1977–78 Kansas City Kings season

1977–78 Kansas City Kings season
Head coachPhil Johnson, Larry Staverman
OwnersLeon Karosen
Robert Margolin
H. Paul Rosenberg
ArenaKemper Arena
Omaha Civic Auditorium[1][2][3]
Results
Record31–51 (.378)
PlaceDivision: 6th (Midwest)
Conference: 11th (Western)
Playoff finishDid not qualify
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionKBMA-TV
RadioKCMO
< 1976–77 1978–79 >

The 1977–78 Kansas City Kings season was their sixth season in Kansas City. The Kings had a losing record for the third consecutive season which resulted in missing the playoffs. The club started the season with 13 wins and 24 losses, which led to the dismissal of coach Phil Johnson. Under his replacement Larry Staverman the Kings would not play any better as they finished in last place with a 31–51 record.[4]

Draft picks

[edit]
Main article: 1977 NBA draft
Round Pick Player Position Nationality College
1 2 Otis Birdsong  United States University of Houston
2 31 Eddie Owens  United States University of Nevada Las Vegas
3 45 Bill Paterno  United States Notre Dame
3 53 John Kuester  United States University of North Carolina
4 75 Larry Williams  United States Texas Southern University
5 97 Bob Chapman  United States Michigan State University
7 139 Bruce Jenner  United States Graceland College

[5]

Roster

[edit]
1977–78 Kansas City Kings roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB From
G 42 Allen, Lucius 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 175 lb (79 kg) UCLA
G 10 Birdsong, Otis 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Houston
G 24 Boone, Ron 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 200 lb (91 kg) Idaho State
C 16 Burleson, Tom 7 ft 2 in (2.18 m) 225 lb (102 kg) NC State
G 5 Kuester, John 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 180 lb (82 kg) North Carolina
C 44 Lacey, Sam 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 235 lb (107 kg) New Mexico State
F 55 Nash, Bob 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 195 lb (88 kg) Hawaiʻi
F 18 Restani, Kevin 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 225 lb (102 kg) San Francisco
F 52 Robinzine, Bill 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 230 lb (104 kg) DePaul
F 31 Washington, Richard 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 220 lb (100 kg) UCLA
F 15 Wedman, Scott 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 215 lb (98 kg) Colorado
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured Injured

Regular season

[edit]

Season standings

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Midwest Division
 W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-Denver Nuggets 48 34 .585 – 33–8 15–26 11–9
x-Milwaukee Bucks 44 38 .537 4 28–13 16–25 14–6
Chicago Bulls 40 42 .488 8 29–12 11–30 8–12
Detroit Pistons 38 44 .463 10 24–17 14–27 8–12
Indiana Pacers 31 51 .378 17 21–20 10–31 8–12
Kansas City Kings 31 51 .378 17 22–19 9–32 11–9
#
Western Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1 z-Portland Trail Blazers 58 24 .707 –
2 y-Denver Nuggets 48 34 .585 10
3 x-Phoenix Suns 49 33 .598 9
4 x-Seattle SuperSonics 47 35 .573 11
5 x-Los Angeles Lakers 45 37 .549 13
6 x-Milwaukee Bucks 44 38 .537 14
7 Golden State Warriors 43 39 .524 15
8 Chicago Bulls 40 42 .488 18
9 Detroit Pistons 38 44 .463 20
10 Indiana Pacers 31 51 .378 27
11 Kansas City Kings 31 51 .378 27

