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1976–77 Indiana Pacers season

{{Short description|Basketball team season (1st in NBA)}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}

{{NBA season

| team = Indiana Pacers

| end_year = 1977

| wins = 36

| losses = 46

| division = Midwest

| division_place = 5

| conf_place = 9

| coach = Bobby Leonard

| arena = Market Square Arena

| television = WTTV

| radio = WIBC

| playoffs = Did not qualify

| bbr_team = IND

}}

The 1976–77 NBA season was Indiana's first season in the NBA and tenth season as a franchise.[https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/IND/1977.html 1976–77 Indiana Pacers]

Offseason

=Draft picks=

{{main article|1976 ABA Dispersal Draft}}

class="wikitable sortable sortable"

! style="background:#2C3294; color:#fcc624" width="10%"| Round

! style="background:#2C3294; color:#fcc624" width="10%"| Pick

! style="background:#2C3294; color:#fcc624" width="20%"| Player

! style="background:#2C3294; color:#fcc624" width="15%"| Position

! style="background:#2C3294; color:#fcc624" width="15%"| Nationality

! style="background:#2C3294; color:#fcc624" width="20%"| College

style="text-align: center"

| 1

8Wil Jones†PF{{USA}}Albany State

†In the 1976 ABA Dispersal Draft, ABA and NBA teams selected players that were on the Kentucky Colonels and the Spirits of St. Louis, the two ABA teams that were not included in the ABA–NBA merger in 1976. Wil Jones was a member of the Kentucky Colonels during the 1975–76 ABA season. Because the Pacers were in the ABA before the merger, they did not have any picks in the 1976 NBA draft.

Roster

{{NBA roster header|team=Indiana Pacers|season=1976–77

| bg1 = #2C3294 | color1 = #FFFFFF

| bg2 = #FCC624 | color2 = #2C3294

}}

{{player2 | num = 21 | first = Jerome | last = Anderson | dab = basketball | pos = SG | ft = 6 | in = 5 | lbs = 195 | college = West Virginia }}

{{player2 | num = 9 | first = Mel | last = Bennett | pos = PF | ft = 6 | in = 7 | lbs = 200 | college = Pittsburgh }}

{{player2 | num = 10 | first = Don | last = Buse | pos = PG | ft = 6 | in = 4 | lbs = 190 | college = Evansville }}

{{player2 | num = 41 | first = Len | last = Elmore | pos = C | ft = 6 | in = 9 | lbs = 220 | college = Maryland }}

{{player2 | num = 44 | first = Mike | last = Flynn | dab = basketball | pos = SG | ft = 6 | in = 2 | lbs = 180 | college = Kentucky }}

{{player2 | num = 24 | first = Steve | last = Green | dab = basketball | pos = SF | ft = 6 | in = 7 | lbs = 220 | college = Indiana }}

{{player2 | num = 20 | first = Darnell | last = Hillman | pos = F | ft = 6 | in = 9 | lbs = 215 | college = San Jose State }}

{{player2 | num = 22 | first = Wil | last = Jones | dab = basketball | pos = PF | ft = 6 | in = 8 | lbs = 205 | college = Albany State }}

{{player2 | num = 25 | first = Billy | last = Knight | pos = SF | ft = 6 | in = 6 | lbs = 195 | college = Pittsburgh }}

{{player2 | num = 40 | first = Dave | last = Robisch | pos = C | ft = 6 | in = 10 | lbs = 235 | college = Kansas }}

{{player2 | num = 32 | first = Dan | last = Roundfield | pos = PF | ft = 6 | in = 8 | lbs = 205 | college = Central Michigan }}

{{player2 | num = 23 | first = John | last = Williamson | dab = basketball, born 1951 | pos = SG | ft = 6 | in = 2 | lbs = 185 | college = New Mexico State }}

{{NBA roster footer

| head_coach =

| asst_coach =

}}

Regular season

Buoyed by the sensational playmaking of Don Buse and scoring of Billy Knight, The Pacers hovered around the .500 mark for much of the first half of their inaugural NBA season but a lack of depth and a few injuries blunted the Pacers progress. The Pacers were significantly hampered by injuries to center, Len Elmore, who missed all but six games.

