# 1978–79 San Diego Clippers season

The 1978–79 NBA season was the 9th season of the team formerly known as the Buffalo Braves in the NBA. They had moved from Buffalo, New York to San Diego, California and rechristened themselves as the San Diego Clippers.

## Draft picks

| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | School/Club Team |
| 2 | 41 | Jerome Whitehead | Forward | United States | Marquette |
| 3 | 48 | Mike Santos | Forward | United States | Utah State |
| 3 | 51 | Ricky Gallon | Center | United States | Louisville |
| 3 | 65 | Marvin Delph | Guard | United States | Arkansas |
| 4 | 68 | Jim Boylan | Guard | United States | Marquette |
| 4 | 73 | Larry Harris | Forward | United States | Pittsburgh |
| 4 | 76 | Leroy McDonald | Guard | United States | Wake Forest |
| 5 | 90 | David Thompson | Forward | United States | Florida State |
| 6 | 112 | Bob Misevicius | Forward | United States | Providence |
| 7 | 133 | Stan Pietkiewicz | Guard | United States | Auburn |
| 8 | 154 | Felton Young | Center | United States | Jacksonville |
| 9 | 172 | Bobby White | Forward | United States | Centenary (LA) |

## Roster
### Roster notes

* This was Kevin Kunnert's second stint with the franchise; he previously played for the Buffalo Braves in 1973–74.

