# 1980–81 Kansas City Kings season

The 1980–81 NBA season was the Kings 32nd season in the NBA and their ninth season in the city of Kansas City. The Kansas City Kings made the playoffs with a 40–42 win-loss record and appeared in the Western Conference finals where they lost to the also 40–42 Houston Rockets. This is the only time two NBA teams with losing records have made it to the conference finals.

## Draft picks

| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | School/Club Team |
| 1 | 16 | Hawkeye Whitney | SG/SF | United States | North Carolina State |
| 3 | 62 | Tony Murphy | SG | United States | Southern |
| 5 | 108 | Kevin Blakley | | United States | Eastern Michigan |
| 6 | 131 | Trent Grooms | | United States | Kent State |
| 7 | 154 | Arnold McDowell | | United States | Montana State |
| 9 | 193 | Charley Cole | | United States | Delta State |

## Regular season
### Season standings

| Midwest Divisionvte | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div |
| y-San Antonio Spurs | 52 | 30 | .634 | – | 34–7 | 18–23 | 21–9 |
| x-Kansas City Kings | 40 | 42 | .488 | 12.0 | 24–17 | 16–25 | 19–11 |
| x-Houston Rockets | 40 | 42 | .488 | 12.0 | 25–16 | 15–26 | 19–11 |
| Denver Nuggets | 37 | 45 | .451 | 15.0 | 23–18 | 14–27 | 13–17 |
| Utah Jazz | 28 | 54 | .341 | 24.0 | 20–21 | 8–33 | 13–17 |
| Dallas Mavericks | 15 | 67 | .183 | 37.0 | 11–30 | 4–37 | 5–25 |
| # | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte |
| # | Team | W | L | PCT | GB |
| 1 | c-Phoenix Suns | 57 | 25 | .695 | – |
| 2 | y-San Antonio Spurs | 52 | 30 | .634 | 5 |
| 3 | x-Los Angeles Lakers | 54 | 28 | .659 | 3 |
| 4 | x-Portland Trail Blazers | 45 | 37 | .549 | 12 |
| 5 | x-Kansas City Kings | 40 | 42 | .488 | 17 |
| 6 | x-Houston Rockets | 40 | 42 | .488 | 17 |
| 7 | Golden State Warriors | 39 | 43 | .476 | 18 |
| 8 | Denver Nuggets | 37 | 45 | .451 | 20 |
| 9 | San Diego Clippers | 36 | 46 | .439 | 21 |
| 10 | Seattle SuperSonics | 34 | 48 | .415 | 23 |
| 11 | Utah Jazz | 28 | 54 | .341 | 29 |
| 12 | Dallas Mavericks | 15 | 67 | .183 | 42 |
Notes
* z, y – division champions
* x – clinched playoff spot

### Record vs. opponents

1980-81 NBA Records :
| Team | ATL | BOS | CHI | CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GSW | HOU | IND | KCK | LAL | MIL | NJN | NYK | PHI | PHO | POR | SAS | SDC | SEA | UTA | WAS |
| Atlanta | – | 2–4 | 2–4 | 1–5 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 3–2 | 2–4 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–4 |
| Boston | 4–2 | – | 5–1 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 6–0 | 5–1 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 5–1 |
| Chicago | 4–2 | 1–5 | – | 5–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 3–2 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 5–1 |
| Cleveland | 5–1 | 1–4 | 1–5 | – | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–6 | 3–3 | 0–5 | 0–6 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 4–2 |
| Dallas | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | – | 3–3 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 0–6 | 0–2 | 0–6 | 0–5 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–4 | 1–4 | 1–5 | 2–3 | 1–4 | 1–5 | 0–2 |
| Denver | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 | – | 2–0 | 3–2 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–4 | 2–3 | 2–4 | 3–2 | 3–2 | 2–4 | 0–2 |
| Detroit | 2–4 | 1–4 | 1–5 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 0–2 | – | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 3–3 | 1–5 | 1–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–5 |
| Golden State | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 2–3 | 2–0 | – | 3–2 | 1–1 | 5–0 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 1–4 | 2–4 | 3–3 | 4–1 | 1–1 |
| Houston | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 6–0 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 2–3 | – | 1–1 | 2–4 | 2–3 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–4 | 3–2 | 3–3 | 1–4 | 4–1 | 4–2 | 0–2 |
| Indiana | 5–1 | 3–3 | 2–3 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | – | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 5–1 | 3–2 | 0–6 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 4–2 |
| Kansas City | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 6–0 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 0–5 | 4–2 | 0–2 | – | 0–5 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–2 | 3–2 | 2–4 | 3–2 | 2–3 | 5–1 | 1–1 |
| Los Angeles | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 5–0 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 5–0 | – | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 3–3 | 2–3 | 3–3 | 6–0 | 3–2 | 1–1 |
| Milwaukee | 5–1 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 6–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | – | 5–1 | 3–3 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–1 |
| New Jersey | 2–3 | 0–6 | 2–3 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–5 | – | 0–6 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 |
| New York | 4–2 | 1–5 | 3–3 | 5–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 6–0 | – | 3–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–2 |
| Philadelphia | 5–1 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 6–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 6–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 5–1 | 3–3 | – | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–2 |
| Phoenix | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | – | 3–3 | 3–2 | 6–0 | 5–1 | 5–0 | 1–1 |
| Portland | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 2–3 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 | – | 2–3 | 4–2 | 4–2 | 2–3 | 2–0 |
| San Antonio | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 4–1 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 3–2 | – | 4–1 | 3–2 | 5–1 | 1–1 |
| San Diego | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–6 | 2–4 | 1–4 | – | 5–1 | 3–2 | 0–2 |
| Seattle | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–1 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 1–4 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 0–6 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 2–4 | 2–3 | 1–5 | – | 4–1 | 1–1 |
| Utah | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 1–4 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 1–5 | 2–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–5 | 3–2 | 1–5 | 2–3 | 1–4 | – | 0–2 |
| Washington | 4–1 | 1–5 | 1–5 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–4 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | — |

