The 1976-77 Indiana Pacers marked their first season in the NBA following the ABA-NBA merger. Coached by Slick Leonard, the team faced the challenges of transitioning from the ABA to the more competitive NBA environment. The Pacers ended the season with a record of 36-46, placing them fifth in the Central Division. Despite their struggles, they managed to showcase talent and resilience throughout the season.
Key players included Billy Knight, who led the team in scoring, and Don Buse, known for his defensive prowess and playmaking abilities. The team’s performance was not enough to secure a playoff spot, reflecting the growing pains of adapting to the NBA’s higher caliber of play. This season set the foundation for future development and growth within the league, as the Pacers aimed to build a competitive roster moving forward.
- Regular Season Record: 36-46
- Playoff Result: Did not make playoffs
Indiana Pacers Roster and Stats for 1976-77 Season
POINTS
Billy Knight
26.6
REBOUNDS
Dan Roundfield
8.5
ASSISTS
Don Buse
8.5
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Billy Knight | 78 | 26.6 | 7.5 | 3.3 | 1.3 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| John Williamson | 30 | 20.7 | 2.5 | 3.7 | 1.5 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Dan Roundfield | 61 | 13.9 | 8.5 | 1.1 | 0.9 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Wil Jones | 80 | 13.0 | 7.6 | 2.4 | 1.1 | 0.9 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Dave Robisch | 80 | 11.9 | 6.9 | 2.0 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Darnell Hillman | 82 | 10.7 | 8.5 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 1.1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Mike Flynn | 73 | 8.2 | 2.6 | 2.4 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Don Buse | 81 | 8.0 | 3.3 | 8.5 | 3.3 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Freddie Lewis | 32 | 7.0 | 1.5 | 1.8 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Steve Green | 70 | 6.4 | 2.5 | 0.7 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Mel Bennett | 67 | 4.7 | 3.5 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Clyde Mayes | 2 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 1.5 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Len Elmore | 6 | 3.0 | 2.5 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Jerome Anderson | 27 | 2.4 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Rudy Hackett | 5 | 2.4 | 2.0 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Darrell Elston | 5 | 1.0 | 1.2 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Indiana Pacers 1976-77 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1976-77 season for the Indiana Pacers.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 21, 1976 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 129-122 | |
| Oct 22, 1976 | vs. Denver Nuggets | L 123-110 | |
| Oct 23, 1976 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 102-97 | |
| Oct 26, 1976 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 120-90 | |
| Oct 29, 1976 | @ New York Nets | W 90-89 | |
| Oct 30, 1976 | vs. Kansas City Kings | W 112-102 | |
| Nov 03, 1976 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 113-97 | |
| Nov 05, 1976 | @ Kansas City Kings | L 112-103 | |
| Nov 06, 1976 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 113-94 | |
| Nov 11, 1976 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 108-98 | |
| Nov 12, 1976 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 117-106 | |
| Nov 13, 1976 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 120-112 | |
| Nov 14, 1976 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 121-118 | |
| Nov 17, 1976 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | W 123-117 | |
| Nov 18, 1976 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 104-99 | |
| Nov 24, 1976 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 115-93 | |
| Nov 26, 1976 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 109-98 | |
| Nov 27, 1976 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 122-113 | |
| Nov 28, 1976 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 145-115 | |
| Nov 30, 1976 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 103-97 | |
| Dec 01, 1976 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | L 101-100 | |
| Dec 03, 1976 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 112-109 | |
| Dec 04, 1976 | @ Houston Rockets | L 120-108 | |
| Dec 07, 1976 | @ Buffalo Braves | W 107-103 | |
| Dec 08, 1976 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 111-98 | |
| Dec 10, 1976 | @ Washington Bullets | L 98-88 | |
| Dec 11, 1976 | vs. Buffalo Braves | W 109-101 | |
| Dec 15, 1976 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 116-102 | |
| Dec 16, 1976 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 111-105 | |
| Dec 17, 1976 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 113-104 | |
| Dec 18, 1976 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | L 97-93 | |
| Dec 21, 1976 | @ New Orleans Jazz | L 123-113 | |
| Dec 23, 1976 | vs. New York Nets | W 96-94 | |
| Dec 26, 1976 | vs. Houston Rockets | L 93-79 | |
| Dec 28, 1976 | vs. Washington Bullets | L 117-111 | |
| Dec 30, 1976 | vs. New Orleans Jazz | W 104-97 | |
| Jan 02, 1977 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | W 116-109 | |
| Jan 05, 1977 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 109-94 | |
| Jan 06, 1977 | @ Atlanta Hawks | W 103-95 | |
| Jan 08, 1977 | vs. New York Nets | W 80-73 | |
| Jan 12, 1977 | @ Boston Celtics | W 112-101 | |
| Jan 14, 1977 | vs. Golden State Warriors | L 113-109 | |
| Jan 16, 1977 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 122-115 | |
| Jan 19, 1977 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 109-102 | |
| Jan 21, 1977 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 125-96 | |
| Jan 23, 1977 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 121-104 | |
| Jan 26, 1977 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 121-101 | |
| Jan 29, 1977 | vs. Washington Bullets | L 108-107 | |
| Jan 30, 1977 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 127-120 | |
| Feb 01, 1977 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 110-109 | |
| Feb 03, 1977 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | L 107-98 | |
| Feb 06, 1977 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 111-99 | |
| Feb 09, 1977 | vs. New York Knicks | W 110-109 | |
| Feb 10, 1977 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 116-101 | |
| Feb 11, 1977 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 118-109 | |
| Feb 16, 1977 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 111-93 | |
| Feb 18, 1977 | vs. Golden State Warriors | L 116-111 | |
| Feb 20, 1977 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 135-115 | |
| Feb 21, 1977 | @ Buffalo Braves | L 117-106 | |
| Feb 23, 1977 | @ Washington Bullets | L 109-101 | |
| Feb 26, 1977 | @ New York Knicks | L 129-115 | |
| Mar 01, 1977 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 102-85 | |
| Mar 02, 1977 | vs. Buffalo Braves | W 116-108 | |
| Mar 05, 1977 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 118-96 | |
| Mar 06, 1977 | @ New Orleans Jazz | W 110-106 | |
| Mar 11, 1977 | vs. Houston Rockets | L 124-109 | |
| Mar 12, 1977 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 108-106 | |
| Mar 13, 1977 | vs. Kansas City Kings | L 103-98 | |
| Mar 16, 1977 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 109-98 | |
| Mar 18, 1977 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 134-110 | |
| Mar 19, 1977 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 150-91 | |
| Mar 22, 1977 | @ Houston Rockets | L 106-99 | |
| Mar 23, 1977 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 105-97 | |
| Mar 25, 1977 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 103-95 | |
| Mar 27, 1977 | vs. New Orleans Jazz | L 119-118 | |
| Mar 29, 1977 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 119-105 | |
| Mar 31, 1977 | vs. New York Knicks | L 135-131 | |
| Apr 01, 1977 | @ New York Nets | W 89-88 | |
| Apr 02, 1977 | @ Atlanta Hawks | W 106-99 | |
| Apr 03, 1977 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | L 120-112 | |
| Apr 05, 1977 | @ Kansas City Kings | W 87-82 | |
| Apr 07, 1977 | @ New York Knicks | W 114-100 |