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The 1979–80 NBA season was the Clippers' 10th season in the NBA and their 2nd season in the city of San Diego.[1]

Quick Facts San Diego Clippers season, Head coach ...
1979–80 San Diego Clippers season
Head coachGene Shue
ArenaSan Diego Sports Arena
Results
Record35–47 (.427)
PlaceDivision: 5th (Pacific)
Conference: 7th (Western)
Playoff finishDid not qualify
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionKFMB-TV
RadioKFMB
< 1978–79 1980–81 >
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Draft picks

Main article: 1979 NBA draft
More information Round, Pick ...
Round Pick Player Position Nationality School/Club Team
355Tom ChannelGuard United StatesBoston University
477Lionel GarrettForward United StatesSouthern
599Greg JoynerForward United StatesMiddle Tennessee State
6119Bob BenderGuard United StatesDuke
7139Jene GreyForward United StatesLeMoyne
8158Renaldo LawrenceGuard United StatesAppalachian State
9176Mike DoddGuard United StatesSan Diego State
10194Greg HunterForward United StatesLoyola Marymount
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Roster

More information San Diego Clippers roster, Players ...
San Diego Clippers roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos.#NameHt.Wt.From
F 27 Barnes, Marvin 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 225 lb (102 kg) Providence
F 23 Bryant, Joe 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 215 lb (98 kg) Penn
G 24 Free, Lloyd 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 185 lb (84 kg) Guilford
G 43 Lee, Greg Injured 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 195 lb (88 kg) UCLA
C 31 Nater, Swen 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 240 lb (109 kg) UCLA
F 22 Pietkiewicz, Stan 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 200 lb (91 kg) Auburn
G 7 Smith, Bingo 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 212 lb (96 kg) Tulsa
G 14 Taylor, Brian 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 185 lb (84 kg) Princeton
C 32 Walton, Bill 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 235 lb (107 kg) UCLA
F 12 Weatherspoon, Nick 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 197 lb (89 kg) Illinois
F 21 Wicks, Sidney 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 225 lb (102 kg) UCLA
G 20 Williams, Freeman 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 185 lb (84 kg) Portland State
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured Injured
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Roster Notes

