# 1977–78 Buffalo Braves season

The 1977–78 NBA season was the Braves' eighth and final season in the NBA. Entering the season, the Braves were allowed an escape clause in their lease, because season ticket sales did not reach the set goal of 4,500. The Braves suffered another disappointment as Tiny Archibald (whom they acquired from the New Jersey Nets for George Johnson) was lost for the year due to an Achilles tendon injury in the preseason.
The Braves played competitively in November with a respectable .500 record at 10–10. Despite the promising start, the Braves won just nine games over the next three months. While the Braves were struggling on the court, owner John Y. Brown was brokering a deal to take over the legendary Boston Celtics franchise. Celtics owner Irv Levin wanted to move the historic franchise to California. However, the NBA would not allow him to take the cornerstone franchise out of Boston.
NBA Lawyer David Stern offered a comprise in which Levin and Brown would swap franchises. The concept was that Levin would take over the Braves and move them to San Diego. The Braves finished in fourth place in the Atlantic Division with a 27–55 (.329) record, and played their last game on April 9, ironically, in Boston. Owners voted 21–1 to approve the deal, and the Braves moved from Buffalo to San Diego; the team was renamed the San Diego Clippers for the 1978–79 season.
The deal also included a seven-player trade in which the Celtics acquired Archibald, Billy Knight, and Marvin Barnes. The San Diego-bound Braves received Freeman Williams, back-up center Kevin Kunnert, and power forwards Kermit Washington and Sidney Wicks. The team would not request a draft pick in the deal, allowing the Celtics to retain the draft rights to Larry Bird in 1979.

## Offseason
### NBA draft

| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | College |
| 2 | 24 | Larry Johnson | Guard | United States | Kentucky |
| 4 | 68 | Melvin Watkins | Guard | United States | UNC Charlotte |
| 5 | 90 | Mike Hanley | Forward | United States | Niagara University |
| 6 | 112 | Curvan Lewis | Forward | United States | Virginia Union |
| 7 | 133 | Mike Jackson | Guard | United States | Tennessee |
| 8 | 153 | Emery Sammons | Guard | United States | Philadelphia T&S |

## Regular season
### Season standings

| Atlantic Divisionvte | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div |
| y-Philadelphia 76ers | 55 | 27 | .671 | – | 37–4 | 18–23 | 14–2 |
| x-New York Knicks | 43 | 39 | .524 | 12 | 29–12 | 14–27 | 7–9 |
| Boston Celtics | 32 | 50 | .390 | 23 | 24–17 | 8–33 | 8–8 |
| Buffalo Braves | 27 | 55 | .329 | 28 | 20–21 | 7–34 | 7–9 |
| New Jersey Nets | 24 | 58 | .293 | 31 | 18–23 | 6–35 | 4–12 |
| # | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte |
| # | Team | W | L | PCT | GB |
| 1 | z-Philadelphia 76ers | 55 | 27 | .671 | – |
| 2 | y-San Antonio Spurs | 52 | 30 | .634 | 3 |
| 3 | x-Washington Bullets | 44 | 38 | .537 | 11 |
| 4 | x-Cleveland Cavaliers | 43 | 39 | .524 | 12 |
| 5 | x-New York Knicks | 43 | 39 | .524 | 12 |
| 6 | x-Atlanta Hawks | 41 | 41 | .500 | 14 |
| 7 | New Orleans Jazz | 39 | 43 | .476 | 16 |
| 8 | Boston Celtics | 32 | 50 | .390 | 23 |
| 9 | Houston Rockets | 28 | 54 | .341 | 27 |
| 10 | Buffalo Braves | 27 | 55 | .329 | 28 |
| 11 | New Jersey Nets | 24 | 58 | .293 | 31 |

