# 1979–80 Indiana Pacers season

The 1979–80 NBA season was Indiana's fourth season in the NBA and 13th season as a franchise.

## Offseason
### Draft picks

| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | College |

## Regular season
### Season standings

| Central Divisionvte | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div |
| y-Atlanta Hawks | 50 | 32 | .610 | – | 32–9 | 18–23 | 21–9 |
| x-Houston Rockets | 41 | 41 | .500 | 9 | 29–12 | 12–29 | 20–10 |
| x-San Antonio Spurs | 41 | 41 | .500 | 9 | 27–14 | 14–27 | 14–16 |
| Cleveland Cavaliers | 37 | 45 | .451 | 13 | 28–13 | 9–32 | 16–14 |
| Indiana Pacers | 37 | 45 | .451 | 13 | 26–15 | 11–30 | 15–15 |
| Detroit Pistons | 16 | 66 | .195 | 34 | 13–28 | 3–38 | 4–26 |
| # | 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 |
    z - clinched division title
    y - clinched division title
    x - clinched playoff spot

### 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: 37–45 (Home: 26–15; Road: 11–30) :
October: 5–6 (home: 5–0; road: 0–6)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
2
October 13, 1979
Atlanta
W 115–101
Market Square Arena
1–1
4
October 17, 1979
@ Houston
L 112–116
The Summit
2–2
5
October 18, 1979
@ Atlanta
L 85–115
The Omni
2–3
6
October 20, 1979
Boston
W 131–128 (OT)
Market Square Arena
3–3
8
October 24, 1979
@ Philadelphia
L 110–132
The Spectrum
3–5
11
October 31, 1979
Houston
W 133–129 (OT)
Market Square Arena
5–6 :
November: 6–9 (home: 3–2; road: 3–7)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
13
November 3, 1979
Philadelphia
L 114–120 (2OT)
Market Square Arena
5–8
18
November 14, 1979
@ Phoenix
L 100–104
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
8–10
20
November 18, 1979
@ Los Angeles
L 104–127
The Forum
8–12
22
November 23, 1979
@ Boston
L 103–118
Boston Garden
9–13
24
November 26, 1979
@ Philadelphia
L 112–113
The Spectrum
10–14
25
November 28, 1979
Milwaukee
L 79–87
Market Square Arena
10–15 :
December: 6–6 (home: 4–3; road: 2–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
27
December 1, 1979
Boston
L 102–106 (OT)
Market Square Arena
11–16
31
December 12, 1979
Seattle
L 107–112
Market Square Arena
14–27
35
December 22, 1979
Atlanta
W 130–110
Market Square Arena
16–19 :
January: 9–7 (home: 6–3; road: 3–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
39
January 2, 1980
Los Angeles
L 120–127
Market Square Arena
17–22
40
January 3, 1980
@ Milwaukee
L 96–106
MECCA Arena
17–23
43
January 9, 1980
@ Seattle
L 111–120
Kingdome
18–25
52
January 29, 1980
Houston
W 133–112
Market Square Arena
26–26 :
February: 5–7 (home: 4–4; road: 1–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
55
February 5, 1980
Philadelphia
L 120–127
Market Square Arena
26–29
57
February 8, 1980
@ Boston
L 108–130
Boston Garden
27–30
64
February 24, 1980
Phoenix
L 105–113
Market Square Arena
31–33
65
February 26, 1980
@ Houston
L 88–93
The Summit
31–34
66
February 27, 1980
@ Atlanta
L 111–116
The Omni
31–35 :
March: 6–10 (home: 4–3; road: 2–7)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
69
March 5, 1980
@ Philadelphia
L 113–120
The Spectrum
31–38
70
March 7, 1980
Atlanta
L 94–99
Market Square Arena
31–39
72
March 11, 1980
Boston
W 114–108
Market Square Arena
32–40
74
March 14, 1980
Philadelphia
W 104–94
Market Square Arena
34–40
75
March 16, 1980
@ Atlanta
L 90–95
The Omni
34–41
76
March 18, 1980
@ Boston
L 102–114
Hartford Civic Center
34–42
79
March 22, 1980
@ Houston
L 110–125
The Summit
35–44
82
March 30, 1980
Houston
L 106–121
Market Square Arena
37–45 :
1979–80 schedule :

## Player statistics
### Ragular season

| Player | POS | GP | GS | MP | REB | AST | STL | BLK | PTS | MPG | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
| Johnny Davis | PG | 82 | 82 | 2,912 | 226 | 440 | 110 | 23 | 1,300 | 35.5 | 2.8 | 5.4 | 1.3 | .3 | 15.9 |
| James Edwards | C | 82 | 82 | 2,314 | 578 | 127 | 55 | 104 | 1,287 | 28.2 | 7.0 | 1.5 | .7 | 1.3 | 15.7 |
| Mickey Johnson | PF | 82 | | 2,647 | 681 | 344 | 153 | 112 | 1,566 | 32.3 | 8.3 | 4.2 | 1.9 | 1.4 | 19.1 |
| Dudley Bradley | SG | 82 | | 2,027 | 223 | 252 | 211 | 48 | 688 | 24.7 | 2.7 | 3.1 | 2.6 | .6 | 8.4 |
| Clemon Johnson | C | 79 | | 1,541 | 394 | 115 | 48 | 121 | 472 | 19.5 | 5.0 | 1.5 | .6 | 1.5 | 6.0 |
| Mike Bantom | SF | 77 | | 2,330 | 456 | 279 | 85 | 49 | 908 | 30.3 | 5.9 | 3.6 | 1.1 | .6 | 11.8 |
| Billy Knight | SF | 75 | | 1,910 | 361 | 155 | 82 | 9 | 986 | 25.5 | 4.8 | 2.1 | 1.1 | .1 | 13.1 |
| Joe Hassett | SG | 74 | | 1,135 | 94 | 104 | 46 | 8 | 523 | 15.3 | 1.3 | 1.4 | .6 | .1 | 7.1 |
| Alex English$^†$ | SF | 54 | | 1,526 | 380 | 142 | 45 | 33 | 806 | 28.3 | 7.0 | 2.6 | .8 | .6 | 14.9 |
| George McGinnis$^†$ | PF | 28 | | 784 | 237 | 112 | 32 | 6 | 369 | 28.0 | 8.5 | 4.0 | 1.1 | .2 | 13.2 |
| John Kuester | PG | 24 | | 100 | 14 | 16 | 7 | 1 | 29 | 4.2 | .6 | .7 | .3 | .0 | 1.2 |
| Phil Chenier$^†$ | SG | 23 | | 380 | 35 | 47 | 15 | 10 | 124 | 16.5 | 1.5 | 2.0 | .7 | .4 | 5.4 |
| Ron Carter | SG | 13 | | 117 | 19 | 9 | 2 | 3 | 32 | 9.0 | 1.5 | .7 | .2 | .2 | 2.5 |
| Tony Zeno | SF | 8 | | 59 | 14 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 14 | 7.4 | 1.8 | .1 | .5 | .4 | 1.8 |
| Corky Calhoun | SF | 7 | | 30 | 10 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 4.3 | 1.4 | .0 | .3 | .0 | 1.1 |
| Brad Davis$^†$ | PG | 5 | | 43 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 8.6 | .4 | 1.0 | .6 | .0 | 1.4 |
* $^†$ Denotes player spent time with another team in the season. Stats reflect time with the Pacers only.

## Awards and records

* Don Buse, NBA All-Defensive First Team