Regular season

Game log

More information Game, Date ...
1979-80 Regular Season Game Log (35–47) (Home: 24–17; Road: 11–30)
October (4–7) (Home: 4–4; Road: 0–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecordReport
1October 12LakersL 102–103Lloyd Free (46)Nick Weatherspoon (9)Lloyd Free (5)San Diego Sports Arena
8,503		0–1
2October 14SuperSonicsW 98–93Lloyd Free (35)Swen Nater (16)Tied (4)San Diego Sports Arena
7,242		1–1
3October 16@ Trail BlazersL 94–98Lloyd Free (24)Swen Nater (16)Lloyd Free (4)Memorial Coliseum
12,666		1–2
4October 18BullsW 111–107Lloyd Free (32)Swen Nater (14)Brian Taylor (7)San Diego Sports Arena
6,844		2–2
5October 19@ SuperSonicsL 98–106Lloyd Free (41)Swen Nater (18)Tied (4)Kingdome
16,614		2–3
6October 22@ JazzL 109–110Lloyd Free (33)Swen Nater (13)World B. Free (4)Salt Palace
6,122		2–4
7October 23NuggetsW 132–127Lloyd Free (32)Swen Nater (12)Tied (7)San Diego Sports Arena
6,660		3–4
8October 25BucksL 115–118Lloyd Free (30)Swen Nater (15)Tied (5)San Diego Sports Arena
6,617		3–5
9October 27SuperSonicsW 110–105Lloyd Free (33)Nick Weatherspoon (9)Lloyd Free (9)San Diego Sports Arena
7,224		4–5
10October 28KingsL 101–106Joe Bryant (23)Swen Nater (13)Lloyd Free (5)San Diego Sports Arena
7,081		4–6
11October 31SpursL 123–130Lloyd Free (35)Swen Nater (21)Lloyd Free (6)San Diego Sports Arena
7,044		4–7
November (6–8) (Home: 5–3; Road: 2–5)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecordReport
12November 2Trail BlazersL 102–123Freeman Williams (29)Swen Nater (12)Brian Taylor (4)San Diego Sports Arena
7,319		4–8
13November 3JazzW 126–109Lloyd Free (28)Swen Nater (19)Swen Nater (10)San Diego Sports Arena
6,428		5–8
14November 6@ LakersL 112–127Lloyd Free (29)Swen Nater (15)Joe Bryant (7)The Forum
12,817		5–9
15November 7@ SunsW 114–102Lloyd Free (45)Swen Nater (13)Lloyd Free (5)Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
11,097		6–9
16November 9@ BullsL 92–107Freeman Williams (26)Swen Nater (16)Lloyd Free (7)Chicago Stadium
8,014		6–10
17November 10@ BucksL 104–133Freeman Williams (33)Swen Nater (15)Tied (6)MECCA Arena
10,938		6–11
18November 13LakersL 91–137Swen Nater (15)Swen Nater (10)Brian Taylor (7)San Diego Sports Arena
9,068		6–12
19November 16PacersW 105–97Freeman Williams (35)Swen Nater (15)Brian Taylor (6)San Diego Sports Arena
7,221		7–12
20November 18BucksW 112–96Brian Taylor (23)Swen Nater (21)Brian Taylor (9)San Diego Sports Arena
6,342		8–12
21November 20SunsW 117–110Brian Taylor (28)Swen Nater (15)Lloyd Free (6)San Diego Sports Arena
6,992		9–12
22November 21@ NuggetsL 84–105Lloyd Free (27)Tied (11)Joe Bryant (5)McNichols Sports Arena
5,922		9–13
23November 23KingsL 91–107Lloyd Free (32)Swen Nater (14)Lloyd Free (3)San Diego Sports Arena
6,940		9–14
24November 27BullsW 128–103Lloyd Free (23)Swen Nater (16)Tied (7)San Diego Sports Arena
8,075		10–14
25November 28@ WarriorsW 114–108Lloyd Free (28)Swen Nater (17)Brian Taylor (9)Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena
10,726		11–14
26November 30@ 76ersL 101–104Lloyd Free (29)Swen Nater (16)Brian Taylor (7)The Spectrum
10,726		11–15
December (9–6) (Home: 5–2; Road: 4–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecordReport
27December 1@ HawksL 96–106Lloyd Free (35)Joe Bryant (12)Joe Bryant (5)Omni Coliseum
9,373		11–16
28December 4@ CavaliersL 112–115Lloyd Free (28)Swen Nater (15)Freeman Williams (5)Richfield Coliseum
7,155		11–17
29December 6WarriorsW 105–103Lloyd Free (30)Swen Nater (11)Brian Taylor (6)San Diego Sports Arena
8,664		12–17
30December 7@ LakersW 116–108Lloyd Free (42)Swen Nater (27)Tied (4)The Forum
12,222		13–17
31December 9@ Trail BlazersW 98–96Lloyd Free (25)Swen Nater (16)Lloyd Free (6)Memorial Coliseum
12,666		14–17
32December 12RocketsL 107–118Lloyd Free (29)Swen Nater (17)Tied (3)San Diego Sports Arena
6,756		14–18
33December 14NuggetsW 112–108Lloyd Free (37)Swen Nater (32)Lloyd Free (7)San Diego Sports Arena
6,684		15–18
34December 16PistonsW 113–124Lloyd Free (49)Swen Nater (15)Tied (5)San Diego Sports Arena
7,571		16–18
35December 18@ KingsL 96–110Lloyd Free (25)Swen Nater (8)Tied (3)Municipal Auditorium
6,935		16–19
36December 20KnicksW 128–118Lloyd Free (32)Swen Nater (17)Sidney Wicks (6)San Diego Sports Arena
6,843		17–19
37December 21@ JazzW 110–98Freeman Williams (28)Joe Bryant (9)Sidney Wicks (7)Salt Palace
5,141		18–19
38December 23JazzW 124–118 OTLloyd Free (41)Swen Nater (22)Lloyd Free (8)San Diego Sports Arena
6,548		19–19
39December 26@ SuperSonicsL 104–124Brian Taylor (28)Swen Nater (10)Sidney Wicks (10)Kingdome
24,958		19–20
40December 27CelticsL 97–118Lloyd Free (28)Swen Nater (15)Freeman Williams (3)San Diego Sports Arena
13,841		19–21
41December 29@ BulletsW 93–90Freeman Williams (24)Swen Nater (17)Tied (3)Capital Centre
15,989		20–21
January (8–8) (Home: 5–0; Road: 3–8)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecordReport
42January 2@ NetsW 103–97Lloyd Free (31)Swen Nater (23)Freeman Williams (7)Rutgers Athletic Center
5,204		21–21
43January 3@ KnicksL 114–107Lloyd Free (30)Freeman Williams (8)Tied (4)Madison Square Garden
11,375		21–22
44January 4@ BullsL 118–121Lloyd Free (38)Swen Nater (11)Brian Taylor (9)Chicago Stadium
10,538		21–23
45January 6SuperSonicsW 105–103Lloyd Free (34)Swen Nater (17)Tied (7)San Diego Sports Arena
7,622		22–23
46January 8@ KingsW 124–116Lloyd Free (33)Swen Nater (26)Tied (4)Municipal Auditorium
7,387		23–23
47January 9@ BucksW 111–107Lloyd Free (33)Swen Nater (14)Lloyd Free (7)MECCA Arena
10,938		24–23
48January 11WarriorsW 116–112Lloyd Free (39)Swen Nater (16)Brian Taylor (5)San Diego Sports Arena
8,165		25–23
49January 12JazzW 119–102Lloyd Free (32)Swen Nater (28)Lloyd Free (7)San Diego Sports Arena
9,287		26–23
50January 16HawksW 111–108Lloyd Free (33)Swen Nater (16)Tied (4)San Diego Sports Arena
11,266		27–23
51January 18@ WarriorsL 91–92Lloyd Free (32)Swen Nater (17)Brian Taylor (7)Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena
7,741		27–24
52January 19@ SunsL 123–137Freeman Williams (51)Nick Weatherspoon (8)Stan Pietkiewicz (8)Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
12,660		27–25
53January 22@ SpursL 109–129Freeman Williams (21)Sidney Wicks (11)Sidney Wicks (8)HemisFair Arena
10,049		27–26
54January 23@ RocketsL 110–111 2OTLloyd Free (33)Swen Nater (23)Lloyd Free (9)The Summit
7,159		27–27
