# 1979–80 Milwaukee Bucks season

The 1979–80 NBA season was the Bucks' 12th season in the NBA. With 49 wins and 33 losses they won their division and ranked fourth in the Western Conference. In the 1979 NBA draft, the Bucks drafted guard Sidney Moncrief out of the University of Arkansas. During the season, the Bucks acquired center Bob Lanier from the Detroit Pistons. After a first-round-bye the Bucks faced the defending champions, the Seattle SuperSonics, which were led by Gus Williams and Dennis Johnson. Despite being able to steal two games on the road, the Bucks lost the series in seven games. The 1979–80 season would be the Bucks last season as a Western Conference team as they switched to the Eastern Conference along with the Chicago Bulls.

## Draft picks

| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | College |
| 1 | 5 | Sidney Moncrief | SG | United States | Arkansas |
| 2 | 31 | Edgar Jones | PF/C | United States | Nevada-Reno |
| 3 | 52 | Larry Gibson | | United States | Maryland |
| 4 | 69 | Eugene Robinson | | United States | Louisiana-Monroe |
| 5 | 97 | Jim Tillman | | United States | Eastern Kentucky |
| 6 | 116 | Derrick Mayes | | United States | Illinois State |
| 7 | 138 | Stan Ray | | United States | California State-Fullerton |
| 8 | 156 | Larry Spicer | | United States | Alabama-Birmingham |
| 9 | 174 | Roger Lapham | | United States | Maine |
| 10 | 193 | Chris Fahrbach | | United States | North Dakota |

## Regular season
### Season standings

| Midwest Divisionvte | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div |
| y-Milwaukee Bucks | 49 | 33 | .598 | – | 28–12 | 21–21 | 15–9 |
| x-Kansas City Kings | 47 | 35 | .573 | 2 | 30–11 | 17–24 | 18–6 |
| Chicago Bulls | 30 | 52 | .366 | 19 | 21–20 | 9–32 | 8–16 |
| Denver Nuggets | 30 | 52 | .366 | 19 | 24–17 | 6–35 | 10–14 |
| Utah Jazz | 24 | 58 | .293 | 25 | 17–24 | 7–34 | 9–15 |
| # | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte |
| # | Team | W | L | PCT | GB |
| 1 | c-Los Angeles Lakers | 60 | 22 | .732 | – |
| 2 | y-Milwaukee Bucks | 49 | 33 | .598 | 11 |
| 3 | x-Seattle SuperSonics | 56 | 26 | .683 | 4 |
| 4 | x-Phoenix Suns | 55 | 27 | .671 | 5 |
| 5 | x-Kansas City Kings | 47 | 35 | .573 | 13 |
| 6 | x-Portland Trail Blazers | 38 | 44 | .463 | 22 |
| 7 | San Diego Clippers | 35 | 47 | .427 | 25 |
| 8 | Chicago Bulls | 30 | 52 | .366 | 30 |
| 9 | Denver Nuggets | 30 | 52 | .366 | 30 |
| 10 | Utah Jazz | 24 | 58 | .293 | 36 |
| 11 | Golden State Warriors | 24 | 58 | .293 | 36 |
    z - clinched division title
    y - clinched division title
    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

