1980-81 NBA season
The Boston Celtics won the 1980-81 NBA title, beating the Houston Rockets 4-2 in the 1981 NBA Finals. Nate Archibald and Julius Erving were MVP for the Boston Celtics.
1981 NBA Finals
Boston Celtics beat the Houston Rockets 4-2
Awards
| Award | Winner | Team |
|---|---|---|
| NBA All-Defensive First Team | Bobby Jones | Philadelphia 76ers |
| NBA All-Defensive First Team | Caldwell Jones | Philadelphia 76ers |
| NBA All-Defensive First Team | Dennis Johnson | Phoenix Suns |
| NBA All-Defensive First Team | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | Los Angeles Lakers |
| NBA All-Defensive First Team | Micheal Ray Richardson | New York Knicks |
| NBA All-Defensive Second Team | Dan Roundfield | Atlanta Hawks |
| NBA All-Defensive Second Team | Dudley Bradley (tie) | Indiana Pacers |
| NBA All-Defensive Second Team | George Johnson | San Antonio Spurs |
| NBA All-Defensive Second Team | Kermit Washington | Portland Trail Blazers |
| NBA All-Defensive Second Team | Michael Cooper (tie) | Los Angeles Lakers |
| NBA All-Defensive Second Team | Quinn Buckner | Milwaukee Bucks |
| All-NBA First Team | Dennis Johnson | Phoenix Suns |
| All-NBA First Team | George Gervin | San Antonio Spurs |
| All-NBA First Team | Julius Erving | Philadelphia 76ers |
| All-NBA First Team | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | Los Angeles Lakers |
| All-NBA First Team | Larry Bird | Boston Celtics |
| All-NBA Second Team | Adrian Dantley | Utah Jazz |
| All-NBA Second Team | Marques Johnson | Milwaukee Bucks |
| All-NBA Second Team | Moses Malone | Houston Rockets |
| All-NBA Second Team | Nate Archibald | Boston Celtics |
| All-NBA Second Team | Otis Birdsong | Kansas City Kings |
| NBA All-Rookie First Team | Darrell Griffith | Utah Jazz |
| NBA All-Rookie First Team | Joe Barry Carroll | Golden State Warriors |
| NBA All-Rookie First Team | Kelvin Ransey | Portland Trail Blazers |
| NBA All-Rookie First Team | Kevin McHale | Boston Celtics |
| NBA All-Rookie First Team | Larry Smith | Golden State Warriors |
| NBA All-Star MVP | Nate Archibald | Boston Celtics |
| NBA Coach of the Year | Jack McKinney | Indiana Pacers |
| Finals MVP | Cedric Maxwell | Boston Celtics |
| NBA MVP | Julius Erving | Philadelphia 76ers |
| NBA Rookie of the Year | Darrell Griffith | Utah Jazz |