Record vs. opponents

[edit]
1977–78 NBA records
Team ATL BOS BUF CHI CLE DEN DET GSW HOU IND KCK LAL MIL NJN NOJ NYK PHI PHO POR SAS SEA WAS
Atlanta – 2–2 3–1 1–3 1–3 1–3 2–2 1–3 3–1 3–1 2–1 3–1 2–2 3–1 2–2 2–2 2–2 3–1 1–3 1–3 2–1 1–3
Boston 2–2 – 3–1 1–3 1–3 1–3 1–3 2–2 2–2 2–1 2–2 1–2 3–1 3–1 2–2 2–2 0–4 2–2 1–3 0–4 0–4 1–3
Buffalo 1–3 1–3 – 3–1 1–3 1–3 1–3 0–3 3–1 1–3 1–2 1–3 1–3 2–2 2–2 3–1 1–3 0–4 1–3 1–3 1–3 1–3
Chicago 3–1 3–1 1–3 – 3–1 2–2 2–2 1–3 3–1 3–1 0–4 2–2 1–3 1–2 2–2 1–3 3–0 2–2 1–3 2–2 2–2 2–1
Cleveland 3–1 3–1 3–1 1–3 – 3–1 2–2 2–2 2–2 2–1 2–2 2–2 3–1 3–1 2–2 3–1 1–3 1–2 0–4 0–4 3–1 2–2
Denver 3–1 3–1 3–1 2–2 1–3 – 2–2 2–2 3–0 2–2 2–2 3–1 3–1 3–1 3–1 1–3 1–3 2–2 3–1 2–1 1–3 3–1
Detroit 2–2 3–1 3–1 2–2 2–2 2–2 – 2–2 3–1 1–3 1–3 2–2 2–2 3–1 3–0 0–4 0–4 2–2 1–3 1–3 1–3 2–2
Golden State 3–1 2–2 3–0 3–1 2–2 2–2 2–2 – 2–1 3–1 3–1 0–4 2–2 3–1 0–4 2–2 1–3 2–2 1–3 3–1 2–2 2–2
Houston 1–3 2–2 1–3 1–3 2–2 0–3 1–3 1–2 – 3–1 2–2 1–3 1–3 2–2 1–3 2–2 2–2 1–3 2–2 1–3 0–4 1–3
Indiana 1–3 1–2 3–1 1–3 1–2 2–2 3–1 1–3 1–3 – 2–2 1–3 0–4 2–2 2–2 1–3 2–2 1–3 1–3 1–3 1–3 3–1
Kansas City 1–2 2–2 2–1 4–0 2–2 2–2 3–1 1–3 2–2 2–2 – 2–2 0–4 2–2 2–2 0–4 1–3 0–4 0–4 0–4 1–3 2–2
Los Angeles 1–3 2–1 3–1 2–2 2–2 1–3 2–2 4–0 3–1 3–1 2–2 – 3–1 4–0 2–1 3–1 2–2 1–3 0–4 2–2 1–3 2–2
Milwaukee 2–2 1–3 3–1 3–1 1–3 1–3 2–2 2–2 3–1 4–0 4–0 1–3 – 3–1 2–1 3–1 1–2 1–3 1–3 2–2 1–3 3–1
New Jersey 1–3 1–3 2–2 2–1 1–3 1–3 1–3 1–3 2–2 2–2 2–2 0–4 1–3 – 0–4 1–3 0–4 2–2 0–3 0–4 2–2 2–2
New Orleans 2–2 2–2 2–2 2–2 2–2 1–3 1–3 4–0 3–1 2–2 2–2 1–2 1–2 4–0 – 1–3 2–2 1–3 3–1 1–3 2–2 0–4
New York 2–2 2–2 1–3 3–1 1–3 3–1 3–0 2–2 2–2 3–1 4–0 1–3 1–3 3–1 3–1 – 1–3 1–3 1–3 2–2 2–1 2–2
Philadelphia 2–2 4–0 3–1 1–3 3–1 3–1 4–0 3–1 2–2 2–2 3–1 2–2 2–1 4–0 2–2 3–1 – 2–1 2–2 3–1 3–1 2–2
Phoenix 1–3 2–2 4–0 2–2 2–1 2–2 2–2 2–2 3–1 3–1 4–0 3–1 3–1 2–2 3–1 3–1 1–2 – 1–3 2–2 2–2 2–2
Portland 3–1 3–1 3–1 3–1 4–0 1–3 3–1 3–1 2–2 3–1 4–0 4–0 3–1 3–1 1–3 3–0 2–2 3–1 – 2–2 3–1 2–1
San Antonio 3–1 4–0 3–1 2–2 4–0 1–2 2–1 1–3 3–1 3–1 4–0 2–2 2–2 4–0 3–1 2–2 1–3 2–2 2–2 – 2–2 2–2
Seattle 1–2 4–0 3–1 2–2 1–3 3–1 3–1 2–2 4–0 3–1 3–1 3–1 3–1 2–2 2–1 1–3 1–3 2–2 1–3 2–2 – 1–3
Washington 3–1 3–1 3–1 1–2 2–2 1–3 2–2 2–2 3–1 1–3 2–2 2–2 1–3 2–2 4–0 2–2 2–2 2–2 1–2 2–2 3–1 —