### Record vs. opponents

1977–78 NBA Records :
| Team | ATL | BOS | BUF | CHI | CLE | DEN | DET | GSW | HOU | IND | KCK | LAL | MIL | NJN | NOJ | NYK | PHI | PHO | POR | SAS | SEA | WAS |
| Atlanta | — | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–1 | 1–3 |
| Boston | 2–2 | — | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 1–3 |
| Buffalo | 1–3 | 1–3 | — | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 0–3 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 |
| Chicago | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | — | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 3–0 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–1 |
| Cleveland | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | — | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–2 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 2–2 |
| Denver | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | — | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–0 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 |
| Detroit | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | — | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–0 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 |
| Golden State | 3–1 | 2–2 | 3–0 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | — | 2–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 |
| Houston | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 0–3 | 1–3 | 1–2 | — | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 1–3 |
| Indiana | 1–3 | 1–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | — | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 3–1 |
| Kansas City | 1–2 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | — | 2–2 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 2–2 |
| Los Angeles | 1–3 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | — | 3–1 | 4–0 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 |
| Milwaukee | 2–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 1–3 | — | 3–1 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 1–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 |
| New Jersey | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | — | 0–4 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 0–3 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 2–2 |
| New Orleans | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 4–0 | — | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 0–4 |
| New York | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 3–0 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 3–1 | — | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 2–2 |
| Philadelphia | 2–2 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 3–1 | — | 2–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 |
| Phoenix | 1–3 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–2 | — | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 |
| Portland | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 3–0 | 2–2 | 3–1 | — | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–1 |
| San Antonio | 3–1 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | — | 2–2 | 2–2 |
| Seattle | 1–2 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | — | 1–3 |
| Washington | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | — |

## 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 |
| Billy Knight | 53 | 40.7 | 8.6 | 17.5 | 0.494 | 5.7 | 7.0 | 0.809 | 2.4 | 4.8 | 7.2 | 3.0 | 1.5 | 0.2 | 2.6 | 22.9 |
| Randy Smith | 82 | 40.4 | 9.6 | 20.7 | 0.465 | 5.4 | 6.8 | 0.800 | 1.3 | 2.4 | 3.8 | 5.6 | 2.1 | 0.1 | 2.7 | 24.6 |
| Swen Nater | 78 | 35.6 | 6.4 | 12.7 | 0.504 | 2.7 | 3.5 | 0.765 | 3.6 | 9.6 | 13.2 | 2.8 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 3.5 | 15.5 |
| John Shumate | 18 | 32.8 | 4.2 | 8.4 | 0.497 | 4.1 | 5.5 | 0.747 | 1.8 | 5.3 | 7.1 | 3.2 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 3.2 | 12.4 |
| Marvin Barnes | 48 | 28.7 | 4.7 | 11.3 | 0.416 | 2.4 | 3.2 | 0.745 | 2.2 | 5.0 | 7.3 | 2.4 | 1.2 | 1.5 | 4.1 | 11.8 |
| Chuck Williams | 73 | 27.4 | 2.8 | 6.0 | 0.477 | 1.6 | 1.9 | 0.826 | 0.4 | 1.5 | 1.9 | 4.3 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 1.9 | 7.3 |
| Larry McNeill | 37 | 23.6 | 4.2 | 9.1 | 0.462 | 3.5 | 4.2 | 0.833 | 2.1 | 3.0 | 5.1 | 1.2 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 2.7 | 11.9 |
| Wil Jones | 79 | 21.7 | 2.9 | 6.5 | 0.440 | 1.1 | 1.5 | 0.706 | 1.3 | 2.9 | 4.2 | 1.5 | 0.9 | 0.5 | 3.2 | 6.8 |
| Bird Averitt | 34 | 19.9 | 3.8 | 8.7 | 0.436 | 1.9 | 2.8 | 0.667 | 0.3 | 1.2 | 1.5 | 3.8 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 2.5 | 9.5 |
| Bill Willoughby | 56 | 19.3 | 2.8 | 6.5 | 0.430 | 1.1 | 1.4 | 0.800 | 1.4 | 2.6 | 3.9 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 0.8 | 2.3 | 6.7 |
| Ted McClain | 41 | 17.7 | 2.0 | 4.5 | 0.440 | 1.2 | 1.5 | 0.794 | 0.3 | 1.6 | 1.8 | 3.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 2.1 | 5.2 |
| Mike Glenn | 56 | 16.9 | 3.5 | 6.6 | 0.527 | 0.9 | 1.2 | 0.785 | 0.3 | 1.2 | 1.4 | 1.4 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 1.8 | 7.9 |
| Jim McDaniels | 42 | 16.5 | 2.4 | 5.6 | 0.427 | 0.9 | 1.0 | 0.857 | 1.1 | 3.2 | 4.3 | 1.0 | 0.1 | 0.9 | 2.7 | 5.6 |
| Scott Lloyd | 56 | 10.1 | 1.2 | 2.9 | 0.425 | 0.8 | 1.0 | 0.741 | 0.8 | 1.3 | 2.1 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 1.5 | 3.2 |
| Gary Brokaw | 13 | 10.0 | 1.4 | 3.3 | 0.419 | 1.4 | 1.8 | 0.750 | 0.2 | 0.7 | 0.9 | 1.5 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 0.8 | 4.2 |
| Larry Johnson | 4 | 9.5 | 0.8 | 3.3 | 0.231 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.000 | 0.3 | 1.0 | 1.3 | 1.8 | 1.3 | 0.5 | 0.8 | 1.5 |
| Gus Gerard | 10 | 8.5 | 1.6 | 4.0 | 0.400 | 1.1 | 1.5 | 0.733 | 0.6 | 0.8 | 1.4 | 0.9 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 1.3 | 4.3 |
| Eddie Owens | 8 | 7.9 | 1.1 | 2.6 | 0.429 | 0.4 | 0.8 | 0.500 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 1.3 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.4 | 1.1 |

