1978–79 Kansas City Kings season

The 1978–79 NBA season was the Kings 30th season in the NBA and their seventh season in the city of Kansas City.

Season standings

 * z - clinched division title
 * y - clinched division title
 * x - clinched playoff spot

Regular season

 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 1
 * October 15, 1978
 * @ Seattle
 * L 105–115
 * Kingdome
 * 0–1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 2
 * October 17, 1978
 * @ Portland
 * L 112–115
 * Memorial Coliseum
 * 0–2
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 3
 * October 19, 1978
 * Houston
 * W 108–103
 * Kemper Arena
 * 1–2
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 7
 * October 27, 1978
 * @ Detroit
 * L 102–107
 * Pontiac Silverdome
 * 3–4
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 8
 * October 28, 1978
 * Phoenix
 * W 112–101
 * Kemper Arena
 * 4–4
 * Pontiac Silverdome
 * 3–4
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 8
 * October 28, 1978
 * Phoenix
 * W 112–101
 * Kemper Arena
 * 4–4
 * W 112–101
 * Kemper Arena
 * 4–4
 * Kemper Arena
 * 4–4
 * 4–4


 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 12
 * November 4, 1978
 * Denver
 * W 109–107
 * Kemper Arena
 * 6–6
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 14
 * November 10, 1978
 * @ Los Angeles
 * L 127–136
 * The Forum
 * 7–7
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 15
 * November 11, 1978
 * @ Denver
 * W 117–113
 * McNichols Sports Arena
 * 8–7
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 16
 * November 15, 1978
 * Atlanta
 * W 109–100
 * Kemper Arena
 * 9–7
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 17
 * November 18, 1978
 * New Jersey
 * W 114–100
 * Kemper Arena
 * 10–7
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 18
 * November 22, 1978
 * Portland
 * W 115–96
 * Kemper Arena
 * 11–7
 * November 18, 1978
 * New Jersey
 * W 114–100
 * Kemper Arena
 * 10–7
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 18
 * November 22, 1978
 * Portland
 * W 115–96
 * Kemper Arena
 * 11–7
 * W 115–96
 * Kemper Arena
 * 11–7
 * Kemper Arena
 * 11–7
 * 11–7


 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 21
 * December 2, 1978
 * @ Washington
 * W 110–109
 * Capital Centre
 * 13–8
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 23
 * December 6, 1978
 * Philadelphia
 * L 106–114
 * Kemper Arena
 * 14–9
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 24
 * December 9, 1978
 * Detroit
 * W 132–108
 * Kemper Arena
 * 15–9
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 25
 * December 13, 1978
 * @ Philadelphia
 * L 100–120
 * The Spectrum
 * 15–10
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 28
 * December 20, 1978
 * Seattle
 * W 114–95
 * Kemper Arena
 * 18–10
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 29
 * December 22, 1978
 * @ Phoenix
 * L 103–123
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
 * 18–11
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 31
 * December 26, 1978
 * Houston
 * L 102–109
 * Kemper Arena
 * 19–12
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 33
 * December 29, 1978
 * @ New Jersey
 * W 137–126
 * Rutgers Athletic Center
 * 20–13
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
 * 18–11
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 31
 * December 26, 1978
 * Houston
 * L 102–109
 * Kemper Arena
 * 19–12
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 33
 * December 29, 1978
 * @ New Jersey
 * W 137–126
 * Rutgers Athletic Center
 * 20–13
 * December 29, 1978
 * @ New Jersey
 * W 137–126
 * Rutgers Athletic Center
 * 20–13
 * Rutgers Athletic Center
 * 20–13
 * 20–13


 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 35
 * January 2, 1979
 * Denver
 * L 97–99
 * Kemper Arena
 * 20–15
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 36
 * January 3, 1979
 * @ Denver
 * W 108–101
 * McNichols Sports Arena
 * 21–15
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 39
 * January 9, 1979
 * @ Houston
 * L 110–126
 * The Summit
 * 23–16
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 44
 * January 19, 1979
 * San Antonio
 * W 115–113
 * Kemper Arena
 * 28–16
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 45
 * January 20, 1979
 * @ Detroit
 * L 110–122
 * Pontiac Silverdome
 * 28–17
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 47
 * January 24, 1979
 * @ San Antonio
 * L 95–124
 * HemisFair Arena
 * 28–19
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 48
 * January 26, 1979
 * Washington
 * W 142–128
 * Kemper Arena
 * 29–19
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 50
 * January 31, 1979
 * @ Atlanta
 * L 118–130
 * The Omni
 * 30–20
 * HemisFair Arena
 * 28–19
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 48
 * January 26, 1979
 * Washington
 * W 142–128
 * Kemper Arena
 * 29–19
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 50
 * January 31, 1979
 * @ Atlanta
 * L 118–130
 * The Omni
 * 30–20
 * January 31, 1979
 * @ Atlanta
 * L 118–130
 * The Omni
 * 30–20
 * The Omni
 * 30–20
 * 30–20