Game log

[edit]

Regular season

[edit]
1977–78 game log
Total: 31–51 (home: 22–19; road: 9–32)
October: 3–4 (home: 2–0; road: 1–4)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
1 October 18, 1977 @ New York L 113–120 Madison Square Garden 0–1
2 October 19, 1977 @ Buffalo L 108–112 Buffalo Memorial Auditorium 0–2
3 October 21, 1977 Houston W 95–94 Kemper Arena 1–2
4 October 22, 1977 @ Indiana L 101–106 Market Square Arena 1–3
5 October 25, 1977 @ Philadelphia L 104–112 The Spectrum 1–4
6 October 27, 1977 @ Cleveland W 119–104 Richfield Coliseum 2–4
7 October 29, 1977
7:35 p.m. CDT 		Washington W 120–106 Kemper Arena
9,220 		3–4
November: 4–9 (home: 2–4; road: 2–5)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
8 November 1, 1977 @ Milwaukee L 95–115 MECCA Arena 3–5
9 November 2, 1977 New Orleans W 104–102 Kemper Arena 4–5
10 November 4, 1977 Atlanta L 110–111 Kemper Arena 4–6
11 November 6, 1977 @ Seattle W 99–83 Seattle Center Coliseum 5–6
12 November 8, 1977 @ Portland L 104–130 Memorial Coliseum 5–7
13 November 11, 1977 @ Golden State W 106–105 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 6–7
14 November 12, 1977 @ Denver L 114–119 McNichols Sports Arena 6–8
15 November 15, 1977 @ San Antonio L 107–113 HemisFair Arena 6–9
16 November 19, 1977
7:35 p.m. CST 		Washington
(at Omaha, Nebraska) 		L 125–131 (OT) Omaha Civic Auditorium
6,534 		6–10
17 November 23, 1977 Milwaukee L 116–122 Kemper Arena 6–11
18 November 26, 1977 Boston W 110–108 Kemper Arena 7–11
19 November 27, 1977 @ New Orleans L 106–115 Louisiana Superdome 7–12
20 November 30, 1977 Seattle L 84–86 Kemper Arena 7–13
December: 6–8 (home: 6–3; road: 0–5)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
21 December 2, 1977 Detroit W 108–97 Kemper Arena 8–13
22 December 3, 1977 New Jersey
(at Omaha, Nebraska) 		W 118–115 (OT) Omaha Civic Auditorium 9–13
23 December 6, 1977 Phoenix L 92–103 Kemper Arena 9–14
24 December 7, 1977 @ Boston L 109–113 Boston Garden 9–15
25 December 9, 1977 @ New Jersey L 114–122 Rutgers Athletic Center 9–16
26 December 10, 1977 Golden State L 92–97 (OT) Kemper Arena 9–17
27 December 14, 1977 Denver W 124–98 Kemper Arena 10–17
28 December 17, 1977 New Orleans
(at Omaha, Nebraska) 		W 115–93 Omaha Civic Auditorium 12–16
29 December 18, 1977 Indiana W 115–114 Kemper Arena 12–17
30 December 22, 1977 Chicago W 113–110 Kemper Arena 13–17
31 December 25, 1977 Milwaukee L 122–131 Kemper Arena 13–18
32 December 26, 1977 @ Houston L 99–113 The Summit 13–19
33 December 29, 1977 @ Phoenix L 104–110 Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 13–20
34 December 30, 1977 @ Los Angeles L 109–119 The Forum 13–21
January: 3–10 (home: 2–5; road: 1–5)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
35 January 1, 1978 @ Portland L 102–107 Memorial Coliseum 13–22
36 January 4, 1978 @ Seattle L 110–116 Seattle Center Coliseum 13–23
37 January 7, 1978 New York L 93–100 Kemper Arena 13–24
38 January 8, 1978 @ Milwaukee L 123–133 MECCA Arena 13–25
39 January 10, 1978
7:05 p.m. CST 		@ Washington L 115–123 Capital Centre
7,700 		13–26
40 January 11, 1978 Los Angeles W 102–94 Kemper Arena 14–26
41 January 13, 1978 @ Indiana L 106–108 Market Square Arena 14–27
42 January 14, 1978 Atlanta W 110–101 Kemper Arena 15–27
43 January 17, 1978 @ Atlanta L 90–111 The Omni 15–28
