The 1978-79 Golden State Warriors experienced a challenging season, finishing with a record of 38-44. This placed them sixth in the Pacific Division, ultimately missing out on the playoffs for the third consecutive year. The team was coached by Al Attles, who had been at the helm since 1970 and was recognized for leading the Warriors to an NBA Championship in 1975.
The Warriors struggled with consistency throughout the season. Their roster was highlighted by the presence of star forward Purvis Short, who was selected in the first round of the 1978 NBA Draft. Short showed promise in his rookie season, providing glimpses of his scoring ability that would later define his career. Alongside Short, center Robert Parish, who would eventually become a key figure in the Boston Celtics dynasty, was one of the team’s prominent players. Despite his efforts, the team lacked the depth and cohesion needed to compete at a higher level.
Injuries also played a role in the Warriors’ struggles, with several players missing significant time throughout the season. This instability contributed to their inability to close out games effectively. Despite their disappointing record, the season served as a period of transition for the franchise, as they sought to build a more competitive roster for the future. The Warriors were left to regroup and strategize for the subsequent seasons, aiming to return to the playoff contention they had enjoyed in the mid-1970s.
- Regular Season Record: 38-44
- Playoff Result: Did not make playoffs
Golden State Warriors Roster and Stats for 1978-79 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Phil Smith | 59 | 19.9 | 3.6 | 4.4 | 1.7 | 0.4 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Robert Parish | 76 | 17.2 | 12.1 | 1.5 | 1.3 | 2.9 | 0.0 | |||||||
| John Lucas | 82 | 16.1 | 3.0 | 9.3 | 1.9 | 0.1 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Sonny Parker | 79 | 15.2 | 5.6 | 3.7 | 1.8 | 0.4 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Jo Jo White | 29 | 12.3 | 2.5 | 4.6 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Purvis Short | 75 | 10.6 | 4.6 | 1.3 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Nate Williams | 81 | 8.3 | 2.6 | 0.8 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Clifford Ray | 82 | 6.9 | 7.4 | 1.7 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Tom Abernethy | 70 | 6.0 | 3.1 | 1.1 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Wesley Cox | 31 | 4.7 | 2.0 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Raymond Townsend | 65 | 4.7 | 0.8 | 1.4 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Wayne Cooper | 65 | 4.6 | 4.3 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.6 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Tony Robertson | 12 | 3.0 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Ray Epps | 13 | 2.0 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |||||||
Golden State Warriors 1978-79 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1978-79 season for the Golden State Warriors.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 14, 1978 | vs. San Diego Clippers | W 117-89 | |
| Oct 15, 1978 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 129-110 | |
| Oct 18, 1978 | vs. Phoenix Suns | L 122-112 | |
| Oct 20, 1978 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 111-108 | |
| Oct 22, 1978 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 109-107 | |
| Oct 25, 1978 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 121-118 | |
| Oct 27, 1978 | vs. Washington Bullets | W 102-83 | |
| Oct 29, 1978 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | W 99-94 | |
| Oct 31, 1978 | @ San Antonio Spurs | W 139-138 | |
| Nov 01, 1978 | @ Houston Rockets | W 112-105 | |
| Nov 02, 1978 | @ Atlanta Hawks | W 113-106 | |
| Nov 04, 1978 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 103-95 | |
| Nov 08, 1978 | vs. Kansas City Kings | L 105-97 | |
| Nov 10, 1978 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 116-111 | |
| Nov 16, 1978 | @ San Diego Clippers | L 112-109 | |
| Nov 17, 1978 | vs. Chicago Bulls | L 100-89 | |
| Nov 18, 1978 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 112-104 | |
| Nov 21, 1978 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | W 115-105 | |
