Season of National Basketball Association team the New York Knicks
NBA professional basketball team season
1979–80 New York Knicks season |
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Head coach | Red Holzman |
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General manager | Eddie Donovan |
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Arena | Madison Square Garden |
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Results |
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Record | 39–43 (.476) |
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Place | Division: 4th (Atlantic) Conference: 7th (Eastern) |
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Playoff finish | Did not qualify |
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Stats at Basketball-Reference.com |
Local media |
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Television | WOR-TV[1] |
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Radio | WNEW[2] |
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The 1979–80 New York Knicks season was the 34th season for the team in the National Basketball Association (NBA). In the regular season, the Knicks finished in a tie for third place in the Atlantic Division with a 39–43 win–loss record, and did not qualify for the 1980 NBA Playoffs. Bill Cartwright led the team in scoring (21.7 points per game) and rebounding, while Micheal Ray Richardson led the NBA in assists (10.2 per game) and steals (3.23 per game).[3]
New York had three first-round picks in the 1979 NBA draft, and selected Cartwright, Larry Demic, and Sly Williams.[4] At the end of the season, the Knicks lost five of their last six games; they followed a three-game losing streak with a win against the Cleveland Cavaliers,[5] but then lost to the Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers.[6][7] In the game against the 76ers, Julius Erving made the winning basket with one second remaining, after the Knicks had committed a turnover on an inbounds pass five seconds earlier with the score tied at 101–101.[7] The Washington Bullets gained the last playoff berth in the Eastern Conference over the Knicks because of a better record against other teams in the conference; the teams' overall win–loss records were identical.[8] The 1979–80 Knicks were the first team in NBA history to feature a roster made up entirely of black players,[9] which led to racially charged nicknames for the team.[10]
Draft picks
Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | College |
Roster
1979–80 New York Knicks roster Players | Coaches |
Pos. | No. | Name | Height | Weight | DOB | From | C | 25 | Cartwright, Bill | 7 ft 1 in (2.16 m) | 245 lb (111 kg) | 1957-07-30 | San Francisco | F | 45 | Copeland, Hollis | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) | 180 lb (82 kg) | 1955-12-20 | Rutgers | F | 42 | Demic, Larry | 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) | 225 lb (102 kg) | 1957-06-27 | Arizona | G | 34 | Glenn, Mike | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 175 lb (79 kg) | 1955-09-10 | Southern Illinois | G | 23 | Huston, Geoff | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 175 lb (79 kg) | 1957-11-08 | Texas Tech | F | 43 | Knight, Toby | 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) | 210 lb (95 kg) | 1955-05-03 | Notre Dame | C | 50 | Meriweather, Joe C. | 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) | 215 lb (98 kg) | 1953-10-26 | Southern Illinois | G | 15 | Monroe, Earl | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 185 lb (84 kg) | 1944-11-21 | Winston-Salem State | G | 20 | Richardson, Michael Ray | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | 189 lb (86 kg) | 1955-04-11 | Montana | C | 40 | Webster, Marvin | 7 ft 1 in (2.16 m) | 225 lb (102 kg) | 1952-04-13 | Morgan State | G | 13 | Williams, Ray | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 188 lb (85 kg) | 1954-10-14 | Minnesota | | - Head coach
- Legend
- (DP) Unsigned draft pick
- (FA) Free agent
- (S) Suspended
- Injured
Roster |
Regular season
Season standings
- z – clinched division title
- y – clinched division title
- x – clinched playoff spot
Record vs. opponents
1979–80 NBA records |
Team | ATL | BOS | CHI | CLE | DEN | DET | GSW | HOU | IND | KCK | LAL | MIL | NJN | NYK | PHI | PHO | POR | SAS | SDC | SEA | UTA | WAS |
Atlanta | — | 2–4 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 6–0 | 2–0 | 2–4 | 4–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 4–2 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–3 |
Boston | 4–2 | — | 2–0 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 6–0 | 2–0 | 6–0 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 5–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 4–2 |
Chicago | 1–1 | 0–2 | — | 2–0 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 1–5 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–5 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 0–2 |
Cleveland | 2–4 | 2–4 | 0–2 | — | 1–1 | 6–0 | 2–0 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–3 |
Denver | 1–1 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 1–1 | — | 1–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–6 | 1–5 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 1–5 | 3–3 | 1–1 |
Detroit | 0–6 | 0–6 | 1–1 | 0–6 | 1–1 | — | 1–1 | 1–5 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–4 |
Golden State | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 1–1 | — | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 1–5 | 0–6 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 0–6 | 3–3 | 0–2 |
