1980–81 Kansas City Kings season


The 1980–81 NBA season was the Kings 32nd season in the NBA and their ninth season in the city of Kansas City. The Kansas City Kings made the playoffs with a 40-42 win loss record and appeared in the western conference finals where they lost to the also 40-42 Houston Rockets. This is the only time two NBA teams with losing records have made it to the conference finals.

Draft picks

RoundPickPlayerPositionNationalitySchool/Club Team
116Hawkeye WhitneySG/SFNorth Carolina State
362Tony MurphySGSouthern
5108Kevin BlakleyEastern Michigan
6131Trent GroomsKent State
7154Arnold McDowellMontana State
9193Charley ColeDelta State

Roster

Regular season

Season standings

Notes

Game log

Playoffs

The Kings won two playoff rounds in 1981, their only such victories while playing in Kansas City. The wins over Portland and Phoenix were the franchise's first playoff wins in 17 years and would be their last for another 20 years.

West First Round

Portland Trail Blazers vs. Kansas City Kings: Kings win series 2-1
Phoenix Suns vs. Kansas City Kings: Kings win series 4-3
Kansas City Kings vs. Houston Rockets: Rockets win series 4-1

Season

Playoffs

Awards and records