# 1980–81 Denver Nuggets season

The 1980–81 NBA season was the Nuggets 5th season in the NBA and their 14th season as a franchise.

## Draft picks

The Denver Nuggets made twelve selections in the 1980 NBA Draft.
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | School/Club Team |
| 1 | 5 | James Ray | PF | United States | Jacksonville |
| 1 | 23 | Carl Nicks | PG | United States | Indiana State |
| 2 | 41 | Jawann Oldham | C | United States | Seattle |
| 3 | 47 | Kurt Nimphius | C/PF | United States | Arizona State |
| 3 | 48 | Eddie Lee | | United States | Cincinnati |
| 3 | 51 | Ronnie Valentine | PF | United States | Old Dominion |
| 4 | 73 | Sammie Ellis | | United States | Pittsburgh |
| 5 | 97 | James Patrick | | United States | Southwest Texas State |
| 6 | 119 | Ernie Hill | | United States | Oklahoma City |
| 7 | 143 | Tommy Springer | | United States | Vanderbilt |
| 9 | 184 | Jim Graziano | | United States | South Carolina |
| 10 | 202 | Earl Sango | | United States | Regis |

## Regular season
### Season standings

| Midwest Divisionvte | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div |
| y-San Antonio Spurs | 52 | 30 | .634 | – | 34–7 | 18–23 | 21–9 |
| x-Kansas City Kings | 40 | 42 | .488 | 12.0 | 24–17 | 16–25 | 19–11 |
| x-Houston Rockets | 40 | 42 | .488 | 12.0 | 25–16 | 15–26 | 19–11 |
| Denver Nuggets | 37 | 45 | .451 | 15.0 | 23–18 | 14–27 | 13–17 |
| Utah Jazz | 28 | 54 | .341 | 24.0 | 20–21 | 8–33 | 13–17 |
| Dallas Mavericks | 15 | 67 | .183 | 37.0 | 11–30 | 4–37 | 5–25 |
| # | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte |
| # | Team | W | L | PCT | GB |
| 1 | c-Phoenix Suns | 57 | 25 | .695 | – |
| 2 | y-San Antonio Spurs | 52 | 30 | .634 | 5 |
| 3 | x-Los Angeles Lakers | 54 | 28 | .659 | 3 |
| 4 | x-Portland Trail Blazers | 45 | 37 | .549 | 12 |
| 5 | x-Kansas City Kings | 40 | 42 | .488 | 17 |
| 6 | x-Houston Rockets | 40 | 42 | .488 | 17 |
| 7 | Golden State Warriors | 39 | 43 | .476 | 18 |
| 8 | Denver Nuggets | 37 | 45 | .451 | 20 |
| 9 | San Diego Clippers | 36 | 46 | .439 | 21 |
| 10 | Seattle SuperSonics | 34 | 48 | .415 | 23 |
| 11 | Utah Jazz | 28 | 54 | .341 | 29 |
| 12 | Dallas Mavericks | 15 | 67 | .183 | 42 |
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
### Regular season