## Regular season
### Game log

1978-79 Regular Season Game Log (43–39) (Home: 29–12; Road: 14–27) :
October (5–6) (Home: 4–2; Road: 1–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecordReport
1October 13@ SunsL 114–128Kermit Washington (25)Kermit Washington (11)Randy Smith (11)Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 11,2170–1
2October 14@ WarriorsL 89–117Tied (21)Kermit Washington (14)Randy Smith (7)Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena 10,2540–2
3October 15NuggetsL 94–98Randy Smith (28)Swen Nater (12)Lloyd Free (4)San Diego Sports Arena 8,3620–3
4October 17BullsW 99–94Lloyd Free (29)Tied (14)Tied (4)San Diego Sports Arena 4,9441–3
5October 18SpursL 125–127Lloyd Free (29)Kermit Washington (16)Lloyd Free (8)San Diego Sports Arena 5,6141–4
6October 20@ BullsW 110–94Nick Weatherspoon (19)Kermit Washington (13)World B. Free (9)Chicago Stadium 12,4122–4
7October 21@ PacersL 119–125Lloyd Free (35)Tied (12)Lloyd Free (6)Market Square Arena 9,2432–5
8October 24LakersW 124–123Lloyd Free (35)Kevin Kunnert (9)Lloyd Free (7)San Diego Sports Arena 11,6373–5
9October 25BucksW 125–116Lloyd Free (38)Swen Nater (15)Lloyd Free (9)San Diego Sports Arena 8,0514–5
10October 27@ LakersL 101–113Lloyd Free (26)Swen Nater (10)Lloyd Free (5)The Forum 9,2464–6
11October 29SuperSonicsW 103–100Randy Smith (26)Kevin Kunnert (10)Randy Smith (6)San Diego Sports Arena 9,4695–6 :
November (6–9) (Home: 4–4; Road: 2–5)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecordReport
12November 2KnicksL 122–127Lloyd Free (42)Kermit Washington (10)Lloyd Free (7)San Diego Sports Arena 9,7445–7
13November 3@ Trail BlazersL 98–119Randy Smith (22)Kermit Washington (11)Randy Smith (4)Memorial Coliseum 12,6665–8
14November 4CavaliersL 106–112Lloyd Free (24)Kermit Washington (14)Lloyd Free (6)San Diego Sports Arena 9,7915–9
15November 7@ JazzW 121–115Lloyd Free (29)Nick Weatherspoon (16)Lloyd Free (6)New Orleans Superdome 6,4116–9
16November 8@ SpursL 125–163Lloyd Free (26)Swen Nater (9)Tied (5)HemisFair Arena 11,3586–10
17November 9@ HawksL 101–125Nick Weatherspoon (25)Swen Nater (10)Tied (4)Omni Coliseum 5,0826–11
18November 11@ RocketsL 123–136Lloyd Free (31)Tied (6)Randy Smith (11)The Summit 9,1796–12
19November 14PacersW 109–106Kermit Washington (29)Swen Nater (12)Lloyd Free (5)San Diego Sports Arena 6,3817–12
20November 16WarriorsW 112–109Lloyd Free (29)Kermit Washington (10)Lloyd Free (5)San Diego Sports Arena 8,4838–12
21November 18JazzW 114–111Randy Smith (36)Swen Nater (17)Randy Smith (6)San Diego Sports Arena 8,1519–12
22November 21HawksL 107–113Lloyd Free (26)Kevin Kunnert (13)Lloyd Free (6)San Diego Sports Arena 6,7309–13
23November 24@ 76ersL 120–134Lloyd Free (33)Kermit Washington (11)Lloyd Free (8)The Spectrum 18,2769–14
24November 25@ KingsW 87–86Lloyd Free (28)Kevin Kunnert (15)Tied (4)Kemper Arena 11,32010–14
25November 26CelticsW 105–103LLoyd Free (28)Kermit Washington (9)Randy Smith (7)San Diego Sports Arena 7,04211–14
26November 30RocketsL 104–113Nick Weatherspoon (22)Nick Weatherspoon (11)Randy Smith (7)San Diego Sports Arena 6,59711–15 :
December (7–6) (Home: 2–2; Road: 5–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecordReport
27December 2PistonsL 113–120Tied (25)Tied (13)Randy Smith (9)San Diego Sports Arena 6,43311–16
28December 6@ CelticsL 111–117Lloyd Free (25)Tied (11)Randy Smith (10)Boston Garden 7,68811–17
29December 9@ NetsL 120–125Lloyd Free (38)Swen Nater (10)Lloyd Free (4)Rutgers Athletic Center 4,28611–18
30December 10@ BucksW 107–106Lloyd Free (28)Tied (12)Lloyd Free (5)MECCA Arena 10,88912–18
31December 12@ KnicksW 105–103Randy Smith (28)Tied (9)Lloyd Free (8)Madison Square Garden 11,98113–18
32December 13@ BulletsL 117–134Randy Smith (29)Swen Nater (9)Randy Smith (6)Capital Centre 7,62113–19
33December 17SunsW 116–100Lloyd Free (30)Swen Nater (13)Randy Smith (5)San Diego Sports Arena 6,06814–19
34December 1976ersL 113–124Lloyd Free (35)Swen Nater (10)Swen Nater (3)San Diego Sports Arena 13,82214–20
35December 25@ SuperSonicsW 123–118Randy Smith (29)Swen Nater (13)Randy Smith (12)Kingdome 11,91015–20
36December 26BullsW 115–109Lloyd Free (36)Kermit Washington (10)Lloyd Free (5)San Diego Sports Arena 8,58216–20
37December 28@ CavaliersL 114–116Lloyd Free (36)Kevin Kunnert (9)Lloyd Free (6)Richfield Coliseum 11,09116–21
38December 29@ PistonsW 111–107Lloyd Free (35)Swen Nater (14)Randy Smith (8)Pontiac Silverdome 10,28417–21
39December 30@ PacersW 114–111Lloyd Free (30)Kevin Kunnert (13)Sidney Wicks (6)Market Square Arena 7,26318–21 :
January (8–6) (Home: 5–0; Road: 3–6)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecordReport
40January 2PistonsW 137–119Lloyd Free (33)Kermit Washington (17)Kermit Washington (5)San Diego Sports Arena 6,13919–21
41January 4@ KingsL 99–108Randy Smith (37)Kermit Washington (15)Randy Smith (3)Kemper Arena 6,64719–22
42January 6@ BucksL 93–104Freeman Williams (26)Kermit Washington (14)Randy Smith (6)MECCA Arena 10,93819–23
43January 9@ JazzW 114–107Lloyd Free (34)Kermit Washington (10)Tied (7)New Orleans Superdome 6,34220–23
44January 11@ SpursL 111–140Nick Weatherspoon (38)Nick Weatherspoon (9)Randy Smith (12)HemisFair Arena 11,00820–24
45January 13@ HawksL 119–124Lloyd Free (46)Kermit Washington (17)Tied (3)Omni Coliseum 7,68120–25
46January 14@ BulletsL 91–125Randy Smith (24)Kermit Washington (13)Randy Smith (8)Capital Centre 9,58820–26
47January 17LakersW 119–117Lloyd Free (31)Tied (11)Tied (4)San Diego Sports Arena 13,07321–26
48January 24Trail BlazersW 122–121Lloyd Free (35)Nick Weatherspoon (11)Lloyd Free (5)San Diego Sports Arena 9,65922–26
49January 26@ BullsW 107–91Lloyd Free (28)Swen Nater (15)Tied (5)Chicago Stadium 8,52323–26
50January 27@ CavaliersW 111–110Lloyd Free (38)Kermit Washington (15)Lloyd Free (4)Richfield Coliseum 10,52324–26
51January 28@ PistonsL 118–128Lloyd Free (23)Swen Nater (10)Sidney Wicks (6)Pontiac Silverdome 9,27924–27
52January 30BucksW 117–113Randy Smith (26)Kevin Kunnert (14)Tied (7)San Diego Sports Arena 8,43125–27
53January 31NetsW 112–104Lloyd Free (25)Kermit Washington (14)Randy Smith (6)San Diego Sports Arena 7,22726–27 :
February (8-4) (Home: 7–2; Road: 1–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecordReport
54February 2NuggetsW 124–100Lloyd Free (49)Kevin Kunnert (12)Randy Smith (5)San Diego Sports Arena 11,76327–28