1979–80 game log Total: 49–33 (home: 28–12; road: 21–21) :
October: 9–1 (home: 5–0; road: 4–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
1October 12, 1979@ Kansas City
L 103–105
Marques Johnson (28)
Municipal Auditorium
0–1
2October 13, 1979@ Denver
W 125–96
Dave Meyers (26)
McNichols Sports Arena
1–1
3October 15, 1979@ Utah
W 131–107
Junior Bridgeman (28)
Salt Palace
2–1
4October 17, 1979Denver
W 125–97
Marques Johnson (27)
Kent Benson (9)
MECCA Arena
3–1
5October 19, 1979Phoenix
W 95–94
Brian Winters (18)
MECCA Arena
4–1
6October 21, 1979Chicago
W 113–111
Junior Bridgeman (26)
MECCA Arena
5–1
7October 23, 1979@ Phoenix
W 114–108
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
6–1
8October 25, 1979@ San Diego
W 118–115
Brian Winters (23)
San Diego Sports Arena
7–1
9October 27, 1979Detroit
W 132–118
MECCA Arena
8–1
10October 31, 1979Los Angeles
W 110–106
MECCA Arena
9–1 :
November: 8–6 (home: 4–3; road: 4–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
11November 3, 1979@ Chicago
W 136–134 (OT)
Chicago Stadium
10–1
12November 4, 1979Seattle
L 101–114
MECCA Arena
10–2
13November 6, 1979Philadelphia
L 117–118
MECCA Arena
10–3
14November 8, 1979Portland
W 98–89
MECCA Arena
11–3
15November 10, 1979San Diego
W 133–104
MECCA Arena
12–3
16November 13, 1979@ Portland
W 101–92
Memorial Coliseum
13–3
17November 14, 1979@ Seattle
L 117–136
Kingdome
13–4
18November 18, 1979@ San Diego
L 96–112
San Diego Sports Arena
13–5
19November 21, 1979Atlanta
W 96–93
MECCA Arena
14–5
20November 22, 1979@ New Jersey
W 117–109
Rutgers Athletic Center
15–5
21November 23, 1979@ Detroit
L 100–119
Pontiac Silverdome
15–6
22November 25, 1979Golden State
W 114–90
MECCA Arena
16–6
23November 27, 1979New Jersey
L 93–118
MECCA Arena
16–7
24November 28, 1979@ Indiana
W 87–79
Market Square Arena
17–7 :
December: 5–10 (home: 3–3; road: 2–7)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
25December 1, 1979@ Golden State
W 109–99
Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena
18–7
26December 2, 1979@ Los Angeles
L 103–116
The Forum
18–8
27December 3, 1979@ Utah
W 96–89
Salt Palace
19–8
28December 5, 1979@ Denver
L 107–123
McNichols Sports Arena
19–9
29December 7, 1979San Antonio
L 105–117
MECCA Arena
19–10
30December 9, 1979Boston
L 108–113
MECCA Arena
19–11
31December 11, 1979Seattle
L 99–103
MECCA Arena
19–12
33December 12, 1979@ Philadelphia
L 91–112
The Spectrum
19–13
33December 14, 1979@ Boston
L 94–97
Boston Garden
19–14
34December 16, 1979Utah
W 104–79
MECCA Arena
20–14
35December 20, 1979Kansas City
W 120–109
MECCA Arena
21–14
36December 23, 1979@ Phoenix
L 103–106
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
21–15
37December 26, 1979Chicago
W 110–101
MECCA Arena
22–15
38December 27, 1979@ Washington
L 108–117
Capital Centre
22–16
39December 29, 1979@ New York
L 105–117
Madison Square Garden
22–17
40December 30, 1979Utah
L 88–95
MECCA Arena
22–18 :
January: 6–6 (home: 4–2; road: 2–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
41January 3, 1980Indiana
W 106–96
MECCA Arena
23–18
42January 5, 1980@ Cleveland
W 99–98
Richfield Coliseum
24–18
43January 6, 1980Los Angeles
W 113–103
MECCA Arena
25–18
44January 8, 1980@ Chicago
L 102–110
Chicago Stadium
25–19
46January 11, 1980New York
W 109–107
MECCA Arena
26–20
47January 13, 1980Houston
L 117–121
MECCA Arena
26–21
48January 16, 1980Kansas City
L 108–112
MECCA Arena
26–22
50January 20, 1980Portland
W 89–88
MECCA Arena
27–23
53January 25, 1980@ Phoenix
L 96–110
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
28–25
54January 27, 1980@ Los Angeles
L 102–112
The Forum
28–26
55January 29, 1980@ Portland
W 103–96
Memorial Coliseum
29–26
56January 31, 1980@ Seattle
L 101–105
Kingdome
29–27 :
February: 9–2 (home: 5–0; road: 4–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
57February 6, 1980Cleveland
W 111–109
MECCA Arena
30–27
58February 8, 1980Washington
W 115–90
MECCA Arena
31–27
59February 10, 1980Phoenix
W 109–107
Bob Lanier (23)
MECCA Arena
32–27
60February 13, 1980Chicago
W 111–101
Junior Bridgeman (32)
MECCA Arena
33–27
62February 15, 1980@ Houston
W 114–103
The Summit
35–27
63February 17, 1980@ San Antonio
L 134–135
HemisFair Arena
35–28
64February 20, 1980@ Atlanta
L 103–106
The Omni
35–29
65February 24, 1980@ Kansas City
W 94–72
Kemper Arena
36–29
66February 26, 1980San Diego
W 122–88
Pat Cummings (25)
Harvey Catchings (11)
Junior Bridgeman, Quinn Buckner (7)
MECCA Arena
37–29
67February 27, 1980@ Phoenix
W 119–110 (OT)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
38–29
68February 29, 1980@ Los Angeles
W 126–117
Brian Winters (34)
The Forum
36–29 :
March: 2–0 (home: 2–0; road: 0–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
70March 4, 1980Los Angeles
L 124–127
MECCA Arena
40–30
73March 12, 1980Seattle
W 112–103
MECCA Arena
42–31
74March 14, 1980Portland
W 120–110
MECCA Arena
43–31
75March 16, 1980Kansas City
W 128–121
MECCA Arena
44–31
76March 18, 1980@ Portland
L 122–123
Memorial Coliseum
44–32
77March 19, 1980@ Seattle
W 108–106
Kingdome
45–32
78March 21, 1980Golden State
W 121–93
MECCA Arena
46–32
79March 25, 1980@ Chicago
W 122–111
Chicago Stadium
47–32
81March 28, 1980@ Kansas City
L 114–116
Kemper Arena
48–33 :
1979–80 schedule :

