Cleveland Cavaliers
Encyclopedia
The Cleveland Cavaliers are a professional basketball
team based in Cleveland, Ohio
. They began playing in the National Basketball Association
(NBA) in 1970 as an expansion team. They play their home games at Quicken Loans Arena
.
under the ownership of Nick Mileti
. The father of Brett Tomko
, Jerry Tomko, submitted the winning entry to name the team the "Cavaliers" through a competition sponsored by the The Plain Dealer, supporters preferred it to "Jays", "Foresters" and "Presidents". Playing their home games at Cleveland Arena
under the direction of head coach Bill Fitch, they compiled a league-worst 15–67 record. The team hoped to build around the number one 1971 draft pick Austin Carr
who had set numerous scoring records at Notre Dame
, but Carr severely injured his leg shortly into his pro career and never was able to realize his potential.
The following seasons saw the Cavaliers gradually improve their on-court performance, thanks to season-by-season additions of talented players such as Bingo Smith
, Jim Chones
, Jim Cleamons
and Dick Snyder
. Cleveland improved to 23–59 in their sophomore season
, followed by a 32–50 record in 1972–73, and a small step backwards to 29–53 in 1973–74. In 1974, the Cavaliers moved into the brand-new Richfield Coliseum, located in a rural area thirty miles south of downtown Cleveland in Summit County
(now part of the Cuyahoga Valley National Park
). That season, the Cavaliers finished with a 40–42 record, falling just short of a playoff berth.
In the 1975–76 season with Carr, Smith, Chones, Snyder, and newly acquired Nate Thurmond
; Fitch led the Cavaliers to a 49–33 record and a division title. Fitch received the league's Coach of the Year
award as the Cavs made their first-ever playoff appearance, and clinched their first Central Division
Title.
The Cavs won the series against the Washington Bullets
, 4–3. Because of the many heroics and last-second shots, the series became known locally as the "Miracle of Richfield." Hampered by injuries, particularly to Jim Chones, the Cavs proceeded to lose to the Boston Celtics
in Eastern Conference Finals of the NBA playoffs
.
Cleveland won 43 games the next two seasons (1976–77 and 1977–78), but both those seasons resulted in early playoff exits. After a 30–52 season in 1978–79, Fitch resigned as head coach.
, original owner Mileti sold his shares to minority owner Joe Zingale. In 1980, after just a few months, Zingale sold the team to Nationwide Advertising magnate Ted Stepien
. The new owner oversaw the hiring and firing of a succession of coaches and was involved in making a number of poor trade and free agent signing decisions. The result of Stepien's questionable trading acumen was the loss of several of the team's first-round draft picks, which led to a rule change in the NBA prohibiting teams from trading away first-round draft picks in consecutive years. This rule is known as the "Ted Stepien Rule."
Early on in his tenure, Stepien proposed to rename the team the "Ohio Cavaliers", part of a plan that included playing their home games not just in the Cleveland area but in Cincinnati and in non-Ohio markets such as Buffalo
and Pittsburgh. He also made changes to the game day entertainment, such as introducing a polka
-flavored fight song and a dance team known as "The Teddy Bears".
The ensuing chaos had a major effect on both the Cavaliers' on-court performance and lack of local support, going 28–54 in 1980–81
(Stepien's first year as owner), followed by an abysmal 15–67 mark in 1981–82
. The 1981–82 team lost its last 19 games of the season which, when coupled with the five losses at the start of the 1982–83 season
, constitute the NBA's second all-time longest losing streak at 24 games. Although the team improved its record to 23–59 the following year, local support for the Cavs eroded which eventually bottomed out that year by averaging only 3,900 fans a game at the cavernous Coliseum which seated more than 20,000.
Though Stepien eventually threatened to move the franchise to Toronto
and rename it the Toronto Towers, but brothers George and Gordon Gund
purchased the franchise in the mid 1980s and decided to keep the team in Cleveland (a decade later, Toronto would eventually receive an expansion franchise, the Toronto Raptors
.)
Under the coaching of George Karl
, the Cavaliers failed again, and missed the playoffs, with a 28–54 record, in the 1983–84
. The Cavs finally returned to the playoffs in 1985
, only to lose to the eventual Eastern Conference Champions Boston Celtics in the first round. At this point, the team was in transition, led by dynamic players such as World B. Free
, Roy Hinson
and John Bagley. But in 1986, Karl was fired after 66 games. Interim head coach Gene Littles
guided the team the rest of the way, which saw the Cavs finish just one game short of the playoffs. After the season, it was time for a major overhaul. During the 7 season period the Cavaliers had 9 head coaches; Stan Albeck
, Bill Musselman
, Don Delaney
, Bob Kloppenburg
, Chuck Daly
, Bill Musselman
(again), Tom Nissalke
, George Karl
, and Gene Littles
. The only playoff appearance earned during this stretch was during the 1984–85 season under George Karl
losing to the Boston Celtics
in the first round in four games (3–1).
In 1986, the Cavaliers acquired, either through trades or the draft
, Brad Daugherty, Mark Price
, Ron Harper
and Larry Nance. These four players (until Harper was later traded to the Los Angeles Clippers
in 1989 for the rights to Danny Ferry
) formed the core of the team, under the direction of head coach Lenny Wilkens
, that led the Cavs to eight playoff seasons in the next nine years, including three 50+ win seasons.
In 1989, the Cavs were paired against the Michael Jordan-led Chicago Bulls in the first round of the playoffs
. In the fourth game of the best-of-five-series, Cleveland managed to beat the Bulls in overtime 108–105 to level the series at 2–2. Home court advantage went to Cleveland. The game was evenly matched, until Cleveland managed to score on a drive and raise the lead by one, with three seconds left. Chicago called for a time-out. The ball was inbounded to Michael Jordan
, who went for a jump shot. Cleveland's Craig Ehlo
jumped in front to block it, but Jordan seemed to stay in the air until Ehlo landed. "The Shot
" went in as time ran out, with Chicago winning the series 3–2. The buzzer-beater is considered one of Jordan's greatest clutch moments, and the game itself one of the greatest in NBA history. But the pinnacle of the Cavs' success came in the 1991–92 season, when they compiled a 57–25 record and advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals
, losing again to the Chicago Bulls 4–2.
