# 1978–79 Milwaukee Bucks season

The 1978–79 NBA season was the Bucks' 11th season in the NBA.

## Draft picks

| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | College |
| 1 | 12 | George Johnson | PF | United States | St. John's |
| 3 | 59 | Pat Cummings | PF | United States | Cincinnati |
| 4 | 80 | Otis Howard | F | United States | Austin Peay State |
| 5 | 103 | Russ Coleman | | United States | Pacific |
| 6 | 124 | Dave Kyle | | United States | Cleveland State |
| 7 | 146 | Kim Anderson | | United States | Missouri |
| 8 | 164 | Tom Zaligaris | | United States | North Carolina |
| 9 | 182 | Gary Rosenberger | | United States | Marquette |
| 10 | 196 | Tom Anderson | | United States | Wisconsin-Green Bay |

## Regular season
### Season standings

| Midwest Divisionvte | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div |
| y-Kansas City Kings | 48 | 34 | .585 | – | 32–9 | 16–25 | 12–4 |
| x-Denver Nuggets | 47 | 35 | .573 | 1 | 29–12 | 18–23 | 8–8 |
| Indiana Pacers | 38 | 44 | .463 | 10 | 25–16 | 13–28 | 6–10 |
| Milwaukee Bucks | 38 | 44 | .463 | 10 | 28–13 | 10–31 | 9–7 |
| Chicago Bulls | 31 | 51 | .378 | 17 | 19–22 | 12–29 | 5–11 |
| # | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte |
| # | Team | W | L | PCT | GB |
| 1 | z-Seattle SuperSonics | 52 | 30 | .634 | – |
| 2 | y-Kansas City Kings | 48 | 34 | .585 | 4 |
| 3 | x-Phoenix Suns | 50 | 32 | .610 | 2 |
| 4 | x-Denver Nuggets | 47 | 35 | .573 | 5 |
| 5 | x-Los Angeles Lakers | 47 | 35 | .573 | 5 |
| 6 | x-Portland Trail Blazers | 45 | 37 | .549 | 7 |
| 7 | San Diego Clippers | 43 | 39 | .524 | 9 |
| 8 | Indiana Pacers | 38 | 44 | .463 | 14 |
| 9 | Milwaukee Bucks | 38 | 44 | .463 | 14 |
| 10 | Golden State Warriors | 38 | 44 | .463 | 14 |
| 11 | Chicago Bulls | 31 | 51 | .378 | 21 |
    z - clinched division title
    y - clinched division title
    x - clinched playoff spot

### Record vs. opponents

1978-79 NBA Records :
| Team | ATL | BOS | CHI | CLE | DEN | DET | GSW | HOU | IND | KCK | LAL | MIL | NJN | NOJ | NYK | PHI | PHO | POR | SAS | SDC | SEA | WAS |
| Atlanta | — | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 3–0 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 |
| Boston | 2–2 | — | 1–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 0–4 |
| Chicago | 1–3 | 2–1 | — | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 0–3 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 1–3 |
| Cleveland | 1–3 | 2–2 | 3–1 | — | 1–2 | 1–3 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–4 |
| Denver | 1–3 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–1 | — | 2–2 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 0–3 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 |
| Detroit | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | — | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 0–3 | 1–3 |
| Golden State | 3–1 | 1–2 | 1–3 | 1–2 | 0–4 | 3–1 | — | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 2–2 |
| Houston | 1–3 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | — | 0–4 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 |
| Indiana | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 4–0 | — | 1–3 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 1–3 |
| Kansas City | 2–2 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 | — | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–0 |
| Los Angeles | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–2 | 4–0 | 2–2 | — | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–0 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 |
| Milwaukee | 0–3 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | — | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 |
| New Jersey | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | — | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 3–0 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 |
| New Orleans | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 1–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | — | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 0–3 | 0–4 |
| New York | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 0–3 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | — | 2–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 |
| Philadelphia | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 3–0 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | — | 1–3 | 1–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 |
| Phoenix | 1–2 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–3 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 3–1 | — | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 |
| Portland | 2–2 | 3–1 | 0–4 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 1–3 | — | 2–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 |
| San Antonio | 1–3 | 4–0 | 3–0 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–2 | — | 4–0 | 2–2 | 1–3 |
| San Diego | 1–3 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–4 | — | 2–2 | 0–3 |
| Seattle | 3–1 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 3–0 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 3–0 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | — | 2–2 |
| Washington | 2–2 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 0–3 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 3–0 | 2–2 | — |

