1978–79 Kansas City Kings season

1978–79 Kansas City Kings season
1978–79 Kansas City Kings season
Division champions
Head coach	Cotton Fitzsimmons
Owners	Leon Karosen ; Robert Margolin ; H. Paul Rosenberg
Arena	Kemper Arena
Results
Record	48–34 (.585)
Place	Division: 1st (Midwest); Conference: 2nd (Western)
Playoff finish	West Conference Semi-finals; (eliminated 1-4)
	Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
Television	KBMA-TV
Radio	KCMO
< 1977–78	1979–80 >

The 1978–79 NBA season was the Kings 30th season in the NBA and their seventh season in the city of Kansas City.^[1]

Roster

Players

Coaches

Pos.	No.	Name	Height	Weight	From
G	42	Allen, Lucius	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)	175 lb (79 kg)	UCLA
G	10	Birdsong, Otis	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)	190 lb (86 kg)	Houston
C	16	Burleson, Tom	7 ft 2 in (2.18 m)	225 lb (102 kg)	NC State
G	1	Ford, Phil	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)	175 lb (79 kg)	North Carolina
F	22	Gerard, Gus	6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)	200 lb (91 kg)	Virginia
F/C	30	Hillman, Darnell	6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)	215 lb (98 kg)	San José State
C	44	Lacey, Sam	6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)	235 lb (107 kg)	New Mexico State
G	25	McKinney, Billy	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)	160 lb (73 kg)	Northwestern
F	55	Nash, Bob	6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)	195 lb (88 kg)	Hawaiʻi
F	52	Robinzine, Bill	6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)	230 lb (104 kg)	DePaul
F	31	Washington, Richard	6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)	220 lb (100 kg)	UCLA
F	15	Wedman, Scott	6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)	215 lb (98 kg)	Colorado

Head coach

Cotton Fitzsimmons

Assistant coach(es)

Frank Hamblen

Legend

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

Regular season

Season standings

Midwest Division v t e	W	L	PCT	GB	Home	Road	Div
y-Kansas City Kings	48	34	.585	–	32–9	16–25	12–4
x-Denver Nuggets	47	35	.573	1	29–12	18–23	8–8
Indiana Pacers	38	44	.463	10	25–16	13–28	6–10
Milwaukee Bucks	38	44	.463	10	28–13	10–31	9–7
Chicago Bulls	31	51	.378	17	19–22	12–29	5–11

#	Western Conference v t e
#	Team	W	L	PCT	GB
1	z-Seattle SuperSonics	52	30	.634	–
2	y-Kansas City Kings	48	34	.585	4
3	x-Phoenix Suns	50	32	.610	2
4	x-Denver Nuggets	47	35	.573	5
5	x-Los Angeles Lakers	47	35	.573	5
6	x-Portland Trail Blazers	45	37	.549	7

7	San Diego Clippers	43	39	.524	9
8	Indiana Pacers	38	44	.463	14
9	Milwaukee Bucks	38	44	.463	14
10	Golden State Warriors	38	44	.463	14
11	Chicago Bulls	31	51	.378	21