=Season standings=

{{1976–77 NBA Midwest standings|team=IND}}

{{1976–77 NBA West standings|team=IND}}

:z – clinched division title

:y – clinched division title

:x – clinched playoff spot

=Record vs. opponents=

class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%; text-align:center;"
colspan=23|1976–77 NBA Records
width=100|Team

!style="background:#FF0000;color:#FFFFFF;width=35"|ATL

!style="background:#006400;color:#FFFFFF;width=35"|BOS

!style="background:#000000;color:#F15110;width=35"|BUF

!style="background:#FF0000;color:#000000;width=35"|CHI

!style="background:#FFD700;color:#8B0000;width=35"|CLE

!style="background:#0000CD;color:#FFD700;width=35"|DEN

!style="background:#0000FF;color:#FF0000;width=35"|DET

!style="background:#0000FF;color:#FFD700;width=35"|GSW

!style="background:#FF0000;color:#FFD700;width=35"|HOU

!style="background:#000080;color:#FFD700;width=35"|IND

!style="background:#0000FF;color:#FFFFFF;width=35"|KCK

!style="background:#800080;color:#FFD700;width=35"|LAL

!style="background:#006400;color:#B22222;width=35"|MIL

!style="background:#36004A;color:#FFFF00;width=35"|NOJ

!style="background:#0000FF;color:#FF8C00;width=35"|NYK

!style="background:#B0170C;color:#00056D;width=35"|NYN

!style="background:#FF0000;color:#0000FF;width=35"|PHI

!style="background:#800080;color:#FF4500;width=35"|PHO

!style="background:#000000;color:#FF0000;width=35"|POR

!style="background:#000000;color:#C0C0C0;width=35"|SAS

!style="background:#005831;color:#FFC322;width=35"|SEA

!style="background:#DC143C;color:#0000CD;width=35"|WAS

style="text-align:left;" | Atlanta—0–44–02–22–22–20–40–41–30–41–22–22–21–31–33–11–30–43–14–01–21–3
style="text-align:left;" | Boston4–0—3–12–21–33–12–21–32–21–23–12–13–12–22–23–11–32–21–34–02–20–4
style="text-align:left;" | Buffalo0–41–3—1–32–22–23–10–31–31–30–31–33–13–11–32–22–23–11–30–43–10–4
style="text-align:left;" | Chicago2–22–23–1—3–11–32–22–21–32–22–23–13–14–02–22–12–22–20–43–12–21–2
style="text-align:left;" | Cleveland2–23–12–21–3—2–21–32–21–32–13–12–24–02–22–23–11–32–12–22–23–11–3
style="text-align:left;" | Denver2–21–32–23–12–2—3–12–23–03–13–12–23–13–12–23–11–33–12–21–24–02–2
style="text-align:left;" | Detroit4–02–21–32–23–11–3—3–12–22–24–01–33–13–11–23–12–22–22–21–21–31–3
style="text-align:left;" | Golden State4–03–13–02–22–22–21–3—2–14–01–32–21–31–31–33–13–14–01–32–21–33–1
style="text-align:left;" | Houston3–12–23–13–13–10–32–21–2—4–02–22–23–12–22–22–21–33–13–12–23–13–1
style="text-align:left;" | Indiana4–02–13–12–21–21–32–20–40–4—2–21–32–22–22–24–02–22–20–42–22–20–4
style="text-align:left;" | Kansas City2–11–33–02–21–31–30–43–12–22–2—1–32–22–24–04–01–33–12–21–31–32–2
style="text-align:left;" | Los Angeles2–21–23–11–32–22–23–12–22–23–13–1—3–13–01–34–02–23–13–13–13–14–0
style="text-align:left;" | Milwaukee2–21–31–31–30–41–31–33–11–32–22–21–3—1–21–33–11–21–32–23–11–31–3
style="text-align:left;" | New Orleans3–12–21–30–42–21–31–33–12–22–22–20–32–1—3–12–20–43–12–21–31–32–2
style="text-align:left;" | N.Y. Knicks3–12–23–12–22–22–22–13–12–22–20–43–13–11–3—2–21–32–21–31–31–22–2
style="text-align:left;" | N.Y. Nets1–31–32–21–21–31–31–31–32–20–40–40–41–32–22–2—1–32–20–31–31–31–3
style="text-align:left;" | Philadelphia3–13–12–22–23–13–12–21–33–12–23–12–22–14–03–13–1—1–22–21–32–23–1
style="text-align:left;" | Phoenix4–02–21–32–21–21–32–20–41–32–21–31–33–11–32–22–22–1—1–31–33–11–3
style="text-align:left;" | Portland1–33–13–14–02–22–22–23–11–34–02–21–32–22–23–13–02–23–1—2–23–11–2
style="text-align:left;" | San Antonio0–40–44–01–32–22–12–12–22–22–23–11–31–33–13–13–13–13–12–2—3–12–2
style="text-align:left;" | Seattle2–12–21–32–21–30–43–13–11–32–23–11–33–13–12–13–12–21–31–31–3—3–1
style="text-align:left;" | Washington3–14–04–02–13–12–23–11–31–34–02–20–43–12–22–23–11–33–12–12–21–3—