## Game log
### Regular season

1980–81 game log Total: 40–42 (home: 24–17; road: 16–25) :
October: 5–7 (home: 3–3; road: 2–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
1
October 11
Utah
W 98–91
Kemper Arena
1–0
2
October 12 8:05 p.m. CDT
@ Phoenix
L 100–109
Birdsong (19)
King (8)
Ford (5)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 10,131
1–1
3
October 14 7:35 p.m. CDT
@ San Antonio
L 103–109
Birdsong (33)
King (9)
Ford (8)
HemisFair Arena 9,876
1–2
4
October 15
Los Angeles
L 107–112 (OT)
Kemper Arena
1–3
5
October 17
@ Dallas
W 103–91
Reunion Arena
2–3
6
October 18
Seattle
L 122–127
Kemper Arena
2–4
7
October 21
Golden State
L 111–116
Kemper Arena
2–5
8
October 23 8:05 p.m. CDT
@ Houston
W 105–96
Birdsong (37)
King (11)
Ford (7)
The Summit 7,227
3–5
9
October 25
Denver
W 125–122
Kemper Arena
4–5
10
October 28
@ Atlanta
L 109–119
The Omni
4–6
11
October 29
Portland
W 115–98
Kemper Arena
5–6
12
October 31 6:30 p.m. CST
@ Boston
L 110–115
Birdsong (30)
Lacey (12)
Ford (7)
Boston Garden 14,035
5–7 :
November: 5–9 (home: 3–2; road: 2–7)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
13
November 1 7:35 p.m. CST
Phoenix
L 100–127
Birdsong (24)
Douglas (8)
Wedman (7)
Kemper Arena 7,792
5–8
14
November 4
@ Utah
L 104–107
Salt Palace Acord Arena
5–9
15
November 5
New York
W 111–102
Kemper Arena
6–9
16
November 7 7:05 p.m. CST
@ Philadelphia
L 100–117
Birdsong, Ford (23)
King (13)
Ford (10)
The Spectrum 11,390
6–10
17
November 8
Cleveland
W 111–106
Kemper Arena
7–10
18
November 11
@ Portland
W 102–101
Memorial Coliseum
8–10
19
November 12
@ Golden State
L 101–111
Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena
8–11
20
November 14
@ Seattle
L 125–127
Kingdome
8–12
21
November 15
@ San Diego
W 96–94
San Diego Sports Arena
9–12
22
November 18
@ Los Angeles
L 94–107
The Forum
9–13
23
November 21
@ Denver
L 121–134
McNichols Sports Arena
9–14
24
November 26
New Jersey
W 118–100
Kemper Arena
10–14
25
November 28
@ Detroit
L 94–104
Pontiac Silverdome
10–15
26
November 29 7:35 p.m. CST
San Antonio
L 104–106
Birdsong (37)
King (12)
Ford (13)
Kemper Arena 8,380
10–16 :
December: 7–8 (home: 4–3; road: 3–5)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
27
December 2
@ Washington
L 103–107
Capital Centre
10–17
28
December 3 7:35 p.m. CST
Phoenix
W 103–100
Birdsong (28)
Douglas (8)
Ford (11)
Kemper Arena 7,719
11–17
29
December 5 7:35 p.m. CST
Houston
W 108–100
Birdsong (42)
King (9)
Ford (16)
Kemper Arena 6,982
12–17
30
December 6
@ Indiana
L 88–107
Market Square Arena
12–18
31
December 10
San Diego
W 112–100
Kemper Arena
13–18
32
December 11 6:35 p.m. CST
@ San Antonio
L 104–122
Birdsong (28)
King, Lacey (6)
Birdsong (10)
HemisFair Arena 7,491
13–19
33
December 13
Dallas
W 114–107
Kemper Arena
14–19
34
December 16
@ Denver
W 133–118
McNichols Sports Arena
15–19
35
December 17
@ Seattle
L 94–101
Kingdome
15–20
36
December 20
Indiana
L 103–107
Kemper Arena
15–21
37
December 23
@ Cleveland
W 102–100
Richfield Coliseum
16–21
38
December 26 7:35 p.m. CST
Philadelphia
L 103–113
Ford (19)
King (14)
Ford (10)
Kemper Arena 16,006
16–22
39
December 27
@ New York
L 99–100
Madison Square Garden
16–23
40
December 28
@ New Jersey
W 102–99
Rutgers Athletic Center
17–23
41
December 30
Golden State
L 104–106
Kemper Arena
17–24 :
