# 1977–78 Milwaukee Bucks season

The 1977–78 NBA season was the Bucks' tenth season in the NBA. The Bucks had drafted Marques Johnson from UCLA in the 1977 NBA draft.

## Draft picks

| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | College |
| 1 | 1 | Kent Benson | C | United States | Indiana |
| 1 | 3 | Marques Johnson | SF | United States | UCLA |
| 1 | 11 | Ernie Grunfeld | SG/SF | Romania United States | Tennessee |
| 2 | 27 | Glen Williams | | United States | St. John's |
| 3 | 47 | Gary Yoder | SG | United States | Cincinnati |
| 4 | 69 | Lewis Brown | C | United States | Nevada-Las Vegas |
| 5 | 91 | Ron Norwood | | United States | DePaul |
| 6 | 113 | Chuck Goodyear | | United States | Miami |
| 7 | 134 | Ron Bostic | | United States | Detroit Mercy |
| 8 | 154 | Larry Pikes | | United States | Wisconsin-Milwaukee |

## Regular season
### Season standings

| Midwest Divisionvte | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div |
| y-Denver Nuggets | 48 | 34 | .585 | – | 33–8 | 15–26 | 11–9 |
| x-Milwaukee Bucks | 44 | 38 | .537 | 4 | 28–13 | 16–25 | 14–6 |
| Chicago Bulls | 40 | 42 | .488 | 8 | 29–12 | 11–30 | 8–12 |
| Detroit Pistons | 38 | 44 | .463 | 10 | 24–17 | 14–27 | 8–12 |
| Indiana Pacers | 31 | 51 | .378 | 17 | 21–20 | 10–31 | 8–12 |
| Kansas City Kings | 31 | 51 | .378 | 17 | 22–19 | 9–32 | 11–9 |
| # | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte |
| # | Team | W | L | PCT | GB |
| 1 | z-Portland Trail Blazers | 58 | 24 | .707 | – |
| 2 | y-Denver Nuggets | 48 | 34 | .585 | 10 |
| 3 | x-Phoenix Suns | 49 | 33 | .598 | 9 |
| 4 | x-Seattle SuperSonics | 47 | 35 | .573 | 11 |
| 5 | x-Los Angeles Lakers | 45 | 37 | .549 | 13 |
| 6 | x-Milwaukee Bucks | 44 | 38 | .537 | 14 |
| 7 | Golden State Warriors | 43 | 39 | .524 | 15 |
| 8 | Chicago Bulls | 40 | 42 | .488 | 18 |
| 9 | Detroit Pistons | 38 | 44 | .463 | 20 |
| 10 | Indiana Pacers | 31 | 51 | .378 | 27 |
| 11 | Kansas City Kings | 31 | 51 | .378 | 27 |
    z – clinched division title
    y – clinched division title
    x – clinched playoff spot

### Record vs. opponents

1977–78 NBA Records :
| Team | ATL | BOS | BUF | CHI | CLE | DEN | DET | GSW | HOU | IND | KCK | LAL | MIL | NJN | NOJ | NYK | PHI | PHO | POR | SAS | SEA | WAS |
| Atlanta | — | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–1 | 1–3 |
| Boston | 2–2 | — | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 1–3 |
| Buffalo | 1–3 | 1–3 | — | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 0–3 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 |
| Chicago | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | — | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 3–0 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–1 |
| Cleveland | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | — | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–2 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 2–2 |
| Denver | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | — | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–0 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 |
| Detroit | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | — | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–0 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 |
| Golden State | 3–1 | 2–2 | 3–0 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | — | 2–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 |
| Houston | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 0–3 | 1–3 | 1–2 | — | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 1–3 |
| Indiana | 1–3 | 1–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | — | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 3–1 |
| Kansas City | 1–2 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | — | 2–2 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 2–2 |
| Los Angeles | 1–3 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | — | 3–1 | 4–0 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 |
| Milwaukee | 2–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 1–3 | — | 3–1 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 1–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 |
| New Jersey | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | — | 0–4 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 0–3 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 2–2 |
| New Orleans | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 4–0 | — | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 0–4 |
| New York | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 3–0 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 3–1 | — | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 2–2 |
| Philadelphia | 2–2 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 3–1 | — | 2–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 |
| Phoenix | 1–3 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–2 | — | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 |
| Portland | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 3–0 | 2–2 | 3–1 | — | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–1 |
| San Antonio | 3–1 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | — | 2–2 | 2–2 |
| Seattle | 1–2 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | — | 1–3 |
| Washington | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | — |

### Game log

1977–78 game log Total: 44–38 (home: 6–1; road: 0–2) :
October: 3–2 (home: 3–0; road: 0–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
1October 18, 1977Los Angeles
W 117–112
MECCA Arena
1–0
2October 19, 1977@ Denver
L 115–133
McNichols Sports Arena
1—1
3October 22, 1977Chicago
W 113–95
MECCA Arena
2–1
4October 27, 1977@ Houston
L 110–133
The Summit
2—2
5October 30, 1977Seattle
W 108–95
MECCA Arena
3–2 :
November: 2–3 (home: 2–2; road: 0–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
6November 1, 1977Kansas City
W 115–95
MECCA Arena
4–2
7November 3, 1977@ Cleveland
L 91—100
Coliseum at Richfield
4–3
8November 4, 1977Houston
W 110–108
MECCA Arena
5–3
9November 8, 1977Denver
L 101–111
MECCA Arena
5–4
11November 11, 1977Cleveland
L 82–88
MECCA Arena
6–5 :
December: 1–0 (home: 1–0; road: 0–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
24December 4, 1977New Jersey
W 134–118 OT
MECCA Arena
13–11 :
January: 2–0 (home: 2–0; road: 0–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
42January 10, 1978Indiana
W 125–103
MECCA Arena
25–19
48January 22, 1978Chicago
W 112–90
MECCA Arena
26–22 :
February: 1–0 (home: 1–0; road: 0–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
57February 15, 1978New Orleans
W 112–99
MECCA Arena
29–28 :
March: 0–0 (home: 0–0; road: 0–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord :
April: 0–0 (home: 0–0; road: 0–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord :
1977–78 schedule :

## Playoffs

1978 playoff game log :
First Round: 2–0 (home: 1–0; road: 1–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceSeries
1
April 11
@ Phoenix
W 111–103
Brian Winters (31)
Marques Johnson (16)
Quinn Buckner (8)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12,161
1–0
2
April 14
Phoenix
W 94–90
Marques Johnson (33)
Dave Meyers (14)
Quinn Buckner (10)
MECCA Arena 10,938
2–0 :
Conference semifinals: 3–4 (home: 2–1; road: 1–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceSeries
1
April 18
@ Denver
L 103–119
Alex English (26)
Dave Meyers (15)
Brian Winters (11)
McNichols Sports Arena 17,297
0–1
2
April 21
@ Denver
L 111–127
Marques Johnson (22)
Johnson, Meyers (5)
Lloyd Walton (8)
McNichols Sports Arena 17,838
0–2
3
April 23
Denver
W 143–112
Marques Johnson (35)
Marques Johnson (10)
Lloyd Walton (11)
MECCA Arena 10,938
1–2
4
April 25
Denver
L 104–118
Johnson, Winters (14)
Marques Johnson (7)
Brian Winters (6)
MECCA Arena 10,938
1–3
5
April 28
@ Denver
W 117–112
Marques Johnson (34)
Marques Johnson (17)
Winters, Buckner (9)
McNichols Sports Arena 17,838
2–3
6
April 30
Denver
W 119–91
Alex English (21)
Marques Johnson (17)
Marques Johnson (9)
MECCA Arena 10,938
3–3
7
May 3
@ Denver
L 110–116
Brian Winters (27)
Marques Johnson (16)
Quinn Buckner (10)
McNichols Sports Arena 17,838
3–4 :
1978 schedule :

