1980–81 Golden State Warriors season

The 1980–81 NBA season was the Warriors 35th season in the NBA and their 18th season in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Regular season
The Warriors got off to a 12-6 start thanks to their talented cast of rookies and veterans. Late in the season, they were still in a playoff hunt with a 36-34 record before losing 7 of the next 9 games as the Houston Rockets and the Kansas City Kings got red hot and passed the Warriors. Golden State still had a chance to qualify for the playoffs on the last day of the season, but a 96-92 loss in Seattle combined with the Kings' 113-104 win vs. Dallas left the Warriors as the odd team out.

Notes
 * z, y – division champions
 * x – clinched playoff spot

Awards and records

 * Larry Smith, NBA All-Rookie Team 1st Team
 * Joe Barry Carroll, NBA All-Rookie Team 1st Team