They finished with a record of 59–23, their best since the 1967–68 season.
The team had acquired guard Lionel Hollins from the Portland Trail Blazers after their effort to obtain Pete Maravich failed as he signed with the Boston Celtics.
In the playoffs, they won the 1980 Eastern Conference Championship over the Boston Celtics 4–1.
In the 1980 NBA Finals they would lose to the Los Angeles Lakers 4–2.
The series was memorable for Julius Erving's baseline move in Game 4, and Magic Johnson's 42-point effort in Game 6 starting the game at center in place of an injured Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.