# 1979–80 Philadelphia 76ers season

The 1979–80 Philadelphia 76ers season was the 76ers 31st season in the National Basketball Association (NBA) and 17th season in Philadelphia. They finished with a record of 59–23, their best since the 1967–68 season.

## Overview

The team had acquired guard Lionel Hollins from the Portland Trail Blazers after their effort to obtain Pete Maravich failed as he signed with the Boston Celtics.
In the playoffs, they won the 1980 Eastern Conference Championship over the Boston Celtics 4–1. In the 1980 NBA Finals they would lose to the Los Angeles Lakers 4–2. The series was memorable for Julius Erving's baseline move in Game 4, and Magic Johnson's 42-point effort in Game 6 starting the game at center in place of an injured Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

## Offseason
### NBA draft

| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | School/Club Team |
| 1 | 16 | Jim Spanarkel | SG | United States | Duke |
| 2 | 36 | Clint Richardson | SG | United States | Seattle |
| 2 | 37 | Bernard Toone | PF | United States | Marquette |
| 3 | 58 | Earl Cureton | PF | United States | Detroit |
| 4 | 83 | Mike Niles | SF | United States | Cal State Fullerton |

## 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 |

### 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: 59–23 (home: 36–5; road: 23–18) :
October: 8–1 (home: 4–0; road: 4–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
1
October 12, 1979
@ Washington
W 93–92
Capital Centre
1–0
2
October 13, 1979
Houston
W 113–105
The Spectrum
2–0
3
October 17, 1979
@ New Jersey
W 113–88
Rutgers Athletic Center
3–0
4
October 19, 1979
Detroit
W 112–104
The Spectrum
4–0
5
October 20, 1979
@ New York
W 136–111
Madison Square Garden
5–0
6
October 24, 1979
Indiana
W 132–110
The Spectrum
6–0
7
October 26, 1979
New York
W 127–116
TheSpectrum
7–0
8
October 27, 1979
@ Cleveland
W 112–106
Richfield Coliseum
8–0
9
October 31, 1979
@ Atlanta
L 97–102
The Omni
8–1 :
November: 10–6 (home: 7–2; road: 3–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
10
November 2, 1979
Atlanta
L 81–85
The Spectrum
8–2
11
November 3, 1979
@ Indiana
W 120–114 (2OT)
Market Square Arena
9–2
12
November 6, 1979
@ Milwaukee
W 118–117 (OT)
MECCA Arena
10–2
13
November 7, 1979
Kansas City
W 110–102
The Spectrum
11–2
14
November 9, 1979
@ Detroit
L 98–106
Pontiac Silverdome
11–3
15
November 10, 1979
Boston
W 95–94
The Spectrum
12–3
16
November 13, 1979
@ Kansas City
L 103–110
Municipal Auditorium
12–4
17
November 16, 1979
San Antonio
L 105–106
The Spectrum
12–5
18
November 17, 1979
@ Chicago
L 103–106 (OT)
Chicago Stadium
12–6
19
November 20, 1979
@ San Antonio
W 118–114
HemisFair Arena
13–6
20
November 21, 1979
@ Houston
L 94–97
The Summit
13–7
21
November 23, 1979
Houston
W 113–102
The Spectrum
14–7
22
November 24, 1979
New Jersey
W 91–82
The Spectrum
15–7
23
November 26, 1979
Indiana
W 113–112
The Spectrum
16–7
24
November 28, 1979
Washington
W 120–102
The Spectrum
17–7
25
November 30, 1979
San Diego
W 104–101
The Spectrum
18–7 :
December: 9–4 (home: 6–1; road: 3–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
26
December 1, 1979
Cleveland
W 117–105
The Spectrum
19–7
27
December 5, 1979
San Antonio
W 132–120
The Spectrum
20–7
28
December 8, 1979
Phoenix
W 117–96
The Spectrum
21–7
29
December 12, 1979
Milwaukee
W 112–91
The Spectrum
22–7
30
December 14, 1979
Atlanta
L 98–103
The Spectrum
22–8
31
December 15, 1979
@ Atlanta
L 96–112
The Omni
22–9
