1980–81 Kansas City Kings season

The 1980–81 Kansas City Kings season was the Kings 32nd season in the NBA and their ninth season in the city of Kansas City.1980-81 Kansas City Kings The Kansas City Kings made the playoffs with a 40–42 win-loss record and appeared in the Western Conference finals where they lost to the also 40–42 Houston Rockets. This is the only time two NBA teams with losing records have made it to the conference finals.

Draft picks

Round Pick Player Position Nationality School/Club team 1 16 Hawkeye Whitney SG/SF North Carolina State 3 62 Tony Murphy SG Southern 5 108 Kevin Blakley Eastern Michigan 6 131 Trent Grooms Kent State 7 154 Arnold McDowell Montana State 9 193 Charley Cole Delta State

Roster

Regular season

Season standings

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

Game log Regular season

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 1 | | Utah | W 98–91

| Kemper Arena | 1–0 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 2 | 8:05p.m. CDT | @ Phoenix | L 100–109 | Birdsong (19) | King (8) | Ford (5) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum10,131 | 1–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 3 | 7:35p.m. CDT | @ San Antonio | L 103–109 | Birdsong (33) | King (9) | Ford (8) | HemisFair Arena9,876 | 1–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 4 | | Los Angeles | L 107–112 (OT)

| Kemper Arena | 1–3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 5 | | @ Dallas | W 103–91

| Reunion Arena | 2–3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 6 | | Seattle | L 122–127

| Kemper Arena | 2–4 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 7 | | Golden State | L 111–116

| Kemper Arena | 2–5 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 8 | 8:05p.m. CDT | @ Houston | W 105–96 | Birdsong (37) | King (11) | Ford (7) | The Summit7,227 | 3–5 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 9 | | Denver | W 125–122

| Kemper Arena | 4–5 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 10 | | @ Atlanta | L 109–119

| The Omni | 4–6 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 11 | | Portland | W 115–98

| Kemper Arena | 5–6 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 12 | 6:30p.m. CST | @ Boston | L 110–115 | Birdsong (30) | Lacey (12) | Ford (7) | Boston Garden14,035 | 5–7

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 13 | 7:35p.m. CST | Phoenix | L 100–127 | Birdsong (24) | Douglas (8) | Wedman (7) | Kemper Arena7,792 | 5–8 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 14 | | @ Utah | L 104–107

| Salt Palace Acord Arena | 5–9 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 15 | | New York | W 111–102

| Kemper Arena | 6–9 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 16 | 7:05p.m. CST | @ Philadelphia | L 100–117 | Birdsong,Ford (23) | King (13) | Ford (10) | The Spectrum11,390 | 6–10 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 17 | | Cleveland | W 111–106

| Kemper Arena | 7–10 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 18 | | @ Portland | W 102–101

| Memorial Coliseum | 8–10 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 19 | | @ Golden State | L 101–111

| Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena | 8–11 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 20 | | @ Seattle | L 125–127

| Kingdome | 8–12 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 21 | | @ San Diego | W 96–94

| San Diego Sports Arena | 9–12 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 22 | | @ Los Angeles | L 94–107

| The Forum | 9–13 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 23 | | @ Denver | L 121–134

| McNichols Sports Arena | 9–14 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 24 | | New Jersey | W 118–100

| Kemper Arena | 10–14 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 25 | | @ Detroit | L 94–104

| Pontiac Silverdome | 10–15 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 26 | 7:35p.m. CST | San Antonio | L 104–106 | Birdsong (37) | King (12) | Ford (13) | Kemper Arena8,380 | 10–16

