The 1977–78 NBA season was the Braves' eighth and final season in the NBA. Entering the season, the Braves were allowed an escape clause in their lease, because season ticket sales did not reach the set goal of 4,500. The Braves suffered another disappointment as Tiny Archibald (whom they acquired from the New Jersey Nets for George Johnson ) was lost for the year due to an Achilles tendon injury in the preseason.[ 1] [ 2]
The Braves played competitively in November with a respectable .500 record at 10–10. Despite the promising start, the Braves won just nine games over the next three months.[ 1] John Y. Brown was brokering a deal to take over the legendary Boston Celtics franchise. Celtics owner Irv Levin wanted to move the historic franchise to California . However, the NBA would not allow him to take the cornerstone franchise out of Boston .[ 1]
NBA Lawyer David Stern offered a comprise in which Levin and Brown would swap franchises. The concept was that Levin would take over the Braves and move them to San Diego .[ 3] [ 1] San Diego Clippers for the 1978–79 season.[ 1]
The deal also included a seven-player trade in which the Celtics acquired Archibald, Billy Knight , and Marvin Barnes .[ 1] Freeman Williams , back-up center Kevin Kunnert , and power forwards Kermit Washington and Sidney Wicks .[ 3] Larry Bird in 1979 .
Buffalo Braves 1977–78 roster
Players Coaches
Pos.
#
Name
Ht.
Wt.
From
G 1
Archibald, Nate 165 lb (75 kg)
UTEP
G 15
Averitt, Bird
175 lb (79 kg)
Pepperdine
F 8
Barnes, Marvin
225 lb (102 kg)
Providence
G 7
Brokaw, Gary
180 lb (82 kg)
Notre Dame
F 22
Gerard, Gus (to DET)
205 lb (93 kg)
Virginia
G 14
Glenn, Mike
175 lb (79 kg)
Southern Illinois
G 10
Johnson, Larry
205 lb (93 kg)
Kentucky
F 24
Jones, Wil
205 lb (93 kg)
Albany State
G 25
Knight, Billy
195 lb (88 kg)
Pittsburgh
C 45
Lloyd, Scott
230 lb (104 kg)
Arizona State
G 12
McClain, Ted
190 lb (86 kg)
Tennessee State
C 44
McDaniels, Jim
240 lb (109 kg)
Western Kentucky
F 43
McNeil, Larry
195 lb (88 kg)
Marquette
C 31
Nater, Swen
240 lb (109 kg)
UCLA
F 40
Owens, Eddie
210 lb (95 kg)
UNLV
F 34
Shumate, John
235 lb (107 kg)
Notre Dame
G 9
Smith, Randy
185 lb (84 kg)
Buffalo State
G 11
Williams, Chuck
185 lb (84 kg)
Colorado
F 32
Willoughby, Bill
205 lb (93 kg)
Dwight Morrow HS (NJ)
Head coach Legend (DP) Unsigned draft pick(FA) Free agent(S) Suspended
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
—
Legend
GP
Games played
MPG
Minutes per game
FG
Field-goals per game
FGA
Field-goals attempted per Game
FG%
Field-goal percentage
FT
Free-throws per game
FTA
Free-throws attempted per Game
FT%
Free-throw percentage
ORPG
Offensive rebounds per game
DRPG
Defensive rebounds per game
RPG
Rebounds per game
APG
Assists per game
SPG
Steals per game
BPG
Blocks per game
PFPG
Personal fouls per game
PPG
Points per game
Player
GP
MPG
FG
FGA
FG%
FT
FTA
FT%
ORPG
DRPG
RPG
APG
SPG
BPG
PFPG
PPG
Billy Knight 53
40.7
8.6
17.5
0.494
5.7
7.0
0.809
2.4
4.8