### Game log

1978–79 game log Total: 38–44 (Home: 0–0; Road: 0–0) :
October: 1–1 (home: 0–0; road: 1–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
1October 14, 1978@ San Antonio
L 111–153
HemisFair Arena
0–1
2October 15, 1978@ New Orleans
W 123–112
Louisiana Superdome
1—1 :
November: 0–0 (home: 0–0; road: 0–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord :
December: 0–0 (home: 0–0; road: 0–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord :
January: 0–0 (home: 0–0; road: 0–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord :
February: 0–0 (home: 0–0; road: 0–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord :
March: 0–0 (home: 0–0; road: 0–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord :
1978–79 schedule :

## Player statistics

Statistics :
| Player | GP | MPG | FG% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
| Marques Johnson | 77 | 36.1 | 55.0 | 76.0 | 7.6 | 3.0 | 1.5 | 1.2 | 25.6 |
| Brian Winters | 79 | 32.6 | 49.3 | 85.6 | 2.2 | 4.8 | 1.1 | 0.5 | 19.8 |
| Junior Bridgeman | 82 | 23.9 | 50.6 | 82.9 | 3.6 | 2.0 | 1.1 | 0.5 | 15.5 |
| Kent Benson | 82 | 26.0 | 51.8 | 73.5 | 7.1 | 2.5 | 1.1 | 1.0 | 12.3 |
| Ernie Grunfeld | 82 | 21.7 | 49.3 | 76.1 | 4.4 | 2.6 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 10.3 |
| Quinn Buckner | 81 | 21.7 | 45.4 | 63.2 | 2.6 | 5.8 | 1.9 | 0.2 | 7.2 |
| John Gianelli | 82 | 25.1 | 48.6 | 70.6 | 5.0 | 2.0 | 0.5 | 0.7 | 7.1 |
| Kevin Restani | 81 | 19.7 | 49.5 | 69.9 | 4.8 | 1.5 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 7.1 |
| George Johnson | 67 | 17.3 | 48.2 | 71.8 | 5.4 | 1.2 | 1.1 | 0.7 | 6.2 |
| Lloyd Walton | 75 | 18.4 | 48.0 | 67.8 | 1.4 | 4.7 | 1.0 | 0.1 | 5.0 |
| Sam Smith | 16 | 7.8 | 40.4 | 75.0 | 0.6 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 3.5 |
| Otis Howard | 3 | 7.3 | 45.5 | 0.0 | 2.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 3.3 |
| Norm Van Lier | 38 | 14.6 | 39.0 | 90.4 | 1.1 | 4.2 | 1.1 | 0.1 | 2.8 |
| Del Beshore | 1 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |

## Transactions
### Trades

| July 26, 1978 | To Milwaukee Bucks---- C. J. Kupec | To Houston Rockets---- 1979 4th round pick (Sammy Drummer) |
| October 23, 1978 | To Milwaukee Bucks---- 1979 4th round pick (Eugene Robinson) | To Detroit Pistons---- Otis Howard |

### Free agents

| Player | Signed | Former team |
| Del Beshore | September 14, 1978 | California University of Pennsylvania |
| Norm Van Lier | October 26, 1978 | Chicago Bulls |

## Awards and records

* Marques Johnson, All-NBA First Team