The 1980–81 NBA season was the Bucks 13th season in the NBA.[1] They finished with 60 wins and 22 losses, placing first in their division and second in the Eastern Conference behind the Boston Celtics. It was the Bucks' best regular season record since 1972–73, and their only 60-win season without Kareem Abdul-Jabbar on their roster until the 2018-19 season. The team's top scorer, fourth-year small forward Marques Johnson finished sixth in the MVP voting.
See main article: article and 1980 NBA draft.
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | School/Club Team | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 63 | Oklahoma | ||||
| 4 | 86 | North Carolina | ||||
| 5 | 109 | Virginia Commonwealth | ||||
| 6 | 132 | Indiana State | ||||
| 7 | 155 | Furman | ||||
| 8 | 174 | Virginia Union | ||||
| 9 | 194 | Illinois State | ||||
| 10 | 210 | Alabama State |
Notes
| 1980-81 NBA Records | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| width=100 | 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 | — | |
|-style="background:#bbffbb;"| 1 || October 10, 1980 || @ Philadelphia| W 106–103|Junior Bridgeman (21)||| The Spectrum| 1–0|-style="background:#fcc;"| 2 || October 11, 1980 || @ New York| L 109–114|Marques Johnson (19)||| Madison Square Garden| 1-1|-style="background:#fcc;"| 3 || October 16, 1980 || Boston| L 103–110|Marques Johnson (27)||| MECCA Arena| 1–2|-style="background:#bbffbb;"| 4 || October 18, 1980 || @ Cleveland| W 107–105|Brian Winters (25)||| Coliseum at Richfield| 2-2|-style="background:#bbffbb;"| 5 || October 19, 1980 || New Jersey| W 105–93|Brian Winters (22)||| MECCA Arena| 3–2|-style="background:#bbffbb;"| 6 || October 21, 1980 || Cleveland| W 115–95|Marques Johnson (28)||| MECCA Arena| 4–2|-style="background:#bbffbb;"| 7 || October 22, 1980 || @ Indiana| W 119–105|||| Market Square Arena| 5–2|-style="background:#bbffbb;"| 8 || October 25, 1980 || Chicago| W 109–93|Marques Johnson (21)||| MECCA Arena| 6–2|-style="background:#bbffbb;"| 8 || October 26, 1980 || Washington| W 111–88|Marques Johnson (21)|Marques Johnson, Sidney Moncrief (9)|Quinn Buckner, Brian Winters (7)| MECCA Arena| 7–2|-style="background:#bbffbb;"| 9 || October 28, 1980 || @ Chicago| W 106–99|||| Chicago Stadium| 8–2|-style="background:#bbffbb;"| 10 || October 29, 1980 || @ New Jersey| W 132–116|Junior Bridgeman (26)||| Rutgers Athletic Center| 9–2|-style="background:#bbffbb;"| 11 || November 1, 1980 || @ Atlanta| W 99–93|||| Omni Coliseum| 10–2|-style="background:#bbffbb;"| 12 || November 2, 1980 || Indiana| W 135–121|Marques Johnson (40)||| MECCA Arena| 11–2|-style="background:#fcc;"| 13 || November 4, 1980 || Detroit| L 96–98|||| MECCA Arena| 11–3|-style="background:#bbffbb;"| 14 || November 7, 1980 || @ Boston| w 102–101|||| Boston Garden| 12–3|-style="background:#fcc;"| 15 || November 9, 1980 || Philadelphia| L 121–136|||| MECCA Arena| 12–4|-style="background:#bbffbb;"| 16 || November 11, 1980 || @ Cleveland| W 100–96|Marques Johnson (19)||| Coliseum at Richfield| 13–4|-style="background:#bbffbb;"| 17 || November 12, 1980 || @ Detroit| W 122–98|Junior Bridgeman (27)||| Pontiac Silverdome| 14–4|-style="background:#bbffbb;"| 18 || November 14, 1980 || New York| W 