.
Following the hiring of Mike Fratello
as head coach starting with the 1993–94 season, the Cavs became one of the NBA's best defensive teams under the leadership of point guard Terrell Brandon
. But the offense, which was a half-court, "slow-down" tempo installed by Fratello, met with mixed success. Although the Cavaliers made regular playoff appearances, they were unable to advance beyond the first round.
In 1994, the Cavs moved back to downtown Cleveland with the opening of the 20,562-seat, state-of-the-art, Gund Arena
. Known by locals as "the Gund", the venue served as the site of the 1997 NBA All-Star Game
. The arena and the Cleveland Indians
' Jacobs Field were built together as part of the city's Gateway project.
Later on, players like Shawn Kemp
and Žydrūnas Ilgauskas
added quality to the team, but without further success. Fratello was fired following the shortened 1998–99 season.
Despite the arrivals of Andre Miller
, Brevin Knight
, Chris Mihm
and Carlos Boozer
, the Cavs were a perennial lottery team for the early part of the 2000s. The 2002–03 team finished with the third-worst record in franchise history (17–65), which earned them a tie for last place in the league and a 22.5 percent chance at winning the NBA Draft Lottery and the first overall selection.
Ricky Davis
received national attention on March 16, 2003 in game against the Utah Jazz
. With Cleveland ahead in the game 120–95, Davis was one rebound short of a triple-double with only a few seconds left on the clock. After receiving an inbound pass at the Cavs' end of the floor, Davis banged the ball off the rim and caught it in attempt to receive credit for a rebound. Utah's DeShawn Stevenson
took offense to this breach of sportman's etiquette
and immediately fouled Davis hard. The play did not count as a rebound since firing at your own team's basket does not count as a shot attempt, and in fact is a technical foul under NBA rules. Since the referees had never seen anyone shoot at their own basket before, they were unfamiliar with the rule and play was allowed to continue. This (which led to Davis being nicknamed in Cleveland as "Wrong Rim Ricky") and countless other selfish acts contributed to the Cavs trading of Davis later that year and ushering in a new type of team.
Several losing seasons followed which saw the Cavaliers drop to the bottom of the league and become a perennial lottery draft team. After another disappointing season in 2002–03, the Cavaliers landed the number one draft pick in the NBA Lottery. With it, the team selected local high school phenomenon and future NBA MVP LeBron James
. As if celebrating a new era in Cleveland Cavaliers basketball, the team's colors were changed from orange, black and blue back to wine and gold, with the addition of navy blue and a new primary logo.
James' status as both an area star (having played his high school basketball at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School in nearby Akron
) and as one of the most highly touted prospects in NBA history has led many to view his selection as a turning point in the franchise's history. Embraced by Clevelanders as "King James," the 2003–04 season offered great hope for the future, as James rose to become a dominating player, winning the NBA Rookie of the Year Award
. Hope was even greater for the 2004–05 season. James increased his production in terms of points, rebounds, and assists per game. Despite the loss of Carlos Boozer in the offseason, James teamed with Žydrūnas Ilgauskas
and Drew Gooden
to form the core of the team. After a promising start, the Cavs
began a downward spiral that eventually led to the firing of coach Paul Silas
and general manager Jim Paxson
. The team failed to make the playoffs
that year, tied with New Jersey Nets
for the final playoff spot with identical 42–40 records; however, the Nets owned the tiebreaker due to having the better head to head record vs the Cavs.
The Cavaliers
made many changes in the 2005 offseason. Under new owner Dan Gilbert, the team hired a new head coach, Mike Brown, and a new general manager, former Cavaliers forward Danny Ferry
. The team experienced success on the court in the following season, clinching their first playoff appearance since 1998. After a first round win over the Washington Wizards, the Cavaliers rebounded from a 0–2 deficit in the second round against the Detroit Pistons
, winning three consecutive games to come one game away from the conference finals. They lost a close Game 6 at home, and followed it with a 79–61 loss in Game 7. The playoff rounds were a showcase for the emergence of LeBron James, who achieved many "youngest ever to..." records during the run.
The Cavs continued their success in the 2006–07
season. The team earned the second seed in the East with a 50–32 record, generating a series of favorable matchups in the playoffs
. They battled 7th-seeded Wizards, who struggled with injuries near the end of the season. The Cavaliers swept this series 4–0 , and defeated the New Jersey Nets
, 4–2, in the second round.
The Cavaliers faced the Pistons in the Eastern Conference Finals. After again losing the first two games at Detroit, the Cavaliers won the next three to take a 3–2 series lead. This time, the Cavaliers eliminated Detroit in Game 6. The wins included a 109–107 double-overtime game at The Palace of Auburn Hills
in Game 5, in which LeBron James scored the last 25 points for the Cavs, and his performance in this game is recognized as one of the best in NBA history. They continued to a dominant 98–82 win at home in Game 6. Rookie Daniel "Boobie" Gibson
scored a career-high 31 points in the series clincher, and the franchise won its first ever Eastern Conference Championship.
The team's first trip to the NBA Finals
was a short one, as they were outmatched and outplayed by the very strong San Antonio Spurs
, who swept the Cavs 4–0.
The Cavs
took a step back in the 2007–08 season
. They battled injuries and had many roster changes, including a three team trade at the trade deadline in which the team acquired F Joe Smith, G-F Wally Szczerbiak
, F-C Ben Wallace
, and G Delonte West
. The Cavs finished 45–37 and lost in the second round against eventual champion Boston of the playoffs
.
In the 2008 off-season, the team made a major change to its lineup, trading G Damon Jones and Smith (who later in the season rejoined the Cavs after being released by Oklahoma City
) for point guard Mo Williams
. This trade was made in hopes of bringing another scorer to aid James.