z - clinched division title

y - clinched division title

x - clinched playoff spot

Record vs. opponents

1978-79 NBA Records
Team	ATL	BOS	CHI	CLE	DEN	DET	GSW	HOU	IND	KCK	LAL	MIL	NJN	NOJ	NYK	PHI	PHO	POR	SAS	SDC	SEA	WAS
Atlanta	–	2–2	3–1	3–1	3–1	3–1	1–3	3–1	1–3	2–2	1–3	3–0	2–2	2–2	2–2	2–2	2–1	2–2	3–1	3–1	1–3	2–2
Boston	2–2	–	1–2	2–2	1–3	2–2	2–1	1–3	3–1	1–3	1–3	1–3	1–3	2–2	3–1	2–2	0–4	1–3	0–4	1–3	2–2	0–4
Chicago	1–3	2–1	–	1–3	2–2	2–2	3–1	2–2	2–2	0–4	1–3	1–3	2–2	2–2	3–1	1–3	1–3	4–0	0–3	0–4	0–4	1–3
Cleveland	1–3	2–2	3–1	–	1–2	1–3	2–1	2–2	1–3	1–3	2–2	1–3	3–1	2–2	2–2	2–2	0–4	0–4	0–4	2–2	2–2	0–4
Denver	1–3	3–1	2–2	2–1	–	2–2	4–0	1–3	3–1	1–3	3–1	2–2	4–0	3–1	3–1	0–3	3–1	1–3	3–1	2–2	3–1	1–3
Detroit	1–3	2–2	2–2	3–1	2–2	–	1–3	2–2	2–2	2–2	2–2	2–1	0–4	2–2	1–3	1–3	0–4	1–3	1–3	2–2	0–3	1–3
Golden State	3–1	1–2	1–3	1–2	0–4	3–1	–	2–2	2–2	2–2	1–3	2–2	1–3	3–1	3–1	3–1	1–3	2–2	1–3	1–3	3–1	2–2
Houston	1–3	3–1	2–2	2–2	3–1	2–2	2–2	–	0–4	3–1	2–1	2–2	3–1	4–0	4–0	0–4	2–2	3–1	3–1	2–1	2–2	2–2
Indiana	3–1	1–3	2–2	3–1	1–3	2–2	2–2	4–0	–	1–3	0–4	2–2	1–2	2–1	2–2	2–2	2–2	3–1	3–1	1–3	0–4	1–3
Kansas City	2–2	3–1	4–0	3–1	3–1	2–2	2–2	1–3	3–1	–	2–2	2–2	3–1	3–1	2–1	2–2	2–2	1–3	1–3	2–2	2–2	3–0
Los Angeles	3–1	3–1	3–1	2–2	1–3	2–2	3–1	1–2	4–0	2–2	–	3–1	2–2	2–2	3–0	1–3	2–2	2–2	2–2	2–2	2–2	2–2
Milwaukee	0–3	3–1	3–1	3–1	2–2	1–2	2–2	2–2	2–2	2–2	1–3	–	2–2	3–1	1–3	2–2	2–2	2–2	1–3	1–3	2–2	1–3
New Jersey	2–2	3–1	2–2	1–3	0–4	4–0	3–1	1–3	2–1	1–3	2–2	2–2	–	3–1	1–3	2–2	3–0	2–2	0–4	2–2	0–4	1–3
New Orleans	2–2	2–2	2–2	2–2	1–3	2–2	1–3	0–4	1–2	1–3	2–2	1–3	1–3	–	2–2	2–2	1–3	1–3	2–2	0–4	0–3	0–4
New York	2–2	1–3	1–3	2–2	1–3	3–1	1–3	0–4	2–2	1–2	0–3	3–1	3–1	2–2	–	2–2	0–4	1–3	1–3	2–2	2–2	1–3
Philadelphia	2–2	2–2	3–1	2–2	3–0	3–1	1–3	4–0	2–2	2–2	3–1	2–2	2–2	2–2	2–2	–	1–3	1–2	3–1	3–1	1–3	3–1
Phoenix	1–2	4–0	3–1	4–0	1–3	4–0	3–1	2–2	2–2	2–2	2–2	2–2	0–3	3–1	4–0	3–1	–	3–1	3–1	2–2	1–3	1–3
Portland	2–2	3–1	0–4	4–0	3–1	3–1	2–2	1–3	1–3	3–1	2–2	2–2	2–2	3–1	3–1	2–1	1–3	–	2–1	2–2	1–3	3–1
San Antonio	1–3	4–0	3–0	4–0	1–3	3–1	3–1	1–3	1–3	3–1	2–2	3–1	4–0	2–2	3–1	1–3	1–3	1–2	–	4–0	2–2	1–3
San Diego	1–3	3–1	4–0	2–2	2–2	2–2	3–1	1–2	3–1	2–2	2–2	3–1	2–2	4–0	2–2	1–3	2–2	2–2	0–4	–	2–2	0–3
Seattle	3–1	2–2	4–0	2–2	1–3	3–0	1–3	2–2	4–0	2–2	2–2	2–2	4–0	3–0	2–2	3–1	3–1	3–1	2–2	2–2	–	2–2
Washington	2–2	4–0	3–1	4–0	3–1	3–1	2–2	2–2	3–1	0–3	2–2	3–1	3–1	4–0	3–1	1–3	3–1	1–3	3–1	3–0	2–2	—

Game log

Regular season

1978–79 game log
Total: 48–34 (Home: 32–9; Road: 16–25)

October: 4–5 (home: 3–1; road: 1–4)

Game	Date	Team	Score	Location Attendance	Record
1	October 15, 1978	@ Seattle	L 105–115	Kingdome	0–1
2	October 17, 1978	@ Portland	L 112–115	Memorial Coliseum	0–2
3	October 19, 1978	Houston	W 108–103	Kemper Arena	1–2
7	October 27, 1978	@ Detroit	L 102–107	Pontiac Silverdome	3–4
8	October 28, 1978	Phoenix	W 112–101	Kemper Arena	4–4

November: 8–3 (home: 6–1; road: 2–2)

Game	Date	Team	Score	Location Attendance	Record
12	November 4, 1978	Denver	W 109–107	Kemper Arena	6–6
14	November 10, 1978	@ Los Angeles	L 127–136	The Forum	7–7
15	November 11, 1978	@ Denver	W 117–113	McNichols Sports Arena	8–7
16	November 15, 1978	Atlanta	W 109–100	Kemper Arena	9–7
17	November 18, 1978	New Jersey	W 114–100	Kemper Arena	10–7
18	November 22, 1978	Portland	W 115–96	Kemper Arena	11–7

December: 8–6 (home: 3–3; road: 5–3)

