The 1980-81 Cleveland Cavaliers experienced a challenging season in the NBA, marked by significant struggles on the court. The team finished with a disappointing record of 28-54, placing them sixth in the Central Division and missing the playoffs. This result was emblematic of the Cavaliers’ difficulties during this era, as they struggled to establish themselves as a competitive team in the league.
Under the leadership of head coach Don Delaney, who took over midseason after Stan Albeck’s departure, the Cavaliers faced numerous challenges. The roster lacked star power and consistency, which contributed to their poor performance. Mike Mitchell emerged as the team’s standout player, leading the Cavaliers in scoring with an average of 24.5 points per game. His efforts, however, were not enough to turn the team’s fortunes around.
The Cavaliers’ season was also characterized by a lack of defensive prowess, as they allowed opponents to score an average of 113.4 points per game. This defensive inefficiency was a significant factor in their inability to compete effectively against stronger teams. Additionally, the Cavaliers struggled on the road, securing only 8 wins away from home, which further compounded their difficulties in the standings.
Overall, the 1980-81 season was a reflection of the Cavaliers’ ongoing rebuilding phase during the early 1980s. While individual performances like Mike Mitchell’s provided some highlights, the team as a whole was unable to achieve meaningful success, setting the stage for future rebuilding efforts.
- Regular Season Record: 28-54
- Playoff Result: Did not make playoffs
Cleveland Cavaliers Roster and Stats for 1980-81 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Mike Mitchell | 82 | 24.5 | 6.1 | 1.7 | 0.7 | 0.6 | 50.0 | |||||||
| Kenny Carr | 81 | 15.2 | 10.3 | 2.4 | 0.9 | 0.5 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Randy Smith | 82 | 14.6 | 2.4 | 4.4 | 1.2 | 0.2 | 4.5 | |||||||
| Roger Phegley | 82 | 14.4 | 3.0 | 2.2 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 28.6 | |||||||
| Mike Bratz | 80 | 10.0 | 2.5 | 5.7 | 1.6 | 0.2 | 36.3 | |||||||
| Richard Washington | 69 | 9.9 | 5.3 | 1.6 | 0.5 | 0.8 | 100.0 | |||||||
| Bill Laimbeer | 81 | 9.8 | 8.6 | 2.7 | 0.6 | 1.0 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Dave Robisch | 11 | 9.4 | 7.7 | 4.0 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Robert Smith | 1 | 8.0 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Geoff Huston | 25 | 7.0 | 1.6 | 4.7 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Bill Robinzine | 8 | 4.1 | 1.6 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Don Ford | 64 | 3.5 | 2.6 | 1.3 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Chad Kinch | 29 | 2.8 | 0.8 | 1.2 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Mack Calvin | 21 | 2.5 | 0.6 | 1.3 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 25.0 | |||||||
| Walter Jordan | 30 | 2.3 | 1.4 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.0 | |||||||
| John Lambert | 3 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Kim Hughes | 45 | 0.7 | 1.6 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Jerome Whitehead | 3 | 0.7 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |||||||
Cleveland Cavaliers 1980-81 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1980-81 season for the Cleveland Cavaliers.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 10, 1980 | @ Boston Celtics | L 130-103 | |
| Oct 11, 1980 | vs. New Jersey Nets | L 99-96 | |
| Oct 14, 1980 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 99-91 | |
| Oct 16, 1980 | vs. Washington Bullets | W 90-88 | |
| Oct 17, 1980 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 98-79 | |
| Oct 18, 1980 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | L 107-105 | |
| Oct 21, 1980 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 115-95 | |
| Oct 22, 1980 | @ Washington Bullets | L 109-96 | |
| Oct 24, 1980 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 126-112 | |
| Oct 25, 1980 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 118-100 | |
| Oct 28, 1980 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | L 119-101 | |
| Oct 31, 1980 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 107-98 | |
| Nov 02, 1980 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 102-96 | |
| Nov 03, 1980 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 118-83 | |
| Nov 05, 1980 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 106-98 | |
