1977–78 Kansas City Kings season

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.

1977–78 Kansas City Kings season
Head coach	Phil Johnson, Larry Staverman
Owners	Leon Karosen Robert Margolin H. Paul Rosenberg
Arena	Kemper Arena Omaha Civic Auditorium
Results
Record	31–51 (.378)
Place	Division: 6th (Midwest) Conference: 11th (Western)
Playoff finish	Did not qualify
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
Television	KBMA-TV
Radio	KCMO

Draft picks

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

Roster

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 Larry Staverman Assistant coach(es) Dan Sparks Legend (DP) Unsigned draft pick (FA) Free agent (S) Suspended Injured

Regular season

Season standings

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

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

Regular season

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