The 1979-80 NBA season was a challenging one for the Cleveland Cavaliers. Under the leadership of head coach Stan Albeck, the team struggled to make a significant impact in the league. They finished the season with a record of 37 wins and 45 losses, placing them 6th in the Central Division and missing the playoffs for the second consecutive year.
The Cavaliers were led by standout performances from players like Randy Smith, who was a key contributor in the backcourt. Despite his efforts, the team faced difficulties in maintaining consistency both offensively and defensively. The season also saw the rise of Mike Mitchell, who emerged as a crucial scoring option, averaging over 22 points per game. However, the lack of depth and injuries to key players hampered their ability to compete against stronger teams.
Off the court, the Cavaliers were going through a period of transition. The team was adjusting to new ownership under Ted Stepien, which would later lead to significant changes in the organization. The 1979-80 season was a precursor to more turbulent times for the franchise, as Stepien’s controversial decisions would come to define the early 1980s for Cleveland.
Overall, the 1979-80 season was a year of underachievement for the Cavaliers, marking a period of rebuilding and restructuring. The challenges faced during this season set the stage for future changes within the organization, as they sought to establish themselves as contenders in the NBA.
- Regular Season Record: 37-45
- Playoff Result: Did not make playoffs
Cleveland Cavaliers Roster and Stats for 1979-80 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Mike Mitchell | 82 | 22.2 | 7.2 | 1.1 | 0.9 | 0.9 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Campy Russell | 41 | 18.2 | 5.5 | 4.2 | 1.7 | 0.5 | 11.1 | |||||||
| Randy Smith | 82 | 17.6 | 3.1 | 4.4 | 1.5 | 0.1 | 19.6 | |||||||
| Dave Robisch | 82 | 15.3 | 8.0 | 2.3 | 0.6 | 0.7 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Kenny Carr | 74 | 12.3 | 7.7 | 1.0 | 0.8 | 0.7 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Austin Carr | 77 | 11.8 | 2.1 | 1.9 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 33.4 | |||||||
| Foots Walker | 76 | 9.4 | 3.8 | 7.9 | 1.9 | 0.2 | 12.5 | |||||||
| Bingo Smith | 8 | 9.3 | 1.8 | 0.9 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 20.0 | |||||||
| Don Ford | 21 | 7.3 | 4.1 | 1.4 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 50.0 | |||||||
| Bill Willoughby | 78 | 6.9 | 4.2 | 0.9 | 0.4 | 0.8 | 11.1 | |||||||
| John Lambert | 74 | 5.4 | 4.8 | 0.8 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Willie Smith | 62 | 4.8 | 2.0 | 4.2 | 1.2 | 0.0 | 23.9 | |||||||
| Walt Frazier | 3 | 3.3 | 1.0 | 2.7 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Earl Tatum | 33 | 2.6 | 0.8 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 33.3 | |||||||
| Butch Lee | 3 | 1.3 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |||||||
Cleveland Cavaliers 1979-80 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1979-80 season for the Cleveland Cavaliers.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 12, 1979 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 102-95 | |
| Oct 13, 1979 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 139-117 | |
| Oct 16, 1979 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 137-117 | |
| Oct 17, 1979 | @ Boston Celtics | L 127-108 | |
| Oct 18, 1979 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 141-134 | |
| Oct 20, 1979 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 129-127 | |
| Oct 23, 1979 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | L 121-111 | |
| Oct 24, 1979 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 128-118 | |
| Oct 27, 1979 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | L 112-106 | |
| Oct 30, 1979 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 124-112 | |
| Oct 31, 1979 | @ Washington Bullets | L 114-105 | |
| Nov 01, 1979 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 127-125 | |
| Nov 03, 1979 | vs. Kansas City Kings | W 123-110 | |
| Nov 06, 1979 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 134-117 | |
| Nov 09, 1979 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 110-106 | |
| Nov 11, 1979 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 140-126 | |
| Nov 13, 1979 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 116-110 | |
