The 1980–81 NBA season was Indiana's fifth season in the NBA and their 14th season as a franchise. The Pacers had their first NBA winning season and made their first NBA playoff appearance, which was quickly scuttled by a 2–0 sweep from the Philadelphia 76ers.
Jack McKinney was named NBA Coach of the Year for leading the Pacers to the playoffs. McKinney began the the previous season as coach of the Los Angeles Lakers, but suffered a near-fatal bicycling accident in November 1979 after only 13 games. The Lakers went on to win the championship under Paul Westhead, and McKinney was forced to step aside by Lakers owner Jerry Buss, who helped him land the Indiana job.
Offseason
NBA draft
Roster
Regular season
Notes
z, y – division champions
x – clinched playoff spot
Record vs. opponents
Game log
Regular season
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 1 | October 10, 1980 | @ New Jersey | W 110–91 | | | | Rutgers Athletic Center | 1–0 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 2 | October 11, 1980 | Detroit | W 100–87 | Davis (22) | Edwards (16) | Davis (11) | Market Square Arena | 2–0 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 3 | October 15, 19807:35p.m. EST | Chicago | L 97–108 | | | | Market Square Arena6,909 | 2–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 4 | October 18, 19807:35p.m. EST | Boston | W 103–99 | Edwards (18) | McGinnis (11) | Bantom (6) | Market Square Arena11,713 | 3–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 5 | October 21, 1980 | @ Atlanta | W 121–116 | | | | The Omni | 4–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 6 | October 22, 19807:35p.m. EST | Milwaukee | L 105–119 | Bantom (20) | G. Johnson (14) | Bantom (6) | Market Square Arena7,138 | 4–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 7 | October 24, 1980 | Atlanta | W 104–97 | | | | Market Square Arena | 5–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 8 | October 25, 1980 | @ Cleveland | L 100–118 | | | | Richfield Coliseum | 5–3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 9 | October 29, 1980 | New York | W 102–95 | | | | Market Square Arena | 6–3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 10 | October 31, 19808:35p.m. EST | @ Chicago | W 121–114 | Knight (22) | C. Johnson (7) | Davis (10) | Chicago Stadium5,127 | 7–3
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 11 | November 1, 1980 | New Jersey | W 113–100 | | | | Market Square Arena | 8–3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 12 | November 2, 19808:30p.m. EST | @ Milwaukee | L 121–135 | Edwards (23) | Knight (7) | Bradley,Davis,Knight (5) | MECCA Arena10,980 | 8–4 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 13 | November 4, 19809:35p.m. EST | @ Phoenix | L 108–109 | Bantom (18) | Edwards,C. Johnson (9) | Bradley (5) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum12,018 | 8–5 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 14 | November 8, 1980 | @ Golden State | L 111–118 | | | | Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena | 8–6 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 15 | November 10, 1980 | @ Utah | L 106–108 | | | | Salt Palace Acord Arena | 8–7 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 16 | November 11, 19808:30p.m. EST | @ San Antonio | W 119–113 | Knight (52) | Edwards (6) | Bradley (10) | HemisFair Arena11,282 | 9–7 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 17 | November 13, 19808:00p.m. EST | Philadelphia | L 103–130 | Orr (20) | G. Johnson (10) | Bradley (6) | Market Square Arena11,421 | 9–8 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 18 | November 14, 1980 | Washington | W 118–108 | | | | Market Square Arena | 10–8 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 18 | November 18, 1980 | @ Detroit | W 102–97 | | | | Pontiac Silverdome | 11–8 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 20 | November 19, 19807:35p.m. EST | Boston | L 91–103 | Knight (27) | G. Johnson,Knight (11) | Davis (7) | Market Square Arena10,815 | 11–9 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 21 | November 21, 19808:05p.m. EST | @ Philadelphia | L 88–97 | G. Johnson (19) | G. Johnson (16) | Davis (7) | The Spectrum8,237 | 11–10 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 22 | November 22, 19807:35p.m. EST | Houston | W 129–120 | Knight (22) | C. Johnson (11) | Davis (10) | Market Square Arena7,357 | 12–10 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 23 | November 26, 1980 | Atlanta | W 110–89 | | | | Market Square Arena | 13–10 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 24 | November 27, 1980 | @ Washington | L 108–123 | | | | Capital Centre | 13–11 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 25 | November 29, 1980 | Cleveland | W 117–101 | | | | Market Square Arena | 14–11