1978–79 San Diego Clippers season

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

Draft picks

Roster

Roster notes

• This was Kevin Kunnert's second stint with the franchise; he previously played for the Buffalo Braves in 1973–74.

Regular season

Game log

|- | 1 || October 13 || @ Suns || L 114–128 || Kermit Washington (25) || Kermit Washington (11)|| Randy Smith (11) || Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum <br> 11,217 || 0–1 || https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197810130PHO.html |- | 2 || October 14 || @ Warriors || L 89–117 || Tied (21) || Kermit Washington (14)|| Randy Smith (7) || Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena <br> 10,254 || 0–2 || https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197810140GSW.html |- | 3 || October 15 || Nuggets || L 94–98|| Randy Smith (28) || Swen Nater (12)|| Lloyd Free (4) || San Diego Sports Arena <br> 8,362 || 0–3 || https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197810150SDC.html |- | 4 || October 17 || Bulls || W 99–94 || Lloyd Free (29) || Tied (14)|| Tied (4) || San Diego Sports Arena <br> 4,944 || 1–3 || https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197810170SDC.html |- | 5 || October 18 || Spurs || L 125–127 || Lloyd Free (29) || Kermit Washington (16)|| Lloyd Free (8) || San Diego Sports Arena <br> 5,614 || 1–4 || https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197810180SDC.html |- | 6 || October 20 || @ Bulls || W 110–94 || Nick Weatherspoon (19) || Kermit Washington (13)|| World B. Free (9) || Chicago Stadium <br> 12,412 || 2–4 || https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197810200CHI.html |- | 7 || October 21 || @ Pacers || L 119–125 || Lloyd Free (35) || Tied (12)|| Lloyd Free (6) || Market Square Arena <br> 9,243 || 2–5 || https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197810210IND.html |- | 8 || October 24 || Lakers || W 124–123 || Lloyd Free (35) || Kevin Kunnert (9)|| Lloyd Free (7) || San Diego Sports Arena <br> 11,637 || 3–5 || https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197810240SDC.html |- | 9 || October 25 || Bucks || W 125–116 || Lloyd Free (38) || Swen Nater (15)|| Lloyd Free (9) || San Diego Sports Arena <br> 8,051 || 4–5 || https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197810250SDC.html |- | 10 || October 27 || @ Lakers || L 101–113 || Lloyd Free (26) || Swen Nater (10)|| Lloyd Free (5) || The Forum <br> 9,246 || 4–6 || https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197810270LAL.html |- | 11 || October 29|| SuperSonics || W 103–100 || Randy Smith (26) || Kevin Kunnert (10)|| Randy Smith (6) || San Diego Sports Arena <br> 9,469 || 5–6 || https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197810290SDC.html |-

|- | 12 || November 2 || Knicks || L 122–127 || Lloyd Free (42) || Kermit Washington (10)|| Lloyd Free (7) || San Diego Sports Arena <br> 9,744 || 5–7 || https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197811020SDC.html |- | 13 || November 3 || @ Trail Blazers || L 98–119 || Randy Smith (22) || Kermit Washington (11)|| Randy Smith (4) || Memorial Coliseum <br> 12,666 || 5–8 || https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197811030POR.html |- | 14 || November 4 || Cavaliers || L 106–112 || Lloyd Free (24) || Kermit Washington (14)|| Lloyd Free (6) || San Diego Sports Arena <br> 9,791 || 5–9 || https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197811040SDC.html |- | 15 || November 7 || @ Jazz || W 121–115 || Lloyd Free (29) || Nick Weatherspoon (16)|| Lloyd Free (6) || New Orleans Superdome <br> 6,411 || 6–9 || https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197811070NOJ.html |- | 16 || November 8 || @ Spurs || L 125–163 || Lloyd Free (26) || Swen Nater (9)|| Tied (5) || HemisFair Arena <br> 11,358 || 6–10 || https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197811080SAS.html |- | 17 || November 9 || @ Hawks || L 101–125 || Nick Weatherspoon (25) || Swen Nater (10)|| Tied (4) || Omni Coliseum <br> 5,082 || 6–11 || https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197811090ATL.html |- | 18 || November 11 || @ Rockets || L 123–136 || Lloyd Free (31) || Tied (6)|| Randy Smith (11) || The Summit <br> 9,179 || 6–12 || https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197811110HOU.html |- | 19 || November 14 || Pacers || W 109–106 || Kermit Washington (29) || Swen Nater (12)|| Lloyd Free (5) || San Diego Sports Arena <br> 6,381 || 7–12 || https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197811140SDC.html |- | 20 || November 16 || Warriors || W 112–109 || Lloyd Free (29) || Kermit Washington (10)|| Lloyd Free (5) || San Diego Sports Arena <br> 8,483 || 8–12 || https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197811160SDC.html |- | 21 || November 18 || Jazz || W 114–111 || Randy Smith (36) || Swen Nater (17)|| Randy Smith (6) || San Diego Sports Arena <br> 8,151 || 9–12 || https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197811180SDC.html |- | 22 || November 21 || Hawks || L 107–113 || Lloyd Free (26) || Kevin Kunnert (13)|| Lloyd Free (6) || San Diego Sports Arena <br> 6,730 || 9–13 || https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197811210SDC.html |- | 23 || November 24 || @ 76ers || L 120–134 || Lloyd Free (33) || Kermit Washington (11)|| Lloyd Free (8) || The Spectrum <br> 18,276 || 9–14 || https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197811240PHI.html |- | 24 || November 25 || @ Kings || W 87–86 || Lloyd Free (28) || Kevin Kunnert (15)|| Tied (4) || Kemper Arena <br> 11,320 || 10–14 || https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197811250KCK.html |- | 25 || November 26 || Celtics || W 105–103 || LLoyd Free (28) || Kermit Washington (9)|| Randy Smith (7) || San Diego Sports Arena <br> 7,042 || 11–14 || https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197811260SDC.html |- | 26 || November 30 || Rockets || L 104–113 || Nick Weatherspoon (22) || Nick Weatherspoon (11)|| Randy Smith (7) || San Diego Sports Arena <br> 6,597 || 11–15 || https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197811300SDC.html |-