| Nov 16, 1979 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 108-100 | |
| Nov 17, 1979 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 103-96 | |
| Nov 20, 1979 | vs. Utah Jazz | W 119-107 | |
| Nov 21, 1979 | @ Washington Bullets | W 122-103 | |
| Nov 22, 1979 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 120-93 | |
| Nov 24, 1979 | @ New York Knicks | L 133-113 | |
| Nov 25, 1979 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 112-103 | |
| Nov 28, 1979 | @ Houston Rockets | L 113-111 | |
| Nov 29, 1979 | vs. New York Knicks | W 117-115 | |
| Dec 01, 1979 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 117-105 | |
| Dec 02, 1979 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 126-108 | |
| Dec 04, 1979 | vs. San Diego Clippers | W 115-112 | |
| Dec 05, 1979 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 118-99 | |
| Dec 08, 1979 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 116-100 | |
| Dec 13, 1979 | vs. Washington Bullets | L 115-113 | |
| Dec 15, 1979 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 117-111 | |
| Dec 18, 1979 | @ Utah Jazz | L 105-103 | |
| Dec 19, 1979 | @ Golden State Warriors | W 128-125 | |
| Dec 22, 1979 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 126-117 | |
| Dec 25, 1979 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 111-101 | |
| Dec 27, 1979 | vs. New York Knicks | W 125-110 | |
| Dec 29, 1979 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 124-106 | |
| Jan 03, 1980 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | L 109-108 | |
| Jan 05, 1980 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | L 99-98 | |
| Jan 06, 1980 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 108-100 | |
| Jan 08, 1980 | vs. Houston Rockets | L 118-115 | |
| Jan 09, 1980 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 111-107 | |
| Jan 11, 1980 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 116-109 | |
| Jan 12, 1980 | @ Houston Rockets | L 112-96 | |
| Jan 15, 1980 | @ New York Knicks | W 129-110 | |
| Jan 17, 1980 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 116-112 | |
| Jan 19, 1980 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 111-107 | |
| Jan 22, 1980 | vs. Washington Bullets | W 114-91 | |
| Jan 23, 1980 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 117-103 | |
| Jan 26, 1980 | vs. Indiana Pacers | L 115-114 | |
| Jan 27, 1980 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 123-121 | |
| Jan 29, 1980 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 154-153 | |
| Jan 30, 1980 | @ Boston Celtics | L 110-103 | |
| Feb 05, 1980 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | L 123-121 | |
| Feb 06, 1980 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 111-109 | |
| Feb 08, 1980 | @ Houston Rockets | L 105-104 | |
| Feb 10, 1980 | vs. Chicago Bulls | L 123-117 | |
| Feb 13, 1980 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 107-102 | |
| Feb 14, 1980 | vs. Indiana Pacers | L 118-114 | |
| Feb 16, 1980 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 123-104 | |
| Feb 17, 1980 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 115-100 | |
| Feb 19, 1980 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 128-109 | |
| Feb 21, 1980 | @ Washington Bullets | L 118-115 | |
| Feb 23, 1980 | @ New York Knicks | L 127-112 | |
| Feb 24, 1980 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | L 115-100 | |
| Feb 29, 1980 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 111-103 | |
| Mar 02, 1980 | @ San Antonio Spurs | W 123-119 | |
| Mar 04, 1980 | @ San Diego Clippers | L 116-105 | |
| Mar 07, 1980 | @ Kansas City Kings | W 111-104 | |
| Mar 09, 1980 | @ Indiana Pacers | W 113-107 | |
| Mar 11, 1980 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 122-119 | |
| Mar 15, 1980 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 100-98 | |
| Mar 16, 1980 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 123-109 | |
| Mar 18, 1980 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 108-107 | |
| Mar 20, 1980 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 109-96 | |
| Mar 22, 1980 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 109-105 | |
| Mar 25, 1980 | vs. New York Knicks | L 128-115 | |
| Mar 27, 1980 | vs. Washington Bullets | W 118-111 | |
| Mar 28, 1980 | @ Boston Celtics | L 130-122 | |
| Mar 30, 1980 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 111-102 |