The 1980-81 season marked the inaugural campaign for the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA. As an expansion team, the Mavericks were expected to face challenges, and they finished with a 15-67 record. This placed them in the last position in the Midwest Division of the Western Conference.
Under the leadership of head coach Dick Motta, the team struggled to find its footing but laid the groundwork for future success. Key players included Tom LaGarde and Jim Spanarkel, who provided valuable contributions despite the team’s overall difficulties. The Mavericks played their home games at the newly built Reunion Arena, which became a focal point for basketball in Dallas.
While the season was a tough initiation into the league, it was significant as it set the stage for the franchise’s development and eventual growth into a competitive NBA team. The lessons learned in their first year would prove essential in shaping the organization’s future.
- Regular Season Record: 15-67
- Playoff Result: Did not make playoffs
Dallas Mavericks Roster and Stats for 1980-81 Season
POINTS
Geoff Huston
16.1
REBOUNDS
Tom LaGarde
8.1
ASSISTS
Brad Davis
6.9
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Geoff Huston | 56 | 16.1 | 1.8 | 4.9 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 25.1 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Jim Spanarkel | 82 | 14.4 | 3.6 | 2.8 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 10.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Bill Robinzine | 70 | 13.9 | 7.4 | 1.6 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 16.7 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Tom LaGarde | 82 | 13.7 | 8.1 | 2.9 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Brad Davis | 56 | 11.2 | 2.7 | 6.9 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 17.7 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Richard Washington | 11 | 10.8 | 7.6 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Ollie Mack | 62 | 10.2 | 3.7 | 2.6 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Terry Duerod | 18 | 9.3 | 2.2 | 1.7 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 33.3 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Scott Lloyd | 72 | 8.8 | 6.3 | 2.2 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Abdul Jeelani | 66 | 8.4 | 3.5 | 1.0 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Joe Hassett | 17 | 8.1 | 1.5 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 25.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Marty Byrnes | 72 | 7.8 | 2.5 | 1.6 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 47.4 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Clarence Kea | 16 | 7.3 | 4.2 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Winford Boynes | 44 | 6.5 | 1.7 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Jerome Whitehead | 7 | 5.3 | 4.0 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Stan Pietkiewicz | 36 | 3.9 | 1.1 | 2.0 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 39.6 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Chad Kinch | 12 | 3.2 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Darrell Allums | 22 | 2.7 | 3.0 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Ralph Drollinger | 6 | 2.5 | 3.2 | 2.3 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Austin Carr | 8 | 2.0 | 1.1 | 1.1 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Monti Davis | 1 | 1.0 | 3.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Dallas Mavericks 1980-81 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1980-81 season for the Dallas Mavericks.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 11, 1980 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 103-92 | |
| Oct 14, 1980 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | L 85-83 | |
| Oct 15, 1980 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 133-98 | |
| Oct 17, 1980 | vs. Kansas City Kings | L 103-91 | |
| Oct 18, 1980 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 110-96 | |
| Oct 21, 1980 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 111-99 | |
| Oct 22, 1980 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 107-102 | |
| Oct 24, 1980 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 120-105 | |
| Oct 25, 1980 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 86-79 | |
| Oct 28, 1980 | vs. Utah Jazz | L 104-96 | |
| Oct 29, 1980 | @ Houston Rockets | L 109-103 | |
| Oct 31, 1980 | @ Utah Jazz | L 144-122 | |
| Nov 04, 1980 | vs. San Diego Clippers | L 116-102 | |
| Nov 06, 1980 | @ Washington Bullets | L 116-95 | |
| Nov 07, 1980 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 126-102 | |
| Nov 08, 1980 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 101-73 | |
| Nov 11, 1980 | vs. Houston Rockets | L 105-94 | |
| Nov 14, 1980 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 113-106 | |
| Nov 16, 1980 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 110-102 | |
| Nov 18, 1980 | vs. Phoenix Suns | L 102-91 | |
| Nov 21, 1980 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | L 101-91 | |
| Nov 23, 1980 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 116-96 | |
| Nov 25, 1980 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | L 108-92 | |
| Nov 28, 1980 | vs. Denver Nuggets | L 119-117 | |
| Nov 29, 1980 | @ Houston Rockets | L 115-90 | |
| Dec 02, 1980 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | L 109-102 | |
| Dec 05, 1980 | @ Boston Celtics | L 97-87 | |
| Dec 06, 1980 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 110-104 | |
| Dec 09, 1980 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 103-92 | |
| Dec 10, 1980 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 116-107 | |
| Dec 12, 1980 | vs. San Diego Clippers | W 112-109 | |
| Dec 13, 1980 | @ Kansas City Kings | L 114-107 | |
| Dec 16, 1980 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | L 89-83 | |
| Dec 17, 1980 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 115-102 | |
| Dec 18, 1980 | @ San Diego Clippers | L 102-92 | |
| Dec 20, 1980 | vs. Golden State Warriors | L 101-98 | |
| Dec 23, 1980 | vs. Utah Jazz | L 101-96 | |
| Dec 26, 1980 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 119-111 | |
| Dec 27, 1980 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 112-96 | |
| Dec 29, 1980 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 112-100 | |
| Dec 30, 1980 | @ New York Knicks | L 100-98 | |
| Jan 02, 1981 | vs. Houston Rockets | L 124-120 | |
| Jan 05, 1981 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 103-89 | |
| Jan 07, 1981 | @ Golden State Warriors | W 111-109 | |
| Jan 08, 1981 | @ Utah Jazz | L 99-97 | |
| Jan 10, 1981 | vs. Washington Bullets | L 106-94 | |
| Jan 13, 1981 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 112-106 | |
| Jan 16, 1981 | vs. New York Knicks | W 118-110 | |
| Jan 18, 1981 | @ San Diego Clippers | L 115-109 | |
| Jan 20, 1981 | vs. Kansas City Kings | L 104-91 | |
| Jan 23, 1981 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 106-98 | |
| Jan 24, 1981 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 107-89 | |
| Jan 27, 1981 | vs. New Jersey Nets | L 112-100 | |
| Feb 03, 1981 | vs. Kansas City Kings | L 121-100 | |
| Feb 04, 1981 | @ Houston Rockets | L 116-68 | |
| Feb 06, 1981 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | L 100-98 | |
| Feb 08, 1981 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 102-98 | |
| Feb 10, 1981 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 101-95 | |
| Feb 11, 1981 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 119-97 | |
| Feb 14, 1981 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | L 107-99 | |
| Feb 15, 1981 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 107-99 | |
| Feb 17, 1981 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | L 114-106 | |
| Feb 20, 1981 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 117-109 | |
| Feb 22, 1981 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 132-109 | |
| Feb 24, 1981 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | L 102-84 | |
| Feb 26, 1981 | @ Kansas City Kings | L 105-102 | |
| Feb 27, 1981 | vs. Indiana Pacers | L 118-111 | |
| Mar 01, 1981 | vs. San Diego Clippers | W 99-91 | |
| Mar 03, 1981 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 117-105 | |
| Mar 06, 1981 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 115-109 | |
| Mar 08, 1981 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 133-108 | |
| Mar 10, 1981 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 107-103 | |
| Mar 12, 1981 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 120-118 | |
| Mar 15, 1981 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 135-110 | |
| Mar 17, 1981 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 114-109 | |
| Mar 18, 1981 | @ Utah Jazz | L 120-113 | |
| Mar 20, 1981 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 126-125 | |
| Mar 21, 1981 | vs. Utah Jazz | W 105-95 | |
| Mar 24, 1981 | vs. Houston Rockets | L 114-111 | |
| Mar 25, 1981 | @ Denver Nuggets | W 126-115 | |
| Mar 27, 1981 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | L 123-109 | |
| Mar 29, 1981 | @ Kansas City Kings | L 113-104 |