In the next season, the Cavs made astounding progress. They finished with a record of 66–16, the winningest season in the franchise's history. The year marked other notable franchise records, including a 13-game winning streak, and road and home winning records. The Cavs entered the playoffs
as the #1 seed in the NBA with home court advantage throughout the playoffs. They finished the season 39–2 at home, one win short of the best all-time home record. Head Coach Mike Brown won NBA Coach of the Year honors and LeBron James
finished second in the NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award
and won the NBA MVP. The Cavs began the 2009 postseason by sweeping the 8th-seeded Detroit Pistons
4–0, winning every game by 10 or more points. In the conference semifinals, the Cavaliers faced the 4th-seeded Atlanta Hawks
, who had defeated the Miami Heat
in seven games. Despite the Cavaliers' long layoff between the series they swept the Hawks 4–0, again winning each game by at least ten points, becoming the first team in NBA history to win eight straight playoff games by a double-digit margin.
The Cavs then met the Orlando Magic
in the Eastern Conference Finals. The Cavs lost Game 1 of the series 107–106 at home despite James' 49-point effort. Despite winning Game 2 by a score of 96–95, with the help of a James buzzer beating three-pointer, it was not enough as Orlando eventually took the series in 6 games.
On June 25, 2009, 4-time NBA Champion and 15-time All-Star center Shaquille O'Neal
was traded from the Phoenix Suns
to the Cavaliers. The trade sent Ben Wallace
and Sasha Pavlovic to Phoenix along with the 46th pick in the 2010 NBA Draft
and $500,000 in cash considerations.
During the 2009 offseason, the Cavaliers signed wingman Anthony Parker
, and forwards Leon Powe
and Jamario Moon
for the following season. On February 17, 2010, the Cavaliers acquired All-Star forward Antawn Jamison
from the Washington Wizards
and Sebastian Telfair
from the LA Clippers in a three way trade. The Cavaliers originally lost Žydrūnas Ilgauskas
(center) in this trade, but after being waived by Washington, he signed back with the Cavaliers on March 23, 2010 for the rest of the 2009–2010 season. The Cavaliers managed to finish with the NBA's best record for the second straight season, with a 61–21 record. LeBron James was named the NBA MVP, for the second consecutive year. The Cavaliers defeated the Chicago Bulls
4–1 in the first round of the 2010 NBA Playoffs
but, in a huge upset, lost to the Boston Celtics
after leading the series 2–1, with the Celtics proceeding to win 3 consecutive games (afterwards, the Celtics went to the 2010 NBA Finals
and lost to the Los Angeles Lakers
4–3.) Each team would suffer record-setting playoff defeats on home soil; the Celtics lost by 29, 124–95, in Game 3 (May 7), the greatest defeat in the history of the Boston Celtics in the playoffs, while the Cavaliers lost by 32, 120–88, in Game 5 (May 11).
With the Cavaliers out of the playoffs, the focus then turned to James' impending free agency. On July 8, 2010, James announced in a one hour show named The Decision on ESPN
that he would be signing with the Miami Heat
. The repercussions of this announcement left many in the city of Cleveland infuriated and feeling betrayed. A couple of LeBron James jerseys were burned, and the famous Nike "Witness" mural of James in downtown Cleveland was immediately taken down. Shortly after James made his announcement, Dan Gilbert, the owner of the Cavaliers, announced in an open letter on the Cavaliers website that James' decision was a "cowardly betrayal" and promised a NBA championship for the Cleveland Cavaliers before LeBron James wins one. Despite being ridiculed for the letter by the media, Cleveland fans embraced the owner, even offering to pay the $100,000 fine given by the NBA.
resigned on June 4, 2010 and Assistant General Manager Chris Grant was promoted to replace Ferry. On July 1, the Cavaliers hired former Los Angeles Lakers
guard and former New Jersey Nets
and New Orleans Hornets head coach Byron Scott
as the 18th head coach in franchise history.
The Cavaliers spent the rest of the 2010 off-season rebuilding their team after James' departure. On July 23, they signed 2009 first-round pick Christian Eyenga
. On July 26, the Cavs traded Delonte West
and Sebastian Telfair
to the Minnesota Timberwolves
for Ramon Sessions
, Ryan Hollins
and a 2013 second round draft pick. On July 30, the Cavaliers signed free agent Joey Graham
to a one-year, veteran's minimum contract with a team option for a second year. On August 16, the Cavs signed undrafted Jamaican rookie Samardo Samuels
to a three-year, $2.3 million contract. On September 20, Jawad Williams
and the Cavs decided to resign and reached a one-year $1.02 million contract. After finishing the 2010 pre-season with a 6–2 record, the Cavs decided to waive Danny Green
and sign with the undrafted rookie Manny Harris
, the Cavs also decided to exercise the fourth-year option with J.J. Hickson. On November 18, the Cavaliers sent Christian Eyenga
to the Erie BayHawks
, the NBA D-League affiliate. On December 27, the Cavs decided to waive Jawad Williams
and assign Samardo Samuels
to the NBA D-League. One day later, the Cavs signed Alonzo Gee
. On January 1 and 2 the Cavs recalled Samardo Samuels
and Christian Eyenga
, respectively, from the Erie BayHawks
. On February 24, 2011 the Cavs made two trade deadline deals, acquiring former All-Star Baron Davis
and a 2011 first round draft pick from the L.A. Clippers
, which wound being the number one pick in the entire draft, for Mo Williams
and Jamario Moon
in return. The Cavaliers also sent a 2013 second-round pick to the Boston Celtics
for Luke Harangody
and Semih Erden. Leon Powe
was waived to create roster space.
On the court, the 2010–11 season was a stark contrast from the previous two seasons. The Cavaliers were conference-worst 19–63. This season also saw the Cavs lose 26 games in a row, which set an NBA record and tied the 1976–77 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
for the longest losing streak in any American professional team sport. The Cavaliers had upset wins against the Los Angeles Lakers (57-25), Miami Heat (58-24) and Boston Celtics (56-26) during the season.