125–106|||| MECCA Arena| 15–4|-style="background:#fcc;"| 19 || November 16, 1980 || Chicago| L 108–114|||| MECCA Arena| 15–5|-style="background:#bbffbb;"| 20 || November 18, 1980 || @ Utah| W 126–93|Sidney Moncrief (21)||| Salt Palace| 16–5|-style="background:#bbffbb;"| 21 || November 20, 1980 || @ Portland| W 97–93|Mickey Johnson (22)||| Memorial Coliseum| 17–5|-style="background:#bbffbb;"| 22 || November 23, 1980 || @ Los Angeles| W 110–94|Marques Johnson (24)||| The Forum| 18–5|-style="background:#bbffbb;"| 23 || November 28, 1980 || Atlanta| W 114–108 OT|||| MECCA Arena| 19–5|-style="background:#fcc;"| 24 || November 29, 1980 || @ Washington| L 89–98|||| Capital Centre| 19–6|-style="background:#bbffbb;"| 25 || November 30, 1980 || Boston| W 107–105|||| MECCA Arena| 20–6|-style="background:#bbffbb;"| 27 || December 2, 1980 || Utah| W 119–108|||| MECCA Arena| 21–6|-style="background:#bbffbb;"| 28 || December 5, 1980 || Indiana| W 102–100|||| MECCA Arena| 22–6|-style="background:#fcc;"| 29 || December 6, 1980 || @ New York| L 94–104|||| Madison Square Garden| 22–7|-style="background:#fcc;"| 30 || December 9, 1980 || @ Boston| L 89–112|||| Boston Garden| 22–8|-style="background:#bbffbb;"| 31 || December 11, 1980 || New York| W 119–107|||| MECCA Arena| 23–8|-style="background:#fcc;"| 32 || December 13, 1980 || @ Atlanta| L 119–122|||| Omni Coliseum| 23–9|-style="background:#bbffbb;"| 33 || December 14, 1980 || San Antonio| W 115–98|||| MECCA Arena| 24–9|-style="background:#fcc;"| 34 || December 17, 1980 || @ New Jersey| L 112–115|||| Rutgers Athletic Center| 24–10|-style="background:#bbffbb;"| 35 || December 18, 1980 || Detroit| W 121–104|||| MECCA Arena| 25–10|-style="background:#bbffbb;"| 37 || December 21, 1980 || Houston| W 123–91|||| MECCA Arena| 26–11|-style="background:#bbffbb;"| 38 || December 27, 1980 || Dallas| W 112–96|||| MECCA Arena| 27–11|-style="background:#bbffbb;"| 40 || January 4, 1980 || San Diego| W 128–95|||| MECCA Arena| 29–11|-style="background:#bbffbb;"| 41 || January 6, 1980 || New Jersey| W 102–86|||| MECCA Arena| 30–11|-style="background:#bbffbb;"| 42 || January 8, 1980 || Atlanta| W 98–95|||| MECCA Arena| 31–11|-style="background:#bbffbb;"| 62 || February 17, 1981 || @ Dallas| W 114–106|||| Reunion Arena| 45–17
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 1| April 5| @ Philadelphia| L 122–125| Junior Bridgeman (32)| Marques Johnson (14)| Quinn Buckner (8)| Spectrum
9,727| 0–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 2| April 7| @ Philadelphia| W 109–99| Marques Johnson (22)| Bob Lanier (10)| Quinn Buckner (6)| Spectrum
15,259| 1–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 3| April 10| Philadelphia| L 103–108| Marques Johnson (29)| Marques Johnson (9)| Marques Johnson (8)| MECCA Arena
11,052| 1–2|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 4| April 12| Philadelphia| W 109–98| Marques Johnson (35)| Sidney Moncrief (10)| Marques Johnson (7)| MECCA Arena
11,052| 2–2|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 5| April 15| @ Philadelphia| L 99–116| Mickey Johnson, Moncrief (20)| Mickey Johnson (13)| Marques Johnson (7)| Spectrum