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 27 | | @ Washington | L 103–107

| Capital Centre | 10–17 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 28 | 7:35p.m. CST | Phoenix | W 103–100 | Birdsong (28) | Douglas (8) | Ford (11) | Kemper Arena7,719 | 11–17 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 29 | 7:35p.m. CST | Houston | W 108–100 | Birdsong (42) | King (9) | Ford (16) | Kemper Arena6,982 | 12–17 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 30 | | @ Indiana | L 88–107

| Market Square Arena | 12–18 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 31 | | San Diego | W 112–100

| Kemper Arena | 13–18 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 32 | 6:35p.m. CST | @ San Antonio | L 104–122 | Birdsong (28) | King,Lacey (6) | Birdsong (10) | HemisFair Arena7,491 | 13–19 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 33 | | Dallas | W 114–107

| Kemper Arena | 14–19 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 34 | | @ Denver | W 133–118

| McNichols Sports Arena | 15–19 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 35 | | @ Seattle | L 94–101

| Kingdome | 15–20 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 36 | | Indiana | L 103–107

| Kemper Arena | 15–21 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 37 | | @ Cleveland | W 102–100

| Richfield Coliseum | 16–21 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 38 | 7:35p.m. CST | Philadelphia | L 103–113 | Ford (19) | King (14) | Ford (10) | Kemper Arena16,006 | 16–22 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 39 | | @ New York | L 99–100

| Madison Square Garden | 16–23 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 40 | | @ New Jersey | W 102–99

| Rutgers Athletic Center | 17–23 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 41 | | Golden State | L 104–106

| Kemper Arena | 17–24

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 42 | | Utah | W 101–95

| Kemper Arena | 18–24 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 43 | 8:05p.m. CST | @ Houston | W 114–108 | Ford (31) | King (11) | Ford (11) | The Summit8,220 | 19–24 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 44 | | Washington | W 136–118

| Kemper Arena | 20–24 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 45 | | @ Utah | W 99–92

| Salt Palace Acord Arena | 21–24 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 46 | | San Diego | L 105–115

| Kemper Arena | 21–25 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 47 | | Portland | L 91–110

| Kemper Arena | 21–26 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 48 | 8:00p.m. CST | @ Milwaukee | L 112–118 (OT) | Wedman (25) | King (9) | Ford (8) | MECCA Arena11,052 | 21–27 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 49 | | Denver | L 122–123

| Kemper Arena | 21–28 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 50 | | @ Dallas | W 104–91

| Reunion Arena | 22–28 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 51 | 7:35p.m. CST | San Antonio | W 115–108 | Ford (32) | Lacey (9) | Wedman (7) | Kemper Arena7,627 | 23–28 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 52 | 7:35p.m. CST | Houston | W 113–107 | Ford (38) | King (10) | Ford (6) | Kemper Arena7,290 | 24–28 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 53 | | @ San Diego | L 114–119

| San Diego Sports Arena | 24–29 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 54 | | @ Los Angeles | L 104–118

| The Forum | 24–30

|- align="center" |colspan="9" bgcolor="#bbcaff"|All-Star Break |- style="background:#cfc;" |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 55 | | @ Dallas | W 121–100

| Reunion Arena | 25–30 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 56 | | Detroit | W 91–90

| Kemper Arena | 26–30 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 57 | | @ Seattle | W 102–92

| Kingdome | 27–30 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 58 | | @ Portland | L 123–129 (OT)

| Memorial Coliseum | 27–31 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 59 | 7:30p.m. CST | @ Chicago | L 115–116 | Birdsong (26) | King (8) | Ford (9) | Chicago Stadium4,647 | 27–32 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 60 | | Utah | W 99–87

| Kemper Arena | 28–32 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 61 | | Atlanta | W 113–106

| Kemper Arena | 29–32 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 62 | | Seattle | W 107–105

| Kemper Arena | 30–32 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 63 | 7:35p.m. CST | Boston | W 114–113 | Ford (28) | Lacey (10) | Lacey (12) | Kemper Arena11,810 | 31–32 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 64 | 7:35p.m. CST | Milwaukee | W 112–109 | Birdsong (31) | King (12) | Ford (10) | Kemper Arena11,046 | 32–32 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 65 | | @ Denver | L 109–129

| McNichols Sports Arena | 32–33 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 66 | | @ Golden State | L 96–104

| Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena | 33–33 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 67 | | Dallas | W 105–102

