# 1979–80 Washington Bullets season

The 1979–80 NBA season was the Bullets 19th season in the NBA and their 7th season in the city of Washington, D.C.

## Offseason
### Draft picks

| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | College |

## Regular season
### Season standings

| Atlantic Divisionvte | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div |
| y-Boston Celtics | 61 | 21 | .744 | – | 35–6 | 26–15 | 17–7 |
| x-Philadelphia 76ers | 59 | 23 | .720 | 2 | 36–5 | 23–18 | 19–5 |
| x-Washington Bullets | 39 | 43 | .476 | 22 | 24–17 | 15–26 | 9–15 |
| New York Knicks | 39 | 43 | .476 | 22 | 25–16 | 14–27 | 8–16 |
| New Jersey Nets | 34 | 48 | .415 | 27 | 22–19 | 12–29 | 7–17 |
| # | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte |
| # | Team | W | L | PCT | GB |
| 1 | z-Boston Celtics | 61 | 21 | .744 | – |
| 2 | y-Atlanta Hawks | 50 | 32 | .610 | 11 |
| 3 | x-Philadelphia 76ers | 59 | 23 | .720 | 2 |
| 4 | x-Houston Rockets | 41 | 41 | .500 | 20 |
| 5 | x-San Antonio Spurs | 41 | 41 | .500 | 20 |
| 6 | x-Washington Bullets | 39 | 43 | .476 | 22 |
| 7 | New York Knicks | 39 | 43 | .476 | 22 |
| 8 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 37 | 45 | .451 | 24 |
| 8 | Indiana Pacers | 37 | 45 | .451 | 24 |
| 10 | New Jersey Nets | 34 | 48 | .415 | 27 |
| 11 | Detroit Pistons | 16 | 66 | .195 | 44 |
Notes
* z, y – division champions
* x – clinched playoff spot

### Record vs. opponents

1979-80 NBA Records :
| Team | ATL | BOS | CHI | CLE | DEN | DET | GSW | HOU | IND | KCK | LAL | MIL | NJN | NYK | PHI | PHO | POR | SAS | SDC | SEA | UTA | WAS |
| Atlanta | — | 2–4 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 6–0 | 2–0 | 2–4 | 4–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 4–2 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–3 |
| Boston | 4–2 | — | 2–0 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 6–0 | 2–0 | 6–0 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 5–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 4–2 |
| Chicago | 1–1 | 0–2 | — | 2–0 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 1–5 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–5 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 0–2 |
| Cleveland | 2–4 | 2–4 | 0–2 | — | 1–1 | 6–0 | 2–0 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–3 |
| Denver | 1–1 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 1–1 | — | 1–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–6 | 1–5 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 1–5 | 3–3 | 1–1 |
| Detroit | 0–6 | 0–6 | 1–1 | 0–6 | 1–1 | — | 1–1 | 1–5 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–4 |
| Golden State | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 1–1 | — | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 1–5 | 0–6 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 0–6 | 3–3 | 0–2 |
| Houston | 4–2 | 0–6 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 1–1 | — | 4–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–4 |
| Indiana | 2–4 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 2–4 | — | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 4–2 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 4–2 |
| Kansas City | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 6–0 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | — | 2–4 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–5 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 3–3 | 6–0 | 2–0 |
| Los Angeles | 1–1 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–2 | — | 3–3 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 4–2 | 6–0 | 1–1 |
| Milwaukee | 1–1 | 0–2 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 6–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 3–3 | — | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 5–1 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 2–4 | 4–2 | 1–1 |
| New Jersey | 2–4 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | — | 2–4 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 |
| New York | 2–4 | 1–5 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 4–2 | — | 0–6 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–3 |
| Philadelphia | 2–4 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 6–0 | — | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 5–1 |
| Phoenix | 1–1 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | — | 6–0 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 4–2 | 6–0 | 2–0 |
| Portland | 0–2 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 5–1 | 4–2 | 1–5 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–6 | — | 1–1 | 4–2 | 1–5 | 3–3 | 1–1 |
| San Antonio | 1–5 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | — | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–2 |
| San Diego | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–5 | 1–5 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 2–4 | 0–2 | — | 3–3 | 5–1 | 1–1 |
| Seattle | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 6–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 | — | 5–1 | 1–1 |
| Utah | 0–2 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–6 | 0–6 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–6 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 1–5 | 1–5 | — | 0–2 |
| Washington | 3–3 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | — |

## Game log
### Regular season

1979–80 game log Total: 39–43 (home: 24–17; road: 15–26) :
October: 3–5 (home: 3–1; road: 0–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
1
October 12
Philadelphia
L 92–93
Hayes (25)
Unseld (12)
Porter (11)
Capital Centre 19,035
0–1
2
October 13
@ New York
Madison Square Garden
3
October 17
Atlanta
W 100–97
Capital Centre 5,804
1–2
4
October 19
@ Boston
L 93–130
Hayes (23)
Unseld (9)
Wright (5)
Boston Garden 15,320
1–3
5
October 20
Detroit
Capital Centre
6
October 24
@ Detroit
Pontiac Silverdome
7
October 26
@ Indiana
Market Square Arena
8
October 31
Cleveland
Capital Centre :
November: 6–7 (home: 3–4; road: 3–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
9
November 3
Boston
L 97–118
Ballard (23)
Hayes (12)
Porter (9)
Capital Centre 17,635
3–6
10
November 9
San Antonio
Capital Centre
11
November 10
@ Atlanta
L 105–109
The Omni 15,413
4–7
12
November 13
@ New York
Madison Square Garden
13
November 14
Chicago
Capital Centre
14
November 16
@ New Jersey
Rutgers Athletic Center
15
November 17
Utah
Capital Centre
16
November 21
Cleveland
Capital Centre
17
November 23
@ San Antonio
HemisFair Arena
18
November 24
@ Houston
The Summit
19
November 27
Denver
Capital Centre
20
November 28
@ Philadelphia
L 102–120
Phegley (22)
Ballard (10)
Dandridge, Unseld (8)
The Spectrum 10,105
9–11
21
November 30
Indiana
Capital Centre :
December: 6–7 (home: 4–5; road: 2–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
22
December 1
New Jersey
Capital Centre
23
December 5
New York
Capital Centre
24
December 8
Atlanta
W 96–95
Capital Centre 14,139
11–13
25
December 11
Phoenix
Capital Centre
26
December 13
@ Cleveland
Richfield Coliseum
27
December 14
@ Indiana
Market Square Arena
28
December 15
@ Chicago
Chicago Stadium
29
December 19
Kansas City
Capital Centre
30
December 22
Houston
Capital Centre
31
December 25
Philadelphia
L 92–95
Hayes (29)
Unseld (14)
Cleamons (7)
Capital Centre 18,184
14–17
32
December 26
@ New Jersey
Rutgers Athletic Center
33
December 27
Milwaukee
W 117–108
Ballard (27)
Ballard (13)
Unseld (11)
Capital Centre 9,693
15–18
34
December 29
San Diego
Capital Centre :
January: 8–10 (home: 4–3; road: 4–7)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
35
January 1
@ Portland
Memorial Coliseum
36
January 2
@ Seattle
W 139–134 (2OT)
Hayes (34)
Unseld (19)
Dandridge (6)
Kingdome 21,665
16–20
37
January 4
@ Golden State
Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena
38
January 5
@ Utah
Salt Palace
39
January 9
Los Angeles
W 103–101
Hayes (25)
Ballard (13)
Cleamons, Wright (9)
Capital Centre 19,035
19–20
40
January 11
@ Philadelphia
L 106–119
Ballard (31)
Unseld (14)
Unseld (7)
The Spectrum 15,571
19–21
41
January 13
Portland
Capital Centre
42
January 15
Seattle
L 100–120
Wright (20)
Unseld (9)
Unseld (8)
Capital Centre 13,408
20–22
43
January 17
@ Detroit
Pontiac Silverdome
44
January 18
@ Houston
The Summit
45
January 19
@ San Antonio
HemisFair Arena
46
January 22
@ Cleveland
Richfield Coliseum
47
January 24
New Jersey
Capital Centre
48
January 25
@ Boston
W 118–107
Dandridge, Hayes (25)
Unseld (19)
Cleamons Unseld (6)
Boston Garden 15,320
21–27
49
January 27
Golden State
Capital Centre
50
January 29
@ Atlanta
L 82–98
The Omni 10,269
22–28
51
January 30
Indiana
Capital Centre
52
January 31
Boston
L 103–119
Dandridge (20)
Unseld (11)
Porter (5)
Capital Centre 19,035
23–29 :
February: 6–6 (home: 4–0; road: 2–6)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
All-Star Break
53
February 7
@ Indiana
Market Square Arena
54
February 8
@ Milwaukee
L 90–115
Grevey (23)
Ballard (9)
Cleamons (9)
MECCA Arena 10,938
23–31
55
February 10
@ Kansas City
Kemper Arena
56
February 12
@ Denver
McNichols Sports Arena
57
February 13
@ San Diego
San Diego Sports Arena
58
February 15
@ Phoenix
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
59
February 17
@ Los Angeles
L 107–111
Hayes (31)
Ballard (13)
Porter (8)
The Forum 17,505
25–34
60
February 21
Cleveland
Capital Centre
61
February 22
San Antonio
Capital Centre
62
February 24
New York
Capital Centre
63
February 27
@ Houston
The Summit
64
February 28
Houston
Capital Centre :
March: 10–8 (home: 6–4; road: 4–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
65
March 2
Indiana
Capital Centre
66
March 4
Detroit
Capital Centre
67
March 6
New Jersey
Capital Centre
68
March 7
@ Detroit
Pontiac Silverdome
69
March 9
@ Boston
W 133–128 (OT)
Hayes (35)
Hayes (17)
Wright (5)
Boston Garden 15,320
33–36
70
March 11
San Antonio
Capital Centre
71
March 12
@ Philadelphia
L 98–105
Ballard (32)
Unseld (16)
Unseld (8)
The Spectrum 11,327
33–38
72
March 14
Houston
Capital Centre
73
March 16
New York
Capital Centre
74
March 18
@ San Antonio
HemisFair Arena
75
March 19
@ Atlanta
L 93–109
The Omni 10,140
34–41
76
March 20
Philadelphia
W 119–113 (OT)
Ballard (30)
Hayes (13)
Porter (11)
Capital Centre 17,649
35–41
77
March 22
@ New York
Madison Square Garden
78
March 23
Detroit
Capital Centre
79
March 25
Boston
L 95–96
Ballard (28)
Ballard (11)
Porter (15)
Capital Centre 19,035
37–42
80
March 27
@ Cleveland
Richfield Coliseum
81
March 28
Atlanta
W 100–80
Capital Centre 18,186
38–43
82
March 30
@ New Jersey
Rutgers Athletic Center :
1979–80 schedule :

## Playoffs

1980 playoff game log :
Eastern Conference First Round: 0–2 (home: 0–1; road: 0–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceSeries
1
April 2
@ Philadelphia
L 96–111
Grevey (34)
Unseld (18)
Porter (7)
The Spectrum 12,567
0–1
2
April 4
Philadelphia
L 104–112
Hayes (26)
Hayes (12)
Grevey (5)
Capital Centre 18,397
0–2 :
1980 schedule :