You Are Here > Basketball-Reference.com > Leagues > 1976-77 NBA

1976-77 NBA Season Summary

Previous Season / Next Season

Season Summary / Expanded Leaders / Player Statistics / Uniform Numbers / Debuts / Final Season / Game Results

League Standings

Playoff teams are marked with an asterisk (*) / Click column headers to sort
Eastern Conference W L W-L% GB PS/G PA/G W Pyth L Pyth SRS
Atlantic Division         
Philadelphia 76ers* 50 32 .610 — 110.2 106.2 51 31 3.78
Boston Celtics* 44 38 .537 6.0 104.5 106.5 36 46 -1.90
New York Knickerbockers 40 42 .488 10.0 108.6 108.6 41 41 0.02
Buffalo Braves 30 52 .366 20.0 105.0 109.5 29 53 -4.28
New York Nets 22 60 .268 28.0 95.9 102.7 23 59 -6.54
Central Division         
Houston Rockets* 49 33 .598 — 106.4 104.8 45 37 1.44
Washington Bullets* 48 34 .585 1.0 105.5 104.5 44 38 0.90
San Antonio Spurs* 44 38 .537 5.0 115.0 114.4 43 39 0.54
Cleveland Cavaliers* 43 39 .524 6.0 102.1 101.0 44 38 1.08
New Orleans Jazz 35 47 .427 14.0 104.6 107.4 33 49 -2.68
Atlanta Hawks 31 51 .378 18.0 102.4 106.4 30 52 -3.87
Western Conference W L W-L% GB PS/G PA/G W Pyth L Pyth SRS
Midwest Division         
Denver Nuggets* 50 32 .610 — 112.6 107.4 54 28 4.95
Chicago Bulls* 44 38 .537 6.0 98.9 98.0 44 38 0.93
Detroit Pistons* 44 38 .537 6.0 109.4 110.4 38 44 -1.00
Kansas City Kings 40 42 .488 10.0 107.7 106.8 43 39 0.93
Indiana Pacers 36 46 .439 14.0 106.8 108.6 36 46 -1.68
Milwaukee Bucks 30 52 .366 20.0 108.4 111.5 33 49 -2.99
Pacific Division         
Los Angeles Lakers* 53 29 .646 — 106.9 104.1 48 34 2.65
Portland Trail Blazers* 49 33 .598 4.0 111.7 106.2 55 27 5.39
Golden State Warriors* 46 36 .561 7.0 110.9 107.7 49 33 3.10
Seattle Supersonics 40 42 .488 13.0 104.0 105.5 37 45 -1.43
Phoenix Suns 34 48 .415 19.0 104.9 104.2 43 39 0.64

League Playoffs

Finals (4-2): Portland Trail Blazers over Philadelphia 76ers
 
Eastern Conference Finals (4-2): Philadelphia 76ers over Houston Rockets
 
Western Conference Finals (4-0): Portland Trail Blazers over Los Angeles Lakers
 
Eastern Conference Semifinals (4-2): Houston Rockets over Washington Bullets
Eastern Conference Semifinals (4-3): Philadelphia 76ers over Boston Celtics
 
Western Conference Semifinals (4-3): Los Angeles Lakers over Golden State Warriors
Western Conference Semifinals (4-2): Portland Trail Blazers over Denver Nuggets
 
Eastern Conference First Round (2-0): Boston Celtics over San Antonio Spurs
Eastern Conference First Round (2-1): Washington Bullets over Cleveland Cavaliers
 
Western Conference First Round (2-1): Golden State Warriors over Detroit Pistons
Western Conference First Round (2-1): Portland Trail Blazers over Chicago Bulls