7.2
3.0
1.5
0.2
2.6
22.9
Randy Smith 82
40.4
9.6
20.7
0.465
5.4
6.8
0.800
1.3
2.4
3.8
5.6
2.1
0.1
2.7
24.6
Swen Nater 78
35.6
6.4
12.7
0.504
2.7
3.5
0.765
3.6
9.6
13.2
2.8
0.5
0.6
3.5
15.5
John Shumate 18
32.8
4.2
8.4
0.497
4.1
5.5
0.747
1.8
5.3
7.1
3.2
0.8
0.5
3.2
12.4
Marvin Barnes 48
28.7
4.7
11.3
0.416
2.4
3.2
0.745
2.2
5.0
7.3
2.4
1.2
1.5
4.1
11.8
Chuck Williams 73
27.4
2.8
6.0
0.477
1.6
1.9
0.826
0.4
1.5
1.9
4.3
0.7
0.1
1.9
7.3
Larry McNeill 37
23.6
4.2
9.1
0.462
3.5
4.2
0.833
2.1
3.0
5.1
1.2
0.5
0.3
2.7
11.9
Wil Jones 79
21.7
2.9
6.5
0.440
1.1
1.5
0.706
1.3
2.9
4.2
1.5
0.9
0.5
3.2
6.8
Bird Averitt 34
19.9
3.8
8.7
0.436
1.9
2.8
0.667
0.3
1.2
1.5
3.8
0.6
0.2
2.5
9.5
Bill Willoughby 56
19.3
2.8
6.5
0.430
1.1
1.4
0.800
1.4
2.6
3.9
0.7
0.4
0.8
2.3
6.7
Ted McClain 41
17.7
2.0
4.5
0.440
1.2
1.5
0.794
0.3
1.6
1.8
3.0
1.0
0.0
2.1
5.2
Mike Glenn 56
16.9
3.5
6.6
0.527
0.9
1.2
0.785
0.3
1.2
1.4
1.4
0.6
0.1
1.8
7.9
Jim McDaniels 42
16.5
2.4
5.6
0.427
0.9
1.0
0.857
1.1
3.2
4.3
1.0
0.1
0.9
2.7
5.6
Scott Lloyd 56
10.1
1.2
2.9
0.425
0.8
1.0
0.741
0.8
1.3
2.1
0.6
0.2
0.2
1.5
3.2
Gary Brokaw 13
10.0
1.4
3.3
0.419
1.4
1.8
0.750
0.2
0.7
0.9
1.5
0.2
0.4
0.8
4.2
Larry Johnson 4
9.5
0.8
3.3
0.231
0.0
0.5
0.000
0.3
1.0
1.3
1.8
1.3
0.5
0.8
1.5
Gus Gerard 10
8.5
1.6
4.0
0.400
1.1
1.5
0.733
0.6
0.8
1.4
0.9
0.2
0.3
1.3
4.3
Eddie Owens 8
7.9
1.1
2.6
0.429
0.4
0.8
0.500
0.6
0.6
1.3
0.6
0.1
0.0
0.4
1.1
The Braves were involved in the following transactions during the 1977–78 season.
June 7, 1977
To Buffalo Braves
To Milwaukee Bucks The 3rd pick in the 1977 NBA Draft
June 10, 1977
To Buffalo Braves A 1977 2nd round draft pick
To Chicago Bulls The 13th pick in the 1977 NBA Draft
June 10, 1977
To Buffalo Braves
To Los Angeles Lakers A 1977 3rd round draft pick
August 5, 1977
To Buffalo Braves A 1978 3rd round draft pick as compensation
To Detroit Pistons The right to sign Don Adams as a veteran free agent
September 1, 1977
To Buffalo Braves
To New Jersey Nets George Johnson , a 1978 1st round draft pick & a 1979 1st round draft pick.
September 1, 1977
To Buffalo Braves
To New Jersey Nets A future 4th round draft pick as compensation
September 1, 1977
To Buffalo Braves
To Indiana Pacers
September 2, 1977
To Buffalo Braves A 1979 1st round draft pick
To Milwaukee Bucks
September 7, 1977
To Buffalo Braves
To Los Angeles Lakers
September 13, 1977
To Buffalo Braves
To Atlanta Hawks A 1978 2nd round draft pick
October 3, 1977
To Buffalo Braves The right to sign Wil Jones as a veteran free agent
To Indiana Pacers A 1980 2nd round draft pick as compensation
October 6, 1977
To Buffalo Braves
To Denver Nuggets A 1978 3rd round draft pick as compensation
October 17, 1977
To Buffalo Braves
To Cleveland Cavaliers
October 18, 1977
To Buffalo Braves A 1978 3rd round draft pick
To Indiana Pacers
November 23, 1977
To Buffalo Braves
To Detroit Pistons
January 31, 1978
To Buffalo Braves A 1978 3rd round draft pick
To Philadelphia 76ers
United States