Player statistics

=Ragular season=

class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size: 95%; text-align:right;"
style="background:#0032A0; color:#FFFFFF; border-top:#FEDD00 3px solid; border-bottom:#FEDD00 3px solid;"|Player

! style="background:#0032A0; color:#FFFFFF; border-top:#FEDD00 3px solid; border-bottom:#FEDD00 3px solid;"|{{Abbr| POS | Position}}

! style="background:#0032A0; color:#FFFFFF; border-top:#FEDD00 3px solid; border-bottom:#FEDD00 3px solid;"|{{Abbr| GP | Games played}}

! style="background:#0032A0; color:#FFFFFF; border-top:#FEDD00 3px solid; border-bottom:#FEDD00 3px solid;"|{{Abbr| GS | Games starter}}

! style="background:#0032A0; color:#FFFFFF; border-top:#FEDD00 3px solid; border-bottom:#FEDD00 3px solid;"|{{Abbr| MP | Minutes played}}

! style="background:#0032A0; color:#FFFFFF; border-top:#FEDD00 3px solid; border-bottom:#FEDD00 3px solid;"|{{Abbr| REB | Rebounds}}

! style="background:#0032A0; color:#FFFFFF; border-top:#FEDD00 3px solid; border-bottom:#FEDD00 3px solid;"|{{Abbr| AST | Assists}}

! style="background:#0032A0; color:#FFFFFF; border-top:#FEDD00 3px solid; border-bottom:#FEDD00 3px solid;"|{{Abbr| STL | Steals}}

! style="background:#0032A0; color:#FFFFFF; border-top:#FEDD00 3px solid; border-bottom:#FEDD00 3px solid;"|{{Abbr| BLK | Blocks}}

! style="background:#0032A0; color:#FFFFFF; border-top:#FEDD00 3px solid; border-bottom:#FEDD00 3px solid;"|{{Abbr| PTS | Points}}

! style="background:#0032A0; color:#FFFFFF; border-top:#FEDD00 3px solid; border-bottom:#FEDD00 3px solid;"|{{Abbr| MPG | Minutes per game}}

! style="background:#0032A0; color:#FFFFFF; border-top:#FEDD00 3px solid; border-bottom:#FEDD00 3px solid;"|{{Abbr| RPG | Rebounds per game}}

! style="background:#0032A0; color:#FFFFFF; border-top:#FEDD00 3px solid; border-bottom:#FEDD00 3px solid;"|{{Abbr| APG | Assists per game}}

! style="background:#0032A0; color:#FFFFFF; border-top:#FEDD00 3px solid; border-bottom:#FEDD00 3px solid;"|{{Abbr| SPG | Steals per game}}