Team Statistics

Glossary / Playoff teams are marked with an asterisk (*) / CSV / PRE / Click column headers to sort
Rk Team G MP FG FGA FG% 3P 3PA 3P% FT FTA FT% ORB DRB TRB AST STL BLK TOV PF PTS PTS/G
1 San Antonio Spurs* 82 19755 3711 7657 .485 2010 2522 .797 1110 2550 3660 2115 857 499 1770 1966 9432 115.0
2 Denver Nuggets* 82 19780 3590 7471 .481 2053 2783 .738 1288 2700 3988 2262 953 471 2011 2142 9233 112.6
3 Portland Trail Blazers* 82 19730 3623 7537 .481 1917 2515 .762 1260 2703 3963 1990 868 492 1757 2220 9163 111.7
4 Golden State Warriors* 82 19780 3724 7832 .475 1649 2172 .759 1300 2639 3939 2120 904 432 1624 2058 9097 110.9
5 Philadelphia 76ers* 82 19780 3511 7322 .480 2012 2732 .736 1293 2752 4045 1966 814 561 1915 2074 9034 110.2
6 Detroit Pistons* 82 19730 3764 7792 .483 1442 1960 .736 1169 2495 3664 2004 877 459 1718 2200 8970 109.4
7 New York Knickerbockers 82 19755 3659 7530 .486 1587 2078 .764 974 2680 3654 1956 714 304 1680 2007 8905 108.6
8 Milwaukee Bucks 82 19705 3668 7840 .468 1553 2072 .750 1220 2519 3739 1970 790 342 1648 2094 8889 108.4
9 Kansas City Kings 82 19830 3561 7733 .460 1706 2140 .797 1222 2593 3815 1982 849 386 1576 2173 8828 107.7
10 Los Angeles Lakers* 82 19805 3663 7657 .478 1437 1941 .740 1177 2628 3805 2057 801 445 1538 1867 8763 106.9
11 Indiana Pacers 82 19755 3522 7840 .449 1714 2297 .746 1409 2584 3993 2009 924 458 1609 2030 8758 106.8
12 Houston Rockets* 82 19780 3535 7325 .483 1656 2103 .787 1254 2632 3886 1913 616 411 1600 2132 8726 106.4
13 Washington Bullets* 82 19730 3514 7479 .470 1622 2264 .716 1185 2758 3943 1935 642 433 1677 1940 8650 105.5
14 Buffalo Braves 82 19730 3366 7475 .450 1880 2492 .754 1213 2623 3836 1883 683 392 1699 1842 8612 105.0
15 Phoenix Suns 82 19730 3406 7249 .470 1791 2345 .764 1059 2493 3552 2100 750 346 1830 2089 8603 104.9
16 New Orleans Jazz 82 19780 3443 7602 .453 1688 2183 .773 1249 2828 4077 1854 613 357 1706 2099 8574 104.6
17 Boston Celtics* 82 19830 3462 7775 .445 1648 2181 .756 1241 2966 4207 2010 506 263 1673 2039 8572 104.5
18 Seattle Supersonics 82 19805 3439 7639 .450 1646 2386 .690 1355 2433 3788 1772 932 503 1759 2198 8524 104.0
19 Atlanta Hawks 82 19705 3279 7176 .457 1836 2451 .749 1244 2512 3756 1882 733 330 1779 2302 8394 102.4
20 Cleveland Cavaliers* 82 19780 3451 7688 .449 1468 1993 .737 1312 2563 3875 1845 579 472 1356 1951 8370 102.1
21 Chicago Bulls* 82 19805 3249 7186 .452 1613 2159 .747 1292 2705 3997 1989 699 364 1552 1871 8111 98.9
22 New York Nets 82 19730 3096 7222 .429 1673 2274 .736 1157 2547 3704 1422 802 435 1630 2178 7865 95.9
League Average 82 19764 3511 7547 .465 1709 2275 .751 1227 2632 3858 1956 768 416 1687 2067 8731 106.5