## Awards and honors

* Randy Smith, 1978 NBA All-Star Game MVP

## Transactions

The Braves were involved in the following transactions during the 1977–78 season.

### Coaching Change

Offseason :
| Outgoing Coach | Date Removed | 1976-77 Record | Incoming Coach |
| Joe Mullaney (interim) | Fired, August 5, 1977 | 11–18 | Cotton Fitzsimmons |

### Trades

| June 7, 1977 | To Buffalo Braves Swen Nater & the 13th pick in the 1977 NBA Draft | To Milwaukee Bucks The 3rd pick in the 1977 NBA Draft |
| June 10, 1977 | To Buffalo Braves A 1977 2nd round draft pick | To Chicago Bulls The 13th pick in the 1977 NBA Draft |
| June 10, 1977 | To Buffalo Braves Johnny Neumann | To Los Angeles Lakers A 1977 3rd round draft pick |
| August 5, 1977 | To Buffalo Braves A 1978 3rd round draft pick as compensation | To Detroit Pistons The right to sign Don Adams as a veteran free agent |
| September 1, 1977 | To Buffalo Braves Tiny Archibald | To New Jersey Nets George Johnson, a 1978 1st round draft pick & a 1979 1st round draft pick. |
| September 1, 1977 | To Buffalo Braves The right to sign Mike Bantom as a veteran free agent | To New Jersey Nets A future 4th round draft pick as compensation |
| September 1, 1977 | To Buffalo Braves Billy Knight | To Indiana Pacers Adrian Dantley & Mike Bantom |
| September 2, 1977 | To Buffalo Braves A 1979 1st round draft pick | To Milwaukee Bucks John Gianelli |
| September 7, 1977 | To Buffalo Braves Cash considerations | To Los Angeles Lakers Ernie DiGregorio |
| September 13, 1977 | To Buffalo Braves Bill Willoughby | To Atlanta Hawks A 1978 2nd round draft pick |
| October 3, 1977 | To Buffalo Braves The right to sign Wil Jones as a veteran free agent | To Indiana Pacers A 1980 2nd round draft pick as compensation |
| October 6, 1977 | To Buffalo Braves The right to sign Ted McClain as a veteran free agent | To Denver Nuggets A 1978 3rd round draft pick as compensation |
| October 17, 1977 | To Buffalo Braves Gary Brokaw | To Cleveland Cavaliers Future considerations |
| October 18, 1977 | To Buffalo Braves A 1978 3rd round draft pick | To Indiana Pacers Johnny Neumann |
| November 23, 1977 | To Buffalo Braves Marvin Barnes and a 1978 2nd & 4th round draft picks | To Detroit Pistons Gus Gerard, John Shumate & a 1979 1st round draft pick |
| January 31, 1978 | To Buffalo Braves A 1978 3rd round draft pick | To Philadelphia 76ers Ted McClain |