## Playoffs

1980 playoff game log :
Conference semifinals: 3–4 (home: 2–1; road: 1–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceSeries
1
April 8
@ Seattle
L 113–114 (OT)
Bob Lanier (27)
Bob Lanier (10)
Quinn Buckner (8)
Seattle Center Coliseum 13,648
0–1
2
April 9
@ Seattle
W 114–112 (OT)
Brian Winters (28)
Bob Lanier (8)
Brian Winters (5)
Seattle Center Coliseum 14,050
1–1
3
April 11
Seattle
W 95–91
Bob Lanier (24)
Marques Johnson (10)
Quinn Buckner (7)
MECCA Arena 10,938
2–1
4
April 13
Seattle
L 107–112
Marques Johnson (31)
Lanier, Meyers (9)
Junior Bridgeman (8)
MECCA Arena 10,938
2–2
5
April 15
@ Seattle
W 108–97
Bob Lanier (22)
Marques Johnson (8)
Bob Lanier (6)
Kingdome 40,172
3–2
6
April 18
Seattle
L 85–86
Marques Johnson (22)
Bob Lanier (12)
Brian Winters (7)
MECCA Arena 10,938
3–3
7
April 20
@ Seattle
L 94–98
Marques Johnson (22)
Bob Lanier (15)
Quinn Buckner (7)
Seattle Center Coliseum 14,050
3–4 :
1980 schedule :