 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 51
 * February 2, 1979
 * Detroit
 * W 114–95
 * Kemper Arena
 * 31–20
 * - align="center"
 * colspan="9" bgcolor="#bbcaff"|All-Star Break
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * - bgcolor="#bbffbb"
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 52
 * February 7, 1979
 * Atlanta
 * W 124–108
 * Kemper Arena
 * 32–20
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 54
 * February 11, 1979
 * Los Angeles
 * W 104–103
 * Kemper Arena
 * 34–20
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 55
 * February 13, 1979
 * @ New Jersey
 * L 102–111
 * Rutgers Athletic Center
 * 34–21
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 56
 * February 14, 1979
 * @ Philadelphia
 * W 108–106
 * The Spectrum
 * 35–21
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 57
 * February 16, 1979
 * Philadelphia
 * W 119–104
 * Kemper Arena
 * 36–21
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 61
 * February 23, 1979
 * Phoenix
 * W 121–112
 * Kemper Arena
 * 39–22
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 62
 * February 25, 1979
 * Seattle
 * W 114–106
 * Kemper Arena
 * 40–22
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 63
 * February 27, 1979
 * @ Los Angeles
 * L 114–122
 * The Forum
 * 40–23
 * Phoenix
 * W 121–112
 * Kemper Arena
 * 39–22
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 62
 * February 25, 1979
 * Seattle
 * W 114–106
 * Kemper Arena
 * 40–22
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 63
 * February 27, 1979
 * @ Los Angeles
 * L 114–122
 * The Forum
 * 40–23
 * 63
 * February 27, 1979
 * @ Los Angeles
 * L 114–122
 * The Forum
 * 40–23
 * The Forum
 * 40–23
 * 40–23


 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 65
 * March 2, 1979
 * @ San Antonio
 * L 125–129 (OT)
 * HemisFair Arena
 * 40–25
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 67
 * March 7, 1979
 * @ Atlanta
 * L 120–122 (OT)
 * The Omni
 * 40–27
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 68
 * March 9, 1979
 * Washington
 * W 121–116
 * Kemper Arena
 * 41–27
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 69
 * March 11, 1979
 * Portland
 * L 100–115
 * Kemper Arena
 * 41–28
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 70
 * March 14, 1979
 * @ Houston
 * L 107–129
 * The Summit
 * 41–29
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 73
 * March 21, 1979
 * San Antonio
 * L 116–123
 * Kemper Arena
 * 43–30
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 74
 * March 23, 1979
 * @ Phoenix
 * L 107–126
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
 * 43–31
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 75
 * March 24, 1979
 * @ Portland
 * L 98–100
 * Memorial Coliseum
 * 43–32
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 76
 * March 25, 1979
 * @ Seattle
 * L 101–111
 * Kingdome
 * 43–33
 * @ Phoenix
 * L 107–126
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
 * 43–31
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 75
 * March 24, 1979
 * @ Portland
 * L 98–100
 * Memorial Coliseum
 * 43–32
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 76
 * March 25, 1979
 * @ Seattle
 * L 101–111
 * Kingdome
 * 43–33
 * 76
 * March 25, 1979
 * @ Seattle
 * L 101–111
 * Kingdome
 * 43–33
 * Kingdome
 * 43–33
 * 43–33


 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 80
 * April 4, 1979
 * Los Angeles
 * W 115–111 (OT)
 * Kemper Arena
 * 46–34
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 81
 * April 6, 1978
 * New Jersey
 * W 117–114 (OT)
 * Kemper Arena
 * 47–34
 * W 117–114 (OT)
 * Kemper Arena
 * 47–34
 * Kemper Arena
 * 47–34
 * 47–34

Playoffs

 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 1
 * April 17, 1979
 * @ Phoenix
 * L 99–102
 * Birdsong (20)
 * Lacey (12)
 * Ford (7)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12,660
 * 0–1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 2
 * April 20, 1979
 * Phoenix
 * W 111–91
 * Birdsong (23)
 * Wedman (10)
 * Ford (9)
 * Kemper Arena 13,659
 * 1–1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 3
 * April 22, 1979
 * @ Phoenix
 * L 93–108
 * Birdsong Wedman (22)
 * Robinzine (10)
 * Ford, Lacey, McKinney (5)
 * Arizona State University Activity Center 14,301
 * 1–2
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 4
 * April 25, 1979
 * Phoenix
 * L 94–108
 * Wedman (21)
 * Lacey (13)
 * Ford Lacey (5)
 * Kemper Arena 13,184
 * 1–3
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 5
 * April 27, 1979
 * @ Phoenix
 * L 99–120
 * Birdsong (21)
 * Lacey (10)
 * McKinney (7)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12,660
 * 1–4

Awards and records

 * Phil Ford, NBA Rookie of the Year Award
 * Cotton Fitzsimmons, NBA Coach of the Year Award
 * Phil Ford, All-NBA Second Team
 * Phil Ford, NBA All-Rookie Team 1st Team