32
December 18, 1979
@ Detroit
W 114–102
Pontiac Silverdome
23–9
33
December 19, 1979
@ Boston
L 89–112
Boston Garden
23–10
34
December 21, 1979
Houston
W 117–106
The Spectrum
24–10
35
December 22, 1979
Boston
W 126–113
The Spectrum
25–10
36
December 25, 1979
@ Washington
W 93–92
Capital Centre
26–10
37
December 27, 1979
@ San Antonio
W 118–114
HemisFair Arena
27–10
38
December 29, 1979
@ Houston
L 100–104
The Summit
27–11 :
January: 11–3 (home: 6–0; road: 5–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
39
January 3, 1980
@ Cleveland
W 109–108
Richfield Coliseum
28–11
40
January 8, 1980
@ New York
W 111–108
Madison Square Garden
29–11
41
January 9, 1980
New Jersey
W 108–105
The Spectrum
30–11
42
January 11, 1980
Washington
W 119–106
The Spectrum
31–11
43
January 13, 1980
New York
W 126–112
The Spectrum
32–11
44
January 16, 1980
Portland
W 121–110
The Spectrum
33–11
45
January 18, 1980
@ New Jersey
W 112–105
Rutgers Athletic Center
34–11
46
January 19, 1980
Cleveland
W 111–107
The Spectrum
35–11
47
January 23, 1980
@ Denver
W 118–93
McNichols Sports Arena
36–11
48
January 25, 1980
@ Los Angeles
L 103–124
The Forum
36–12
49
January 27, 1980
@ Phoenix
L 118–125
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
36–13
50
January 28, 1980
@ Utah
L 101–107
Salt Palace
36–14
51
January 30, 1980
Detroit
W 121–108
The Spectrum
37–14
52
January 31, 1980
@ Houston
W 110–105
The Summit
38–14 :
February: 10–3 (home: 5–1; road: 5–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
All-Star Break
53
February 5, 1980
@ Indiana
W 109–108
Market Square Arena
39–14
54
February 6, 1980
@ Boston
L 110–129
Boston Garden
39–15
55
February 8, 1980
Seattle
L 94–109
The Spectrum
39–16
56
February 10, 1980
Los Angeles
W 105–104
The Spectrum
40–16
57
February 13, 1980
Utah
W 107–85
The Spectrum
41–16
58
February 15, 1980
@ Detroit
W 114–104
Pontiac Silverdome
42–16
59
February 16, 1980
Chicago
W 100–92
The Spectrum
43–16
60
February 17, 1980
Cleveland
W 115–100
The Spectrum
44–16
61
February 21, 1980
@ San Diego
L 99–104
San Diego Sports Arena
44–17
62
February 24, 1980
@ Golden State
W 103–100
Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena
45–17
63
February 26, 1980
@ Portland
W 98–96
Memorial Coliseum
46–17
64
February 27, 1980
@ Seattle
W 101–98 (OT)
Kingdome
47–17
65
February 29, 1980
Denver
W 104–103
The Spectrum
48–17 :
March: 11–6 (home: 8–1; road: 3–5)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
66
March 2, 1980
Golden State
W 144–99
The Spectrum
48–18
67
March 5, 1980
Indiana
W 120–113
The Spectrum
49–18
68
March 7, 1980
@ Boston
L 92–111
Boston Garden
50–18
69
March 9, 1980
@ San Antonio
W 134–118
HemisFair Arena
51–18
70
March 11, 1980
@ Atlanta
W 102–97 (OT)
The Omni
52–18
71
March 12, 1980
Washington
W 105–98
The Spectrum
53–18
72
March 14, 1980
@ Indiana
L 94–104
Market Square Arena
53–19
73
March 16, 1980
@ Cleveland
L 109–123
Richfield Coliseum
53–20
74
March 17, 1980
Detroit
W 123–109
The Spectrum
54–20
75
March 19, 1980
San Antonio
L 99–105
The Spectrum
54–21
76
March 20, 1980
@ Washington
L 113–119 (OT)
Capital Centre
54–22
77
March 21, 1980
New Jersey
W 108–99
The Spectrum
55–22
78
March 23, 1980
New York
W 112–108
The Spectrum
56–22
79
March 26, 1980
Atlanta
W 84–81
The Spectrum
57–22
80
March 27, 1980
@ New York
W 103–101
Madison Square Garden
58–22
81
March 28, 1980
@ New Jersey
L 92–99
Rutgers Athletic Center
58–23
82
March 30, 1980
Boston
W 116–110
The Spectrum
59–23 :
1979–80 schedule :

