1979–80 Denver Nuggets season

NBA professional basketball team season

NBA professional basketball team season

1979–80 Denver Nuggets season

Head coach| Donnie Walsh
Arena| McNichols Sports Arena
Results
Record| 30-52 (.366)
Place| Division: 4th (Midwest)
Conference: 9th (Western)
Playoff finish| Did not qualify

* * *

Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
Television| KWGN-TV
Radio| KOA
| < 1978–79  | 1980–81 >

|

The 1979–80 NBA season was the Nuggets' 4th season in the NBA and 13th season as a franchise.[1]

## Draft picks

[edit]

Main article: 1979 NBA draft

Round  | Pick  | Player  | Position  | Nationality  | School/Club Team

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2 | 30 | Gary Garland | G |  United States | DePaul
5 | 102 | Larry Williams |  |  United States | Louisville
6 | 122 | Odell Bell |  |  United States | Marquette
7 | 144 | John Johnson |  |  United States | Creighton
8 | 162 | Matt Teahan |  |  United States | Denver
9 | 179 | Emmett Lewis |  |  United States | Colorado

## Roster

[edit]

1979–80 Denver Nuggets roster Players  | Coaches

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| Pos. | No. | Name  | Height  | Weight  | DOB  | From

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F | 31 | Ellis, Bo | 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)  | 197 lb (89 kg)  |  | Marquette
SF | 2 | English, Alex | 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)  | 190 lb (86 kg)  |  | South Carolina
G | 24 | Garland, Gary | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)  | 180 lb (82 kg)  |  | DePaul
F | 22 | Gondrezick, Glen | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)  | 218 lb (99 kg)  |  | UNLV
C | 35 | Hughes, Kim | 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)  | 220 lb (100 kg)  |  | Wisconsin
C | 44 | Issel, Dan | 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)  | 235 lb (107 kg)  |  | Kentucky
F | 20 | Johnson, George L. | 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)  | 210 lb (95 kg)  |  | St. John's
C | 41 | Kramer, Arvid | 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)  | 220 lb (100 kg)  |  | Augustana (SD)
G | 10 | Roche, John | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)  | 170 lb (77 kg)  |  | South Carolina
G | 11 | Scott, Charlie | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)  | 175 lb (79 kg)  |  | North Carolina
SF | 33 | Thompson, David | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)  | 195 lb (88 kg)  |  | NC State
G | 32 | Wilkerson, Bob | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)  | 195 lb (88 kg)  |  | Indiana

Head coach

* Donnie Walsh

Assistant coach(es)

* George Irvine

* * *

Legend

* (DP) Unsigned draft pick
* (FA) Free agent
* (S) Suspended
* Injured

## Regular season

[edit]

### Season standings

[edit]

Midwest Division

* v
* t
* e

|  W  |  L  |  PCT  |  GB  |  Home  |  Road  |  Div

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y-Milwaukee Bucks | 49 | 33 | .598 | – | 28–12 | 21–21 | 15–9
x-Kansas City Kings | 47 | 35 | .573 | 2 | 30–11 | 17–24 | 18–6
Chicago Bulls | 30 | 52 | .366 | 19 | 21–20 | 9–32 | 8–16
Denver Nuggets | 30 | 52 | .366 | 19 | 24–17 | 6–35 | 10–14
Utah Jazz | 24 | 58 | .293 | 25 | 17–24 | 7–34 | 9–15
#  |

Western Conference

* v
* t
* e

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Team  |  W  |  L  |  PCT  |  GB
1  | c-Los Angeles Lakers | 60 | 22 | .732 | –
2  | y-Milwaukee Bucks | 49 | 33 | .598 | 11
3  | x-Seattle SuperSonics | 56 | 26 | .683 | 4
4  | x-Phoenix Suns | 55 | 27 | .671 | 5
5  | x-Kansas City Kings | 47 | 35 | .573 | 13
6  | x-Portland Trail Blazers | 38 | 44 | .463 | 22
7  | San Diego Clippers | 35 | 47 | .427 | 25
8  | Chicago Bulls | 30 | 52 | .366 | 30
9  | Denver Nuggets | 30 | 52 | .366 | 30
10  | Utah Jazz | 24 | 58 | .293 | 36
11  | Golden State Warriors | 24 | 58 | .293 | 36

z \- clinched division title
y \- clinched division title
x \- clinched playoff spot

### Record vs. opponents

[edit]

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

[edit]

### Regular season

[edit]

1979–80 game log
Total: 30–52 (home: 24–17; road: 6–35)

October: 2–8 (home: 2–4; road: 0–4)

| Game | Date | Team | Score | High points | High rebounds | High assists | Location
Attendance | Record