Houston | 4–2 | 0–6 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 1–1 | — | 4–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–4 |
Indiana | 2–4 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 2–4 | — | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 4–2 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 4–2 |
Kansas City | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 6–0 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | — | 2–4 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–5 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 3–3 | 6–0 | 2–0 |
Los Angeles | 1–1 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–2 | — | 3–3 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 4–2 | 6–0 | 1–1 |
Milwaukee | 1–1 | 0–2 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 6–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 3–3 | — | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 5–1 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 2–4 | 4–2 | 1–1 |
New Jersey | 2–4 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | — | 2–4 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 |
New York | 2–4 | 1–5 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 4–2 | — | 0–6 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–3 |
Philadelphia | 2–4 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 6–0 | — | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 5–1 |
Phoenix | 1–1 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | — | 6–0 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 4–2 | 6–0 | 2–0 |
Portland | 0–2 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 5–1 | 4–2 | 1–5 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–6 | — | 1–1 | 4–2 | 1–5 | 3–3 | 1–1 |
San Antonio | 1–5 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | — | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–2 |
San Diego | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–5 | 1–5 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 2–4 | 0–2 | — | 3–3 | 5–1 | 1–1 |
Seattle | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 6–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 | — | 5–1 | 1–1 |
Utah | 0–2 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–6 | 0–6 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–6 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 1–5 | 1–5 | — | 0–2 |
Washington | 3–3 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | — |
Game log
Regular season
1979–80 game log Total: 39–43 (Home: 25–16; Road: 14–27) |
October: 5–5 (home: 4–1; road: 1–4) Game | Date | Team | Score | High points | High rebounds | High assists | Location Attendance | Record | |
November: 6–8 (home: 4–3; road: 2–5) Game | Date | Team | Score | High points | High rebounds | High assists | Location Attendance | Record | |
December: 8–8 (home: 5–3; road: 3–5) Game | Date | Team | Score | High points | High rebounds | High assists | Location Attendance | Record | |
January: 8–7 (home: 4–3; road: 4–4) Game | Date | Team | Score | High points | High rebounds | High assists | Location Attendance | Record | |
February: 5–5 (home: 4–2; road: 1–3) Game | Date | Team | Score | High points | High rebounds | High assists | Location Attendance | Record | |
March: 7–10 (home: 4–4; road: 3–6) Game | Date | Team | Score | High points | High rebounds | High assists | Location Attendance | Record | |
1979–80 schedule |
Player statistics
Legend GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game |
FG% | Field-goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field-goal percentage | FT% | Free-throw percentage |
RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game |
BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game | | |
Awards and records
Transactions
References
- ^ The Fourth Estate (PDF). New York Knicks. 2003. p. 331. Retrieved November 5, 2017.
- ^ The Fourth Estate (PDF). New York Knicks. 2003. p. 330. Retrieved November 5, 2017.
- ^ Carter, Craig; Hareas, John (2001). The Sporting News 2001–2002 Official NBA Guide. St. Louis, Missouri. pp. 517–526. ISBN 0-89204-656-2.
{{cite book}}
: |work=
ignored (help)CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - ^ "Complete First Round Results – 1970–79". National Basketball Association. Archived from the original on July 27, 2010. Retrieved August 24, 2019.
- ^ "Knicks Snap Cavs' Winning Streak". The Press-Courier. Associated Press. March 26, 1980. p. 22. Retrieved May 30, 2011.
- ^ "Celtics Nick Knicks' Hopes". The Pittsburgh Press. United Press International. March 27, 1980. p. C-4. Retrieved May 30, 2011.
- ^ a b "Blown throw-in could cost Knicks". The Leader-Post. Canadian Press. March 28, 1980. p. 18. Retrieved May 30, 2011.
- ^ "Bullets win to gain final playoff spot". St. Petersburg Times. March 31, 1980. p. 5C. Retrieved May 30, 2011.
- ^ "Black History Month: Red Holzman's Knicks were first NBA team to have all-black roster". Newsday. February 15, 2020. Retrieved December 12, 2023.
- ^ Criblez, Adam J. (2024). "5. "Black, White, Green, or Red": 1979–1980". Kings of the Garden: The New York Knicks and Their City. Cornell University Press. ISBN 978-1-5017-7446-1.
- ^ "NBA & ABA All-Rookie Teams". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved September 14, 2013.
New York Knicks |
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- Founded in 1946
- Based in New York City, New York
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