1977–78_Milwaukee_Bucks_season
1977–78 Milwaukee Bucks season
NBA professional basketball team season
The 1977–78 NBA season was the Bucks' tenth season in the NBA.[1] The Bucks had drafted Marques Johnson from UCLA in the 1977 NBA draft.
Quick Facts Milwaukee Bucks season, Head coach ...
| 1977–78 Milwaukee Bucks season | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Head coach | Don Nelson | ||
| Arena | MECCA Arena | ||
| Results | |||
| Record | 44–38 (.537) | ||
| Place | Division: 2nd (Midwest) Conference: 6th (Western) | ||
| Playoff finish | West Conference semifinals (lost to Nuggets 3–4) | ||
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com | |||
| Local media | |||
| Television | WVTV | ||
| Radio | WTMJ | ||
| |||
Close
Main article: 1977 NBA draft
More information Round, Pick ...
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | College |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Kent Benson | C |  United States | Indiana |
| 1 | 3 | Marques Johnson | SF | United States | UCLA |
| 1 | 11 | Ernie Grunfeld | SG/SF |  Romania United States | Tennessee |
| 2 | 27 | Glen Williams | United States | St. John's | |
| 3 | 47 | Gary Yoder | SG | United States | Cincinnati |
| 4 | 69 | Lewis Brown | C | United States | Nevada-Las Vegas |
| 5 | 91 | Ron Norwood | United States | DePaul | |
| 6 | 113 | Chuck Goodyear | United States | Miami | |
| 7 | 134 | Ron Bostic | United States | Detroit Mercy | |
| 8 | 154 | Larry Pikes | United States | Wisconsin-Milwaukee |
Close
More information Players, Coaches ...
| Players | Coaches | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Close
Season standings
More information W, L ...
| 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 |
Close
More information #, Team ...
| # | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
Close
- z – clinched division title
- y – clinched division title
- x – clinched playoff spot
Record vs. opponents
More information Team, ATL ...
| 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 | — |
Close
Game log
More information 1977–78 game log Total: 44–38 (home: 6–1; road: 0–2), Game ...
| 1977–78 game log Total: 44–38 (home: 6–1; road: 0–2) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
October: 3–2 (home: 3–0; road: 0–2)
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
November: 2–3 (home: 2–2; road: 0–1)
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
December: 1–0 (home: 1–0; road: 0–0)
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
January: 2–0 (home: 2–0; road: 0–0)
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
February: 1–0 (home: 1–0; road: 0–0)
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
March: 0–0 (home: 0–0; road: 0–0)
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
April: 0–0 (home: 0–0; road: 0–0)
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1977–78 schedule | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Close
More information 1978 playoff game log, Game ...
Close
| 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 |
Season
More information Player, GP ...
| Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3FG% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brian Winters | 80 | 34.4 | 46.3 | 84.0 | 3.1 | 4.9 | 1.6 | 0.3 | 19.9 | ||
| Marques Johnson | 80 | 34.6 | 52.2 | 73.6 | 10.6 | 2.4 | 1.2 | 1.3 | 19.5 | ||
| Dave Meyers | 80 | 30.2 | 46.1 | 72.2 | 6.7 | 3.0 | 1.1 | 0.6 | 14.7 | ||
| Junior Bridgeman | 82 | 22.9 | 50.3 | 81.0 | 3.5 | 2.1 | 0.9 | 0.4 | 13.6 | ||
| Alex English | 82 | 18.9 | 54.2 | 72.7 | 4.8 | 1.6 | 0.5 | 0.7 | 9.6 | ||
| Quinn Buckner | 82 | 25.3 | 46.8 | 64.5 | 3.0 | 5.6 | 2.3 | 0.2 | 9.3 | ||
| John Gianelli | 82 | 28.4 | 48.8 | 64.2 | 6.2 | 2.3 | 0.7 | 1.1 | 8.5 | ||
| Kent Benson | 69 | 18.7 | 46.5 | 65.2 | 4.3 | 1.4 | 1.0 | 0.8 | 7.7 | ||
| Ernie Grunfeld | 73 | 17.3 | 44.3 | 65.7 | 2.7 | 2.0 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 6.9 | ||
| Lloyd Walton | 76 | 16.6 | 44.8 | 65.1 | 1.0 | 3.3 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 4.8 | ||
| Kevin Restani | 8 | 10.5 | 46.4 | 0.0 | 1.8 | 1.1 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 3.3 | ||
| Jim Eakins | 17 | 9.1 | 41.2 | 80.8 | 1.7 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 2.9 | ||
| Rich Laurel | 10 | 5.7 | 32.3 | 100.0 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 2.4 | ||
| Scott Lloyd | 14 | 8.0 | 36.4 | 60.0 | 1.9 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 2.1 |
Close
Playoffs
More information Player, GP ...
| Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3FG% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marques Johnson | 9 | 35.7 | 54.9 | 75.0 | 12.4 | 3.4 | 1.1 | 1.9 | 24.0 | ||
| Brian Winters | 9 | 33.9 | 49.7 | 74.1 | 3.3 | 6.4 | 1.3 | 0.9 | 20.4 | ||
| Alex English | 9 | 23.1 | 61.5 | 78.1 | 4.7 | 1.4 | 0.7 | 0.8 | 13.4 | ||
| Dave Meyers | 9 | 31.0 | 44.4 | 66.7 | 8.2 | 3.9 | 0.8 | 1.2 | 12.9 | ||
| Quinn Buckner | 9 | 28.6 | 50.0 | 65.2 | 3.0 | 6.9 | 2.0 | 0.1 | 11.2 | ||
| Junior Bridgeman | 9 | 19.8 | 48.4 | 75.0 | 2.0 | 1.2 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 10.4 | ||
| John Gianelli | 9 | 32.2 | 42.4 | 76.9 | 6.4 | 1.6 | 0.9 | 1.2 | 7.8 | ||
| Ernie Grunfeld | 7 | 11.0 | 53.1 | 80.0 | 1.6 | 2.4 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 5.4 | ||
| Lloyd Walton | 9 | 13.8 | 48.6 | 61.5 | 0.4 | 4.1 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 4.7 | ||
| Kent Benson | 9 | 11.4 | 47.8 | 54.5 | 1.7 | 0.3 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 3.1 | ||
| Jim Eakins | 3 | 6.0 | 20.0 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.7 |
Close
- Quinn Buckner, NBA All-Defensive Second Team
- Marques Johnson, NBA All-Rookie Team 1st Team
- On Friday, November 25, 1977, the day after Thanksgiving, and on the road, the Bucks overcame the largest 4th quarter deficit in NBA history, defeating the Atlanta Hawks after being down by 29 points with only 8:43 left in the game. Atlanta led 111–82 before Milwaukee went on a 35–4 run to win 117–115 in regulation. This record was set without the use of the three-point field goal, since its NBA inception was not until the 1979–80 season.
Trades
| June 7, 1977 |
To Milwaukee Bucks----
|
To Buffalo Braves----
|
| September 2, 1977 |
To Milwaukee Bucks---- | To Buffalo Braves----
|
Free agents
| Player | Signed | Former team |
| Jim Eakins | January 13, 1978 | San Antonio Spurs |
- "1977-78 Milwaukee Bucks Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved June 5, 2021.