Opponent Statistics

Glossary / Playoff teams are marked with an asterisk (*) / CSV / PRE / Click column headers to sort
Rk Team G MP FG FGA FG% 3P 3PA 3P% FT FTA FT% ORB DRB TRB AST STL BLK TOV PF PTS PTS/G
1 Chicago Bulls* 82 19805 3306 7095 .466 1425 1907 .747 1055 2559 3614 1917 723 460 1598 2166 8037 98.0
2 Cleveland Cavaliers* 82 19780 3265 7268 .449 1748 2325 .752 1202 2711 3913 1736 660 389 1542 1908 8278 101.0
3 New York Nets 82 19730 3279 7074 .464 1863 2488 .749 1149 2937 4086 1910 778 512 1735 1970 8421 102.7
4 Los Angeles Lakers* 82 19805 3515 7781 .452 1510 1990 .759 1348 2625 3973 1900 763 362 1599 1816 8540 104.1
5 Phoenix Suns 82 19730 3320 7192 .462 1903 2525 .754 1180 2594 3774 1856 897 440 1835 2325 8543 104.2
6 Washington Bullets* 82 19730 3552 7751 .458 1462 1943 .752 1167 2565 3732 1893 815 348 1506 2088 8566 104.5
7 Houston Rockets* 82 19780 3424 7356 .465 1746 2252 .775 1121 2232 3353 1883 547 350 1395 1978 8594 104.8
8 Seattle Supersonics 82 19805 3394 7339 .462 1863 2474 .753 1257 2651 3908 2046 726 476 1905 2104 8651 105.5
9 Portland Trail Blazers* 82 19730 3408 7404 .460 1889 2514 .751 1197 2510 3707 1817 840 478 1765 2242 8705 106.2
10 Philadelphia 76ers* 82 19780 3575 7920 .451 1561 2074 .753 1416 2448 3864 2012 823 371 1769 2232 8711 106.2
11 Atlanta Hawks 82 19705 3409 7137 .478 1909 2527 .755 1121 2533 3654 2020 803 442 1692 2174 8727 106.4
12 Boston Celtics* 82 19830 3559 7904 .450 1616 2180 .741 1110 2753 3863 1918 699 349 1369 1954 8734 106.5
13 Kansas City Kings 82 19830 3422 7244 .472 1912 2513 .761 1097 2739 3836 1744 722 392 1755 2030 8756 106.8
14 New Orleans Jazz 82 19780 3486 7712 .452 1833 2448 .749 1318 2781 4099 1748 835 361 1615 2125 8805 107.4
15 Denver Nuggets* 82 19780 3585 7743 .463 1635 2231 .733 1269 2481 3750 2082 941 470 1944 2285 8805 107.4
16 Golden State Warriors* 82 19780 3567 7584 .470 1699 2282 .745 1256 2640 3896 2114 757 420 1778 1939 8833 107.7
17 Indiana Pacers 82 19755 3599 7629 .472 1705 2252 .757 1378 2770 4148 2097 715 466 1792 2043 8903 108.6
18 New York Knickerbockers 82 19755 3577 7610 .470 1752 2327 .753 1163 2716 3879 1847 793 412 1612 2008 8906 108.6
19 Buffalo Braves 82 19730 3786 7917 .478 1404 1859 .755 1268 2721 3989 2192 729 446 1607 2129 8976 109.5
20 Detroit Pistons* 82 19730 3561 7539 .472 1933 2543 .760 1317 2637 3954 1952 793 381 1828 1827 9055 110.4
21 Milwaukee Bucks 82 19705 3712 7753 .479 1721 2330 .739 1265 2613 3878 2193 736 410 1644 1940 9145 111.5
22 San Antonio Spurs* 82 19755 3935 8075 .487 1512 2059 .734 1329 2687 4016 2159 811 420 1822 2189 9382 114.4
League Average 82 19764 3511 7547 .465 1709 2275 .751 1227 2632 3858 1956 768 416 1687 2067 8731 106.5