Having the second-worst team record in the 2010–11 season, the Cavaliers had high odds of winning an early draft pick in the NBA Draft Lottery
. With owner Dan Gilbert's 14 year-old son Nick representing the team at the dias (quipping "What's not to like?" when ESPN reporter Heather Cox
asked him what he thought of his father calling him "his hero" due to overcoming health problems), the pick received from the Clippers in the Mo Williams/Baron Davis trade was what became the top overall pick, even though there was only a 2.8% chance of it happening. The Cavaliers original first round selection ended up as the #4 selection in the draft. The Cavs became the first team since the 1983 Houston Rockets to have two picks in the top five in the draft. The Cavaliers took Duke guard Kyrie Irving
with the first pick, even though he only played 11 games in college. With the 4th pick, the Cavaliers selected Texas power forward Tristan Thompson
.
On June 30, 2011, the team traded for small forward Omri Casspi
and a 2012 first-round draft pick, sending the Sacramento Kings
forward/center J.J. Hickson. The News-Herald
opined that Casspi will likely start at small forward for the Cavaliers.
In the 1999–2000 season, the Cavaliers opted to go for a cleaner look, eliminating the splash and adding an orange and blue line that runs through the shorts. The home jerseys feature the team nickname and the uniform numbers are in blue with black line, while on the away jerseys, they feature the city name and the uniform numbers in white with blue line. They were used until the 2002–03 season.
Beginning in the 2008–09 season, the Cavaliers began wearing special "mash-up" uniforms (combining the style from one era with the color scheme of another) on select "Cavs Fanatic" Nights—a promotion to plug the CavFanatic.com fan site
In '08–'09, the team wore "Miracle of Richfield" style "Feathered C" uniforms in colors comparable to the LeBron James era alternate uniform (royal blue with gold lettering and wine and gold trim).
In '09–'10, the team wore Price/Nance/Daugherty era style uniforms in the colors of the "Miracle of Richfield" era (wine with gold lettering)
In '10–'11, the team wore the LeBron James era alternate uniform in the colors of the Shawn Kemp era (black with white lettering and a blue, orange, and white checkerboard trim).
, a Cleveland suburb. It features many extravagant luxuries, 2 courts, a team meeting room, front office offices, as well as a kitchen among other features. Cleveland Clinic Courts replaces the former 1-court center the team used within Quicken Loans Arena
.
>
AM 1100 is the flagship of a 16 station Cavaliers radio network. Select regular season games can be heard on sister station WMMS
FM 100.7 when there is a conflict with the Cleveland Indians
. All playoff games air on WTAM, and any conflicted Indians games then go to WMMS.
John Michael (play by play) and former Cavaliers star Jim Chones
(analyst) are the radio team, with WTAM morning co-host/sports director Mike Snyder hosting the pregame/halftime/postgame shows. http://www.cleveland.com/cavs Former Ohio State standout and longtime NBA player Brad Sellers
joins Snyder on the postgame show for road games, while Jim Chones does so for home games.
On the television side, the vast majority of Cavaliers' games air via cable and satellite on FS Ohio, with select games (both regular season and playoffs) simulcast on WUAB
channel 43 (My Network TV) in Cleveland, the longtime free TV home of the Cavs. Channel 43 has aired games from 1973 to 1987 and from 1994 to present.
Play-by-play announcer Fred McLeod and analyst Austin Carr
, a former Cavaliers star, handle local TV commentary. WKRK-FM
midday co-host Jeff Phelps serves as sideline reporter, and former Cavaliers star Campy Russell
and Dionne Miller host the pregame, halftime, and postgame shows. For home games, Phelps and Russell will host the pregame/halftime/postgame shows at the Q, while for road games, Miller and Russell will host them from the FS Ohio studio.
who is said to have grown up in the tundra
and still makes occasional appearances throughout the season at Cavalier games. At halftime he used to dunk a basketball. Whammer's debut was in a November 9, 1995 game against the Chicago Bulls
. However, Whammer's tenure coincided with a long dry spell in the franchise's history, with the Shawn Kemp playoff runs being an exception. In fact, few local fans even were aware that the Cavs had a mascot.
Recently when Moondog, the current Cavaliers mascot was asked what Whammer was up to these days he responded "He e-mails the braintrust of the Cavs about twice a week trying to get his old job back. I throw him a bone occasionally and invite him back, mostly to mock him. Finally he's good for a laugh."
of the Cavaliers. Like a growing number of NBA Mascots, the character has a unique connection not just to the team, but to the city and surrounding area. Cleveland
is known worldwide as the rock and roll
city, due to famed Cleveland radio disc jockey
Alan Freed
, who popularized the phrase "rock and roll", breaking new ground and sparking a music explosion.
Freed called himself the "Moondog", and his listeners were "Moondoggers". When the Cavaliers looked to create a new mascot which represents the city, Moondog was a natural selection. Like Alan Freed, the mascot aims to be innovative, fun-loving, passionate and controversial.
Moondog was an NBA All-Star selection in 2003 and 2004. He is best known for his behind the back half-court shot and fierce loyalty to his Cavaliers. His first appearance was on November 5, 2003.
game, a new mascot debuted named Sir C.C. Sir C.C. is a swashbuckler
character (a la The Three Musketeers
) and teams up with Moondog to provide gametime entertainment at home games.
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
team based in Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
. They began playing in the National Basketball Association
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
(NBA) in 1970 as an expansion team. They play their home games at Quicken Loans Arena
Quicken Loans Arena
Quicken Loans Arena , is a multi-purpose arena, in downtown Cleveland, Ohio, United States....
.