## Player statistics
### Season

Season :
| Player | GP | MPG | FG% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
| Brian Winters | 80 | 34.4 | 46.3 | 84.0 | 3.1 | 4.9 | 1.6 | 0.3 | 19.9 |
| Marques Johnson | 80 | 34.6 | 52.2 | 73.6 | 10.6 | 2.4 | 1.2 | 1.3 | 19.5 |
| Dave Meyers | 80 | 30.2 | 46.1 | 72.2 | 6.7 | 3.0 | 1.1 | 0.6 | 14.7 |
| Junior Bridgeman | 82 | 22.9 | 50.3 | 81.0 | 3.5 | 2.1 | 0.9 | 0.4 | 13.6 |
| Alex English | 82 | 18.9 | 54.2 | 72.7 | 4.8 | 1.6 | 0.5 | 0.7 | 9.6 |
| Quinn Buckner | 82 | 25.3 | 46.8 | 64.5 | 3.0 | 5.6 | 2.3 | 0.2 | 9.3 |
| John Gianelli | 82 | 28.4 | 48.8 | 64.2 | 6.2 | 2.3 | 0.7 | 1.1 | 8.5 |
| Kent Benson | 69 | 18.7 | 46.5 | 65.2 | 4.3 | 1.4 | 1.0 | 0.8 | 7.7 |
| Ernie Grunfeld | 73 | 17.3 | 44.3 | 65.7 | 2.7 | 2.0 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 6.9 |
| Lloyd Walton | 76 | 16.6 | 44.8 | 65.1 | 1.0 | 3.3 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 4.8 |
| Kevin Restani | 8 | 10.5 | 46.4 | 0.0 | 1.8 | 1.1 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 3.3 |
| Jim Eakins | 17 | 9.1 | 41.2 | 80.8 | 1.7 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 2.9 |
| Rich Laurel | 10 | 5.7 | 32.3 | 100.0 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 2.4 |
| Scott Lloyd | 14 | 8.0 | 36.4 | 60.0 | 1.9 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 2.1 |

### Playoffs

Playoffs :
| Player | GP | MPG | FG% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
| Marques Johnson | 9 | 35.7 | 54.9 | 75.0 | 12.4 | 3.4 | 1.1 | 1.9 | 24.0 |
| Brian Winters | 9 | 33.9 | 49.7 | 74.1 | 3.3 | 6.4 | 1.3 | 0.9 | 20.4 |
| Alex English | 9 | 23.1 | 61.5 | 78.1 | 4.7 | 1.4 | 0.7 | 0.8 | 13.4 |
| Dave Meyers | 9 | 31.0 | 44.4 | 66.7 | 8.2 | 3.9 | 0.8 | 1.2 | 12.9 |
| Quinn Buckner | 9 | 28.6 | 50.0 | 65.2 | 3.0 | 6.9 | 2.0 | 0.1 | 11.2 |
| Junior Bridgeman | 9 | 19.8 | 48.4 | 75.0 | 2.0 | 1.2 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 10.4 |
| John Gianelli | 9 | 32.2 | 42.4 | 76.9 | 6.4 | 1.6 | 0.9 | 1.2 | 7.8 |
| Ernie Grunfeld | 7 | 11.0 | 53.1 | 80.0 | 1.6 | 2.4 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 5.4 |
| Lloyd Walton | 9 | 13.8 | 48.6 | 61.5 | 0.4 | 4.1 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 4.7 |
| Kent Benson | 9 | 11.4 | 47.8 | 54.5 | 1.7 | 0.3 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 3.1 |
| Jim Eakins | 3 | 6.0 | 20.0 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.7 |

## Awards and records

* Quinn Buckner, NBA All-Defensive Second Team
* Marques Johnson, NBA All-Rookie Team 1st Team
* On Friday, November 25, 1977, the day after Thanksgiving, and on the road, the Bucks overcame the largest 4th quarter deficit in NBA history, defeating the Atlanta Hawks after being down by 29 points with only 8:43 left in the game. Atlanta led 111–82 before Milwaukee went on a 35–4 run to win 117–115 in regulation. This record was set without the use of the three-point field goal, since its NBA inception was not until the 1979–80 season.

## Transactions
### Trades

| June 7, 1977 | To Milwaukee Bucks---- 1977 1st round pick (Marques Johnson) | To Buffalo Braves---- Swen Nater 1977 1st round pick |
| September 2, 1977 | To Milwaukee Bucks---- John Gianelli | To Buffalo Braves---- 1979 1st round draft pick (Roy Hamilton) |

### Free agents

| Player | Signed | Former team |
| Jim Eakins | January 13, 1978 | San Antonio Spurs |