January: 7–6 (home: 4–3; road: 3–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
42
January 2
Utah
W 101–95
Kemper Arena
18–24
43
January 7 8:05 p.m. CST
@ Houston
W 114–108
Ford (31)
King (11)
Ford (11)
The Summit 8,220
19–24
44
January 8
Washington
W 136–118
Kemper Arena
20–24
45
January 10
@ Utah
W 99–92
Salt Palace Acord Arena
21–24
46
January 11
San Diego
L 105–115
Kemper Arena
21–25
47
January 14
Portland
L 91–110
Kemper Arena
21–26
48
January 16 8:00 p.m. CST
@ Milwaukee
L 112–118 (OT)
Wedman (25)
King (9)
Ford (8)
MECCA Arena 11,052
21–27
49
January 17
Denver
L 122–123
Kemper Arena
21–28
50
January 20
@ Dallas
W 104–91
Reunion Arena
22–28
51
January 21 7:35 p.m. CST
San Antonio
W 115–108
Ford (32)
Lacey (9)
Wedman (7)
Kemper Arena 7,627
23–28
52
January 23 7:35 p.m. CST
Houston
W 113–107
Ford (38)
King (10)
Ford (6)
Kemper Arena 7,290
24–28
53
January 27
@ San Diego
L 114–119
San Diego Sports Arena
24–29
54
January 29
@ Los Angeles
L 104–118
The Forum
24–30 :
February: 9–5 (home: 7–1; road: 2–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
All-Star Break
55
February 3
@ Dallas
W 121–100
Reunion Arena
25–30
56
February 4
Detroit
W 91–90
Kemper Arena
26–30
57
February 6
@ Seattle
W 102–92
Kingdome
27–30
58
February 8
@ Portland
L 123–129 (OT)
Memorial Coliseum
27–31
59
February 10 7:30 p.m. CST
@ Chicago
L 115–116
Birdsong (26)
King (8)
Ford (9)
Chicago Stadium 4,647
27–32
60
February 11
Utah
W 99–87
Kemper Arena
28–32
61
February 13
Atlanta
W 113–106
Kemper Arena
29–32
62
February 15
Seattle
W 107–105
Kemper Arena
30–32
63
February 18 7:35 p.m. CST
Boston
W 114–113
Ford (28)
Lacey (10)
Lacey (12)
Kemper Arena 11,810
31–32
64
February 20 7:35 p.m. CST
Milwaukee
W 112–109
Birdsong (31)
King (12)
Ford (10)
Kemper Arena 11,046
32–32
65
February 21
@ Denver
L 109–129
McNichols Sports Arena
32–33
66
February 22
@ Golden State
L 96–104
Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena
33–33
67
February 26
Dallas
W 105–102
Kemper Arena
33–34
68
February 28
Golden State
L 101–110
Kemper Arena
33–35 :
March: 7–7 (home: 3–5; road: 4–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
69
March 3
Los Angeles
L 98–99
Kemper Arena
33–36
70
March 4 7:35 p.m. CST
@ San Antonio
W 111–97
Birdsong (39)
Meriweather (10)
Lacey (12)
HemisFair Arena 9,280
34–36
71
March 5
Portland
W 106–100
Kemper Arena
35–36
72
March 8 2:05 p.m. CST
Phoenix
W 105–68
Birdsong (30)
King (20)
Grunfeld (12)
Kemper Arena 8,260
36–36
73
March 10
@ San Diego
W 107–100
San Diego Sports Arena
37–36
74
March 13
@ Los Angeles
L 101–116
The Forum
37–37
75
March 15 12 Noon CST
Chicago
L 87–97
King (27)
King (16)
Lacey (8)
Kemper Arena 14,560
37–38
76
March 18
Denver
L 124–126 (2OT)
Kemper Arena
37–39
77
March 20 7:35 p.m. CST
San Antonio
L 111–114 (OT)
Wedman (25)
King, Lacey (7)
Birdsong (6)
Kemper Arena 8,740
37–40
78
March 22 2:05 p.m. CST
Houston
L 108–114
Birdsong (24)
King (15)
Birdsong, Grunfeld, Walton (5)
Kemper Arena 7,942
37–41
79
March 24
@ Utah
W 105–92
Salt Palace Acord Arena
38–41
80
March 25 8:35 p.m. CST
@ Phoenix
W 110–101
Grunfeld (25)
Douglas (7)
Grunfeld (12)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12,660
39–41
81
March 27 8:05 p.m. CST
@ Houston
L 84–91
King (27)
King (14)
Lacey (7)
The Summit 15,676
39–42
82
March 29
Dallas
W 113–104
Kemper Arena
40–42 :
1980–81 schedule :

