The 1979-80 Indiana Pacers season marked the team’s fourth in the NBA after transitioning from the ABA. The Pacers struggled throughout the season, finishing with a 37-45 record. This placed them 5th in the Central Division and left them out of playoff contention. Despite their subpar performance, the Pacers showcased promising talent, notably from forward Mike Bantom, who led the team in scoring with an average of 19.3 points per game.
Head coach Slick Leonard faced challenges in steering the young roster, which also included Johnny Davis and James Edwards. The Pacers’ defense was a significant issue, contributing to their inability to secure a winning season. Although they did not reach the playoffs, the 1979-80 season was pivotal in setting the stage for future development, as they focused on building a more competitive team for the following years.
- Regular Season Record: 37-45
- Playoff Result: Did not make playoffs
Indiana Pacers Roster and Stats for 1979-80 Season
POINTS
Mickey Johnson
19.1
REBOUNDS
George McGinnis
8.5
ASSISTS
Johnny Davis
5.4
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Mickey Johnson | 82 | 19.1 | 8.3 | 4.2 | 1.5 | 1.2 | 16.1 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Johnny Davis | 82 | 15.8 | 2.8 | 5.4 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 9.5 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| James Edwards | 82 | 15.7 | 7.0 | 1.5 | 0.4 | 1.2 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Alex English | 54 | 14.9 | 7.0 | 2.6 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| George McGinnis | 28 | 13.2 | 8.5 | 4.0 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 14.3 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Billy Knight | 75 | 13.1 | 4.8 | 2.1 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 26.7 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Mike Bantom | 77 | 11.8 | 5.9 | 3.6 | 0.7 | 0.6 | 50.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Dudley Bradley | 82 | 8.4 | 2.7 | 3.1 | 2.4 | 0.5 | 40.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Joe Hassett | 74 | 7.1 | 1.2 | 1.4 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 35.2 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Clemon Johnson | 79 | 6.0 | 5.0 | 1.5 | 0.4 | 1.4 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Phil Chenier | 23 | 5.4 | 1.6 | 2.0 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 33.3 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Ron Carter | 13 | 2.5 | 1.5 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Tony Zeno | 8 | 1.8 | 1.8 | 0.1 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Brad Davis | 5 | 1.4 | 0.4 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| John Kuester | 24 | 1.2 | 0.6 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Corky Calhoun | 7 | 1.1 | 1.4 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Indiana Pacers 1979-80 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1979-80 season for the Indiana Pacers.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 12, 1979 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 114-105 | |
| Oct 13, 1979 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 115-101 | |
| Oct 16, 1979 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 113-100 | |
| Oct 17, 1979 | @ Houston Rockets | L 116-112 | |
| Oct 18, 1979 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 115-85 | |
| Oct 20, 1979 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 131-128 | |
| Oct 23, 1979 | @ New York Knicks | L 136-112 | |
| Oct 24, 1979 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 132-110 | |
| Oct 26, 1979 | vs. Washington Bullets | W 118-108 | |
| Oct 27, 1979 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 128-121 | |
| Oct 31, 1979 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 133-129 | |
| Nov 02, 1979 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 115-93 | |
| Nov 03, 1979 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | L 120-114 | |
| Nov 06, 1979 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 134-117 | |
| Nov 07, 1979 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 97-90 | |
| Nov 10, 1979 | @ Golden State Warriors | W 104-101 | |
| Nov 12, 1979 | @ Utah Jazz | W 113-105 | |
| Nov 14, 1979 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 104-100 | |
| Nov 16, 1979 | @ San Diego Clippers | L 105-97 | |
| Nov 18, 1979 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 127-104 | |
| Nov 21, 1979 | vs. New York Knicks | W 119-108 | |
| Nov 23, 1979 | @ Boston Celtics | L 118-103 | |
| Nov 24, 1979 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 115-97 | |
| Nov 26, 1979 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 113-112 | |
| Nov 28, 1979 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | L 87-79 | |
| Nov 30, 1979 | @ Washington Bullets | W 99-91 | |
| Dec 01, 1979 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 106-102 | |
| Dec 05, 1979 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 118-99 | |
| Dec 08, 1979 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 103-102 | |
| Dec 11, 1979 | @ New York Knicks | W 124-122 | |
| Dec 12, 1979 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | L 112-107 | |
| Dec 14, 1979 | vs. Washington Bullets | W 111-109 | |
| Dec 16, 1979 | @ Kansas City Kings | L 107-105 | |
| Dec 19, 1979 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 127-123 | |
| Dec 22, 1979 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 130-110 | |
| Dec 26, 1979 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 98-97 | |
| Dec 28, 1979 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 116-101 | |
| Dec 29, 1979 | vs. Utah Jazz | L 116-114 | |
| Jan 02, 1980 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 127-120 | |
| Jan 03, 1980 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 106-96 | |
| Jan 05, 1980 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 111-105 | |
| Jan 08, 1980 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | W 122-118 | |
| Jan 09, 1980 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 120-111 | |
| Jan 11, 1980 | @ Chicago Bulls | W 110-105 | |
| Jan 12, 1980 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 122-109 | |
| Jan 16, 1980 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 117-99 | |
| Jan 19, 1980 | vs. Kansas City Kings | W 108-103 | |
| Jan 23, 1980 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | L 144-130 | |
| Jan 25, 1980 | vs. San Diego Clippers | W 139-117 | |
| Jan 26, 1980 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | W 115-114 | |
| Jan 27, 1980 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 123-121 | |
| Jan 29, 1980 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 133-112 | |
| Jan 30, 1980 | @ Washington Bullets | L 120-119 | |
| Jan 31, 1980 | vs. New York Knicks | L 112-102 | |
| Feb 05, 1980 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | L 109-108 | |
| Feb 07, 1980 | vs. Washington Bullets | W 134-104 | |
| Feb 08, 1980 | @ Boston Celtics | L 130-108 | |
| Feb 09, 1980 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 131-127 | |
| Feb 13, 1980 | vs. New Jersey Nets | L 98-96 | |
| Feb 14, 1980 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | W 118-114 | |
| Feb 15, 1980 | vs. Golden State Warriors | L 118-107 | |
| Feb 17, 1980 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 108-100 | |
| Feb 20, 1980 | vs. New York Knicks | W 131-86 | |
| Feb 24, 1980 | vs. Phoenix Suns | L 113-105 | |
| Feb 26, 1980 | @ Houston Rockets | L 93-88 | |
| Feb 27, 1980 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 116-111 | |
| Mar 02, 1980 | @ Washington Bullets | L 118-104 | |
| Mar 04, 1980 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 114-109 | |
| Mar 05, 1980 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 120-113 | |
| Mar 07, 1980 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | L 99-94 | |
| Mar 09, 1980 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | L 113-107 | |
| Mar 11, 1980 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 114-108 | |
| Mar 13, 1980 | @ New York Knicks | W 107-100 | |
| Mar 14, 1980 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 104-94 | |
| Mar 16, 1980 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 95-90 | |
| Mar 18, 1980 | @ Boston Celtics | L 114-102 | |
| Mar 19, 1980 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 125-112 | |
| Mar 21, 1980 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 116-109 | |
| Mar 22, 1980 | @ Houston Rockets | L 125-110 | |
| Mar 26, 1980 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 124-114 | |
| Mar 28, 1980 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 127-122 | |
| Mar 30, 1980 | vs. Houston Rockets | L 121-106 |