1980–81 Kansas City Kings season
| 1980–81 Kansas City Kings season | |
|---|---|
| Head coach | Cotton Fitzsimmons |
| General manager | H. Paul Rosenberg (interim) |
| Owners | Leon Karosen Robert Margolin H. Paul Rosenberg |
| Arena | Kemper Arena |
| Results | |
| Record | 40–42 (.488) |
| Place | Division: 3rd (Midwest) Conference: 5th (Western) |
| Playoff finish | Western Conference finals (lost to Rockets 1–4) |
Stats at Basketball Reference | |
| Local media | |
| Television | KBMA-TV 41 |
| Radio | KCKN–AM 1340 KCKN-FM 94.1 |
The 1980–81 NBA season was the Kings 32nd season in the NBA and their ninth season in the city of Kansas City. The Kansas City Kings made the playoffs with a 40–42 win-loss record and appeared in the Western Conference finals where they lost to the also 40–42 Houston Rockets. This is the only time two NBA teams with losing records have made it to the conference finals.