### Playoffs

1981 playoff game log :
Western Conference First Round: 2–1 (home: 0–1; road: 2–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceSeries
1
April 1
@ Portland
W 98–97 (OT)
Birdsong (29)
King, Lacey (12)
Lacey (10)
Memorial Coliseum 12,666
1–0
2
April 3
Portland
L 119–124 (OT)
Wedman (31)
Lacey (9)
Lacey (8)
Kemper Arena 11,088
1–1
3
April 5
@ Portland
W 104–95
King (28)
King (15)
Grunfeld (6)
Memorial Coliseum 12,666
2–1 :
Western Conference Semifinals: 4–3 (home: 2–1; road: 2–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceSeries
1
April 7 8:35 p.m. CST
@ Phoenix
L 80–102
King (15)
King (8)
Walton (6)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12,660
0–1
2
April 8 8:35 p.m. CST
@ Phoenix
W 88–83
Wedman (24)
King (12)
Grunfeld (8)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12,660
1–1
3
April 10 7:35 p.m. CST
Phoenix
W 93–92
King (29)
Lacey (12)
Grunfeld (7)
Kemper Arena 13,776
2–1
4
April 12 2:30 p.m. CST
Phoenix
W 102–95
Grunfeld (27)
Lacey (11)
Lacey (10)
Kemper Arena 11,089
3–1
5
April 15 8:35 p.m. CST
@ Phoenix
L 89–101
King (29)
Douglas, Lacey (8)
Grunfeld (8)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12,660
3–2
6
April 17 7:05 p.m. CST
Phoenix
L 76–81
Wedman (19)
Lacey (12)
Grunfeld (8)
Kemper Arena 15,232
3–3
7
April 19 2:30 p.m. CST
@ Phoenix
W 95–88
Grunfeld, King (23)
King, Lacey (7)
Wedman (9)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12,660
4–3 :
Western Conference Finals: 1–4 (home: 1–2; road: 0–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceSeries
1
April 21 9:05 p.m. CST
Houston
L 78–97
Grunfeld (20)
King (12)
Ford, Lacey (7)
Kemper Arena 13,885
0–1
2
April 22 9:05 p.m. CST
Houston
W 88–79
King (31)
King (10)
King, Lacey (6)
Kemper Arena 14,326
1–1
3
April 24 9:00 p.m. CST
@ Houston
L 88–92
King, Wedman (22)
King (8)
Wedman (7)
The Summit 16,121
1–2
4
April 26 2:30 p.m. CDT
@ Houston
L 89–100
King (24)
King, Lacey (8)
Ford (10)
The Summit 16,121
1–3
5
April 29 9:00 p.m. CDT
Houston
L 88–97
Wedman (20)
King (16)
Lacey (7)
Kemper Arena 14,640
1–4 :
1981 schedule :

## Player statistics
### Season

| Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3FG% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |

### Playoffs

| Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3FG% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |

## Awards and records

* Otis Birdsong, All-NBA Second Team