44 January 18, 1978 Philadelphia L 106–126 Kemper Arena 15–29
45 January 22, 1978 @ New Jersey W 105–97 Rutgers Athletic Center 16–29
46 January 24, 1978 Portland L 97–120 Kemper Arena 16–30
47 January 26, 1978 @ New York L 105–112 Madison Square Garden 16–31
48 January 27, 1978 @ New Orleans L 117–134 Louisiana Superdome 16–32
49 January 29, 1978 San Antonio L 113–127 Kemper Arena 16–33
50 January 31, 1978 Phoenix
(at Omaha, Nebraska) 		L 102–112 Omaha Civic Auditorium 16–34
February: 8–4 (home: 6–2; road: 2–2)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
51 February 2, 1978 Detroit W 113–101 Kemper Arena 17–34
All-Star Break
52 February 8, 1978 Boston W 104–100 Kemper Arena 18–34
53 February 10, 1978 Chicago W 106–93 Kemper Arena 19–34
54 February 11, 1978 @ Chicago W 95–90 Chicago Stadium 20–34
55 February 12, 1978 Cleveland W 101–88 Kemper Arena 21–34
56 February 14, 1978 Houston W 125–102 Kemper Arena 22–34
57 February 17, 1978 @ Buffalo W 108–100 Buffalo Memorial Auditorium 23–34
58 February 18, 1978 @ Cleveland L 101–105 Richfield Coliseum 23–35
59 February 19, 1978 @ Detroit L 107–110 Cobo Arena 23–36
60 February 22, 1978 Los Angeles W 127–122 (OT) Kemper Arena 24–36
61 February 24, 1978 Portland L 96–107 Kemper Arena 24–37
62 February 28, 1978 Seattle
(at Omaha, Nebraska) 		L 107–114 (OT) Omaha Civic Auditorium 24–38
March: 7–8 (home: 4–3; road: 3–5)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
63 March 4, 1978 @ Denver L 114–123 McNichols Sports Arena 24–39
64 March 6, 1978 Indiana W 98–88 Kemper Arena 25–39
65 March 8, 1978 New Jersey L 121–123 Kemper Arena 25–40
66 March 10, 1978 Denver W 126–120 Kemper Arena 26–40
67 March 12, 1978 Golden State L 106–113 Kemper Arena 26–41
68 March 17, 1978 @ Philadelphia L 112–123 The Spectrum 26–42
69 March 18, 1978 @ Boston L 110–117 Boston Garden 26–43
70 March 19, 1978 Buffalo W 122–108 Kemper Arena 27–43
71 March 21, 1978 @ Detroit W 116–111 Cobo Arena 28–43
72 March 22, 1978 Philadelphia W 120–108 Kemper Arena 29–43
73 March 24, 1978 @ Houston L 103–107 The Summit 29–44
74 March 25, 1978 San Antonio
(at Omaha, Nebraska) 		L 130–132 Omaha Civic Auditorium 29–45
75 March 28, 1978 @ Chicago W 128–105 Chicago Stadium 30–45
76 March 29, 1978
7:05 p.m. CST 		@ Washington W 108–105 (OT) Capital Centre
6,717 		31–45
77 March 31, 1978 @ Phoenix L 112–136 Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 31–46
April: 0–5 (home: 0–2; road: 0–3)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
78 April 2, 1978 @ Los Angeles L 127–133 The Forum 31–47
79 April 4, 1978 @ Golden State L 119–130 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 31–48
80 April 6, 1978 @ San Antonio L 116–123 HemisFair Arena 31–49
81 April 7, 1978 New York L 112–125 Kemper Arena 31–50
82 April 9, 1978 Cleveland L 117–120 Kemper Arena 31–51
1977–78 schedule

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Kings troubled despite changes". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). Associated Press. December 2, 1977. p. 5C.
  2. ^ "Kings win in overtime". Lawrence Journal-World. (Kansas). Associated Press. December 5, 1977. p. 20.
  3. ^ "Gervin gets point mark". Lawrence Journal-World. (Kansas). Associated Press. March 27, 1978. p. 17.
  4. ^ "Kansas City Kings – Sports Ecyclopedia".
  5. ^ "1977 NBA draft".
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