1979-80 NBA Season
As originally posted by Tony Miller:
In 1979-1980, the NBA met cable TV for the first time. The first cable NBA game was also the Pacers’ first full national TV (as opposed to CBS regional TV) appearance, on Thursday, Oct. 18, when Indiana played Atlanta. UA-Columbia televised basketball, as it did baseball, on Thursday nights.
This would be the NBA’s final season as a 22-team league. The Jazz moved to Utah, abandoning the Superdome for the Salt Palace in an exchange of important-sounding buildings. The Jazz moved to the Midwest division to take advantage of a regional rivalry with Denver.
Magic and Bird both debuted this year after facing off in the 1979 NCAA championship: Magic first appeared on national TV in the NBA on Oct. 12, and Bird first appeared Dec. 27. The three-point line also made its debut on Oct. 12.
For those of you reading the listings later in chronological order, CBS no longer regionalized as many as eight games per day. For those of you reading this as I post in reverse-chronological order, we're going to see a lot of unknown announcers in the next few years.
I’ve abbreviated UA-Columbia to UAC in the listings below.
Data transcribed from ”’NBA on CBS’ Regular Season Schedules” and ”NBA on CBS Playoff Games”. Additional listings and significant clarifications on which games have been confirmed came from jtgrace1 and Jeff79.
For the numerous games that are not confirmed, the initials of jtgrace1's guesses are given in parentheses. These are, for the sake of emphasis, GUESSES.
OCTOBER
Friday 10/12:
Lakers-Clippers, 11:30 (taped in MT/PT), CBS. Brent Musburger, Rod Hundley
Thursday 10/18:
Pacers-Hawks, 8:00, UAC. Jim Karvellas, Richie Powers
Bulls-Clippers, 10:30, UAC. Announcers unknown (ed-sj)
Thursday 10/25:
Bucks-Clippers, 10:00, UAC. Announcers unknown (ed-sj)
NOVEMBER
Thursday 11/1:
Cavaliers-Pistons, 8:00, UAC. Jim Karvellas, Richie Powers
Thursday 11/8:
Blazers-Bucks, 9:00, UAC. Jim Karvellas, Richie Powers
Thursday 11/15:
Lakers-Kings, 8:00, UAC. Jim Karvellas, Richie Powers
Nuggets-Warriors, 10:30, UAC. Announcers unknown (ED-sj)
Thursday 11/22:
Warriors-Cavaliers, 8:00, UAC. Jim Karvellas, Richie Powers
Thursday 11/29:
Knicks-Cavaliers, 8:00, UAC. Jim Karvellas, Richie Powers
DECEMBER
Thursday 12/6:
Warriors-Clippers, 10:00, UAC. Announcers unknown (ED-sj)
Thursday 12/13:
Bullets-Cavaliers, 8:00, UAC. Jim Karvellas, Richie Powers
Rockets-Suns, 10:30, UAC joined in progress (10:00 tip). Announcers unknown (ED-sj)
Thursday 12/20:
Kings-Bucks, 8:00, UAC. Jim Karvellas, Richie Powers
Knicks-Clippers, 10:30, UAC. Announcers unknown (ED-sj)
Tuesday 12/25:
76ers-Bullets, 12:30, CBS. Gary Bender, Rod Hundley
Thursday 12/27:
76ers-Spurs, 8:00, UAC. Jim Karvellas, Richie Powers
Celtics-Clippers, 10:30, UAC. Announcers unknown (ED-sj)
JANUARY
Thursday 1/3:
Nets-Hawks, 8:00, UAC. Jim Karvellas, Richie Powers
Clippers-Knicks, 10:30 (taped at 7:30), UAC. Announcers unknown (ED-sj)
Thursday 1/10:
Bulls-Kings, 8:00, UAC. Jim Karvellas, Richie Powers
Sunday 1/13:
Lakers-Celtics, 1:00, CBS. Brent Musburger, Rod Hundley
Thursday 1/17:
Bullets-Pistons, 8:00, UAC. Jim Karvellas, Richie Powers
Spurs-Cavaliers, 10:30 (taped at 8:00), UAC. Announcers unknown (ED-sj)
Sunday 1/20:
Sonics-Celtics, 12:00, CBS. Gary Bender, Rod Hundley, Bill Russell
Thursday 1/24:
Nets-Bullets, 8:00, UAC. Jim Karvellas, Richie Powers
Lakers-Blazers, 10:30, UAC. Announcers unknown (ED-sj)
Sunday 1/27:
Hawks-Spurs, 1:00, CBS regional. Brent Musburger, Bill Russell, Rod Hundley
Clippers-Celtics, 1:00, CBS regional. Gary Bender, Keith Erickson
Thursday 1/31:
Lakers-Bulls, 8:00, UAC. Jim Karvellas, Johnny "Red" Kerr
Bucks-Sonics, 10:30, UAC. Announcers unknown (ED-sj)
FEBRUARY
Sunday 2/3:
NBA All-Star Game at Landover, Md. (Washington)
West-East, 1:00, CBS. Brent Musburger, Rod Hundley, Bill Russell
Thursday 2/7:
Sonics-Pistons, 8:00, UAC. Jim Karvellas, Richie Powers
Sunday 2/10:
Lakers-76ers, 1:00, CBS. Brent Musburger, Rod Hundley, Bill Russell
Thursday 2/14:
Warriors-Bucks, 8:00, UAC. Jim Karvellas, Richie Powers
Nuggets-Sonics, 10:30, UAC. Announcers unknown (ED-sj)
Sunday 2/17:
Celtics-Sonics, 3:45, CBS regional. Brent Musburger, Rod Hundley, Bill Russell
Bullets-Lakers, 3:45, CBS regional. Announcers unknown (GB-KE)
Thursday 2/21:
Suns-Pistons, 8:00, UAC. Jim Karvellas, Richie Powers
76ers-Clippers, 10:30, UAC. Eddie Doucette, Steve Jones
Sunday 2/24:
Bucks-Kings, 1:00, CBS regional. Brent Musburger, Rod Hundley, Bill Russell
Clippers-Bulls, 1:00, CBS regional. Gary Bender, Keith Erickson
Thursday 2/28:
Rockets-Bullets, 7:30, UAC. Jim Karvellas, Richie Powers
Spurs-Knicks, 10:30 (taped), UAC. Announcers unknown (ED-sj)
MARCH
Sunday 3/2:
Lakers-Suns, 1:00, CBS. Gary Bender, Keith Erickson
Bucks-Clippers, 3:45, CBS. Brent Musburger, Bill Russell, Rod Hundley
Thursday 3/6:
Nets-Bullets, 8:00, UAC. Jim Karvellas, Richie Powers
Blazers-Jazz, 10:30, UAC joined in progress (10:00 tip). Announcers unknown (ED-sj)
Sunday 3/9:
76ers-Spurs, 1:00, CBS. Brent Musburger, Rod Hundley, Bill Russell
Thursday 3/13:
Pacers-Knicks, 8:00, UAC. Jim Karvellas, Richie Powers
Nuggets-Clippers, 10:30, UAC. Announcers unknown (ED-sj)
Sunday 3/16:
Suns-Lakers, 2:00, CBS regional. Brent Musburger, Rod Hundley, Bill Russell
Knicks-Bullets, 2:00, CBS regional. Gary Bender, Keith Erickson
Kings-Bucks, 2:00, CBS regional. Tim Ryan, Jon McGlocklin
Thursday 3/20:
Celtics-Pistons, 8:00, UAC. Jim Karvellas, Richie Powers
Nuggets-Kings, 10:30 (taped at 8:30), UAC. Announcers unknown (ED-sj)
Friday 3/21:
Suns-Blazers, 11:30 (taped in MT/PT), CBS. Brent Musburger, Rod Hundley, Bill Russell
Sunday 3/23:
Knicks-76ers, 1:00, CBS regional. Brent Musburger, Rod Hundley, Bill Russell