## Player statistics
### Season

Season :
| Player | GP | MPG | FG% | 3FG% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
| Marques Johnson | 77 | 34.9 | 54.4 | 22.2 | 79.1 | 7.4 | 3.5 | 1.3 | 0.9 | 21.7 |
| Junior Bridgeman | 81 | 28.6 | 47.8 | 18.5 | 86.5 | 3.7 | 2.9 | 1.2 | 0.2 | 17.6 |
| Brian Winters | 80 | 32.8 | 47.9 | 37.3 | 86.0 | 2.8 | 4.5 | 1.3 | 0.4 | 16.2 |
| Bob Lanier | 26 | 28.4 | 51.9 | 100.0 | 78.5 | 6.9 | 2.4 | 1.4 | 1.1 | 15.7 |
| Dave Meyers | 79 | 27.9 | 48.1 | 20.0 | 63.4 | 5.7 | 2.8 | 0.9 | 0.5 | 12.1 |
| Quinn Buckner | 67 | 25.2 | 46.7 | 40.0 | 73.4 | 3.6 | 5.7 | 2.0 | 0.1 | 10.7 |
| Kent Benson | 56 | 24.8 | 49.4 | 0.0 | 68.0 | 5.9 | 2.3 | 1.0 | 1.3 | 8.8 |
| Sidney Moncrief | 77 | 20.2 | 46.8 | 0.0 | 79.5 | 4.4 | 1.7 | 0.9 | 0.2 | 8.5 |
| Pat Cummings | 71 | 12.7 | 50.5 | 0.0 | 76.4 | 3.4 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 6.6 |
| Richard Washington | 75 | 14.6 | 46.8 | 0.0 | 60.5 | 3.7 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 0.6 | 5.9 |
| Lloyd Walton | 76 | 16.4 | 45.5 | 33.3 | 69.0 | 1.2 | 3.8 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 3.6 |
| Harvey Catchings | 72 | 19.0 | 39.8 | 0.0 | 62.9 | 5.7 | 1.1 | 0.3 | 2.3 | 3.2 |

### Playoffs

Playoffs :
| Player | GP | MPG | FG% | 3FG% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
| Marques Johnson | 7 | 43.3 | 42.2 | 33.3 | 75.0 | 6.9 | 2.9 | 0.7 | 0.9 | 19.9 |
| Bob Lanier | 7 | 36.6 | 51.5 | 0.0 | 73.8 | 9.3 | 4.4 | 1.0 | 1.1 | 19.3 |
| Brian Winters | 7 | 38.3 | 46.0 | 42.9 | 100.0 | 3.0 | 5.3 | 1.6 | 0.0 | 15.9 |
| Sidney Moncrief | 7 | 26.0 | 58.8 | 0.0 | 87.1 | 4.4 | 1.6 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 12.4 |
| Junior Bridgeman | 5 | 24.8 | 35.7 | 0.0 | 73.3 | 3.8 | 3.4 | 1.0 | 0.4 | 10.2 |
| Dave Meyers | 7 | 27.9 | 41.9 | 0.0 | 46.7 | 5.0 | 2.0 | 1.3 | 0.9 | 9.4 |
| Richard Washington | 7 | 16.0 | 53.2 | 0.0 | 25.0 | 2.9 | 0.4 | 0.6 | 1.1 | 7.3 |
| Quinn Buckner | 7 | 23.6 | 34.0 | 0.0 | 63.6 | 2.3 | 4.4 | 2.1 | 0.0 | 6.1 |
| Pat Cummings | 6 | 9.5 | 64.7 | 0.0 | 83.3 | 2.7 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 4.5 |
| Harvey Catchings | 6 | 10.7 | 33.3 | 0.0 | 50.0 | 3.5 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 1.3 | 1.0 |
| Lloyd Walton | 1 | 4.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 |

## Awards and records

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

## Transactions
### Trades

| May 31, 1979 | To Milwaukee Bucks---- Harvey Catchings | To New Jersey Nets---- John Gianelli |
| October 9, 1979 | To Milwaukee Bucks---- Richard Washington | To Kansas City Kings---- Ernie Grunfeld |
| February 4, 1980 | To Milwaukee Bucks---- Bob Lanier | To Detroit Pistons---- Kent Benson 1980 1st round pick (Larry Drew) |