|- | 27 || December 2 || Pistons || L 113–120 || Tied (25) || Tied (13)|| Randy Smith (9) || San Diego Sports Arena <br> 6,433 || 11–16 || https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197812020SDC.html |- | 28 || December 6 || @ Celtics || L 111–117 || Lloyd Free (25) || Tied (11)|| Randy Smith (10) || Boston Garden <br> 7,688 || 11–17 || https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197812060BOS.html |- | 29 || December 9 || @ Nets || L 120–125 || Lloyd Free (38) || Swen Nater (10)|| Lloyd Free (4) || Rutgers Athletic Center <br> 4,286 || 11–18 || https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197812090NJN.html |- | 30 || December 10 || @ Bucks || W 107–106 || Lloyd Free (28) || Tied (12)|| Lloyd Free (5) || MECCA Arena <br> 10,889 || 12–18 || https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197812100MIL.html |- | 31 || December 12 || @ Knicks || W 105–103 || Randy Smith (28) || Tied (9)|| Lloyd Free (8) || Madison Square Garden <br> 11,981 || 13–18 || https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197812120NYK.html |- | 32 || December 13 || @ Bullets || L 117–134 || Randy Smith (29) || Swen Nater (9)|| Randy Smith (6) || Capital Centre <br> 7,621 || 13–19 || https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197812130WSB.html |- | 33 || December 17 || Suns || W 116–100 || Lloyd Free (30) || Swen Nater (13)|| Randy Smith (5) || San Diego Sports Arena <br> 6,068 || 14–19 || https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197812170SDC.html |- | 34 || December 19 || 76ers || L 113–124 || Lloyd Free (35) || Swen Nater (10) || Swen Nater (3) || San Diego Sports Arena <br> 13,822 || 14–20 || https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197812190SDC.html |- | 35 || December 25 || @ SuperSonics || W 123–118 || Randy Smith (29) || Swen Nater (13) || Randy Smith (12) || Kingdome <br> 11,910 || 15–20 || https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197812250SEA.html |- | 36 || December 26 || Bulls || W 115–109 || Lloyd Free (36) || Kermit Washington (10) || Lloyd Free (5) || San Diego Sports Arena <br> 8,582 || 16–20 || https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197812260SDC.html |- | 37 || December 28 || @ Cavaliers || L 114–116 || Lloyd Free (36) || Kevin Kunnert (9) || Lloyd Free (6) || Richfield Coliseum <br> 11,091 || 16–21 || https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197812280CLE.html |- | 38 || December 29 || @ Pistons || W 111–107 || Lloyd Free (35) || Swen Nater (14) || Randy Smith (8) || Pontiac Silverdome <br> 10,284 || 17–21 || https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197812290DET.html |- | 39 || December 30 || @ Pacers || W 114–111 || Lloyd Free (30) || Kevin Kunnert (13) || Sidney Wicks (6) || Market Square Arena <br> 7,263 || 18–21 || https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197812300IND.html |-