### Playoffs

1980 playoff game log :
First Round: 2–0 (home: 1–0; road: 1–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceSeries
1
April 2, 1980
Washington
W 111–96
Lionel Hollins (21)
Caldwell Jones (26)
Maurice Cheeks (6)
The Spectrum 12,567
1–0
2
April 4, 1980
@ Washington
W 112–104
Julius Erving (31)
Lionel Hollins (9)
Maurice Cheeks (7)
Capital Centre 18,397
2–0 :
Conference semifinals: 4–1 (home: 2–0; road: 2–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceSeries
1
April 6, 1980
Atlanta
W 107–104
Julius Erving (28)
Caldwell Jones (13)
Maurice Cheeks (9)
The Spectrum 10,561
1–0
2
April 9, 1980
Atlanta
W 99–92
Darryl Dawkins (22)
Bobby Jones (9)
Maurice Cheeks (7)
The Spectrum 18,276
2–0
3
April 10, 1980
@ Atlanta
L 93–105
Julius Erving (26)
Caldwell Jones (16)
Caldwell Jones (4)
The Omni 15,617
2–1
4
April 13, 1980
@ Atlanta
W 107–83
Hollins, B. Jones (20)
Caldwell Jones (11)
Maurice Cheeks (5)
The Omni 15,617
3–1
5
April 15, 1980
Atlanta
W 105–100
Dawkins, Erving (30)
Caldwell Jones (13)
Lionel Hollins (7)
The Spectrum 18,276
4–1 :
Conference finals: 4–1 (home: 2–0; road: 2–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceSeries
1
April 18, 1980
@ Boston
W 96–93
Julius Erving (29)
Darryl Dawkins (10)
Cheeks, Hollins (6)
Boston Garden 15,320
1–0
2
April 20, 1980
@ Boston
L 90–96
Julius Erving (24)
Darryl Dawkins (11)
Lionel Hollins (5)
Boston Garden 15,320
1–1
3
April 23, 1980
Boston
W 99–97
Julius Erving (28)
Julius Erving (11)
Lionel Hollins (9)
The Spectrum 18,276
2–1
4
April 25, 1980
Boston
W 102–90
Julius Erving (30)
Julius Erving (10)
Maurice Cheeks (10)
The Spectrum 18,276
3–1
5
April 27, 1980
@ Boston
W 105–94
Lionel Hollins (24)
three players tied (9)
Lionel Hollins (7)
Boston Garden 15,320
4–1 :
NBA Finals: 2–4 (home: 1–2; road: 1–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceSeries
1
May 4, 1980
@ Los Angeles
L 102–109
Julius Erving (20)
Bobby Jones (10)
Lionel Hollins (8)
The Forum 17,505
0–1
2
May 7, 1980
@ Los Angeles
W 107–104
Darryl Dawkins (25)
Julius Erving (10)
Maurice Cheeks (10)
The Forum 17,505
1–1
3
May 10, 1980
Los Angeles
L 101–111
Julius Erving (24)
Caldwell Jones (11)
Lionel Hollins (9)
The Spectrum 18,726
1–2
4
May 11, 1980
Los Angeles
W 105–102
Darryl Dawkins (26)
Caldwell Jones (10)
Lionel Hollins (13)
The Spectrum 18,726
2–2
5
May 14, 1980
@ Los Angeles
L 103–108
Julius Erving (36)
Caldwell Jones (10)
Lionel Hollins (10)
The Forum 17,505
2–3
6
May 16, 1980
Los Angeles
L 107–123
Julius Erving (27)
Bobby Jones (9)
Maurice Cheeks (8)
The Spectrum 18,726
2–4 :
1980 schedule :

## Awards and records

* Julius Erving, All-NBA First Team
* Bobby Jones, NBA All-Defensive First Team