Miscellaneous Statistics

Glossary / Playoff teams are marked with an asterisk (*) / CSV / PRE / Click column headers to sort
Offense Four Factors Defense Four Factors
Rk Team W Pyth L Pyth SRS ORtg DRtg Pace eFG% TOV% ORB% FT/FGA eFG% TOV% DRB% FT/FGA Arena Attendance
1 Los Angeles Lakers* 48.3 33.7 2.65 101.4 98.9 104.7 .478 .153 .310 .188 .452 .156 .661 .194 The Forum 501,434
2 Philadelphia 76ers* 51.2 30.8 3.78 101.2 97.6 108.3 .480 .183 .346 .275 .451 .167 .660 .197 The Spectrum 632,949
3 Denver Nuggets* 54.1 27.9 4.95 100.7 96.1 111.2 .481 .188 .342 .275 .463 .182 .680 .211 McNichols Sports Arena 703,133
4 Portland Trail Blazers* 55.1 26.9 5.39 103.2 98.0 108.0 .481 .169 .334 .254 .460 .172 .693 .255 Memorial Coliseum 499,302
5 Houston Rockets* 45.4 36.6 1.44 104.5 102.9 101.3 .483 .162 .360 .226 .465 .143 .701 .237 The Summit 347,920
6 Washington Bullets* 43.8 38.2 0.90 99.3 98.4 105.9 .470 .165 .316 .217 .458 .149 .703 .189 Capital Centre 467,745
7 Golden State Warriors* 49.3 32.7 3.10 102.4 99.5 107.8 .475 .156 .330 .211 .470 .172 .678 .224 Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena 479,328
8 Detroit Pistons* 38.3 43.7 -1.00 100.3 101.3 108.8 .483 .166 .307 .185 .472 .174 .655 .256 Cobo Arena 303,792
9 San Antonio Spurs* 42.5 39.5 0.54 102.5 102.0 111.8 .485 .168 .292 .263 .487 .169 .657 .187 HemisFair Arena 376,136
10 Chicago Bulls* 43.6 38.4 0.93 98.3 97.4 100.0 .452 .160 .335 .224 .466 .168 .719 .201 Chicago Stadium 476,636
11 Boston Celtics* 35.7 46.3 -1.90 96.5 98.3 107.5 .445 .161 .311 .212 .450 .134 .728 .204 Boston Garden 517,391
12 Cleveland Cavaliers* 44.2 37.8 1.08 100.0 98.9 101.5 .449 .137 .326 .191 .449 .157 .681 .241 Coliseum at Richfield 570,445
13 Seattle Supersonics 36.8 45.2 -1.43 96.7 98.2 106.8 .450 .168 .338 .215 .462 .184 .659 .254 Seattle Center Coliseum 532,196
14 New York Knickerbockers 41.0 41.0 0.02 100.1 100.1 108.1 .486 .166 .264 .211 .470 .157 .697 .230 Madison Square Garden (IV) 644,811
15 Kansas City Kings 43.3 38.7 0.93 100.5 99.6 106.4 .460 .154 .309 .221 .472 .174 .703 .264 Kemper Arena 330,526
16 Indiana Pacers 36.3 45.7 -1.68 99.3 101.0 107.1 .449 .154 .337 .219 .472 .172 .652 .223 Market Square Arena 432,726
17 New Orleans Jazz 33.5 48.5 -2.68 97.0 99.7 107.2 .453 .166 .310 .222 .452 .155 .682 .238 Louisiana Superdome 444,138
18 Phoenix Suns 43.0 39.0 0.64 98.1 97.5 106.6 .470 .181 .290 .247 .462 .181 .679 .265 Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 411,294
19 Atlanta Hawks 30.1 51.9 -3.87 97.8 101.6 104.6 .457 .177 .329 .256 .478 .170 .691 .267 Omni Coliseum 214,775
20 Buffalo Braves 29.4 52.6 -4.28 97.6 101.8 107.3 .450 .165 .308 .252 .478 .155 .674 .177 Buffalo Memorial Auditorium 319,398
21 Milwaukee Bucks 33.0 49.0 -2.99 100.0 102.9 108.3 .468 .158 .318 .198 .479 .158 .666 .222 MECCA Arena 396,947
22 New York Nets 22.8 59.2 -6.54 92.2 98.7 103.7 .429 .165 .283 .232 .464 .175 .689 .263 Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum 284,259
League Average 41.0 41.0 0.00 99.5 99.5 106.5 .465 .165 .318 .226 .465 .165 .682 .226 449,422

League Awards

Most Valuable Player:Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Rookie of the Year:Adrian Dantley

League Leaders

Glossary / Rate statistic requirements

Minutes Played

1.Elvin Hayes*-WSB3364
2.Jo Jo White-BOS3333
3.Rudy Tomjanovich-HOU3130
4.Billy Knight-IND3117
5.Norm Van Lier-CHI3097

Field Goals

1.Kareem Abdul-Jabbar*-LAL888
2.Pete Maravich*-NOJ886
3.Billy Knight-IND831
4.David Thompson*-DEN824
5.Elvin Hayes*-WSB760

Field Goal Attempts

1.Pete Maravich*-NOJ2047
2.Billy Knight-IND1687
3.David Thompson*-DEN1626
4.Ron Boone-KCK1577
5.Rick Barry*-GSW1551

