The 1980-81 Denver Nuggets ended their season with a 37-45 record, missing the playoffs. Led by head coach Donnie Walsh, the team struggled in the competitive Midwest Division. Despite their challenges, they showcased an explosive offense, finishing as one of the highest-scoring teams in the league, averaging 114.6 points per game.
David Thompson, a key player for the Nuggets, contributed significantly with his scoring prowess, though his season was marred by injuries. Dan Issel also played a pivotal role, providing leadership and consistent performance on the court. Defensively, however, the team faltered, often allowing opponents to score with ease, which ultimately contributed to their sub-.500 season.
The Nuggets’ inability to tighten their defense and the absence of a solid supporting cast around their star players were critical factors in their underwhelming performance. This season marked a period of transition for the franchise as they sought to rebuild and improve for future campaigns.
- Regular Season Record: 37-45
- Playoff Result: Did not make playoffs
Denver Nuggets Roster and Stats for 1980-81 Season
POINTS
David Thompson
25.5
REBOUNDS
Dan Issel
8.5
ASSISTS
Kenny Higgs
5.7
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| David Thompson | 77 | 25.5 | 3.7 | 3.0 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 26.3 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Alex English | 81 | 23.8 | 8.0 | 3.6 | 1.3 | 1.2 | 60.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Dan Issel | 80 | 21.9 | 8.5 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 0.7 | 16.7 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Kiki Vandeweghe | 51 | 11.5 | 5.3 | 1.8 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Billy McKinney | 49 | 10.7 | 2.2 | 4.1 | 1.2 | 0.1 | 10.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Dave Robisch | 73 | 10.4 | 5.7 | 1.8 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| John Roche | 26 | 8.9 | 1.4 | 5.4 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 33.3 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Cedrick Hordges | 68 | 8.4 | 6.7 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Kenny Higgs | 72 | 7.8 | 2.0 | 5.7 | 1.4 | 0.1 | 11.8 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Carl Nicks | 27 | 6.1 | 1.8 | 2.9 | 1.0 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Glen Gondrezick | 73 | 5.8 | 4.2 | 1.1 | 1.2 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| T.R. Dunn | 82 | 4.5 | 3.7 | 1.0 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Ronnie Valentine | 24 | 3.5 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 50.1 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Kim Hughes | 8 | 2.9 | 6.3 | 1.4 | 1.4 | 1.8 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| James Ray | 18 | 2.1 | 2.1 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Jawann Oldham | 4 | 1.0 | 1.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Denver Nuggets 1980-81 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1980-81 season for the Denver Nuggets.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 10, 1980 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | L 113-112 | |
| Oct 12, 1980 | vs. Utah Jazz | L 125-121 | |
| Oct 15, 1980 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | W 133-98 | |
| Oct 17, 1980 | @ San Diego Clippers | W 129-116 | |
| Oct 18, 1980 | @ Utah Jazz | L 117-115 | |
| Oct 21, 1980 | vs. Houston Rockets | L 119-117 | |
| Oct 24, 1980 | vs. Phoenix Suns | L 117-94 | |
| Oct 25, 1980 | @ Kansas City Kings | L 125-122 | |
| Oct 29, 1980 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 115-109 | |
| Nov 01, 1980 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 123-118 | |
| Nov 02, 1980 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | W 123-121 | |
| Nov 05, 1980 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 125-117 | |
| Nov 07, 1980 | vs. New York Knicks | L 124-115 | |
| Nov 08, 1980 | @ Chicago Bulls | W 130-126 | |
| Nov 11, 1980 | @ Washington Bullets | L 107-92 | |
| Nov 12, 1980 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 118-111 | |
| Nov 15, 1980 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 125-123 | |
| Nov 18, 1980 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 122-103 | |
| Nov 21, 1980 | vs. Kansas City Kings | W 134-121 | |
| Nov 23, 1980 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 131-113 | |
| Nov 25, 1980 | @ San Diego Clippers | L 108-94 | |
| Nov 26, 1980 | vs. San Diego Clippers | W 113-109 | |
| Nov 28, 1980 | @ Dallas Mavericks | W 119-117 | |
| Nov 29, 1980 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 124-123 | |
| Dec 02, 1980 | vs. Chicago Bulls | L 129-124 | |
| Dec 04, 1980 | @ Utah Jazz | L 122-118 | |
| Dec 05, 1980 | vs. Golden State Warriors | L 119-114 | |
| Dec 06, 1980 | @ Houston Rockets | L 111-108 | |
| Dec 10, 1980 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | W 116-107 | |
| Dec 13, 1980 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 147-123 | |
| Dec 16, 1980 | vs. Kansas City Kings | L 133-118 | |
| Dec 18, 1980 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 130-122 | |
| Dec 20, 1980 | @ New York Knicks | L 120-114 | |
| Dec 23, 1980 | @ Boston Celtics | L 136-128 | |
| Dec 26, 1980 | @ Dallas Mavericks | L 119-111 | |
| Dec 27, 1980 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 125-121 | |
| Dec 30, 1980 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 127-110 | |
| Jan 01, 1981 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 122-119 | |
| Jan 02, 1981 | vs. Phoenix Suns | L 133-132 | |
| Jan 03, 1981 | @ Houston Rockets | W 134-132 | |
| Jan 07, 1981 | vs. Utah Jazz | L 121-117 | |
| Jan 09, 1981 | @ San Diego Clippers | W 130-116 | |
| Jan 10, 1981 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 119-116 | |
| Jan 13, 1981 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 135-132 | |
| Jan 14, 1981 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 128-102 | |
| Jan 17, 1981 | @ Kansas City Kings | W 123-122 | |
| Jan 18, 1981 | vs. Houston Rockets | L 98-97 | |
| Jan 21, 1981 | vs. San Diego Clippers | L 125-116 | |
| Jan 23, 1981 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 110-105 | |
| Jan 24, 1981 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 129-115 | |
| Jan 27, 1981 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 143-123 | |
| Jan 29, 1981 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 131-118 | |
| Feb 03, 1981 | @ Houston Rockets | L 135-128 | |
| Feb 04, 1981 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | L 135-132 | |
| Feb 06, 1981 | @ Utah Jazz | W 120-116 | |
| Feb 07, 1981 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 135-125 | |
| Feb 08, 1981 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 133-112 | |
| Feb 10, 1981 | vs. Washington Bullets | L 115-110 | |
| Feb 13, 1981 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 162-143 | |
| Feb 15, 1981 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 120-118 | |
| Feb 19, 1981 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 127-126 | |
| Feb 21, 1981 | vs. Kansas City Kings | W 129-109 | |
| Feb 22, 1981 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 133-129 | |
| Feb 24, 1981 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 140-123 | |
| Feb 27, 1981 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 137-130 | |
| Mar 01, 1981 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 137-127 | |
| Mar 04, 1981 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 123-114 | |
| Mar 06, 1981 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 131-112 | |
| Mar 07, 1981 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 121-109 | |
| Mar 08, 1981 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 129-119 | |
| Mar 10, 1981 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | L 142-137 | |
| Mar 12, 1981 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 131-113 | |
| Mar 13, 1981 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 119-117 | |
| Mar 15, 1981 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 138-127 | |
| Mar 17, 1981 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 124-112 | |
| Mar 18, 1981 | @ Kansas City Kings | W 126-124 | |
| Mar 20, 1981 | @ Dallas Mavericks | L 126-125 | |
| Mar 22, 1981 | vs. Utah Jazz | W 113-108 | |
| Mar 24, 1981 | @ San Antonio Spurs | W 125-123 | |
| Mar 25, 1981 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | L 126-115 | |
| Mar 28, 1981 | @ Golden State Warriors | W 142-139 | |
| Mar 29, 1981 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | W 148-146 |