55January 25@ PacersL 117–139Lloyd Free (27)Swen Nater (16)Lloyd Free (7)Market Square Arena
8,794		27–28
56January 27@ CelticsL 108–131Lloyd Free (35)Swen Nater (11)Tied (4)Boston Garden
15,320		27–29
57January 29SunsW 133–121Lloyd Free (32)Swen Nater (21)Swen Nater (8)San Diego Sports Arena
11,428		28–29
February (3–8) (Home: 2–3; Road: 1–5)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecordReport
58February 6@ WarriorsL 117–92Freeman Williams (29)Swen Nater (11)Stan Pietkiewicz (5)Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena
8,380		28–30
59February 8Trail BlazersW 118–104Freeman Williams (29)Joe Bryant (12)Tied (7)San Diego Sports Arena
12,715		29–30
60February 9@ NuggetsL 104–123Freeman Williams (33)Swen Nater (18)Stan Pietkiewicz (7)McNichols Sports Arena
14,662		29–31
61February 13BulletsL 103–108Lloyd Free (28)Swen Nater (15)Brian Taylor (8)San Diego Sports Arena
9,472		29–32
62February 17KingsL 107–108Lloyd Free (24)Swen Nater (10)Brian Taylor (6)San Diego Sports Arena
9,114		29–33
63February 19NetsL 113–123Freeman Williams (24)Swen Nater (10)Brian Taylor (6)San Diego Sports Arena
11,709		29–34
64February 2176ersW 104–99Lloyd Free (24)Swen Nater (16)Tied (3)San Diego Sports Arena
13,472		30–34
65February 24@ BullsL 102–110Lloyd Free (35)Swen Nater (10)Bill Walton (6)Chicago Stadium
7,257		30–35
66February 26@ BucksL 88–122Lloyd Free (21)Swen Nater (15)Lloyd Free (4)MECCA Arena
10,938		30–36
67February 27@ PistonsW 129–113Lloyd Free (42)Bill Walton (13)Tied (7)Pontiac Silverdome
5,229		31–36
68February 29@ KingsL 93–98Lloyd Free (34)Tied (13)Lloyd Free (4)Checkerdome
10,561		31–37
March (4–10) (Home: 3–5; Road: 1–5)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecordReport
69March 2BucksL 98–101Lloyd Free (22)Swen Nater (14)Swen Nater (3)San Diego Sports Arena
13,841		31–38
70March 4CavaliersW 116–105Lloyd Free (24)Swen Nater (19)Tied (5)San Diego Sports Arena
9,024		32–38
71March 8@ JazzW 113–98Lloyd Free (38)Bill Walton (15)Tied (4)Salt Palace
9,462		33–38
72March 9WarriorsL 107–125Lloyd Free (26)Swen Nater (13)Swen Nater (8)San Diego Sports Arena
7,560		33–39
73March 11LakersL 106–123Lloyd Free (32)Swen Nater (16)Tied (4)San Diego Sports Arena
13,841		33–40
74March 13NuggetsW 116–102Lloyd Free (26)Swen Nater (22)Brian Taylor (8)San Diego Sports Arena
6,798		34–40
75March 15SunsW 120–109Lloyd Free (44)Swen Nater (16)Tied (6)San Diego Sports Arena
10,635		35–40
76March 16@ NuggetsL 107–127Lloyd Free (29)Swen Nater (18)Lloyd Free (4)McNichols Sports Arena
12,497		35–41
77March 18BullsL 101–115Swen Nater (24)Swen Nater (10)Brian Taylor (7)San Diego Sports Arena
8,731		35–42
78March 21@ SuperSonicsL 104–107Freeman Williams (21)Swen Nater (9)Tied (7)Kingdome
22,695		35–43
79March 23@ Trail BlazersL 91–98Freeman Williams (25)Swen Nater (13)Swen Nater (9)Memorial Coliseum
12,666		35–44
80March 27Trail BlazersL 93–96Swen Nater (24)Swen Nater (19)Swen Nater (5)San Diego Sports Arena
10,863		35–45
81March 28@ LakersL 88–126Freeman Williams (20)Swen Nater (23)Sidney Wicks (10)The Forum
17,505		35–46
82March 30@ SunsL 104–122Freeman Williams (24)Swen Nater (19)Tied (7)Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
10,807		35–47
Close

