The 1979-80 Golden State Warriors season was one of struggle and transition for the franchise. Finishing with a record of 24-58, the Warriors found themselves at the bottom of the Pacific Division and tied for the worst record in the Western Conference. This disappointing performance marked their fourth consecutive season without a playoff appearance.
Under the leadership of head coach Al Attles, the team faced numerous challenges, including injuries and a lack of consistent play. The Warriors were led by emerging star Purvis Short, who provided some offensive spark. However, the team struggled to find a reliable supporting cast around him, leading to issues on both ends of the floor.
One of the brighter spots for the Warriors was the performance of rookie guard Lloyd Free, who contributed significantly in scoring. Despite his efforts, the team was unable to develop the necessary cohesion to compete against stronger opponents in the league. The Warriors’ defense was notably porous, which compounded their inability to close out games.
Looking towards the future, the Warriors aimed to build through the draft and potential trades, hoping to revitalize the franchise. The season was a clear indication of the need for a strategic overhaul to return the team to competitive status. The focus for the organization moving forward was to build a stronger foundation to support rising talents and improve overall team performance.
- Regular Season Record: 24-58
- Playoff Result: Did not make playoffs
Golden State Warriors Roster and Stats for 1979-80 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Purvis Short | 62 | 17.0 | 5.1 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Robert Parish | 72 | 17.0 | 10.9 | 1.7 | 0.8 | 1.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Phil Smith | 51 | 15.5 | 2.9 | 3.7 | 1.2 | 0.3 | 31.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Sonny Parker | 82 | 14.7 | 5.7 | 3.1 | 2.1 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| John Lucas | 80 | 12.6 | 2.8 | 7.5 | 1.6 | 0.0 | 28.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Wayne Cooper | 79 | 11.0 | 6.4 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 1.0 | 25.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Jo Jo White | 78 | 9.9 | 2.3 | 3.1 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 16.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Clifford Ray | 81 | 6.0 | 5.8 | 2.3 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Raymond Townsend | 74 | 5.5 | 1.2 | 1.5 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 15.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Tom Abernethy | 67 | 5.4 | 2.9 | 1.3 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Darnell Hillman | 49 | 4.0 | 3.7 | 1.0 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Cheese Johnson | 9 | 3.0 | 1.6 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| John Coughran | 24 | 2.8 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 22.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Bubba Wilson | 16 | 1.1 | 1.0 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
Golden State Warriors 1979-80 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1979-80 season for the Golden State Warriors.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 12, 1979 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 97-89 | |
| Oct 13, 1979 | vs. Chicago Bulls | L 102-96 | |
| Oct 16, 1979 | @ Denver Nuggets | W 108-106 | |
| Oct 17, 1979 | @ Kansas City Kings | W 107-94 | |
| Oct 20, 1979 | vs. Utah Jazz | W 101-96 | |
| Oct 21, 1979 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 91-74 | |
| Oct 24, 1979 | vs. Phoenix Suns | L 110-108 | |
| Oct 27, 1979 | vs. Kansas City Kings | W 101-95 | |
| Oct 28, 1979 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 97-90 | |
| Oct 31, 1979 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 111-106 | |
| Nov 03, 1979 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 130-103 | |
| Nov 07, 1979 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 126-109 | |
| Nov 10, 1979 | vs. Indiana Pacers | L 104-101 | |
| Nov 13, 1979 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 131-127 | |
| Nov 14, 1979 | @ Houston Rockets | L 133-92 | |
| Nov 15, 1979 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 120-102 | |
| Nov 17, 1979 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | L 108-103 | |
| Nov 18, 1979 | @ Phoenix Suns | W 99-95 | |
| Nov 20, 1979 | @ Kansas City Kings | L 112-109 | |
| Nov 22, 1979 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 120-93 | |
| Nov 24, 1979 | @ Chicago Bulls | W 106-101 | |
| Nov 25, 1979 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 114-90 | |
| Nov 28, 1979 | vs. San Diego Clippers | L 114-108 | |
| Nov 30, 1979 | vs. Utah Jazz | L 112-104 | |
| Dec 01, 1979 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | L 109-99 | |
| Dec 02, 1979 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 111-98 | |
| Dec 05, 1979 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 97-90 | |
| Dec 06, 1979 | @ San Diego Clippers | L 105-103 | |
| Dec 08, 1979 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | L 125-100 | |
| Dec 10, 1979 | @ Utah Jazz | L 100-93 | |
| Dec 12, 1979 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 114-96 | |
| Dec 15, 1979 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | L 102-101 | |
| Dec 19, 1979 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | L 128-125 | |
| Dec 21, 1979 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 114-108 | |
| Dec 22, 1979 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 107-101 | |
| Dec 25, 1979 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 113-91 | |
| Dec 26, 1979 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 99-94 | |
| Dec 29, 1979 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 104-88 | |
| Jan 02, 1980 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 111-92 | |
| Jan 04, 1980 | vs. Washington Bullets | L 117-105 | |
| Jan 05, 1980 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | L 121-112 | |
| Jan 09, 1980 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 113-100 | |
| Jan 11, 1980 | @ San Diego Clippers | L 116-112 | |
| Jan 12, 1980 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 107-96 | |
| Jan 13, 1980 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 109-101 | |
| Jan 16, 1980 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 97-96 | |
| Jan 18, 1980 | vs. San Diego Clippers | W 92-91 | |
| Jan 19, 1980 | @ Utah Jazz | L 116-99 | |
| Jan 23, 1980 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | L 104-102 | |
| Jan 25, 1980 | vs. New York Knicks | L 110-105 | |
| Jan 27, 1980 | @ Washington Bullets | L 116-107 | |
| Jan 28, 1980 | @ New York Knicks | L 107-103 | |
| Jan 29, 1980 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 111-100 | |
| Jan 31, 1980 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 111-107 | |
| Feb 06, 1980 | vs. San Diego Clippers | W 117-92 | |
| Feb 08, 1980 | vs. Kansas City Kings | L 107-100 | |
| Feb 10, 1980 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | L 98-96 | |
| Feb 12, 1980 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 100-94 | |
| Feb 14, 1980 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 120-103 | |
| Feb 15, 1980 | @ Indiana Pacers | W 118-107 | |
| Feb 17, 1980 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 103-98 | |
| Feb 20, 1980 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 115-102 | |
| Feb 22, 1980 | vs. Denver Nuggets | L 122-121 | |
| Feb 24, 1980 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | L 103-100 | |
| Feb 26, 1980 | @ Kansas City Kings | L 117-99 | |
| Feb 27, 1980 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 133-120 | |
| Feb 29, 1980 | @ Boston Celtics | L 110-99 | |
| Mar 02, 1980 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 144-99 | |
| Mar 04, 1980 | @ Utah Jazz | W 111-105 | |
| Mar 05, 1980 | vs. Chicago Bulls | L 106-105 | |
| Mar 08, 1980 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | L 105-80 | |
| Mar 09, 1980 | @ San Diego Clippers | W 125-107 | |
| Mar 11, 1980 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 96-87 | |
| Mar 12, 1980 | vs. Phoenix Suns | L 122-113 | |
| Mar 16, 1980 | vs. Utah Jazz | W 115-103 | |
| Mar 18, 1980 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 113-100 | |
| Mar 19, 1980 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | L 115-113 | |
| Mar 21, 1980 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 121-93 | |
| Mar 23, 1980 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 129-115 | |
| Mar 26, 1980 | vs. Kansas City Kings | W 106-100 | |
| Mar 28, 1980 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 108-82 | |
| Mar 30, 1980 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 95-93 |