|- | 40 || January 2 || Pistons || W 137–119 || Lloyd Free (33) || Kermit Washington (17) || Kermit Washington (5) || San Diego Sports Arena <br> 6,139 || 19–21 || https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197901020SDC.html |- | 41 || January 4 || @ Kings || L 99–108 || Randy Smith (37) || Kermit Washington (15) || Randy Smith (3) || Kemper Arena <br> 6,647 || 19–22 || https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197901040KCK.html |- | 42 || January 6 || @ Bucks || L 93–104 || Freeman Williams (26) || Kermit Washington (14) || Randy Smith (6) || MECCA Arena <br> 10,938 || 19–23 || https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197901060MIL.html |- | 43 || January 9 || @ Jazz || W 114–107 || Lloyd Free (34) || Kermit Washington (10) || Tied (7) || New Orleans Superdome <br> 6,342 || 20–23 || https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197901090NOJ.html |- | 44 || January 11 || @ Spurs || L 111–140 || Nick Weatherspoon (38) || Nick Weatherspoon (9) || Randy Smith (12) || HemisFair Arena <br> 11,008 || 20–24 || https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197901110SAS.html |- | 45 || January 13 || @ Hawks || L 119–124 || Lloyd Free (46) || Kermit Washington (17) || Tied (3) || Omni Coliseum <br> 7,681 || 20–25 || https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197901130ATL.html |- | 46 || January 14 || @ Bullets || L 91–125 || Randy Smith (24) || Kermit Washington (13) || Randy Smith (8) || Capital Centre <br> 9,588 || 20–26 || https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197901140WSB.html |- | 47 || January 17 || Lakers || W 119–117 || Lloyd Free (31) || Tied (11) || Tied (4) || San Diego Sports Arena <br> 13,073 || 21–26 || https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197901170SDC.html |- | 48 || January 24 || Trail Blazers || W 122–121 || Lloyd Free (35) || Nick Weatherspoon (11) || Lloyd Free (5) || San Diego Sports Arena <br> 9,659 || 22–26 || https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197901240SDC.html |- | 49 || January 26 || @ Bulls || W 107–91 || Lloyd Free (28) || Swen Nater (15) || Tied (5) || Chicago Stadium <br> 8,523 || 23–26 || https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197901260CHI.html |- | 50 || January 27 || @ Cavaliers || W 111–110 || Lloyd Free (38) || Kermit Washington (15) || Lloyd Free (4) || Richfield Coliseum <br> 10,523 || 24–26 || https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197901270CLE.html |- | 51 || January 28 || @ Pistons || L 118–128 || Lloyd Free (23) || Swen Nater (10) || Sidney Wicks (6) || Pontiac Silverdome <br> 9,279 || 24–27 || https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197901280DET.html |- | 52 || January 30 || Bucks || W 117–113 || Randy Smith (26) || Kevin Kunnert (14) || Tied (7) || San Diego Sports Arena <br> 8,431 || 25–27 || https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197901300SDC.html |- | 53 || January 31 || Nets || W 112–104 || Lloyd Free (25) || Kermit Washington (14) || Randy Smith (6) || San Diego Sports Arena <br> 7,227 || 26–27 || https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197901310SDC.html |-

|- | 54 || February 2 || Nuggets || W 124–100 || Lloyd Free (49) || Kevin Kunnert (12) || Randy Smith (5) || San Diego Sports Arena <br> 11,763 || 27–28 || https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197902020SDC.html |- | 55 || February 7 || Spurs || L 113–126 || Lloyd Free (25) || Kermit Washington (10) || Tied (4) || San Diego Sports Arena <br> 8,498 || 27–28 || https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197902070SDC.html |- | 56 || February 9 || @ 76ers || L 106–117 || Randy Smith (25) || Nick Weatherspoon (13) || Nick Weatherspoon (5) || The Spectrum <br> 15,823 || 27–29 || https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197902090PHI.html |- | 57 || February 11 || @ Nets || L 98–104 || Lloyd Free (22) || Swen Nater (18) || Lloyd Free (6) || Rutgers Athletic Center <br> 14,749 || 27–30 || https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197902110NJN.html |- | 58 || February 13 || Bullets || L 136–138 <small> 2OT</small> || Lloyd Free (45) || Nick Weatherspoon (10) || Lloyd Free (4) || San Diego Sports Arena <br> 8,111 || 27–31 || https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197902130SDC.html |- | 59 || February 15 || Jazz || W 122–112 || Lloyd Free (30) || Swen Nater (10) || Randy Smith (5) || San Diego Sports Arena <br> 5,827 || 28–31 || https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197902150SDC.html |- | 60 || February 16 || @ Nuggets || W 118–104 || Randy Smith (25) || Kermit Washington (14) || Tied (5) || McNichols Sports Arena <br> 15,119 || 29–31 || https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197902160DEN.html |- | 61 || February 18 || Hawks || W 116–101 || Lloyd Free (26) || Sidney Wicks (13) || Randy Smith (4) || San Diego Sports Arena <br> 6,959 || 30–31 || https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197902180SDC.html |- | 62 || February 23 || 76ers || W 117–116 || Lloyd Free (26) || Swen Nater (10) || Tied (3) || San Diego Sports Arena <br> 13,783 || 31–31 || https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197902230SDC.html |- | 63 || February 25 || Celtics || W 131–116 || Lloyd Free (38) || Kevin Kunnert (10) || Tied (6) || San Diego Sports Arena <br> 10,671 || 32–31 || https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197902250SDC.html |- | 64 || February 27 || Pacers || W 124–107 || Lloyd Free (28) || Tied (9) || Kermit Washington (6) || San Diego Sports Arena <br> 6,156 || 33–31 || https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197902270SDC.html |- | 65 || February 28 || Kings || W 122–120 || Randy Smith (22) || Swen Nater (8) || Randy Smith (7) || San Diego Sports Arena <br> 9,051 || 34–31 || https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197902280SDC.html |-