1970–1980: Expansion and early hope
The Cavaliers first began play in the NBA in 1970 as an expansion teamExpansion team
An expansion team is a brand new team in a sports league. The term is most commonly used in reference to the North American major professional sports leagues, but is applied to sports leagues worldwide that use a closed franchise system of league membership. The term comes from the expansion of the...
under the ownership of Nick Mileti
Nick Mileti
Nick James Mileti was, during the 1970s, the owner of the Cleveland Indians, Cleveland Cavaliers, Cleveland Crusaders hockey team, the Coliseum at Richfield and radio station "3WE" WWWE AM/1100 ....
. The father of Brett Tomko
Brett Tomko
Brett Daniel Tomko is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He has played for the Cincinnati Reds, San Diego Padres, Seattle Mariners, St...
, Jerry Tomko, submitted the winning entry to name the team the "Cavaliers" through a competition sponsored by the The Plain Dealer, supporters preferred it to "Jays", "Foresters" and "Presidents". Playing their home games at Cleveland Arena
Cleveland Arena
Cleveland Arena was an arena in Cleveland, Ohio. It was built and privately financed by local businessman Albert C. Sutphin during the height of the Great Depression in 1937 as a playing site for Sutphin's AHL team, the Cleveland Barons. Later it hosted Sutphin's BAA's Cleveland Rebels and Nick...
under the direction of head coach Bill Fitch, they compiled a league-worst 15–67 record. The team hoped to build around the number one 1971 draft pick Austin Carr
Austin Carr
Austin George Carr is a retired American professional basketball player for the National Basketball Association. He is known by Cleveland basketball fans as "Mr. Cavalier".-Early years and high school career:...
who had set numerous scoring records at Notre Dame
Notre Dame Fighting Irish men's basketball
The Notre Dame Fighting Irish men's basketball team is the intercollegiate men's basketball program representing the University of Notre Dame in Notre Dame, Indiana, United States. The program competes in the Big East Conference of NCAA Division I. The school holds two national championships in...
, but Carr severely injured his leg shortly into his pro career and never was able to realize his potential.
The following seasons saw the Cavaliers gradually improve their on-court performance, thanks to season-by-season additions of talented players such as Bingo Smith
Bingo Smith
Robert "Bingo" Smith was a Forward/Guard for the San Diego Rockets , Cleveland Cavaliers and San Diego Clippers . He helped the Cavaliers win the 1975-76 NBA Central Division....
, Jim Chones
Jim Chones
James Bernett Chones is an American former professional basketball player.A 6'11" forward/center, Chones starred at Marquette University, where he earned All-America honors as a junior in 1972 after averaging 20.5 points and 11.9 rebounds per game...
, Jim Cleamons
Jim Cleamons
James Mitchell "Jim" Cleamons is a retired American professional basketball player and current coach. He played collegiately at The Ohio State University, and was selected by the Los Angeles Lakers with the 13th pick of the 1971 NBA Draft...
and Dick Snyder
Dick Snyder
Richard J. Snyder is an American former National Basketball Association player for the St. Louis Hawks, Phoenix Suns, Seattle SuperSonics, and Cleveland Cavaliers. Snyder attended college at Davidson College, and was drafted by the Hawks in the second round of the 1966 NBA Draft...
. Cleveland improved to 23–59 in their sophomore season
1971–72 NBA season
The 1971–72 NBA season was the 26th season of the National Basketball Association. The season ended with the Los Angeles Lakers winning the NBA Championship, beating the New York Knicks 4 games to 1 in the NBA Finals....
, followed by a 32–50 record in 1972–73, and a small step backwards to 29–53 in 1973–74. In 1974, the Cavaliers moved into the brand-new Richfield Coliseum, located in a rural area thirty miles south of downtown Cleveland in Summit County
Summit County, Ohio
Summit County is an urban county located in the state of Ohio, United States. As of the 2000 census, the population was 542,899. In the 2010 Census the population was 541,781. Its county seat is Akron...
(now part of the Cuyahoga Valley National Park
Cuyahoga Valley National Park
Cuyahoga Valley National Park preserves and reclaims the rural landscape along the Cuyahoga River between Akron and Cleveland in Northeast Ohio. The park is the only national park in Ohio.Cuyahoga means "crooked river" in Mohawk....
). That season, the Cavaliers finished with a 40–42 record, falling just short of a playoff berth.
In the 1975–76 season with Carr, Smith, Chones, Snyder, and newly acquired Nate Thurmond
Nate Thurmond
Nathaniel "Nate" Thurmond is a retired American basketball player. Dominant at both center and power forward, he was a seven-time All-Star and the first player in NBA history to record a quadruple-double....
; Fitch led the Cavaliers to a 49–33 record and a division title. Fitch received the league's Coach of the Year
NBA Coach of the Year Award
The National Basketball Association's Coach of the Year is an annual National Basketball Association award given since the 1962–63 NBA season. The winner receives the Red Auerbach Trophy, which is named in honor of the head coach who led the Boston Celtics to nine NBA Championships from 1956 to 1966...
award as the Cavs made their first-ever playoff appearance, and clinched their first Central Division
Central Division (NBA)
The Central Division is one of the three divisions in the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . The division consists of five teams, the Chicago Bulls, the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Detroit Pistons, the Indiana Pacers and the Milwaukee Bucks...
Title.
The Cavs won the series against the Washington Bullets
Washington Wizards
The Washington Wizards are a professional basketball team based in Washington, D.C., previously known as Washington Bullets. They play in the National Basketball Association .-Early years:...
, 4–3. Because of the many heroics and last-second shots, the series became known locally as the "Miracle of Richfield." Hampered by injuries, particularly to Jim Chones, the Cavs proceeded to lose to the Boston Celtics
1975–76 Boston Celtics season
The 1975–76 Boston Celtics season was their 30th in the National Basketball Association .-Draft picks:-Depth chart:-Regular season and postseason recap:The Celtics lost Don Chaney to the American Basketball Association before the 1975–76 season...
in Eastern Conference Finals of the NBA playoffs
1976 NBA Playoffs
The 1976 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1975-1976 season. The tournament concluded with the Eastern Conference champion Boston Celtics defeating the Western Conference champion Phoenix Suns, four games to two in the NBA Finals; the series was...