Game	Date	Team	Score	Location Attendance	Record
21	December 2, 1978	@ Washington	W 110–109	Capital Centre	13–8
23	December 6, 1978	Philadelphia	L 106–114	Kemper Arena	14–9
24	December 9, 1978	Detroit	W 132–108	Kemper Arena	15–9
25	December 13, 1978	@ Philadelphia	L 100–120	The Spectrum	15–10
28	December 20, 1978	Seattle	W 114–95	Kemper Arena	18–10
29	December 22, 1978	@ Phoenix	L 103–123	Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum	18–11
31	December 26, 1978	Houston	L 102–109	Kemper Arena	19–12
33	December 29, 1978	@ New Jersey	W 137–126	Rutgers Athletic Center	20–13

January: 10–6 (home: 7–1; road: 3–5)

Game	Date	Team	Score	Location Attendance	Record
35	January 2, 1979	Denver	L 97–99	Kemper Arena	20–15
36	January 3, 1979	@ Denver	W 108–101	McNichols Sports Arena	21–15
39	January 9, 1979	@ Houston	L 110–126	The Summit	23–16
44	January 19, 1979	San Antonio	W 115–113	Kemper Arena	28–16
45	January 20, 1979	@ Detroit	L 110–122	Pontiac Silverdome	28–17
47	January 24, 1979	@ San Antonio	L 95–124	HemisFair Arena	28–19
48	January 26, 1979	Washington	W 142–128	Kemper Arena	29–19
50	January 31, 1979	@ Atlanta	L 118–130	The Omni	30–20

February: 10–4 (home: 8–0; road: 2–4)

Game	Date	Team	Score	Location Attendance	Record
51	February 2, 1979	Detroit	W 114–95	Kemper Arena	31–20
All-Star Break
52	February 7, 1979	Atlanta	W 124–108	Kemper Arena	32–20
54	February 11, 1979	Los Angeles	W 104–103	Kemper Arena	34–20
55	February 13, 1979	@ New Jersey	L 102–111	Rutgers Athletic Center	34–21
56	February 14, 1979	@ Philadelphia	W 108–106	The Spectrum	35–21
57	February 16, 1979	Philadelphia	W 119–104	Kemper Arena	36–21
61	February 23, 1979	Phoenix	W 121–112	Kemper Arena	39–22
62	February 25, 1979	Seattle	W 114–106	Kemper Arena	40–22
63	February 27, 1979	@ Los Angeles	L 114–122	The Forum	40–23

March: 5–10 (home: 3–3; road: 2–7)

Game	Date	Team	Score	Location Attendance	Record
65	March 2, 1979	@ San Antonio	L 125–129 (OT)	HemisFair Arena	40–25
67	March 7, 1979	@ Atlanta	L 120–122 (OT)	The Omni	40–27
68	March 9, 1979	Washington	W 121–116	Kemper Arena	41–27
69	March 11, 1979	Portland	L 100–115	Kemper Arena	41–28
70	March 14, 1979	@ Houston	L 107–129	The Summit	41–29
73	March 21, 1979	San Antonio	L 116–123	Kemper Arena	43–30
74	March 23, 1979	@ Phoenix	L 107–126	Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum	43–31
75	March 24, 1979	@ Portland	L 98–100	Memorial Coliseum	43–32
76	March 25, 1979	@ Seattle	L 101–111	Kingdome	43–33

April: 3–0 (home: 2–0; road: 1–0)

Game	Date	Team	Score	High points	High rebounds	High assists	Location Attendance	Record
80	April 4, 1979	Los Angeles	W 115–111 (OT)				Kemper Arena	46–34
81	April 6, 1978	New Jersey	W 117–114 (OT)				Kemper Arena	47–34

1978–79 schedule

Playoffs

1979 playoff game log

Western Conference Semifinals: 1–4 (home: 1–1; road: 0–3)

Game	Date	Team	Score	High points	High rebounds	High assists	Location Attendance	Series
1	April 17, 1979	@ Phoenix	L 99–102	Birdsong (20)	Lacey (12)	Ford (7)	Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12,660	0–1
2	April 20, 1979	Phoenix	W 111–91	Birdsong (23)	Wedman (10)	Ford (9)	Kemper Arena 13,659	1–1
3	April 22, 1979	@ Phoenix	L 93–108	Birdsong Wedman (22)	Robinzine (10)	Ford, Lacey, McKinney (5)	Arizona State University Activity Center 14,301	1–2
4	April 25, 1979	Phoenix	L 94–108	Wedman (21)	Lacey (13)	Ford Lacey (5)	Kemper Arena 13,184	1–3
5	April 27, 1979	@ Phoenix	L 99–120	Birdsong (21)	Lacey (10)	McKinney (7)	Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12,660	1–4

1979 schedule

Awards and records

Phil Ford, NBA Rookie of the Year Award
Cotton Fitzsimmons, NBA Coach of the Year Award
Phil Ford, All-NBA Second Team
Phil Ford, NBA All-Rookie Team 1st Team

References

^ 1978-79 Kansas City Kings

[1] 1978-79 Kansas City Kings

[1]