! style="background:#0032A0; color:#FFFFFF; border-top:#FEDD00 3px solid; border-bottom:#FEDD00 3px solid;"|{{Abbr| BPG | Blocks per game}}

! style="background:#0032A0; color:#FFFFFF; border-top:#FEDD00 3px solid; border-bottom:#FEDD00 3px solid;"|{{Abbr| PPG | Points per game}}

style="text-align:left;"|{{sortname|Darnell|Hillman}}style="text-align:center;"|C

| style="background:#FEDD00; color:#0032A0;"|82

2,302style="background:#FEDD00; color:#0032A0;"|6931669510687928.1style="background:#FEDD00; color:#0032A0;"|8.52.01.21.310.7
style="text-align:left;"|{{sortname|Don|Buse}}style="text-align:center;"|PG

| 81

2,947270style="background:#FEDD00; color:#0032A0;"|685style="background:#FEDD00; color:#0032A0;"|2811664636.43.3style="background:#FEDD00; color:#0032A0;"|8.5style="background:#FEDD00; color:#0032A0;"|3.5.28.0
style="text-align:left;"|{{sortname|Wil|Jones|dab=basketball}}style="text-align:center;"|PF

| 80

2,709604189102801,04233.97.62.41.31.013.0
style="text-align:left;"|{{sortname|Dave|Robisch}}style="text-align:center;"|C

| 80

1,966554158553795124.66.92.0.7.511.9
style="text-align:left;"|{{sortname|Billy|Knight}}style="text-align:center;"|SF

| 78

style="background:#FEDD00; color:#0032A0;"|3,11758226011719style="background:#FEDD00; color:#0032A0;"|2,075style="background:#FEDD00; color:#0032A0;"|40.07.53.31.5.2style="background:#FEDD00; color:#0032A0;"|26.6
style="text-align:left;"|{{sortname|Mike|Flynn|dab=basketball}}style="text-align:center;"|SG

| 73

1,32418717957660118.12.62.5.8.18.2
style="text-align:left;"|{{sortname|Steve|Green|dab=basketball}}style="text-align:center;"|SF

| 70

91817746461245013.12.5.7.7.26.4
style="text-align:left;"|{{sortname|Mel|Bennett}}style="text-align:center;"|PF

| 67

91123770373331413.63.51.0.6.54.7
style="text-align:left;"|{{sortname|Dan|Roundfield}}style="text-align:center;"|PF

| 61

1,6455186961style="background:#FEDD00; color:#0032A0;"|13184827.0style="background:#FEDD00; color:#0032A0;"|8.51.11.0style="background:#FEDD00; color:#0032A0;"|2.113.9
style="text-align:left;"|{{sortname|Freddie|Lewis}}style="text-align:center;"|PG

| 32

552475618222417.31.51.8.6.17.0
style="text-align:left;"|{{sortname|John|Williamson|dab=basketball, born 1951}}†style="text-align:center;"|SG

| 30

1,0557411148762035.22.53.71.6.220.7
style="text-align:left;"|{{sortname|Jerome|Anderson|dab=basketball}}style="text-align:center;"|SG

| 27

164121062666.1.4.4.2.12.4
style="text-align:left;"|{{sortname|Len|Elmore}}style="text-align:center;"|C

| 6

4615204187.72.5.3.0.73.0
style="text-align:left;"|{{sortname|Darrell|Elston}}style="text-align:center;"|SG

| 5

40621058.01.2.4.2.01.0
style="text-align:left;"|{{sortname|Rudy|Hackett}}†style="text-align:center;"|PF

| 5

3810301127.62.0.6.0.22.4
style="text-align:left;"|{{sortname|Clyde|Mayes}}†style="text-align:center;"|PF

| 2

217302710.53.51.5.01.03.5

{{Plainlist|

  • † Denotes player spent time with another team in the season. Stats reflect time with the Pacers only.

}}

Awards and records

References

{{reflist}}

{{1976-77 NBA season by team}}

{{Indiana Pacers seasons}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:1976-77 Indiana Pacers Season}}

Category:Indiana Pacers seasons

Indiana

Indiana Pacers

Indiana Pacers