Nets-Celtics, 1:00, CBS regional. Dick Stockton, Jon McGlocklin
Spurs-Hawks, 1:00, CBS regional. Gary Bender, Keith Erickson
Thursday 3/27:
76ers-Knicks, 8:00, UAC. Jim Karvellas, Richie Powers
Blazers-Clippers, 10:30, UAC. Announcers unknown (ED-sj)
Friday 3/28:
Clippers-Lakers, 11:30, CBS. Brent Musburger, Rod Hundley, Bill Russell
Sunday 3/30:
Celtics-76ers, 1:00, CBS. Brent Musburger, Rod Hundley, Bill Russell
APRIL
Friday 4/4:
West 1st rd, g2: Suns-Kings, 8:30, UAC. Jim Karvellas, Richie Powers
West 1st rd, g2: Sonics-Blazers, 11:30, CBS (taped MT/PT except Seattle/Portland). Brent Musburger, Bill Russell
Sunday 4/6:
East semis, g1: Hawks-76ers, 1:00, CBS. Gary Bender, Rod Hundley
West 1st rd, g3: Blazers-Sonics, 3:30, CBS. Brent Musburger, Bill Russell
Tuesday 4/8:
West semis, g1: Suns-Lakers, 11:00, UAC. Jim Karvellas, Steve Jones
Friday 4/11:
East semis, g2: Rockets-Celtics, 7:30, UAC. Jim Karvellas, Richie Powers
West semis, g3: Lakers-Suns, 11:40 (taped MT/PT), CBS. Brent Musburger, Bill Russell, Rod Hundley
CBS aired Masters highlights from 11:30-11:40, creating unusual start time for LAL-PHX.
Sunday 4/13:
East semis, g3: Celtics-Rockets, 1:00, CBS. Brent Musburger, Bill Russell, Rod Hundley
Friday 4/18:
East finals, g1: 76ers-Celtics, 7:30, UAC. Jim Karvellas, Richie Powers
West semis, g6: Sonics-Bucks, 11:30 (taped 9:00), CBS. Brent Musburger, Bill Russell, Rod Hundley
Live in Seattle.
Sunday 4/20:
East finals, g2: 76ers-Celtics, 1:00, CBS. Gary Bender, Rick Barry
West semis, g7: Bucks-Sonics, 3:30, CBS. Brent Musburger, Bill Russell, Rod Hundley
Wednesday 4/23:
West finals, g2: Sonics-Lakers, 11:30, CBS. Brent Musburger, Bill Russell, Rod Hundley
Friday 4/25:
West finals, g3: Lakers-Sonics (at U. of Wash.), 11:30, CBS. Brent Musburger, Bill Russell, Rod Hundley
Sunday 4/27:
East finals, g5: 76ers-Celtics, 1:00, CBS. Gary Bender, Rick Barry
West finals, g4: Lakers-Sonics (at U. of Wash.), 3:30, CBS. Brent Musburger, Bill Russell, Rod Hundley
Wednesday 4/30:
West finals, g5: Sonics-Lakers, 11:30, CBS. Brent Musburger, Bill Russell, Rod Hundley, Rick Barry
MAY
Sunday 5/4:
NBA Finals, g1: 76ers-Lakers, 3:30, CBS. Brent Musburger, Bill Russell, Rod Hundley, Rick Barry
Wednesday 5/7:
NBA Finals, g2: 76ers-Lakers, 11:30, CBS. Brent Musburger, Bill Russell, Rod Hundley, Rick Barry
Saturday 5/10:
NBA Finals, g3: Lakers-76ers, 3:30, CBS. Brent Musburger, Bill Russell, Rod Hundley, Rick Barry
Sunday 5/11:
NBA Finals, g4: Lakers-76ers, 3:30, CBS. Brent Musburger, Bill Russell, Rod Hundley, Rick Barry
Wednesday 5/14:
NBA Finals, g5: 76ers-Lakers, 11:30, CBS. Brent Musburger, Bill Russell, Rod Hundley, Rick Barry
Friday 5/16:
NBA Finals, g6: Lakers-76ers, 11:30 (taped 9:00), CBS. Brent Musburger, Bill Russell, Rod Hundley, Rick Barry
(note: LA, Philadelphia, Seattle and Portland showed g6 live)