.
Cleveland won 43 games the next two seasons (1976–77 and 1977–78), but both those seasons resulted in early playoff exits. After a 30–52 season in 1978–79, Fitch resigned as head coach.
1980–1983: Under ownership of Ted Stepien
The following season, after going 37–45 under Fitch's successor Stan AlbeckStan Albeck
Stan Albeck is a former professional basketball coach. Albeck has coached for several teams in the American Basketball Association and National Basketball Association , including the Denver Rockets, the San Diego Conquistadors, , the Cleveland Cavaliers, the San Antonio Spurs, the New Jersey...
, original owner Mileti sold his shares to minority owner Joe Zingale. In 1980, after just a few months, Zingale sold the team to Nationwide Advertising magnate Ted Stepien
Ted Stepien
Ted Stepien was the former owner of the National Basketball Association's Cleveland Cavaliers. After becoming wealthy as the founder of Nationwide Advertising Service, Stepien purchased the Cavaliers in the spring of 1980...
. The new owner oversaw the hiring and firing of a succession of coaches and was involved in making a number of poor trade and free agent signing decisions. The result of Stepien's questionable trading acumen was the loss of several of the team's first-round draft picks, which led to a rule change in the NBA prohibiting teams from trading away first-round draft picks in consecutive years. This rule is known as the "Ted Stepien Rule."
Early on in his tenure, Stepien proposed to rename the team the "Ohio Cavaliers", part of a plan that included playing their home games not just in the Cleveland area but in Cincinnati and in non-Ohio markets such as Buffalo
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
and Pittsburgh. He also made changes to the game day entertainment, such as introducing a polka
Polka
The polka is a Central European dance and also a genre of dance music familiar throughout Europe and the Americas. It originated in the middle of the 19th century in Bohemia...
-flavored fight song and a dance team known as "The Teddy Bears".
The ensuing chaos had a major effect on both the Cavaliers' on-court performance and lack of local support, going 28–54 in 1980–81
1980-81 NBA season
-Statistics leaders:-NBA awards:*Most Valuable Player: Julius Erving, Philadelphia 76ers*Rookie of the Year: Darrell Griffith, Utah Jazz*Coach of the Year: Jack McKinney, Indiana Pacers*All-NBA First Team:**Larry Bird, Boston Celtics...
(Stepien's first year as owner), followed by an abysmal 15–67 mark in 1981–82
1981-82 NBA season
-Statistics leaders:-NBA awards:*Most Valuable Player: Moses Malone, Houston Rockets*Rookie of the Year: Buck Williams, New Jersey Nets*Coach of the Year: Gene Shue, Washington Bullets*All-NBA First Team:**Larry Bird, Boston Celtics...
. The 1981–82 team lost its last 19 games of the season which, when coupled with the five losses at the start of the 1982–83 season
1982-83 NBA season
-Statistics leaders:-NBA awards:*Most Valuable Player: Moses Malone, Philadelphia 76ers*Rookie of the Year: Terry Cummings, San Diego Clippers*Defensive Player of the Year: Sidney Moncrief, Milwaukee Bucks...
, constitute the NBA's second all-time longest losing streak at 24 games. Although the team improved its record to 23–59 the following year, local support for the Cavs eroded which eventually bottomed out that year by averaging only 3,900 fans a game at the cavernous Coliseum which seated more than 20,000.
Though Stepien eventually threatened to move the franchise to Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
and rename it the Toronto Towers, but brothers George and Gordon Gund
Gordon Gund
Gordon Gund is an United States businessman and professional sports owner. He is the CEO of Gund Investment Corporation. He is the former co-owner of the San Jose Sharks and former principal owner of the Cleveland Cavaliers and is currently a minority owner of the Cavaliers...
purchased the franchise in the mid 1980s and decided to keep the team in Cleveland (a decade later, Toronto would eventually receive an expansion franchise, the Toronto Raptors
Toronto Raptors
The Toronto Raptors are a professional basketball team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1995, along with the Vancouver Grizzlies, as part of the NBA's re-expansion...
.)
1983–1993: New look and new success
Shortly after purchasing the Cavaliers in 1983, the Gunds changed the team colors from wine and gold to burnt orange and navy blue. Furthermore, they officially adopted "Cavs" as a shorter nickname for marketing purposes, as it had been used unofficially by fans and headline writers since the team's inception.Under the coaching of George Karl
George Karl
George Matthew Karl is a former National Basketball Association and American Basketball Association player. He is the current head coach of the Denver Nuggets. On December 10, 2010 he became the seventh coach in NBA history to record 1,000 wins.-Biography:Karl was born in Penn Hills,...
, the Cavaliers failed again, and missed the playoffs, with a 28–54 record, in the 1983–84
1983-84 NBA season
-Statistics leaders:-Yearly awards:*Most Valuable Player: Larry Bird, Boston Celtics*Rookie of the Year: Ralph Sampson, Houston Rockets*Defensive Player of the Year: Sidney Moncrief, Milwaukee Bucks...
. The Cavs finally returned to the playoffs in 1985
1984-85 NBA season
-Statistics leaders:-Yearly awards:*Most Valuable Player: Larry Bird, Boston Celtics*Rookie of the Year: Michael Jordan, Chicago Bulls*Defensive Player of the Year: Mark Eaton, Utah Jazz...
, only to lose to the eventual Eastern Conference Champions Boston Celtics in the first round. At this point, the team was in transition, led by dynamic players such as World B. Free
World B. Free
World B. Free is an American former professional basketball player who played in the NBA from 1975–1988. Free was known as the "Prince of Midair" as well as "All-World".-Early years:...
