1979–80 Washington Bullets season

The 1979–80 NBA season was the Bullets 19th season in the NBA and their 7th season in the city of Washington, D.C.^[1]

1979–80 Washington Bullets season
Head coach	Dick Motta
General manager	Bob Ferry
Owner(s)	Abe Pollin
Arena	Capital Centre
Results
Record	39–43 (.476)
Place	Division: 3rd (Atlantic) Conference: 6th (Eastern)
Playoff finish	First round (lost to 76ers 0–2)
Stats at Basketball Reference
Local media
Television	WDCA
Radio	WTOP
< 1978–79 1980–81 >

Offseason

Draft picks

Main article: 1979 NBA draft

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	College

Roster

1979–80 Washington Bullets roster

Players

Coaches

Pos. No. Player Height Weight DOB From F 42 Greg Ballard 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 215 lb (98 kg) Oregon F 12 Ron Behagen 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 185 lb (84 kg) Minnesota F 4 Lawrence Boston 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 225 lb (102 kg) Maryland PG 33 Jim Cleamons 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 185 lb (84 kg) Ohio State C 40 Dave Corzine 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 250 lb (113 kg) DePaul SF 10 Bob Dandridge  6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 195 lb (88 kg) Norfolk State F 35 Kevin Grevey 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 210 lb (95 kg) Kentucky C 11 Elvin Hayes 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 235 lb (107 kg) Houston PF 25 Mitch Kupchak  6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 230 lb (104 kg) North Carolina PG 1 Kevin Porter 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 170 lb (77 kg) Saint Francis (PA) F 41 Wes Unseld 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 245 lb (111 kg) Louisville G 23 John Williamson 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 185 lb (84 kg) New Mexico State G 32 Larry Wright 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 160 lb (73 kg) Grambling State

Head coach Dick Motta Assistant(s) Bernie Bickerstaff Legend (DP) Unsigned draft pick (FA) Free agent (S) Suspended Injured

Regular season

Season standings

Atlantic Division v t e	W	L	PCT	GB	Home	Road	Div
y-Boston Celtics	61	21	.744	–	35–6	26–15	17–7
x-Philadelphia 76ers	59	23	.720	2	36–5	23–18	19–5
x-Washington Bullets	39	43	.476	22	24–17	15–26	9–15
New York Knicks	39	43	.476	22	25–16	14–27	8–16
New Jersey Nets	34	48	.415	27	22–19	12–29	7–17

