1978–79 San Diego Clippers season

1978–79 San Diego Clippers season
Head coach	Gene Shue
Arena	San Diego Sports Arena
Results
Record	43–39 (.524)
Place	Division: 5th (Pacific) Conference: 6th (Western)
Playoff finish	DNQ
Stats @ Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
Television	XETV
Radio	KGB

The 1978-79 NBA season was the 9th season of the team formerly known as the Buffalo Braves in the NBA.^[1] They had moved from Buffalo, New York to San Diego, California and have rechristened themselves as the San Diego Clippers.

Draft picks

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	School/Club Team
2	41	Jerome Whitehead	C/PF	United States	Marquette
3	48	Mike Santos		United States	Utah State
3	51	Ricky Gallon		United States	Louisville
3	65	Marvin Dalph		United States	Arkansas
4	68	Jim Boylan		United States	Marquette
4	73	Larry Harris		United States	Pittsburgh
4	76	Leroy McDonald		United States	Wake Forest
5	90	David Thompson		United States	Florida State
6	112	Bob Miscevicious		United States	Providence
7	133	Stan Pietkiewicz	SG/SF	United States	Auburn
8	154	Felton Young		United States	Jacksonville
9	172	Bobby White		United States	Centenary (LA)

Roster

San Diego Clippers 1978-79 roster
Players	Coaches
Pos. # Nat. Name Ht. Wt. From F 32 Bigelow, Bob 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 215 lb (98 kg) Pennsylvania G 24 Free, World B. 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 185 lb (84 kg) Guilford College C 44 Kunnert, Kevin 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 231 lb (105 kg) Iowa C 45 Lloyd, Scott 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 230 lb (104 kg) Arizona State C 31 Nater, Swen 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 240 lb (109 kg) UCLA G 11 Norman, Connie 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 176 lb (80 kg) Arizona F 40 Olive, John 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 210 lb (95 kg) Villanova F 22 Pietkiewicz, Stan 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 200 lb (91 kg) Auburn G 9 Smith, Randy 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 185 lb (84 kg) Buffalo State G 14 Taylor, Brian 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 185 lb (84 kg) Princeton F 42 Washington, Kermit 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 230 lb (104 kg) American University F 12 Weatherspoon, Nick 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 197 lb (89 kg) Illinois C 33 Whitehead, Jerome 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 225 lb (102 kg) Marquette F 21 Wicks, Sidney 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 225 lb (102 kg) UCLA G 20 Williams, Freeman 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 185 lb (84 kg) Portland State	Head coach Gene Shue Legend (C) Team captain (DP) Unsigned draft pick (FA) Free agent (S) Suspended Injured

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Roster Notes

• This is Kevin Kunnert's second tour of duty with the franchise. He previously played for the Buffalo Braves back in 1973-1974.

Regular season

Season standings

Pacific Division	W	L	PCT	GB	Home	Road	Div
y-Seattle SuperSonics	52	30	.634	–	31-10	21-20	11–9
x-Phoenix Suns	50	32	.610	2	32–9	18–23	11–9
x-Los Angeles Lakers	47	35	.573	5	31–10	16–25	11–9
x-Portland Trail Blazers	45	37	.549	7	33–8	12–29	8–12
San Diego Clippers	43	39	.524	9	29–12	14–27	11–9
Golden State Warriors	38	44	.463	14	23–18	15–26	8–12

#	Western Conference
	Team	W	L	PCT	GB
1	z-Seattle SuperSonics	52	30	.634	–
2	y-Kansas City Kings	48	34	.585	4
3	x-Phoenix Suns	50	32	.610	2
4	x-Denver Nuggets	47	35	.573	5
5	x-Los Angeles Lakers	47	35	.573	5
6	x-Portland Trail Blazers	45	37	.549	7
7	San Diego Clippers	43	39	.524	9
8	Indiana Pacers	38	44	.463	14
8	Milwaukee Bucks	38	44	.463	14
8	Golden State Warriors	38	44	.463	14
11	Chicago Bulls	31	51	.378	21

Notes

• z, y – division champions
• x – clinched playoff spot

Player statistics

Legend
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

Awards and records

• Lloyd Free, All-NBA Second Team

Transactions

The Clippers were involved in the following transactions during the 1978–79 season.

Trades

August 4, 1978	To Los Angeles Clippers Kermit Washington, Kevin Kunnert, Sidney Wicks & draft rights to Freeman Williams	To Boston Celtics Nate Archibald, Marvin Barnes, Billy Knight & future draft choices.
October 12, 1978	To Los Angeles Clippers Lloyd Free	To Philadelphia 76ers 1984 first-round draft pick
October 26, 1978	To Los Angeles Clippers Future draft choice	To Chicago Bulls Scott Lloyd
February 15, 1979	To Los Angeles Clippers Signing of Brian Taylor as a veteran free agent	To Denver Nuggets Two 1979 second-round draft picks as compensation (This was actually received on June 14, 1979)

Free agents

Additions Player Signed Former team

Subtractions Player Left New team

References

1. 1978-79 San Diego Clippers