| Kemper Arena | 33–34 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 68 | | Golden State | L 101–110

| Kemper Arena | 33–35

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 69 | | Los Angeles | L 98–99

| Kemper Arena | 33–36 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 70 | 7:35p.m. CST | @ San Antonio | W 111–97 | Birdsong (39) | Meriweather (10) | Lacey (12) | HemisFair Arena9,280 | 34–36 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 71 | | Portland | W 106–100

| Kemper Arena | 35–36 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 72 | 2:05p.m. CST | Phoenix | W 105–68 | Birdsong (30) | King (20) | Grunfeld (12) | Kemper Arena8,260 | 36–36 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 73 | | @ San Diego | W 107–100

| San Diego Sports Arena | 37–36 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 74 | | @ Los Angeles | L 101–116

| The Forum | 37–37 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 75 | 12Noon CST | Chicago | L 87–97 | King (27) | King (16) | Lacey (8) | Kemper Arena14,560 | 37–38 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 76 | | Denver | L 124–126 (2OT)

| Kemper Arena | 37–39 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 77 | 7:35p.m. CST | San Antonio | L 111–114 (OT) | Wedman (25) | King,Lacey (7) | Birdsong (6) | Kemper Arena8,740 | 37–40 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 78 | 2:05p.m. CST | Houston | L 108–114 | Birdsong (24) | King (15) | Birdsong,Grunfeld,Walton (5) | Kemper Arena7,942 | 37–41 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 79 | | @ Utah | W 105–92

| Salt Palace Acord Arena | 38–41 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 80 | 8:35p.m. CST | @ Phoenix | W 110–101 | Grunfeld (25) | Douglas (7) | Grunfeld (12) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum12,660 | 39–41 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 81 | 8:05p.m. CST | @ Houston | L 84–91 | King (27) | King (14) | Lacey (7) | The Summit15,676 | 39–42 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 82 | | Dallas | W 113–104

| Kemper Arena | 40–42

Playoffs

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 1 | | @ Portland | W 98–97 (OT) | Birdsong (29) | King,Lacey (12) | Lacey (10) | Memorial Coliseum12,666 | 1–0 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 2 | | Portland | L 119–124 (OT) | Wedman (31) | Lacey (9) | Lacey (8) | Kemper Arena11,088 | 1–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 3 | | @ Portland | W 104–95 | King (28) | King (15) | Grunfeld (6) | Memorial Coliseum12,666 | 2–1

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 1 | 8:35p.m. CST | @ Phoenix | L 80–102 | King (15) | King (8) | Walton (6) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum12,660 | 0–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 2 | 8:35p.m. CST | @ Phoenix | W 88–83 | Wedman (24) | King (12) | Grunfeld (8) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum12,660 | 1–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 3 | 7:35p.m. CST | Phoenix | W 93–92 | King (29) | Lacey (12) | Grunfeld (7) | Kemper Arena13,776 | 2–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 4 | 2:30p.m. CST | Phoenix | W 102–95 | Grunfeld (27) | Lacey (11) | Lacey (10) | Kemper Arena11,089 | 3–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 5 | 8:35p.m. CST | @ Phoenix | L 89–101 | King (29) | Douglas,Lacey (8) | Grunfeld (8) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum12,660 | 3–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 6 | 7:05p.m. CST | Phoenix | L 76–81 | Wedman (19) | Lacey (12) | Grunfeld (8) | Kemper Arena15,232 | 3–3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 7 | 2:30p.m. CST | @ Phoenix | W 95–88 | Grunfeld,King (23) | King,Lacey (7) | Wedman (9) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum12,660 | 4–3

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 1 | 9:05p.m. CST | Houston | L 78–97 | Grunfeld (20) | King (12) | Ford,Lacey (7) | Kemper Arena13,885 | 0–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 2 | 9:05p.m. CST | Houston | W 88–79 | King (31) | King (10) | King,Lacey (6) | Kemper Arena14,326 | 1–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 3 | 9:00p.m. CST | @ Houston