| Nov 22, 1978 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 100-92 | |
| Nov 23, 1978 | @ New Orleans Jazz | L 106-98 | |
| Nov 26, 1978 | @ Washington Bullets | L 110-102 | |
| Nov 29, 1978 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 109-94 | |
| Dec 01, 1978 | vs. New Jersey Nets | L 120-110 | |
| Dec 02, 1978 | @ Phoenix Suns | W 116-108 | |
| Dec 06, 1978 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 118-111 | |
| Dec 08, 1978 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | L 123-105 | |
| Dec 09, 1978 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 94-84 | |
| Dec 12, 1978 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 99-94 | |
| Dec 14, 1978 | @ Houston Rockets | L 126-123 | |
| Dec 16, 1978 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 104-96 | |
| Dec 17, 1978 | @ New Orleans Jazz | W 104-96 | |
| Dec 20, 1978 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 85-81 | |
| Dec 22, 1978 | vs. Denver Nuggets | L 107-103 | |
| Dec 25, 1978 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 115-102 | |
| Dec 27, 1978 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 106-104 | |
| Dec 29, 1978 | vs. New Orleans Jazz | W 118-106 | |
| Jan 01, 1979 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 110-97 | |
| Jan 03, 1979 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 96-81 | |
| Jan 05, 1979 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 113-98 | |
| Jan 07, 1979 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 112-108 | |
| Jan 09, 1979 | @ Chicago Bulls | W 103-101 | |
| Jan 11, 1979 | @ Kansas City Kings | L 94-89 | |
| Jan 12, 1979 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 101-94 | |
| Jan 13, 1979 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 114-109 | |
| Jan 17, 1979 | vs. Houston Rockets | L 104-103 | |
| Jan 20, 1979 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 109-106 | |
| Jan 21, 1979 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 113-107 | |
| Jan 24, 1979 | vs. New York Knicks | W 126-123 | |
| Jan 25, 1979 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 108-103 | |
| Jan 26, 1979 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | L 105-96 | |
| Jan 28, 1979 | @ Boston Celtics | L 103-102 | |
| Jan 29, 1979 | @ New York Knicks | W 107-104 | |
| Jan 31, 1979 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | W 108-106 | |
| Feb 02, 1979 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 87-84 | |
| Feb 07, 1979 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 106-104 | |
| Feb 09, 1979 | vs. Denver Nuggets | L 106-104 | |
| Feb 11, 1979 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | L 125-107 | |
| Feb 14, 1979 | vs. New Orleans Jazz | W 113-101 | |
| Feb 16, 1979 | vs. Washington Bullets | W 109-103 | |
| Feb 20, 1979 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | W 102-91 | |
| Feb 21, 1979 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 101-97 | |
| Feb 23, 1979 | vs. Indiana Pacers | L 96-94 | |
| Feb 25, 1979 | @ Washington Bullets | L 99-89 | |
| Feb 27, 1979 | @ New York Knicks | L 101-99 | |
| Mar 01, 1979 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 104-86 | |
| Mar 02, 1979 | @ Indiana Pacers | W 105-98 | |
| Mar 04, 1979 | @ Kansas City Kings | W 111-110 | |
| Mar 07, 1979 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | L 103-101 | |
| Mar 11, 1979 | vs. Chicago Bulls | L 109-107 | |
| Mar 14, 1979 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 113-98 | |
| Mar 16, 1979 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 117-102 | |
| Mar 17, 1979 | @ San Diego Clippers | L 107-102 | |
| Mar 20, 1979 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 113-102 | |
| Mar 21, 1979 | vs. San Diego Clippers | L 106-103 | |
| Mar 23, 1979 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 116-113 | |
| Mar 25, 1979 | vs. Phoenix Suns | L 111-95 | |
| Mar 28, 1979 | vs. Kansas City Kings | W 132-122 | |
| Mar 30, 1979 | vs. New York Knicks | W 114-98 | |
| Apr 01, 1979 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 102-97 | |
| Apr 03, 1979 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 104-100 | |
| Apr 06, 1979 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 91-87 | |
| Apr 08, 1979 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 89-86 |