|- | 66 || March 2 || @ Celtics || W 106–99 || Lloyd Free (28) || Kermit Washington (15) || Randy Smith (6) || Boston Garden <br> 14,345 || 35–31 || https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197903020BOS.html |- | 67 || March 3 || @ Knicks || L 108–111 || Lloyd Free (34) || Kevin Kunnert (23) || Tied (6) || Madison Square Garden <br> 11,488 || 35–32 || https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197903030NYK.html |- | 68 || March 7 || Rockets || W 138–115 || Lloyd Free (34) || Swen Nater (10) || Tied (5) || San Diego Sports Arena <br> 19,911 || 36–32 || https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197903070SDC.html |- | 69 || March 10 || Cavaliers || W 121–115 || Lloyd Free (33) || Swen Nater (12) || Tied (3) || San Diego Sports Arena <br> 13,783 || 37–32 || https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197903100SDC.html |- | 70 || March 14 || Trail Blazers || W 110–105 || Lloyd Free (29) || Kevin Kunnert (12) || Randy Smith (9) || San Diego Sports Arena <br> 13,401 || 38–32 || https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197903140SDC.html |- | 71 || March 17 || Warriors || W 106–103 || Lloyd Free (23) || Kevin Kunnert (11) || Tied (4) || San Diego Sports Arena <br> 11,332 || 39–32 || https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197903170SDC.html |- | 72 || March 18 || Nets || W 110–98 || Lloyd Free (31) || Nick Weatherspoon (17) || Randy Smith (5) || San Diego Sports Arena <br> 18,538 || 40–32 || https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197903180SDC.html |- | 73 || March 20 || @ Trail Blazers || L 109–115 || Randy Smith (28) || Swen Nater (12) || Randy Smith (12) || Memorial Coliseum <br> 12,666 || 40–33 || https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197903200POR.html |- | 74 || March 21 || @ Warriors || W 106–103 || Lloyd Free (35) || Kevin Kunnert (17) || Tied (5) || Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena <br> 7,813 || 41–33 || https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197903210GSW.html |- | 75 || March 23 || @ Lakers || L 119–156 || Randy Smith (33) || Kermit Washington (17) || Kermit Washington (6) || The Forum <br> 14,212 || 41–34 || https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197903230LAL.html |- | 76 || March 27 || @ SuperSonics || L 109–115 || Lloyd Free (28) || Tied (9) || Lloyd Free (4) || Kingdome <br> 20,087 || 41–35 || https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197903270SEA.html |- | 77 || March 29 || Kings || L 111–116 || Lloyd Free (37) || Kermit Washington (15) || Brian Taylor (4) || San Diego Sports Arena <br> 13,189 || 41–36 || https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197903290SDC.html |- | 78 || March 30 || @ Nuggets || L 121–130 || Lloyd Free (42) || Kevin Kunnert (13) || Lloyd Free (6) || McNichols Sports Arena <br> 17,607 || 41–37 || https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197903300DEN.html |-

|- | 79 || April 1 || Knicks || W 126–116 || Lloyd Free (28) || Kevin Kunnert (15) || Tied (4) || San Diego Sports Arena <br> 8,371 || 42–37 || https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197904010SDC.html |- | 80 || April 4 || SuperSonics || L 107–115 || Nick Weatherspoon (25) || Kermit Washington (13) || Randy Smith (5) || San Diego Sports Arena <br> 20,087 || 42–38 || https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197904040SDC.html |- | 81 || April 6 || @ Suns || L 117–118 || Lloyd Free (29) || Swen Nater (10) || Tied (4) || Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum <br> 12,660 || 42–39 || https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197904060PHO.html |- | 82 || April 7 || Suns || W 120–116 || Lloyd Free (36) || Swen Nater (12) || Brian Taylor (3) || San Diego Sports Arena <br> 11,614 || 43–39 || https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197904070SDC.html |-

Season standings

Notes

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

Player stats

Awards and records

• Lloyd Free, All-NBA Second Team

Transactions

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

Coaching Change

Trades

Free agents

Additions

Subtractions

References