 | 72 | 26.8 | 55.8 | 0.0 | 75.2 | 5.2 | 3.0 | 1.0 | 0.8 | 13.5 |
| Quinn Buckner | 70 | 70 | 30.8 | 48.2 | 26.7 | 65.5 | 3.6 | 4.7 | 2.5 | 0.0 | 12.9 |
| Mickey Johnson | 76 | 71 | 25.4 | 49.1 | 14.3 | 80.1 | 6.0 | 2.8 | 0.9 | 0.6 | 12.9 |
| Junior Bridgeman | 41 | 4 | 22.5 | 48.3 | 44.4 | 86.4 | 3.0 | 2.7 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 12.5 |
| Scott May | 65 | 7 | 18.3 | 50.8 | 0.0 | 82.4 | 3.4 | 2.0 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 9.0 |
| Robert Smith | 17 | 1 | 18.6 | 47.3 | 20.0 | 83.3 | 0.8 | 2.6 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 6.8 |
| Pat Cummings | 78 | 7 | 14.5 | 50.9 | 0.0 | 73.6 | 3.1 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 6.5 |
| Bob Dandridge | 11 | 0 | 15.8 | 38.2 | 0.0 | 58.8 | 1.5 | 1.2 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 4.7 |
| Alton Lister | 80 | 23 | 14.8 | 51.9 | 0.0 | 52.0 | 4.8 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 1.5 | 4.5 |
| Kevin Stacom | 7 | 0 | 12.9 | 41.2 | 50.0 | 50.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 4.3 |
| Mike Evans | 14 | 0 | 14.0 | 47.1 | 0.0 | 66.7 | 0.9 | 1.6 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 4.0 |
| Harvey Catchings | 80 | 9 | 20.0 | 42.0 | 0.0 | 59.4 | 4.5 | 1.2 | 0.5 | 1.7 | 2.9 |
| Geoff Crompton | 35 | 1 | 5.8 | 34.4 | 0.0 | 40.0 | 1.2 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.8 |
| Brad Holland | 1 | 0 | 9.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |

### Playoffs

| Player | GP | MPG | FG% | 3FG% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
| Mickey Johnson | 6 | 34.3 | 57.3 | 0.0 | 84.6 | 5.3 | 3.0 | 1.3 | 0.7 | 19.8 |
| Marques Johnson | 6 | 39.2 | 44.0 | 25.0 | 57.1 | 7.3 | 3.3 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 18.8 |
| Brian Winters | 6 | 38.7 | 49.4 | 50.0 | 83.3 | 2.5 | 4.7 | 1.3 | 0.2 | 16.8 |
| Bob Lanier | 6 | 35.3 | 51.3 | 0.0 | 56.0 | 7.5 | 3.7 | 1.3 | 0.8 | 16.0 |
| Sidney Moncrief | 6 | 42.0 | 41.9 | 0.0 | 78.9 | 5.0 | 4.0 | 1.5 | 0.3 | 15.3 |
| Alton Lister | 6 | 18.7 | 58.3 | 0.0 | 71.4 | 4.5 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 2.5 | 5.5 |
| Robert Smith | 6 | 11.3 | 38.5 | 28.6 | 87.5 | 1.2 | 2.0 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 4.8 |
| Scott May | 4 | 12.5 | 20.0 | 0.0 | 64.3 | 2.8 | 2.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 4.3 |
| Brad Holland | 1 | 3.0 | 100.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2.0 |
| Pat Cummings | 6 | 7.3 | 36.4 | 0.0 | 50.0 | 1.8 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 1.5 |
| Harvey Catchings | 6 | 4.3 | 66.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.7 |

## Awards and records

* Sidney Moncrief, All-NBA Second Team
* Sidney Moncrief, NBA All-Defensive Second Team
* Quinn Buckner, NBA All-Defensive Second Team

## Transactions
### Free agents

| Player | Signed | Former team |
| Scott May | November 16, 1981 | Chicago Bulls |