# 1978–79 Kansas City Kings season

The 1978–79 NBA season was the Kings 30th season in the NBA and their seventh season in the city of Kansas City.

## 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
### Regular season

1978–79 game log Total: 48–34 (Home: 32–9; Road: 16–25) :
October: 4–5 (home: 3–1; road: 1–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
1
October 15, 1978
@ Seattle
L 105–115
Kingdome
0–1
2
October 17, 1978
@ Portland
L 112–115
Memorial Coliseum
0–2
3
October 19, 1978
Houston
W 108–103
Kemper Arena
1–2
7
October 27, 1978
@ Detroit
L 102–107
Pontiac Silverdome
3–4
8
October 28, 1978
Phoenix
W 112–101
Kemper Arena
4–4 :
November: 8–3 (home: 6–1; road: 2–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
12
November 4, 1978
Denver
W 109–107
Kemper Arena
6–6
14
November 10, 1978
@ Los Angeles
L 127–136
The Forum
7–7
15
November 11, 1978
@ Denver
W 117–113
McNichols Sports Arena
8–7
16
November 15, 1978
Atlanta
W 109–100
Kemper Arena
9–7
17
November 18, 1978
New Jersey
W 114–100
Kemper Arena
10–7
18
November 22, 1978
Portland
W 115–96
Kemper Arena
11–7 :
December: 8–6 (home: 3–3; road: 5–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
21
December 2, 1978
@ Washington
W 110–109
Capital Centre
13–8
23
December 6, 1978
Philadelphia
L 106–114
Kemper Arena
14–9
24
December 9, 1978
Detroit
W 132–108
Kemper Arena
15–9
25
December 13, 1978
@ Philadelphia
L 100–120
The Spectrum
15–10
28
December 20, 1978
Seattle
W 114–95
Kemper Arena
18–10
29
December 22, 1978
@ Phoenix
L 103–123
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
18–11
31
December 26, 1978
Houston
L 102–109
Kemper Arena
19–12
33
December 29, 1978
@ New Jersey
W 137–126
Rutgers Athletic Center
20–13 :
January: 10–6 (home: 7–1; road: 3–5)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
35
January 2, 1979
Denver
L 97–99
Kemper Arena
20–15
36
January 3, 1979
@ Denver
W 108–101
McNichols Sports Arena
21–15
39
January 9, 1979
@ Houston
L 110–126
The Summit
23–16
44
January 19, 1979
San Antonio
W 115–113
Kemper Arena
28–16
45
January 20, 1979
@ Detroit
L 110–122
Pontiac Silverdome
28–17
47
January 24, 1979
@ San Antonio
L 95–124
HemisFair Arena
28–19
48
January 26, 1979
Washington
W 142–128
Kemper Arena
29–19
50
January 31, 1979
@ Atlanta
L 118–130
The Omni
30–20 :
February: 10–4 (home: 8–0; road: 2–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
51
February 2, 1979
Detroit
W 114–95
Kemper Arena
31–20
All-Star Break
52
February 7, 1979
Atlanta
W 124–108
Kemper Arena
32–20
54
February 11, 1979
Los Angeles
W 104–103
Kemper Arena
34–20
55
February 13, 1979
@ New Jersey
L 102–111
Rutgers Athletic Center
34–21
56
February 14, 1979
@ Philadelphia
W 108–106
The Spectrum
35–21
57
February 16, 1979
Philadelphia
W 119–104
Kemper Arena
36–21
61
February 23, 1979
Phoenix
W 121–112
Kemper Arena
39–22
62
February 25, 1979
Seattle
W 114–106
Kemper Arena
40–22
63
February 27, 1979
@ Los Angeles
L 114–122
The Forum
40–23 :
March: 5–10 (home: 3–3; road: 2–7)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
65
March 2, 1979
@ San Antonio
L 125–129 (OT)
HemisFair Arena
40–25
67
March 7, 1979
@ Atlanta
L 120–122 (OT)
The Omni
40–27
68
March 9, 1979
Washington
W 121–116
Kemper Arena
41–27
69
March 11, 1979
Portland
L 100–115
Kemper Arena
41–28
70
March 14, 1979
@ Houston
L 107–129
The Summit
41–29
73
March 21, 1979
San Antonio
L 116–123
Kemper Arena
43–30
74
March 23, 1979
@ Phoenix
L 107–126
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
43–31
75
March 24, 1979
@ Portland
L 98–100
Memorial Coliseum
43–32
76
March 25, 1979
@ Seattle
L 101–111
Kingdome
43–33 :
April: 3–0 (home: 2–0; road: 1–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
80
April 4, 1979
Los Angeles
W 115–111 (OT)
Kemper Arena
46–34
81
April 6, 1978
New Jersey
W 117–114 (OT)
Kemper Arena
47–34 :
1978–79 schedule :

### Playoffs

1979 playoff game log :
Western Conference Semifinals: 1–4 (home: 1–1; road: 0–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceSeries
1
April 17, 1979
@ Phoenix
L 99–102
Birdsong (20)
Lacey (12)
Ford (7)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12,660
0–1
2
April 20, 1979
Phoenix
W 111–91
Birdsong (23)
Wedman (10)
Ford (9)
Kemper Arena 13,659
1–1
3
April 22, 1979
@ Phoenix
L 93–108
Birdsong Wedman (22)
Robinzine (10)
Ford, Lacey, McKinney (5)
Arizona State University Activity Center 14,301
1–2
4
April 25, 1979
Phoenix
L 94–108
Wedman (21)
Lacey (13)
Ford Lacey (5)
Kemper Arena 13,184
1–3
5
April 27, 1979
@ Phoenix
L 99–120
Birdsong (21)
Lacey (10)
McKinney (7)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12,660
1–4 :
1979 schedule :

## Awards and records

* Phil Ford, NBA Rookie of the Year Award
* Cotton Fitzsimmons, NBA Coach of the Year Award
* Phil Ford, All-NBA Second Team
* Phil Ford, NBA All-Rookie Team 1st Team