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November: 7–9 (home: 4–3; road: 3–6)

| Game | Date | Team | Score | High points | High rebounds | High assists | Location
Attendance | Record

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December: 5–9 (home: 5–1; road: 0–8)

| Game | Date | Team | Score | High points | High rebounds | High assists | Location
Attendance | Record

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January: 5–11 (home: 4–4; road: 1–7)

| Game | Date | Team | Score | High points | High rebounds | High assists | Location
Attendance | Record

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February: 6–5 (home: 5–3; road: 1–2)

| Game | Date | Team | Score | High points | High rebounds | High assists | Location
Attendance | Record

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All-Star Break
61  | February 15 | Atlanta | W 111–98 |  |  |  | McNichols Sports Arena | 22–39

March: 5–10 (home: 4–2; road: 1–8)

| Game | Date | Team | Score | High points | High rebounds | High assists | Location
Attendance | Record

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68  | March 2 | @ Atlanta | L 93–100 |  |  |  | The Omni | 25–43

1979–80 schedule

## Player statistics

[edit]

Legend  GP  | Games played  |  GS | Games started  |  MPG | Minutes per game

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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  |  |
Player  | GP  | GS  | MPG  | FG%  | 3FG%  | FT%  | RPG  | APG  | SPG  | BPG  | PPG

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## Awards and records

[edit]

This section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (January 2011)

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## Transactions

[edit]

This section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (January 2011)

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## References

[edit]

1. ^ 1979-80 Denver Nuggets

## See also

[edit]

* 1979-80 NBA season

* v
* t
* e

1979–80 NBA season

* 1979 NBA draft
* All-Star Game
* Playoffs
* Finals
* Transactions

Eastern|

| Atlantic|

* Boston
* New Jersey
* New York
* Philadelphia
* Washington

|

Central|

* Atlanta
* Cleveland
* Detroit
* Houston
* Indiana
* San Antonio

Western|

| Midwest|

* Chicago
* Denver
* Kansas City
* Milwaukee
* Utah

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Pacific|

* Golden State
* Los Angeles
* Phoenix
* Portland
* San Diego
* Seattle

* v
* t
* e

Denver Nuggets

* Founded in 1967
* Formerly the Denver Rockets (1967–1974)
* Based in Denver, Colorado

Franchise|

* ABA–NBA merger
* All-time roster
* Draft history
* Records
* Head coaches
* Seasons
* Current season

Arenas|

* Denver Auditorium Arena
* Denver Coliseum
* McNichols Sports Arena
* Ball Arena

Personnel|

Owner(s)
Ann Walton Kroenke
President
Josh Kroenke
General manager
Calvin Booth
Head coach
Michael Malone

G League affiliate|

* Grand Rapids Gold

Retired numbers|

* 2
* 12
* 33
* 40
* 44
* 55
* 432

NBA championships|

* 2023

Rivalries|

* Minnesota Timberwolves
* Utah Jazz

Culture and lore|

* Alex English
* Mt. Mutombo
* The Hey Song
* "Cartman Finds Love" (South Park)
* Kansas City (ABA)
* 1976 ABA All-Star Game
* Knicks–Nuggets brawl
* The Joker

* v
* t
* e

Denver Nuggets seasons

* Franchise
* Seasons

1960s|

|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1967–68 | 1968–69

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1970s|

| 1969–70 | 1970–71 | 1971–72 | 1972–73 | 1973–74 | 1974–75 | 1975–76 | 1976–77 | 1977–78 | 1978–79

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1980s|

| 1979–80 | 1980–81 | 1981–82 | 1982–83 | 1983–84 | 1984–85 | 1985–86 | 1986–87 | 1987–88 | 1988–89

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1990s|

| 1989–90 | 1990–91 | 1991–92 | 1992–93 | 1993–94 | 1994–95 | 1995–96 | 1996–97 | 1997–98 | 1998–99

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2000s|

| 1999–00 | 2000–01 | 2001–02 | 2002–03 | 2003–04 | 2004–05 | 2005–06 | 2006–07 | 2007–08 | 2008–09

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2010s|

| 2009–10 | 2010–11 | 2011–12 | 2012–13 | 2013–14 | 2014–15 | 2015–16 | 2016–17 | 2017–18 | 2018–19

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2020s|

| 2019–20 | 2020–21 | 2021–22 | 2022–23 | 2023–24 | 2024–25 |  |  |  |

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Bold indicates NBA Finals victory
*[Pos.]: Position
*[No.]: Number
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template
*[ W ]: Games won
*[ L ]: Games lost
*[ PCT ]: Winning percentage
*[ GB ]: Games behind
*[ Home ]: Home record
*[ Road ]: Road record
*[ Div ]: Division record