The 1976–77 NBA season was Indiana's first season in the NBA and tenth season as a franchise.[1]
Players
Coaches
Pos.
No.
Name
Height
Weight
DOB
From
SG
21
Anderson, Jerome
6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
195 lb (88 kg)
West Virginia
PF
9
Bennett, Mel
6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
200 lb (91 kg)
Pittsburgh
PG
10
Buse, Don
6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
190 lb (86 kg)
Evansville
C
41
Elmore, Len
6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
220 lb (100 kg)
Maryland
SG
44
Flynn, Mike
6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
180 lb (82 kg)
Kentucky
SF
24
Green, Steve
6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
220 lb (100 kg)
Indiana
F
20
Hillman, Darnell
6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
215 lb (98 kg)
San José State
PF
22
Jones, Wil
6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
205 lb (93 kg)
Albany State
SF
25
Knight, Billy
6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
195 lb (88 kg)
Pittsburgh
C
40
Robisch, Dave
6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
235 lb (107 kg)
Kansas
PF
32
Roundfield, Dan
6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
205 lb (93 kg)
Central Michigan
SG
23
Williamson, John
6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
185 lb (84 kg)
New Mexico State
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
(DP) Unsigned draft pick(FA) Free agent(S) Suspended Injured
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.
z – clinched division title
y – clinched division title
x – clinched playoff spot
Record vs. opponents
edit
1976–77 NBA Records
Team
ATL
BOS
BUF
CHI
CLE
DEN
DET
GSW
HOU
IND
KCK
LAL
MIL
NOJ
NYK
NYN
PHI
PHO
POR
SAS
SEA
WAS
Atlanta
—
0–4
4–0
2–2
2–2
2–2
0–4
0–4
1–3
0–4
1–2
2–2
2–2
1–3
1–3
3–1
1–3
0–4
3–1
4–0
1–2
1–3
Boston
4–0
—
3–1
2–2
1–3
3–1
2–2
1–3
2–2
1–2
3–1
2–1
3–1
2–2
2–2
3–1
1–3
2–2
1–3
4–0
2–2
0–4
Buffalo
0–4
1–3
—
1–3
2–2
2–2
3–1
0–3
1–3
1–3
0–3
1–3
3–1
3–1
1–3
2–2
2–2
3–1
1–3
0–4
3–1
0–4
Chicago
2–2
2–2
3–1
—
3–1
1–3
2–2
2–2
1–3
2–2
2–2
3–1
3–1
4–0
2–2
2–1
2–2
2–2
0–4
3–1
2–2
1–2
Cleveland
2–2
3–1
2–2
1–3
—
2–2
1–3
2–2
1–3
2–1
3–1
2–2
4–0
2–2
2–2
3–1
1–3
2–1
2–2
2–2
3–1
1–3
Denver
2–2
1–3
2–2
3–1
2–2
—
3–1
2–2
3–0
3–1
3–1
2–2
3–1
3–1
2–2
3–1
1–3
3–1
2–2
1–2
4–0
2–2
Detroit
4–0
2–2
1–3
2–2
3–1
1–3
—
3–1
2–2
2–2
4–0
1–3
3–1
3–1
1–2
3–1
2–2
2–2
2–2
1–2
1–3
1–3
Golden State
4–0
3–1
3–0
2–2
2–2
2–2
1–3
—
2–1
4–0
1–3
2–2
1–3
1–3
1–3
3–1
3–1
4–0
1–3
2–2
1–3
3–1
Houston
3–1
2–2
3–1
3–1
3–1
0–3
2–2
1–2
—
4–0
2–2
2–2
3–1
2–2
2–2
2–2
1–3
3–1
3–1
2–2
3–1
3–1
Indiana
4–0
2–1
3–1
2–2
1–2
1–3
2–2
0–4
0–4
—
2–2
1–3
2–2
2–2
2–2
4–0
2–2
2–2
0–4
2–2
2–2
0–4
Kansas City
2–1
1–3
3–0
2–2
1–3
1–3
0–4
3–1
2–2
2–2
—
1–3
2–2
2–2
4–0
4–0
1–3
3–1
2–2
1–3
1–3
2–2
Los Angeles
2–2
1–2
3–1
1–3
2–2
2–2
3–1
2–2
2–2
3–1
3–1
—
3–1
3–0
1–3
4–0
2–2
3–1
3–1
3–1
3–1
4–0
Milwaukee
2–2
1–3
1–3
1–3
0–4
1–3
1–3
3–1
1–3
2–2
2–2
1–3
—
1–2
1–3
3–1
1–2
1–3
2–2
3–1
1–3
1–3
New Orleans
3–1
2–2
1–3
0–4
2–2
1–3
1–3
3–1
2–2
2–2
2–2
0–3
2–1
—
3–1
2–2
0–4
3–1
2–2
1–3
1–3
2–2
N.Y. Knicks
3–1
2–2
3–1
2–2
2–2
2–2
2–1
3–1
2–2
2–2
0–4
3–1
3–1
1–3
—
2–2
1–3
2–2
1–3
1–3
1–2
2–2
N.Y. Nets
1–3
1–3
2–2
1–2
1–3
1–3
1–3
1–3
2–2
0–4
0–4
0–4
1–3
2–2
2–2
—
1–3
2–2
0–3
1–3
1–3
1–3
Philadelphia
3–1
3–1
2–2
2–2
3–1
3–1
2–2
1–3
3–1
2–2
3–1
2–2
2–1
4–0
3–1
3–1
—
1–2
2–2
1–3
2–2
3–1
Phoenix
4–0
2–2
1–3
2–2
1–2
1–3
2–2
0–4
1–3
2–2
1–3
1–3
3–1
1–3
2–2
2–2
2–1
—
1–3
1–3
3–1
1–3
Portland
1–3
3–1
3–1
4–0
2–2
2–2
2–2
3–1
1–3
4–0
2–2
1–3
2–2
2–2
3–1
3–0
2–2
3–1
—
2–2
3–1
1–2
San Antonio
0–4
0–4
4–0
1–3
2–2
2–1
2–1
2–2
2–2
2–2
3–1
1–3
1–3
3–1
3–1
3–1
3–1
3–1
2–2
—
3–1
2–2
Seattle
2–1
2–2
1–3
2–2
1–3
0–4
3–1
3–1
1–3
2–2
3–1
1–3
3–1
3–1
2–1
3–1
2–2
1–3
1–3
1–3
—
3–1
Washington
3–1
4–0
4–0
2–1
3–1
2–2
3–1
1–3
1–3
4–0
2–2
0–4
3–1
2–2
2–2
3–1
1–3
3–1
2–1
2–2
1–3
—