55February 7SpursL 113–126Lloyd Free (25)Kermit Washington (10)Tied (4)San Diego Sports Arena 8,49827–28
56February 9@ 76ersL 106–117Randy Smith (25)Nick Weatherspoon (13)Nick Weatherspoon (5)The Spectrum 15,82327–29
57February 11@ NetsL 98–104Lloyd Free (22)Swen Nater (18)Lloyd Free (6)Rutgers Athletic Center 14,74927–30
58February 13BulletsL 136–138 2OTLloyd Free (45)Nick Weatherspoon (10)Lloyd Free (4)San Diego Sports Arena 8,11127–31
59February 15JazzW 122–112Lloyd Free (30)Swen Nater (10)Randy Smith (5)San Diego Sports Arena 5,82728–31
60February 16@ NuggetsW 118–104Randy Smith (25)Kermit Washington (14)Tied (5)McNichols Sports Arena 15,11929–31
61February 18HawksW 116–101Lloyd Free (26)Sidney Wicks (13)Randy Smith (4)San Diego Sports Arena 6,95930–31
62February 2376ersW 117–116Lloyd Free (26)Swen Nater (10)Tied (3)San Diego Sports Arena 13,78331–31
63February 25CelticsW 131–116Lloyd Free (38)Kevin Kunnert (10)Tied (6)San Diego Sports Arena 10,67132–31
64February 27PacersW 124–107Lloyd Free (28)Tied (9)Kermit Washington (6)San Diego Sports Arena 6,15633–31
65February 28KingsW 122–120Randy Smith (22)Swen Nater (8)Randy Smith (7)San Diego Sports Arena 9,05134–31 :
March (7–6) (Home: 5–1; Road: 2–5)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecordReport
66March 2@ CelticsW 106–99Lloyd Free (28)Kermit Washington (15)Randy Smith (6)Boston Garden 14,34535–31
67March 3@ KnicksL 108–111Lloyd Free (34)Kevin Kunnert (23)Tied (6)Madison Square Garden 11,48835–32
68March 7RocketsW 138–115Lloyd Free (34)Swen Nater (10)Tied (5)San Diego Sports Arena 19,91136–32
69March 10CavaliersW 121–115Lloyd Free (33)Swen Nater (12)Tied (3)San Diego Sports Arena 13,78337–32
70March 14Trail BlazersW 110–105Lloyd Free (29)Kevin Kunnert (12)Randy Smith (9)San Diego Sports Arena 13,40138–32
71March 17WarriorsW 106–103Lloyd Free (23)Kevin Kunnert (11)Tied (4)San Diego Sports Arena 11,33239–32
72March 18NetsW 110–98Lloyd Free (31)Nick Weatherspoon (17)Randy Smith (5)San Diego Sports Arena 18,53840–32
73March 20@ Trail BlazersL 109–115Randy Smith (28)Swen Nater (12)Randy Smith (12)Memorial Coliseum 12,66640–33
74March 21@ WarriorsW 106–103Lloyd Free (35)Kevin Kunnert (17)Tied (5)Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena 7,81341–33
75March 23@ LakersL 119–156Randy Smith (33)Kermit Washington (17)Kermit Washington (6)The Forum 14,21241–34
76March 27@ SuperSonicsL 109–115Lloyd Free (28)Tied (9)Lloyd Free (4)Kingdome 20,08741–35
77March 29KingsL 111–116Lloyd Free (37)Kermit Washington (15)Brian Taylor (4)San Diego Sports Arena 13,18941–36
78March 30@ NuggetsL 121–130Lloyd Free (42)Kevin Kunnert (13)Lloyd Free (6)McNichols Sports Arena 17,60741–37 :
April (2–2) (Home: 2–1; Road: 0–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecordReport
79April 1KnicksW 126–116Lloyd Free (28)Kevin Kunnert (15)Tied (4)San Diego Sports Arena 8,37142–37
80April 4SuperSonicsL 107–115Nick Weatherspoon (25)Kermit Washington (13)Randy Smith (5)San Diego Sports Arena 20,08742–38
81April 6@ SunsL 117–118Lloyd Free (29)Swen Nater (10)Tied (4)Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12,66042–39
82April 7SunsW 120–116Lloyd Free (36)Swen Nater (12)Brian Taylor (3)San Diego Sports Arena 11,61443–39 :

