1977-78 New Orleans Jazz record: 39-43, missed playoffs
If you’re noticing a trend, we appreciate that you’re reading attentively: the New Orleans Jazz missed the playoffs despite an impressive season from Pete Maravich.
Since we’ve already dedicated substantial space in this article to the Pistol, we’ll focus on the contributions of the criminally underrated Truck Robinson here. The aptly-named power forward averaged a gargantuan 22.7 points and 15.7 rebounds per game over the 1977-78 season.
That’s a substantial statistical contribution, but it just wasn’t enough for New Orleans to punch a ticket to the league’s postseason dance. Neither was Maravich’s 27.0 points and 6.7 assists per game. Gail Goodrich was even a solid contributor in his age-34 season, averaging 16.1 points and 4.8 assists per game.
By the 1977-78 season, the franchise was nearing the end of its tenure in New Orleans, and it isn’t difficult to see why. Year-after-year, the Jazz fielded a talented roster in the Big Easy, and year-after-year, they missed the playoffs anyway.
The 1977-78 season was no exception.