Field Goal Pct

1.Kareem Abdul-Jabbar*-LAL.579
2.Mitch Kupchak-WSB.572
3.Bobby Jones-DEN.570
4.George Gervin*-SAS.544
5.Bob Lanier*-DET.534

Free Throws

1.Pete Maravich*-NOJ501
2.David Thompson*-DEN477
3.Adrian Dantley*-BUF476
4.Dan Issel*-DEN445
5.George Gervin*-SAS443

Free Throw Attempts

1.David Thompson*-DEN623
2.Elvin Hayes*-WSB614
3.Pete Maravich*-NOJ600
4.Artis Gilmore-CHI586
5.Adrian Dantley*-BUF582

Free Throw Pct

1.Ernie DiGregorio-BUF.945
2.Rick Barry*-GSW.916
3.Calvin Murphy*-HOU.886
4.Mike Newlin-HOU.885
5.Fred Brown-SEA.884

Offensive Rebounds

1.Moses Malone*-TOT437
2.George McGinnis-PHI324
3.Artis Gilmore-CHI313
4.Mickey Johnson-CHI297
5.Elvin Hayes*-WSB289

Defensive Rebounds

1.Kareem Abdul-Jabbar*-LAL824
2.Artis Gilmore-CHI757
3.Elvin Hayes*-WSB740
4.Bob McAdoo*-TOT727
5.Bill Walton*-POR723

Total Rebounds

1.Kareem Abdul-Jabbar*-LAL1090
2.Moses Malone*-TOT1072
3.Artis Gilmore-CHI1070
4.Elvin Hayes*-WSB1029
5.Bill Walton*-POR934

Assists

1.Don Buse-IND685
2.Norm Van Lier-CHI636
3.Slick Watts-SEA630
4.Tom Henderson-TOT598
5.Kevin Porter-DET592

Steals

1.Don Buse-IND281
2.Slick Watts-SEA214
3.Brian Taylor-KCK199
4.Quinn Buckner-MIL192
5.Mike Gale-SAS191

Blocks

1.Kareem Abdul-Jabbar*-LAL261
2.Elvin Hayes*-WSB220
3.Bill Walton*-POR211
4.Artis Gilmore-CHI203
5.Caldwell Jones-PHI200

Personal Fouls

1.Lonnie Shelton-NYK363
2.Kevin Kunnert-HOU361
3.Darnell Hillman-IND353
4.Sidney Wicks-BOS331
5.Joe Meriweather-ATL324
 Richard Washington-KCK324

Points

1.Pete Maravich*-NOJ2273
2.Kareem Abdul-Jabbar*-LAL2152
3.David Thompson*-DEN2125
4.Billy Knight-IND2075
5.Elvin Hayes*-WSB1942

Minutes Per Game

1.Pete Maravich*-NOJ41.7
2.Elvin Hayes*-WSB41.0
3.Jo Jo White-BOS40.6
4.Billy Knight-IND40.0
5.Bob McAdoo*-TOT38.9

Points Per Game

1.Pete Maravich*-NOJ31.1
2.Billy Knight-IND26.6
3.Kareem Abdul-Jabbar*-LAL26.2
4.David Thompson*-DEN25.9
5.Bob McAdoo*-TOT25.8

Rebounds Per Game

1.Bill Walton*-POR14.4
2.Kareem Abdul-Jabbar*-LAL13.3
3.Moses Malone*-TOT13.1
4.Artis Gilmore-CHI13.0
5.Bob McAdoo*-TOT12.9

Assists Per Game

1.Don Buse-IND8.5
2.Slick Watts-SEA8.0
3.Norm Van Lier-CHI7.8
4.Kevin Porter-DET7.3
5.Tom Henderson-TOT6.9

Steals Per Game

1.Don Buse-IND3.5
2.Brian Taylor-KCK2.8
3.Slick Watts-SEA2.7
4.Quinn Buckner-MIL2.4
5.Mike Gale-SAS2.3

Blocks Per Game

1.Bill Walton*-POR3.2
2.Kareem Abdul-Jabbar*-LAL3.2
3.Elvin Hayes*-WSB2.7
4.Artis Gilmore-CHI2.5
5.Caldwell Jones-PHI2.4