, Roy Hinson
Roy Hinson
Roy Hinson is a retired American professional basketball player who was selected by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 1st round of the 1983 NBA Draft. Hinson attended Franklin H.S. in Franklin Township, New Jersey. He then spent his college career at Rutgers University in nearby New Brunswick, NJ...
and John Bagley. But in 1986, Karl was fired after 66 games. Interim head coach Gene Littles
Gene Littles
Eugene Scapes Littles is a retired American basketball player and current coach. He played professional basketball for six years....
guided the team the rest of the way, which saw the Cavs finish just one game short of the playoffs. After the season, it was time for a major overhaul. During the 7 season period the Cavaliers had 9 head coaches; Stan Albeck
Stan Albeck
Stan Albeck is a former professional basketball coach. Albeck has coached for several teams in the American Basketball Association and National Basketball Association , including the Denver Rockets, the San Diego Conquistadors, , the Cleveland Cavaliers, the San Antonio Spurs, the New Jersey...
, Bill Musselman
Bill Musselman
William Clifford Musselman was an American basketball coach in the NCAA, the ABA, the WBA, the CBA, and the NBA. He was a fiercely intense coach who once was quoted as saying "defeat is worse than death, because you have to live with defeat."-Early life:Musselman was the second of five children....
, Don Delaney
Don Delaney
Don Delaney was an American professional basketball coach, who served as head coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers in the early 1980s. Delaney also served as the team's general manager. Former Cavaliers owner Ted Stepien signed Delaney to a one-year contract to be the team's head coach in March 1981...
, Bob Kloppenburg
Bob Kloppenburg
Bob Kloppenburg is an American professional basketball coach, who served as an interim head coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers in the early 1980s. Kloppenburg later served as an assistant coach for the Seattle SuperSonics, Denver Nuggets and Toronto Raptors. While with the Seattle SuperSonics ,...
, Chuck Daly
Chuck Daly
Charles Jerome "Chuck" Daly was an American basketball head coach. He led the Detroit Pistons to consecutive National Basketball Association Championships in 1989 and 1990, and the Dream Team to the men's basketball gold medal at the 1992 Summer Olympics. He had a 14-year NBA coaching...
, Bill Musselman
Bill Musselman
William Clifford Musselman was an American basketball coach in the NCAA, the ABA, the WBA, the CBA, and the NBA. He was a fiercely intense coach who once was quoted as saying "defeat is worse than death, because you have to live with defeat."-Early life:Musselman was the second of five children....
(again), Tom Nissalke
Tom Nissalke
Thomas Edward "Tom" Nissalke is a retired former American professional basketball coach in the NBA and American Basketball Association...
, George Karl
George Karl
George Matthew Karl is a former National Basketball Association and American Basketball Association player. He is the current head coach of the Denver Nuggets. On December 10, 2010 he became the seventh coach in NBA history to record 1,000 wins.-Biography:Karl was born in Penn Hills,...
, and Gene Littles
Gene Littles
Eugene Scapes Littles is a retired American basketball player and current coach. He played professional basketball for six years....
. The only playoff appearance earned during this stretch was during the 1984–85 season under George Karl
George Karl
George Matthew Karl is a former National Basketball Association and American Basketball Association player. He is the current head coach of the Denver Nuggets. On December 10, 2010 he became the seventh coach in NBA history to record 1,000 wins.-Biography:Karl was born in Penn Hills,...
losing to the Boston Celtics
Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics are a National Basketball Association team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 1946, the team is currently owned by Boston Basketball Partners LLC. The Celtics play their home games at the TD Garden, which...
in the first round in four games (3–1).
In 1986, the Cavaliers acquired, either through trades or the draft
1986 NBA Draft
-Drug and health issues involving drafted players:There were various drug-related problems that plagued players in the 1986 NBA draft. Most notable was the death of highly-touted Len Bias. Bias died less than two days after being selected second overall by the defending champion Boston Celtics. His...
, Brad Daugherty, Mark Price
Mark Price
William Mark Price is a retired American basketball player who played for 12 seasons in the NBA, from 1986 to 1998...
, Ron Harper
Ron Harper
Ronald "Ron" Harper is a retired American professional basketball player whose career spanned from 1986 to 2001 with four teams in the NBA. At 6 ft 6 in , his position was shooting guard/point guard.- Collegiate career :...
and Larry Nance. These four players (until Harper was later traded to the Los Angeles Clippers
Los Angeles Clippers
The Los Angeles Clippers are a professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California, United States. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...
in 1989 for the rights to Danny Ferry
Danny Ferry
Daniel John Willard "Danny" Ferry is a retired American professional basketball player and the Vice President of Basketball Operations for the San Antonio Spurs of the National Basketball Association...
) formed the core of the team, under the direction of head coach Lenny Wilkens
Lenny Wilkens
Leonard Randolph "Lenny" Wilkens is a retired American basketball player and coach in the NBA...
, that led the Cavs to eight playoff seasons in the next nine years, including three 50+ win seasons.
In 1989, the Cavs were paired against the Michael Jordan-led Chicago Bulls in the first round of the playoffs
1989 NBA Playoffs
The 1989 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1988-89 NBA season. The tournament concluded with the Eastern Conference champion Detroit Pistons defeating the Western Conference champion Los Angeles Lakers, who were severely hampered by injuries, four...
. In the fourth game of the best-of-five-series, Cleveland managed to beat the Bulls in overtime 108–105 to level the series at 2–2. Home court advantage went to Cleveland. The game was evenly matched, until Cleveland managed to score on a drive and raise the lead by one, with three seconds left. Chicago called for a time-out. The ball was inbounded to Michael Jordan
Michael Jordan
Michael Jeffrey Jordan is a former American professional basketball player, active entrepreneur, and majority owner of the Charlotte Bobcats...
, who went for a jump shot. Cleveland's Craig Ehlo
Craig Ehlo
Joel Craig Ehlo, , is a retired American National Basketball Association player.A guard/forward from Odessa Junior College and Washington State University, Ehlo was selected in the third round of the 1983 NBA Draft by the Houston Rockets, and went with the Rockets to the 1986 NBA Finals in a...
jumped in front to block it, but Jordan seemed to stay in the air until Ehlo landed. "The Shot
The Shot
The Shot is the name of the series-winning basket made by Michael Jordan in the 5th game of the 1989 Eastern Conference First Round against the Cavs, in the Coliseum at Richfield...