1980–81 game log Total: 37–45 (home: 23–18; road: 14–27) :
October: 2–7 (home: 1–4; road: 1–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
1
October 10
San Antonio
L 112–113
McNichols Sports Arena
0–1
2
October 12
Utah
L 121–125 (OT)
McNichols Sports Arena
0–2
3
October 15
Dallas
W 133–98
McNichols Sports Arena
1–2
4
October 17
@ San Diego
W 129–116
San Diego Sports Arena
2–2
5
October 18
@ Utah
L 115–117
Salt Palace Acord Arena
2–3
6
October 21
Houston
L 117–119
McNichols Sports Arena
2–4
7
October 24
Phoenix
L 94–117
McNichols Sports Arena
2–5
8
October 25
@ Kansas City
L 122–125
Kemper Arena
2–6
9
October 29
@ Golden State
L 109–115
Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena
2–7 :
November: 8–7 (home: 4–2; road: 4–5)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
10
November 1
Seattle
W 123–118
McNichols Sports Arena
3–7
11
November 2
@ Los Angeles
W 123–121
The Forum
4–7
12
November 5
@ Seattle
W 125–117
Kingdome
5–7
13
November 7
New York
L 115–124
McNichols Sports Arena
5–8
14
November 8
@ Chicago
W 130–126 (2OT)
Chicago Stadium
6–8
15
November 11
@ Washington
L 92–107
Capital Centre
6–9
16
November 12
@ New Jersey
L 111–118
Rutgers Athletic Center
6–10
17
November 15
Portland
W 125–123
McNichols Sports Arena
7–10
18
November 18
@ Portland
L 103–122
Memorial Coliseum
7–11
19
November 21
Kansas City
W 134–121
McNichols Sports Arena
8–11
20
November 23
@ Phoenix
L 113–131
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
8–12
21
November 25
@ San Diego
L 94–108
San Diego Sports Arena
8–13
22
November 26
San Diego
W 113–109
McNichols Sports Arena
9–13
23
November 28
@ Dallas
W 119–117 (OT)
Reunion Arena
10–13
24
November 29
Los Angeles
L 123–124 (2OT)
McNichols Sports Arena
10–14 :
December: 3–10 (home: 3–3; road: 0–7)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
25
December 2
Chicago
L 124–129
McNichols Sports Arena
10–15
26
December 4
@ Utah
L 118–122
Salt Palace Acord Arena
10–16
27
December 5
Golden State
L 114–119
McNichols Sports Arena
10–17
28
December 6
@ Houston
L 108–111
The Summit
10–18
29
December 10
Dallas
W 116–107
McNichols Sports Arena
11–18
30
December 13
@ San Antonio
L 123–147
HemisFair Arena
11–19
31
December 16
Kansas City
L 118–133
McNichols Sports Arena
11–20
32
December 18
@ Cleveland
L 122–130
Richfield Coliseum
11–21
33
December 20
@ New York
L 114–120
Madison Square Garden
11–22
34
December 23
@ Boston
L 128–136
Boston Garden
11–23
35
December 26
@ Dallas
L 111–119
Reunion Arena
11–24
36
December 27
Philadelphia
W 125–121
McNichols Sports Arena
12–24
37
December 30
Indiana
W 127–110
McNichols Sports Arena
13–24 :
January: 7–8 (home: 4–4; road: 3–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
38
January 1
@ Portland
L 119–122
Memorial Coliseum
13–25
39
January 2
Phoenix
L 132–133
McNichols Sports Arena
13–26
40
January 3
@ Houston
W 134–132
The Summit
14–26
41
January 7
Utah
L 117–121
McNichols Sports Arena
14–27
42
January 9
@ San Diego
W 130–116
San Diego Sports Arena
15–27
43
January 10
@ Seattle
L 116–119
Kingdome
15–28
44
January 13
Atlanta
W 135–132
McNichols Sports Arena
16–28
45
January 14
@ Phoenix
L 102–128
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
16–29
46
January 17
@ Kansas City
W 123–122
Kemper Arena
17–29
47
January 18
Houston
L 97–98
McNichols Sports Arena
17–30
48
January 21
San Diego
L 116–125
McNichols Sports Arena
17–31
49
January 23
@ Los Angeles
L 105–110
The Forum
17–32
50
January 24
San Antonio
W 129–115
McNichols Sports Arena
18–32
51
January 27
Detroit
W 143–123
McNichols Sports Arena
19–32
52
January 29
Milwaukee
W 131–118
McNichols Sports Arena
20–32 :
February: 7–6 (home: 6–3; road: 1–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
All-Star Break
53
February 3
@ Houston
L 128–135 (OT)
The Summit
20–33
54
February 4
San Antonio
L 132–135
McNichols Sports Arena
20–34
55
February 6
@ Utah
W 120–116
Salt Palace Acord Arena
21–34
56
February 7
Golden State
W 135–125
McNichols Sports Arena
22–34
57
February 8
@ Seattle
L 112–133
Kingdome
22–35
58
February 10
Washington
L 110–115
McNichols Sports Arena
22–36
59
February 13
Portland
W 162–143
McNichols Sports Arena
23–36
60
February 15
Boston
L 118–120
McNichols Sports Arena
23–37
61
February 19
Phoenix
W 127–126
McNichols Sports Arena
24–37
62
February 21
Kansas City
W 129–109
McNichols Sports Arena
25–37
63
February 22
@ San Antonio
L 129–133 (OT)
HemisFair Arena
25–38
64
February 24
New Jersey
W 140–123
McNichols Sports Arena
26–38
65
February 27
Golden State
W 137–130
McNichols Sports Arena
27–38 :
March: 10–7 (home: 5–2; road: 5–5)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
66
March 1
Cleveland
W 137–127
McNichols Sports Arena
28–38
67
March 4
Los Angeles
W 123–114
McNichols Sports Arena
29–38
68
March 6
@ Philadelphia
L 112–131
The Spectrum
29–39
69
March 7
@ Detroit
W 121–109
Pontiac Silverdome
30–39
70
March 8
@ Indiana
L 119–129
Market Square Arena
30–40
71
March 10
Portland
L 137–142
McNichols Sports Arena
30–41
72
March 12
@ Milwaukee
L 113–131
MECCA Arena
30–42
73
March 13
@ Atlanta
L 117–119
The Omni
30–43
74
March 15
Houston
W 138–127
McNichols Sports Arena
31–43
75
March 17
Seattle
W 124–112
McNichols Sports Arena
32–43
76
March 18
@ Kansas City
W 126–124 (2OT)
Kemper Arena
33–43
77
March 20
@ Dallas
L 125–126
Reunion Arena
33–44
78
March 22
Utah
W 113–108
McNichols Sports Arena
34–44
79
March 24
@ San Antonio
W 125–123
HemisFair Arena
35–44
80
March 25
Dallas
L 115–126
McNichols Sports Arena
35–45
81
March 28
@ Golden State
W 142–139
Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena
36–45
82
March 29
@ Los Angeles
W 148–146 (OT)
The Forum
37–45 :
1980–81 schedule :

## Player statistics

| Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3FG% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |