The 1980-81 New Jersey Nets, under head coach Kevin Loughery, struggled throughout the NBA season, finishing with a 24-58 record. This placed them fifth in the Atlantic Division and out of playoff contention. The team played their home games at the Brendan Byrne Arena, aiming to build a competitive squad but faced challenges in finding consistency.
During this season, the Nets were led by standout performances from guard Otis Birdsong and center Darryl Dawkins. Birdsong, acquired from the Kansas City Kings, was instrumental in providing scoring punch, while Dawkins contributed with his presence in the paint. Despite their efforts, the team struggled defensively, which was a significant factor in their poor record.
The 1980-81 campaign was a rebuilding phase for the Nets, as they sought to develop young talent and improve their roster. The season’s outcome underscored the need for a stronger defensive strategy and more cohesive team play to compete in the Eastern Conference.
- Regular Season Record: 24-58
- Playoff Result: Did not make playoffs
New Jersey Nets 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 Newlin | 79 | 21.4 | 2.8 | 3.8 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 52.6 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Cliff Robinson | 63 | 19.5 | 7.6 | 1.7 | 0.4 | 0.6 | 100.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Maurice Lucas | 68 | 14.7 | 8.5 | 2.5 | 0.4 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Mike Gminski | 56 | 13.2 | 7.5 | 1.3 | 0.6 | 1.4 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Darwin Cook | 81 | 11.2 | 2.9 | 3.7 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 35.3 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Mike O'Koren | 79 | 11.0 | 6.1 | 3.2 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 41.7 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Bob McAdoo | 10 | 9.3 | 2.6 | 1.0 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Edgar Jones | 60 | 8.7 | 4.4 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Bob Elliott | 73 | 7.5 | 3.6 | 1.8 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 50.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Lowes Moore | 71 | 7.0 | 2.4 | 3.2 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 23.5 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Eddie Jordan | 14 | 6.2 | 1.3 | 3.2 | 1.1 | 0.1 | 37.5 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Foots Walker | 41 | 5.7 | 2.5 | 6.2 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 40.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Jan van Breda Kolff | 78 | 3.8 | 2.6 | 1.7 | 0.2 | 0.5 | 33.3 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Rory Sparrow | 15 | 3.7 | 1.2 | 2.1 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
New Jersey Nets 1980-81 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1980-81 season for the New Jersey Nets.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 10, 1980 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 110-91 | |
| Oct 11, 1980 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | W 99-96 | |
| Oct 13, 1980 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 108-92 | |
| Oct 15, 1980 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 119-111 | |
| Oct 17, 1980 | @ Washington Bullets | W 114-112 | |
| Oct 18, 1980 | @ Chicago Bulls | W 107-90 | |
| Oct 19, 1980 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 105-93 | |
| Oct 22, 1980 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 108-104 | |
| Oct 24, 1980 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 126-112 | |
| Oct 25, 1980 | @ New York Knicks | L 105-101 | |
| Oct 29, 1980 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 132-116 | |
| Oct 31, 1980 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 100-98 | |
| Nov 01, 1980 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 113-100 | |
| Nov 05, 1980 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 120-105 | |
| Nov 08, 1980 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 115-111 | |
| Nov 12, 1980 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 118-111 | |
| Nov 14, 1980 | @ Boston Celtics | L 126-102 | |
| Nov 15, 1980 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 115-108 | |
| Nov 16, 1980 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 89-80 | |
| Nov 19, 1980 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 112-104 | |
| Nov 21, 1980 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 116-108 | |
| Nov 22, 1980 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 117-103 | |
| Nov 26, 1980 | @ Kansas City Kings | L 118-100 | |
| Nov 28, 1980 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 122-95 | |
| Nov 30, 1980 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 113-89 | |
| Dec 02, 1980 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | W 118-105 | |
| Dec 03, 1980 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 131-108 | |
| Dec 05, 1980 | @ Phoenix Suns | W 90-88 | |
| Dec 07, 1980 | @ San Diego Clippers | L 98-95 | |
| Dec 10, 1980 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 106-104 | |
| Dec 12, 1980 | @ Boston Celtics | L 119-104 | |
| Dec 14, 1980 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 114-107 | |
| Dec 16, 1980 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 131-114 | |
| Dec 17, 1980 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 115-112 | |
| Dec 19, 1980 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 122-107 | |
| Dec 23, 1980 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 125-109 | |
| Dec 25, 1980 | @ Washington Bullets | L 109-94 | |
| Dec 26, 1980 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 108-95 | |
| Dec 28, 1980 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 102-99 | |
| Dec 30, 1980 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 121-110 | |
| Jan 02, 1981 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 111-105 | |
| Jan 04, 1981 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 113-104 | |
| Jan 06, 1981 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 102-86 | |
| Jan 07, 1981 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 112-103 | |
| Jan 09, 1981 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 112-95 | |
| Jan 10, 1981 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 117-115 | |
| Jan 14, 1981 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 110-105 | |
| Jan 16, 1981 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 113-111 | |
| Jan 17, 1981 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 116-104 | |
| Jan 18, 1981 | @ Washington Bullets | L 110-99 | |
| Jan 21, 1981 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 126-122 | |
| Jan 22, 1981 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 108-94 | |
| Jan 25, 1981 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 118-100 | |
| Jan 27, 1981 | @ Dallas Mavericks | W 112-100 | |
| Jan 28, 1981 | @ Houston Rockets | L 111-99 | |
| Jan 29, 1981 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 122-108 | |
| Feb 04, 1981 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 110-102 | |
| Feb 07, 1981 | @ New York Knicks | L 113-106 | |
| Feb 08, 1981 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 116-102 | |
| Feb 11, 1981 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 135-133 | |
| Feb 13, 1981 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 103-100 | |
| Feb 15, 1981 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 134-132 | |
| Feb 18, 1981 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 110-108 | |
| Feb 20, 1981 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 123-113 | |
| Feb 22, 1981 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 132-109 | |
| Feb 24, 1981 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 140-123 | |
| Feb 25, 1981 | @ Utah Jazz | L 132-106 | |
| Feb 27, 1981 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 107-103 | |
| Mar 01, 1981 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 117-104 | |
| Mar 03, 1981 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 128-102 | |
| Mar 06, 1981 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 109-106 | |
| Mar 11, 1981 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 109-104 | |
| Mar 13, 1981 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | W 140-125 | |
| Mar 15, 1981 | @ Boston Celtics | L 133-125 | |
| Mar 17, 1981 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 126-120 | |
| Mar 18, 1981 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 118-115 | |
| Mar 20, 1981 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 108-96 | |
| Mar 22, 1981 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 125-116 | |
| Mar 24, 1981 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 131-107 | |
| Mar 25, 1981 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 111-105 | |
| Mar 28, 1981 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 90-88 | |
| Mar 29, 1981 | @ New York Knicks | L 103-95 |