Season standings

More information W, L ...
Pacific Division
 W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-Los Angeles Lakers 6022.732–37–423–1819–11
x-Seattle SuperSonics 5626.683433–823–1818–12
x-Phoenix Suns 5527.671537–518–2219–11
x-Portland Trail Blazers 3844.4632226–1512–2913–17
San Diego Clippers 3547.4272524–1711–3013–17
Golden State Warriors 2458.2933615–269–328–22
Close
More information #, Team ...
#
Western Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1 c-Los Angeles Lakers6022.732–
2 y-Milwaukee Bucks4933.59811
3 x-Seattle SuperSonics5626.6834
4 x-Phoenix Suns5527.6715
5 x-Kansas City Kings4735.57313
6 x-Portland Trail Blazers3844.46322
7 San Diego Clippers3547.42725
8 Chicago Bulls3052.36630
9 Denver Nuggets3052.36630
10 Utah Jazz2458.29336
11 Golden State Warriors2458.29336
Close

Notes

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

Record vs. opponents

More information Team, ATL ...
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 –2–41–14–21–16–02–02–44–20–21–11–14–24–24–21–12–05–11–10–22–03–3
Boston 4–2–2–04–22–06–02–06–04–21–10–22–05–15–13–31–12–04–22–00–22–04–2
Chicago 1–10–2–2–02–41–14–21–10–23–31–51–51–10–21–11–53–30–24–22–42–40–2
Cleveland 2–42–40–2–1–16–02–02–42–42–01–10–23–33–31–51–10–24–21–10–21–13–3
Denver 1–10–24–21–1–1–13–31–11–10–61–53–31–11–10–21–52–41–13–31–53–31–1
Detroit 0–60–61–10–61–1–1–11–51–50–20–21–12–42–41–50–20–22–40–20–21–12–4
Golden State 0–20–22–40–23–31–1–1–11–13–31–50–62–00–20–22–42–40–23–30–63–30–2
Houston 4–20–61–14–21–15–11–1–4–20–20–21–13–33–32–41–11–13–32–01–12–02–4
Indiana 2–42–42–04–21–15–11–12–4–1–10–20–22–44–21–50–22–02–41–10–21–14–2
Kansas City 2–01–13–30–26–02–03–32–01–1–2–43–31–11–11–11–51–51–15–13–36–02–0
Los Angeles 1–12–05–11–15–12–05–12–02–04–2–3–32–02–01–13–32–42–05–14–26–01–1
Milwaukee 1–10–25–12–03–31–16–01–12–03–33–3–1–11–10–24–25–10–24–22–44–21–1
New Jersey 2–41–51–13–31–14–20–23–34–21–10–21–1–2–41–51–10–23–31–11–11–13–3
New York 2–41–52–03–31–14–22–03–32–41–10–21–14–2–0–62–02–04–21–10–21–13–3
Philadelphia 2–43–31–15–12–05–12–04–25–11–11–12–05–16–0–1–12–04–21–11–11–15–1
Phoenix 1–11–15–11–15–12–04–21–12–05–13–32–41–10–21–1–6–01–12–44–26–02–0
Portland 0–20–23–32–04–22–04–21–10–25–14–21–52–00–20–20–6–1–14–21–53–31–1
San Antonio 1–52–42–02–41–14–22–03–34–21–10–22–03–32–42–41–11–1–2–01–11–14–2
San Diego 1–10–22–41–13–32–03–30–21–11–51–52–41–11–11–14–22–40–2–3–35–11–1
Seattle 2–02–04–22–05–12–06–01–12–03–32–44–21–12–01–12–45–11–13–3–5–11–1
Utah 0–20–24–21–13–31–13–30–21–10–60–62–41–11–11–10–63–31–11–51–5–0–2
Washington 3–32–42–03–31–14–22–04–22–40–21–11–13–33–31–50–21–12–41–11–12–0—
Close

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
More information Player, GP ...
Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Lloyd Free68-38.0.474.360.7533.54.21.20.530.2
Swen Nater81-35.3.554†.000.71815.02.90.60.513.4
Brian Taylor78-35.3.467.377.8022.44.31.90.313.5
Sidney Wicks71-30.2.423.000.5465.83.01.10.77.1
Joe Bryant81-28.7.431.147.7426.41.81.30.59.3
Bingo Smith70-28.4.430.289.8693.51.30.80.211.7
Freeman Williams82-25.8.480.328.8152.32.00.90.118.6
Bill Walton14-24.1.503.000.5939.02.40.62.713.9
Nick Weatherspoon57-19.7.434NA.6923.60.90.60.36.9
John Olive1-15.0.000NA.0001.00.00.00.00.0
Marvin Barnes20-14.4.400NA.5003.90.90.30.63.2
Bob Carrington10-13.4.405.000.7501.30.30.40.13.6
Jerome Whitehead18-12.5.600†NA.2783.90.30.10.33.3
Stan Pietkiewicz50-11.5.508.250.8040.91.90.50.14.6
Steve Malovic28-9.9.548NA.7782.10.40.20.01.9
Close

Awards, records and milestones

Awards

Week/Month

All-Star

  • Lloyd Free selected as a reserve guard for the Western Conference All-Stars. Free would be the first and only San Diego Clipper All-Star.

Season

Records

  • Swen Nater sets a franchise record of total rebounds in a single season with 1,216. This record will not be broken until 35 years later by DeAndre Jordan with 1,226 rebounds.

Milestones

Transactions

The Clippers were involved in the following transactions during the 1979–80 season.

Trades

May 13, 1979 To San Diego Clippers
 To Portland Trail Blazers
September 21, 1979 To San Diego Clippers
  • A 1980 first round draft pick
 To Cleveland Cavaliers
October 6, 1979 To San Diego Clippers
 To Philadelphia 76ers
  • 1986 first round draft pick
October 27, 1979 To San Diego Clippers
 To Cleveland Cavaliers
  • 1980 third round draft pick
November 21, 1979 To San Diego Clippers
 To Washington Bullets
  • 1982 second round draft pick

Free agents

References

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