15,384| 2–3|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 6| April 17| Philadelphia| W 109–86| Mickey Johnson (22)| Mickey Johnson (12)| Lanier, Buckner (6)| MECCA Arena
11,052| 3–3|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 7| April 19| @ Philadelphia| L 98–99| Marques Johnson (36)| Bob Lanier (10)| four players tied (4)| Spectrum
6,704| 3–4|-
| Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3FG% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marques Johnson | 76 | 33.4 | 55.2 | 0.0 | 70.6 | 6.8 | 4.6 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 20.3 | ||
| Junior Bridgeman | 77 | 28.8 | 48.7 | 14.3 | 88.4 | 3.8 | 3.0 | 1.1 | 0.4 | 16.8 | ||
| Bob Lanier | 67 | 26.2 | 52.5 | 100.0 | 75.1 | 6.2 | 2.7 | 1.1 | 1.2 | 14.3 | ||
| Sidney Moncrief | 80 | 30.2 | 54.1 | 22.2 | 80.4 | 5.1 | 3.3 | 1.1 | 0.5 | 14.0 | ||
| Quinn Buckner | 82 | 29.1 | 49.3 | 16.7 | 73.4 | 3.6 | 4.7 | 2.4 | 0.0 | 13.3 | ||
| Mickey Johnson | 82 | 25.8 | 44.8 | 16.7 | 78.9 | 6.6 | 3.5 | 1.1 | 0.9 | 12.5 | ||
| Brian Winters | 69 | 25.7 | 47.5 | 35.3 | 86.9 | 2.0 | 3.3 | 1.0 | 0.1 | 11.6 | ||
| Pat Cummings | 74 | 14.6 | 53.9 | 0.0 | 70.7 | 3.9 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 8.0 | ||
| Mike Evans | 71 | 12.8 | 46.0 | 14.3 | 78.1 | 1.2 | 2.4 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 4.5 | ||
| Harvey Catchings | 77 | 21.2 | 44.7 | 0.0 | 64.1 | 6.1 | 1.3 | 0.4 | 2.4 | 4.2 | ||
| Len Elmore | 72 | 12.8 | 35.8 | 0.0 | 72.0 | 2.9 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 0.7 | 2.9 | ||
| Kim Hughes | 45 | 7.4 | 35.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.7 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 0.7 |
| Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3FG% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marques Johnson | 7 | 7 | 38.0 | 55.6 | 0.0 | 71.9 | 9.4 | 4.9 | 1.4 | 1.0 | 24.7 | |
| Bob Lanier | 7 | 7 | 33.7 | 58.8 | 0.0 | 71.9 | 7.4 | 4.0 | 1.7 | 1.1 | 17.6 | |
| Sidney Moncrief | 7 | 7 | 39.6 | 43.5 | 0.0 | 74.5 | 6.7 | 2.9 | 1.7 | 0.4 | 14.0 | |
| Junior Bridgeman | 7 | 0 | 26.1 | 46.2 | 100.0 | 81.3 | 2.1 | 3.3 | 0.9 | 0.0 | 14.0 | |
| Mickey Johnson | 7 | 7 | 24.3 | 40.0 | 0.0 | 85.7 | 6.7 | 1.9 | 1.3 | 0.9 | 11.7 | |
| Brian Winters | 7 | 0 | 25.9 | 45.9 | 33.3 | 75.0 | 3.3 | 3.1 | 1.4 | 0.1 | 10.0 | |
| Quinn Buckner | 7 | 7 | 26.1 | 43.3 | 0.0 | 68.8 | 2.9 | 5.0 | 1.6 | 0.0 | 9.0 | |
| Mike Evans | 4 | 0 | 9.5 | 52.9 | 0.0 | 87.5 | 0.3 | 1.5 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 6.3 | |
| Pat Cummings | 5 | 0 | 5.0 | 27.3 | 0.0 | 75.0 | 1.2 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 1.8 | |
| Harvey Catchings | 7 | 0 | 15.6 | 18.8 | 0.0 | 100.0 | 3.7 | 1.1 | 0.0 | 1.6 | 1.1 | |
| Len Elmore | 4 | 0 | 3.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| September 11, 1980 | To Milwaukee Bucks---- | To Indiana Pacers---- |
| Player | Signed | Former team | |
| Kim Hughes | October 31, 1980 | Denver Nuggets |
| Subtractions | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Player | Date signed | New team | |
| Dave Meyers | April 30, 1980 | Retired | |
| Richard Washington | Expansion Draft May 28, 1980 | Dallas Mavericks | |
| Lloyd Walton | October 6, 1980 | Kansas City Kings | |
| Scott Lloyd | October 20, 1980 | Dallas Mavericks | |