1978–79 Kansas City Kings season

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

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

Roster

Kansas City Kings roster

Players

Coaches

Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB 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	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
	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 High points High rebounds High assists 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 High points High rebounds High assists 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 High points High rebounds High assists 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 High points High rebounds High assists 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 High points High rebounds High assists 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 High points High rebounds High assists 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