Player Efficiency Rating

1.Kareem Abdul-Jabbar*-LAL27.8
2.Bob Lanier*-DET23.0
3.Bill Walton*-POR22.9
4.Bob McAdoo*-TOT21.8
5.Artis Gilmore-CHI21.6

True Shooting Pct

1.Dave Twardzik-POR.689
2.Kareem Abdul-Jabbar*-LAL.608
3.Mitch Kupchak-WSB.605
4.Bobby Jones-DEN.605
5.George Gervin*-SAS.604

Offensive Rebound Pct

1.Moses Malone*-TOT19.8
2.Swen Nater-MIL14.0
3.George McGinnis-PHI12.4
4.Kevin Kunnert-HOU11.6
5.Lonnie Shelton-NYK11.2

Defensive Rebound Pct

1.Bill Walton*-POR32.3
2.Swen Nater-MIL31.8
3.Artis Gilmore-CHI27.7
4.Kareem Abdul-Jabbar*-LAL27.2
5.Moses Malone*-TOT26.7

Total Rebound Pct

1.Moses Malone*-TOT23.4
2.Swen Nater-MIL22.8
3.Bill Walton*-POR21.2
4.Artis Gilmore-CHI19.4
5.Kareem Abdul-Jabbar*-LAL18.4

Assist Pct

1.Kevin Porter-DET34.6
2.Slick Watts-SEA34.0
3.Armond Hill-ATL30.0
4.Tom Henderson-TOT29.7
5.Paul Westphal-PHO29.4

Steal Pct

1.Don Buse-IND4.3
2.Quinn Buckner-MIL4.1
3.Ron Lee-PHO3.8
4.Fatty Taylor-DEN3.7
5.Slick Watts-SEA3.7

Block Pct

1.George Johnson-TOT5.4
2.Elmore Smith-TOT5.2
3.Bill Walton*-POR5.0
4.Caldwell Jones-PHI4.9
5.Marvin Webster-DEN4.7

Defensive Rating

1.Bobby Jones-DEN89.9
2.Bill Walton*-POR91.2
3.Marvin Webster-DEN92.4
4.Kareem Abdul-Jabbar*-LAL92.4
5.Artis Gilmore-CHI92.9

Offensive Win Shares

1.Kareem Abdul-Jabbar*-LAL11.6
2.George Gervin*-SAS9.2
3.Billy Knight-IND8.9
4.Adrian Dantley*-BUF8.5
5.Rudy Tomjanovich-HOU8.3

Defensive Win Shares

1.Kareem Abdul-Jabbar*-LAL5.8
2.Bobby Jones-DEN5.8
3.Elvin Hayes*-WSB5.5
4.Artis Gilmore-CHI5.2
5.George McGinnis-PHI5.0

Win Shares

1.Kareem Abdul-Jabbar*-LAL17.4
2.Elvin Hayes*-WSB12.0
3.Julius Erving*-PHI11.7
4.Dan Issel*-DEN11.4
5.Bobby Jones-DEN11.4
      

All-NBA Teams

1st Team
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Elvin Hayes
Pete Maravich
David Thompson
Paul Westphal
 2nd Team
Julius Erving
George Gervin
George McGinnis
Bill Walton
Jo Jo White

All-Defensive Teams

1st Team
Don Buse
E.C. Coleman
Bobby Jones
Norm Van Lier
Bill Walton
 2nd Team
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Jim Brewer
Don Chaney
Brian Taylor
Jamaal Wilkes

All-Rookie Teams

1st Team
Adrian Dantley
Mitch Kupchak
Ron Lee
John Lucas
Scott May

All-Star Teams

East
Phil Chenier*
Doug Collins*
Dave Cowens
Julius Erving*
George Gervin*
John Havlicek*
Elvin Hayes*
Pete Maravich*
Bob McAdoo*
George McGinnis*
Earl Monroe*
Rudy Tomjanovich*
Jo Jo White*
 West
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar*
Rick Barry*
Don Buse*
Dan Issel*
Bobby Jones*
Billy Knight*
Bob Lanier*
Maurice Lucas*
Phil Smith*
David Thompson*
Norm Van Lier*
Bill Walton
Paul Westphal*
Players who played in the game are marked with an asterisk (*).