#	Eastern Conference v t e
	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

Notes

• z, y – division champions
• x – clinched playoff spot

Record vs. opponents

1979–80 NBA records
Team	ATL	BOS	CHI	CLE	DEN	DET	GSW	HOU	IND	KCK	LAL	MIL	NYN	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: 39–43 (home: 24–17; road: 15–26)
October: 3–5 (home: 3–1; road: 0–4) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 1 October 12 Philadelphia L 92–93 Hayes (25) Unseld (12) Porter (11) Capital Centre 19,035 0–1 2 October 13 @ New York Madison Square Garden 3 October 17 Atlanta W 100–97 Capital Centre 5,804 1–2 4 October 19 @ Boston L 93–130 Hayes (23) Unseld (9) Wright (5) Boston Garden 15,320 1–3 5 October 20 Detroit Capital Centre 6 October 24 @ Detroit Pontiac Silverdome 7 October 26 @ Indiana Market Square Arena 8 October 31 Cleveland Capital Centre
November: 6–7 (home: 3–4; road: 3–3) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 9 November 3 Boston L 97–118 Ballard (23) Hayes (12) Porter (9) Capital Centre 17,635 3–6 10 November 9 San Antonio Capital Centre 11 November 10 @ Atlanta L 105–109 The Omni 15,413 4–7 12 November 13 @ New York Madison Square Garden 13 November 14 Chicago Capital Centre 14 November 16 @ New Jersey Rutgers Athletic Center 15 November 17 Utah Capital Centre 16 November 21 Cleveland Capital Centre 17 November 23 @ San Antonio HemisFair Arena 18 November 24 @ Houston The Summit 19 November 27 Denver Capital Centre 20 November 28 @ Philadelphia L 102–120 Phegley (22) Ballard (10) Dandridge, Unseld (8) The Spectrum 10,105 9–11 21 November 30 Indiana Capital Centre
December: 6–7 (home: 4–5; road: 2–2) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 22 December 1 New Jersey Capital Centre 23 December 5 New York Capital Centre 24 December 8 Atlanta W 96–95 Capital Centre 14,139 11–13 25 December 11 Phoenix Capital Centre 26 December 13 @ Cleveland Richfield Coliseum 27 December 14 @ Indiana Market Square Arena 28 December 15 @ Chicago Chicago Stadium 29 December 19 Kansas City Capital Centre 30 December 22 Houston Capital Centre 31 December 25 Philadelphia L 92–95 Hayes (29) Unseld (14) Cleamons (7) Capital Centre 18,184 14–17 32 December 26 @ New Jersey Rutgers Athletic Center 33 December 27 Milwaukee W 117–108 Ballard (27) Ballard (13) Unseld (11) Capital Centre 9,693 15–18 34 December 29 San Diego Capital Centre
January: 8–10 (home: 4–3; road: 4–7) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 35 January 1 @ Portland Memorial Coliseum 36 January 2 @ Seattle W 139–134 (2OT) Hayes (34) Unseld (19) Dandridge (6) Kingdome 21,665 16–20 37 January 4 @ Golden State Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena 38 January 5 @ Utah Salt Palace 39 January 9 Los Angeles W 103–101 Hayes (25) Ballard (13) Cleamons, Wright (9) Capital Centre 19,035 19–20 40 January 11 @ Philadelphia L 106–119 Ballard (31) Unseld (14) Unseld (7) The Spectrum 15,571 19–21 41 January 13 Portland Capital Centre 42 January 15 Seattle L 100–120 Wright (20) Unseld (9) Unseld (8) Capital Centre 13,408 20–22 43 January 17 @ Detroit Pontiac Silverdome 44 January 18 @ Houston The Summit 45 January 19 @ San Antonio HemisFair Arena 46 January 22 @ Cleveland Richfield Coliseum 47 January 24 New Jersey Capital Centre 48 January 25 @ Boston W 118–107 Dandridge, Hayes (25) Unseld (19) Cleamons Unseld (6) Boston Garden 15,320 21–27 49 January 27 Golden State Capital Centre 50 January 29 @ Atlanta L 82–98 The Omni 10,269 22–28 51 January 30 Indiana Capital Centre 52 January 31 Boston L 103–119 Dandridge (20) Unseld (11) Porter (5) Capital Centre 19,035 23–29
February: 6–6 (home: 4–0; road: 2–6) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record All-Star Break 53 February 7 @ Indiana Market Square Arena 54 February 8 @ Milwaukee L 90–115 Grevey (23) Ballard (9) Cleamons (9) MECCA Arena 10,938 23–31 55 February 10 @ Kansas City Kemper Arena 56 February 12 @ Denver McNichols Sports Arena 57 February 13 @ San Diego San Diego Sports Arena 58 February 15 @ Phoenix Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 59 February 17 @ Los Angeles L 107–111 Hayes (31) Ballard (13) Porter (8) The Forum 17,505 25–34 60 February 21 Cleveland Capital Centre 61 February 22 San Antonio Capital Centre 62 February 24 New York Capital Centre 63 February 27 @ Houston The Summit 64 February 28 Houston Capital Centre
March: 10–8 (home: 6–4; road: 4–4) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 65 March 2 Indiana Capital Centre 66 March 4 Detroit Capital Centre 67 March 6 New Jersey Capital Centre 68 March 7 @ Detroit Pontiac Silverdome 69 March 9 @ Boston W 133–128 (OT) Hayes (35) Hayes (17) Wright (5) Boston Garden 15,320 33–36 70 March 11 San Antonio Capital Centre 71 March 12 @ Philadelphia L 98–105 Ballard (32) Unseld (16) Unseld (8) The Spectrum 11,327 33–38 72 March 14 Houston Capital Centre 73 March 16 New York Capital Centre 74 March 18 @ San Antonio HemisFair Arena 75 March 19 @ Atlanta L 93–109 The Omni 10,140 34–41 76 March 20 Philadelphia W 119–113 (OT) Ballard (30) Hayes (13) Porter (11) Capital Centre 17,649 35–41 77 March 22 @ New York Madison Square Garden 78 March 23 Detroit Capital Centre 79 March 25 Boston L 95–96 Ballard (28) Ballard (11) Porter (15) Capital Centre 19,035 37–42 80 March 27 @ Cleveland Richfield Coliseum 81 March 28 Atlanta W 100–80 Capital Centre 18,186 38–43 82 March 30 @ New Jersey Rutgers Athletic Center
1979–80 schedule

Playoffs

1980 playoff game log
Eastern Conference First Round: 0–2 (home: 0–1; road: 0–1) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Series 1 April 2 @ Philadelphia L 96–111 Grevey (34) Unseld (18) Porter (7) The Spectrum 12,567 0–1 2 April 4 Philadelphia L 104–112 Hayes (26) Hayes (12) Grevey (5) Capital Centre 18,397 0–2
1980 schedule

Player statistics

Legend

GP	Games played	GS	Games started	MPG	Minutes per game
FG%	Field-goal percentage	3P%	3-point field-goal percentage	FT%	Free-throw percentage
RPG	Rebounds per game	APG	Assists per game	SPG	Steals per game
BPG	Blocks per game	PPG	Points per game

Season

Playoffs

Awards and records

Transactions