| Nov 06, 1980 | @ Utah Jazz | L 112-96 | |
| Nov 08, 1980 | @ Kansas City Kings | L 111-106 | |
| Nov 11, 1980 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | L 100-96 | |
| Nov 13, 1980 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 114-111 | |
| Nov 15, 1980 | @ New York Knicks | L 100-95 | |
| Nov 18, 1980 | vs. San Diego Clippers | W 104-94 | |
| Nov 20, 1980 | vs. Houston Rockets | L 117-114 | |
| Nov 22, 1980 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 113-98 | |
| Nov 26, 1980 | vs. New York Knicks | L 119-113 | |
| Nov 28, 1980 | vs. Washington Bullets | W 126-105 | |
| Nov 29, 1980 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 117-101 | |
| Dec 02, 1980 | @ Dallas Mavericks | W 109-102 | |
| Dec 03, 1980 | @ Houston Rockets | L 118-109 | |
| Dec 04, 1980 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 130-100 | |
| Dec 06, 1980 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 101-100 | |
| Dec 09, 1980 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | L 96-83 | |
| Dec 11, 1980 | vs. Indiana Pacers | L 103-100 | |
| Dec 12, 1980 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 101-95 | |
| Dec 13, 1980 | vs. Utah Jazz | W 110-103 | |
| Dec 17, 1980 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 103-79 | |
| Dec 18, 1980 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 130-122 | |
| Dec 20, 1980 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 107-102 | |
| Dec 23, 1980 | vs. Kansas City Kings | L 102-100 | |
| Dec 26, 1980 | vs. Chicago Bulls | L 100-98 | |
| Dec 29, 1980 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | W 112-100 | |
| Jan 02, 1981 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 111-105 | |
| Jan 03, 1981 | vs. Washington Bullets | W 132-112 | |
| Jan 09, 1981 | @ Atlanta Hawks | W 108-107 | |
| Jan 10, 1981 | vs. New York Knicks | L 104-99 | |
| Jan 13, 1981 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 108-104 | |
| Jan 14, 1981 | @ Boston Celtics | L 120-113 | |
| Jan 16, 1981 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 137-119 | |
| Jan 17, 1981 | @ Chicago Bulls | W 110-98 | |
| Jan 20, 1981 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 99-94 | |
| Jan 22, 1981 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 108-94 | |
| Jan 23, 1981 | @ Atlanta Hawks | W 106-98 | |
| Jan 24, 1981 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 117-94 | |
| Jan 27, 1981 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 114-109 | |
| Jan 29, 1981 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 115-111 | |
| Feb 04, 1981 | vs. Chicago Bulls | L 109-96 | |
| Feb 06, 1981 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | L 103-99 | |
| Feb 07, 1981 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 99-96 | |
| Feb 11, 1981 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 122-120 | |
| Feb 12, 1981 | vs. New York Knicks | L 122-111 | |
| Feb 14, 1981 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 108-90 | |
| Feb 17, 1981 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 109-108 | |
| Feb 18, 1981 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 110-108 | |
| Feb 19, 1981 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 118-104 | |
| Feb 21, 1981 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | L 118-105 | |
| Feb 25, 1981 | @ Boston Celtics | L 124-103 | |
| Feb 27, 1981 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 118-109 | |
| Mar 01, 1981 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 137-127 | |
| Mar 04, 1981 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 126-106 | |
| Mar 06, 1981 | @ San Diego Clippers | L 140-125 | |
| Mar 09, 1981 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 118-100 | |
| Mar 11, 1981 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | L 101-95 | |
| Mar 13, 1981 | vs. New Jersey Nets | L 140-125 | |
| Mar 14, 1981 | @ Atlanta Hawks | W 112-110 | |
| Mar 15, 1981 | @ Washington Bullets | W 101-100 | |
| Mar 17, 1981 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 122-107 | |
| Mar 19, 1981 | vs. Chicago Bulls | L 116-111 | |
| Mar 21, 1981 | @ New York Knicks | L 119-105 | |
| Mar 22, 1981 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 107-101 | |
| Mar 24, 1981 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 121-108 | |
| Mar 26, 1981 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 137-109 | |
| Mar 27, 1981 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | L 138-117 | |
| Mar 29, 1981 | @ Washington Bullets | L 138-103 |