### Season standings

| Pacific Divisionvte | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div |
| y-Seattle SuperSonics | 52 | 30 | .634 | – | 31–10 | 21–20 | 11–9 |
| x-Phoenix Suns | 50 | 32 | .610 | 2 | 32–9 | 18–23 | 11–9 |
| x-Los Angeles Lakers | 47 | 35 | .573 | 5 | 31–10 | 16–25 | 11–9 |
| x-Portland Trail Blazers | 45 | 37 | .549 | 7 | 33–8 | 12–29 | 8–12 |
| San Diego Clippers | 43 | 39 | .524 | 9 | 29–12 | 14–27 | 11–9 |
| Golden State Warriors | 38 | 44 | .463 | 14 | 23–18 | 15–26 | 8–12 |
| # | 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 |
Notes
* z, y – division champions
* 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 | — |

## Player stats

Legend :
| GP | Games played | MPG | Minutes per game | FG | Field-goals per game | FGA | Field-goals attempted per Game |
| FG% | Field-goal percentage | FT | Free-throws per game | FTA | Free-throws attempted per Game | FT% | Free-throw percentage |
| ORPG | Offensive rebounds per game | DRPG | Defensive rebounds per game | RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game |
| SPG | Steals per game | BPG | Blocks per game | PFPG | Personal fouls per game | PPG | Points per game |
| Player | GP | MPG | FG | FGA | FG% | FT | FTA | FT% | ORPG | DRPG | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PFPG | PPG |
| Lloyd Free | 78 | 37.9 | 10.2 | 21.2 | 0.481 | 8.4 | 11.1 | 0.756 | 1.6 | 2.2 | 3.9 | 4.4 | 1.4 | 0.4 | 3.2 | 28.8 |
| Randy Smith | 82 | 37.9 | 8.5 | 18.6 | 0.455 | 3.6 | 4.4 | 0.813 | 1.2 | 2.4 | 3.6 | 4.8 | 2.2 | 0.1 | 2.2 | 20.5 |
| Kermit Washington | 82 | 33.7 | 4.3 | 7.6 | 0.562 | 2.8 | 4.0 | 0.688 | 3.6 | 6.1 | 9.8 | 1.5 | 1.0 | 1.5 | 3.9 | 11.3 |
| Nick Weatherspoon | 82 | 32.2 | 5.8 | 12.2 | 0.480 | 2.1 | 2.9 | 0.739 | 2.2 | 3.4 | 5.5 | 1.6 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 3.5 | 13.8 |
| Sidney Wicks | 79 | 25.6 | 3.9 | 8.6 | 0.462 | 1.9 | 2.9 | 0.650 | 2.0 | 3.1 | 5.1 | 1.6 | 0.9 | 0.5 | 3.5 | 9.8 |
| Swen Nater | 79 | 25.4 | 4.5 | 7.9 | 0.569 | 1.7 | 2.1 | 0.800 | 2.8 | 6.1 | 8.9 | 1.8 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 3.1 | 10.7 |
| Kevin Kunnert | 81 | 20.8 | 2.9 | 6.2 | 0.467 | 0.7 | 1.0 | 0.659 | 2.5 | 4.5 | 7.0 | 1.4 | 0.6 | 1.5 | 3.8 | 6.5 |
| Freeman Williams | 72 | 16.6 | 4.7 | 9.5 | 0.490 | 1.1 | 1.4 | 0.776 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 1.4 | 1.2 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 1.2 | 10.4 |
| Connie Norman | 22 | 14.7 | 3.2 | 7.5 | 0.430 | 0.9 | 1.0 | 0.826 | 0.6 | 0.9 | 1.5 | 1.1 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 1.6 | 7.3 |
| Bob Bigelow | 29 | 14.2 | 1.2 | 3.1 | 0.400 | 0.4 | 0.7 | 0.619 | 0.5 | 1.1 | 1.6 | 0.9 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 1.3 | 2.9 |
| Brian Taylor | 20 | 10.6 | 1.5 | 4.2 | 0.361 | 0.8 | 0.9 | 0.889 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 1.3 | 1.0 | 1.2 | 0.0 | 1.7 | 3.8 |
| Stan Pietkiewicz | 4 | 8.0 | 0.3 | 2.0 | 0.125 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 1.000 | 0.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 1.3 | 1.0 |
| Scott Lloyd | 5 | 6.2 | 0.0 | 0.4 | 0.000 | 0.0 | 0.0 | | 0.2 | 0.4 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 1.2 | 0.0 |
| John Olive | 34 | 5.6 | 0.4 | 1.2 | 0.325 | 0.5 | 0.7 | 0.783 | 0.1 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.9 | 1.3 |
| Jerome Whitehead | 31 | 4.9 | 0.5 | 1.1 | 0.441 | 0.3 | 0.6 | 0.444 | 0.5 | 1.1 | 1.6 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.9 | 1.2 |

## Awards and records

* Lloyd Free, All-NBA Second Team

## Transactions

The Clippers were involved in the following transactions during the 1978–79 season.

### Coaching Change

Offseason :
| Outgoing Coach | Date Removed | 1977-78 Record | Incoming Coach |
| Cotton Fitzsimmons | Fired, May 9, 1978 | 27–55 | Gene Shue |

### Trades

| June 7, 1978 | To San Diego Clippers Tom Abernethy | To Los Angeles Lakers A 1978 second round draft pick |
| July 15, 1978 | To San Diego Clippers A 1978 second round draft pick as compensation | To Golden State Warriors The right to sign Tom Abernethy as a veteran free agent |
| August 4, 1978 | To San Diego Clippers Kermit Washington, Kevin Kunnert, Sidney Wicks & draft rights to Freeman Williams | To Boston Celtics Nate Archibald, Marvin Barnes, Billy Knight, and a 1981 & 1983 second round draft picks. |
| October 12, 1978 | To San Diego Clippers Lloyd Free | To Philadelphia 76ers A 1984 first round draft pick |
| October 26, 1978 | To San Diego Clippers A 1981 third round draft pick | To Chicago Bulls Scott Lloyd |
| February 15, 1979 | To San Diego Clippers The right to sign Brian Taylor as a veteran free agent | To Denver Nuggets Two 1979 second round draft picks as compensation |