The 1980-81 San Diego Clippers struggled throughout the NBA season, finishing with a record of 36-46. Despite their challenges, the team showcased some individual talent, most notably through their star player, World B. Free, who was a scoring dynamo. Free averaged an impressive 30.2 points per game, ranking him among the league’s top scorers.
The Clippers’ performance suffered from a lack of depth and defensive struggles, resulting in a failure to make the playoffs. The team finished fourth in the Pacific Division, unable to capitalize on their offensive capabilities. Head coach Paul Silas, in his second year, faced difficulties in turning the team’s fortunes around. The season was marked by inconsistency, with the Clippers struggling to maintain momentum amidst frequent roster changes and injuries. Despite the disappointing season, the franchise laid the groundwork for future development, eventually leading to relocation and rebranding as the Los Angeles Clippers in 1984.
- Regular Season Record: 36-46
- Playoff Result: Did not make playoffs
San Diego Clippers Roster and Stats for 1980-81 Season
POINTS
Freeman Williams
19.3
REBOUNDS
Swen Nater
12.3
ASSISTS
Brian Taylor
5.5
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Freeman Williams | 82 | 19.3 | 1.6 | 2.0 | 1.1 | 0.1 | 33.8 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Phil Smith | 76 | 16.8 | 2.1 | 4.9 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 22.2 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Swen Nater | 82 | 15.6 | 12.3 | 2.5 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Michael Brooks | 82 | 14.7 | 5.4 | 2.5 | 1.2 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Joe Bryant | 82 | 11.6 | 5.4 | 2.3 | 0.9 | 0.4 | 13.3 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Brian Taylor | 80 | 10.1 | 1.9 | 5.5 | 1.5 | 0.3 | 37.9 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Sidney Wicks | 49 | 6.7 | 4.6 | 2.3 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Ron Davis | 64 | 5.8 | 1.9 | 0.7 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 28.6 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Gar Heard | 78 | 4.8 | 4.5 | 1.6 | 1.3 | 0.9 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Henry Bibby | 73 | 4.6 | 1.0 | 2.7 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 33.7 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Jerome Whitehead | 38 | 4.1 | 4.8 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Wally Rank | 25 | 2.2 | 1.2 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Tony Price | 5 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Stan Pietkiewicz | 6 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
San Diego Clippers 1980-81 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1980-81 season for the San Diego Clippers.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 10, 1980 | @ San Diego Clippers | L 120-104 | |
| Oct 11, 1980 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 104-91 | |
| Oct 17, 1980 | @ San Diego Clippers | W 129-116 | |
| Oct 19, 1980 | @ San Diego Clippers | W 102-84 | |
| Oct 21, 1980 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 123-120 | |
| Oct 24, 1980 | @ San Diego Clippers | L 103-100 | |
| Oct 25, 1980 | @ San Diego Clippers | W 116-98 | |
| Oct 28, 1980 | @ San Diego Clippers | W 131-101 | |
| Oct 29, 1980 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 105-89 | |
| Oct 31, 1980 | @ San Diego Clippers | L 120-104 | |
| Nov 04, 1980 | @ Dallas Mavericks | W 116-102 | |
| Nov 05, 1980 | @ Houston Rockets | W 111-104 | |
| Nov 07, 1980 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 113-94 | |
| Nov 08, 1980 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | W 110-106 | |
| Nov 11, 1980 | @ San Diego Clippers | W 109-107 | |
| Nov 13, 1980 | @ San Diego Clippers | W 113-107 | |
| Nov 14, 1980 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 113-100 | |
| Nov 15, 1980 | @ San Diego Clippers | W 96-94 | |
| Nov 18, 1980 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 104-94 | |
| Nov 20, 1980 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 97-90 | |
| Nov 21, 1980 | @ Washington Bullets | L 102-90 | |
| Nov 23, 1980 | @ San Diego Clippers | L 110-99 | |
| Nov 25, 1980 | @ San Diego Clippers | L 108-94 | |
| Nov 26, 1980 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 113-109 | |
| Nov 28, 1980 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 93-92 | |
| Nov 30, 1980 | @ San Diego Clippers | L 120-100 | |
| Dec 03, 1980 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | W 120-114 | |
| Dec 04, 1980 | @ San Diego Clippers | W 103-100 | |
| Dec 07, 1980 | @ San Diego Clippers | L 98-95 | |
| Dec 09, 1980 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 114-87 | |
| Dec 10, 1980 | @ Kansas City Kings | L 112-100 | |
| Dec 12, 1980 | @ Dallas Mavericks | L 112-109 | |
| Dec 14, 1980 | @ San Diego Clippers | L 91-81 | |
| Dec 16, 1980 | @ San Diego Clippers | L 97-92 | |
| Dec 18, 1980 | @ San Diego Clippers | L 102-92 | |
| Dec 20, 1980 | @ Utah Jazz | W 103-91 | |
| Dec 21, 1980 | @ San Diego Clippers | L 117-97 | |
| Dec 27, 1980 | @ San Diego Clippers | L 121-109 | |
| Dec 30, 1980 | @ Houston Rockets | L 104-98 | |
| Jan 01, 1981 | @ San Diego Clippers | W 88-85 | |
| Jan 03, 1981 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 128-104 | |
| Jan 04, 1981 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 128-95 | |
| Jan 06, 1981 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 108-93 | |
| Jan 09, 1981 | @ San Diego Clippers | W 130-116 | |
| Jan 11, 1981 | @ Kansas City Kings | W 115-105 | |
| Jan 14, 1981 | @ San Diego Clippers | L 106-85 | |
| Jan 16, 1981 | @ Utah Jazz | L 112-109 | |
| Jan 18, 1981 | @ San Diego Clippers | L 115-109 | |
| Jan 21, 1981 | @ Denver Nuggets | W 125-116 | |
| Jan 22, 1981 | @ San Diego Clippers | W 100-93 | |
| Jan 24, 1981 | @ San Diego Clippers | W 121-117 | |
| Jan 27, 1981 | @ San Diego Clippers | L 119-114 | |
| Jan 29, 1981 | @ San Diego Clippers | W 108-106 | |
| Feb 03, 1981 | @ New York Knicks | L 101-98 | |
| Feb 04, 1981 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 110-102 | |
| Feb 06, 1981 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 129-113 | |
| Feb 08, 1981 | @ Boston Celtics | L 123-107 | |
| Feb 10, 1981 | @ San Diego Clippers | W 107-93 | |
| Feb 13, 1981 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 110-94 | |
| Feb 17, 1981 | @ San Diego Clippers | L 128-95 | |
| Feb 19, 1981 | @ San Diego Clippers | L 116-99 | |
| Feb 20, 1981 | @ Golden State Warriors | W 115-114 | |
| Feb 22, 1981 | @ San Diego Clippers | L 108-93 | |
| Feb 24, 1981 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | W 121-107 | |
| Feb 25, 1981 | @ San Diego Clippers | W 107-95 | |
| Feb 28, 1981 | @ Houston Rockets | W 104-103 | |
| Mar 01, 1981 | @ Dallas Mavericks | L 99-91 | |
| Mar 04, 1981 | @ San Diego Clippers | W 115-103 | |
| Mar 06, 1981 | @ San Diego Clippers | L 140-125 | |
| Mar 07, 1981 | @ Utah Jazz | L 97-94 | |
| Mar 08, 1981 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 103-92 | |
| Mar 10, 1981 | @ San Diego Clippers | W 107-100 | |
| Mar 12, 1981 | @ San Diego Clippers | W 122-116 | |
| Mar 14, 1981 | @ San Diego Clippers | L 126-118 | |
| Mar 15, 1981 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | W 122-118 | |
| Mar 17, 1981 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 127-112 | |
| Mar 19, 1981 | @ San Diego Clippers | L 139-113 | |
| Mar 22, 1981 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 107-99 | |
| Mar 24, 1981 | @ San Diego Clippers | L 111-106 | |
| Mar 25, 1981 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 120-114 | |
| Mar 27, 1981 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 124-100 | |
| Mar 29, 1981 | @ San Diego Clippers | W 144-129 |