" went in as time ran out, with Chicago winning the series 3–2. The buzzer-beater is considered one of Jordan's greatest clutch moments, and the game itself one of the greatest in NBA history. But the pinnacle of the Cavs' success came in the 1991–92 season, when they compiled a 57–25 record and advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals
NBA Conference Finals
The National Basketball Association Conference Finals are the Eastern Conference and Western Conference Championship series of the National Basketball Association , a major professional basketball league in North America. The NBA was founded in 1946 as the Basketball Association of America...
, losing again to the Chicago Bulls 4–2.
1993–2003: A decade of struggle
Soon after, the Cavaliers entered into a period of decline. With the retirements and departures of Nance, Daugherty, and Price, the team lost much of its dominance and were no longer able to contest strongly during the playoffs. After the 1992–93 season, in which the Cavs boasted a 54–28 regular-season record but suffered an early exit from the playoffs in the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals to the Chicago Bulls, Wilkens left to coach the Atlanta HawksAtlanta Hawks
The Atlanta Hawks are an American professional basketball team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are part of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association .-The first years:...
.
Following the hiring of Mike Fratello
Mike Fratello
Michael Robert "Mike" Fratello is an American color analyst and a professional basketball coach. He previously coached the Atlanta Hawks, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Memphis Grizzlies of the NBA, and is currently the head coach of the Ukraine national basketball team.-Background:Fratello was born in...
as head coach starting with the 1993–94 season, the Cavs became one of the NBA's best defensive teams under the leadership of point guard Terrell Brandon
Terrell Brandon
Thomas Terrell Brandon is a retired American professional basketball player in the National Basketball Association . Terrell was known throughout his 10-year career for his passing ability and stealing skills.-Early life:...
. But the offense, which was a half-court, "slow-down" tempo installed by Fratello, met with mixed success. Although the Cavaliers made regular playoff appearances, they were unable to advance beyond the first round.
In 1994, the Cavs moved back to downtown Cleveland with the opening of the 20,562-seat, state-of-the-art, Gund Arena
Quicken Loans Arena
Quicken Loans Arena , is a multi-purpose arena, in downtown Cleveland, Ohio, United States....
. Known by locals as "the Gund", the venue served as the site of the 1997 NBA All-Star Game
1997 NBA All-Star Game
The 1997 NBA All-Star Game was the 47th edition of the All-Star Game and commemorated the 50th anniversary of NBA. The game was played on February 9, 1997, at Gund Arena in Cleveland, Ohio, United States...
. The arena and the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
' Jacobs Field were built together as part of the city's Gateway project.
Later on, players like Shawn Kemp
Shawn Kemp
Shawn T. Kemp is a former American professional basketball player, who played in the National Basketball Association for 14 seasons. He was a six-time NBA All-Star and a three-time All-NBA Second Team member.-Early years:...
and Žydrūnas Ilgauskas
Žydrunas Ilgauskas
Žydrūnas Ilgauskas , or "Big Z" , is a retired Lithuanian professional basketball center who played for the Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat of the National Basketball Association...
added quality to the team, but without further success. Fratello was fired following the shortened 1998–99 season.
Despite the arrivals of Andre Miller
Andre Miller
Andre Lloyd Miller is an American professional basketball player, currently with the Denver Nuggets of the National Basketball Association.- College career :...
, Brevin Knight
Brevin Knight
Brevin Adon Knight is an American retired professional basketball point guard who played with nine teams in the NBA from 1997 to 2009. Knight played college basketball at Stanford University and was drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers in 1997...
, Chris Mihm
Chris Mihm
Christopher Steven Mihm is a 7 ft , 265 pound American professional basketball player currently a free agent. He was drafted with the 7th overall pick in the 2000 NBA Draft by the Chicago Bulls.-Early life:...
and Carlos Boozer
Carlos Boozer
Carlos Austin Boozer, Jr. is an American professional basketball player with the Chicago Bulls of the National Basketball Association...
, the Cavs were a perennial lottery team for the early part of the 2000s. The 2002–03 team finished with the third-worst record in franchise history (17–65), which earned them a tie for last place in the league and a 22.5 percent chance at winning the NBA Draft Lottery and the first overall selection.
Ricky Davis
Ricky Davis
Tyree Ricardo Davis , better known as Ricky Davis, is an American professional basketball player.-Biography:...
received national attention on March 16, 2003 in game against the Utah Jazz
Utah Jazz
The Utah Jazz is a professional basketball team based in Salt Lake City, Utah. They are currently a part of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
. With Cleveland ahead in the game 120–95, Davis was one rebound short of a triple-double with only a few seconds left on the clock. After receiving an inbound pass at the Cavs' end of the floor, Davis banged the ball off the rim and caught it in attempt to receive credit for a rebound. Utah's DeShawn Stevenson
DeShawn Stevenson
DeShawn Stevenson is an American professional basketball player who last played for the Dallas Mavericks of the NBA. Before his NBA career, he originally committed to play at the University of Kansas, but decided to enter the NBA directly from Washington Union High School in his hometown of...
took offense to this breach of sportman's etiquette
Sportsmanship
Sportsmanship is an aspiration or ethos that a sport or activity will be enjoyed for its own sake, with proper consideration for fairness, ethics, respect, and a sense of fellowship with one's competitors...
and immediately fouled Davis hard. The play did not count as a rebound since firing at your own team's basket does not count as a shot attempt, and in fact is a technical foul under NBA rules. Since the referees had never seen anyone shoot at their own basket before, they were unfamiliar with the rule and play was allowed to continue. This (which led to Davis being nicknamed in Cleveland as "Wrong Rim Ricky") and countless other selfish acts contributed to the Cavs trading of Davis later that year and ushering in a new type of team.
2003–2010: The LeBron James era
LeBron James
LeBron Raymone James is an American professional basketball player for the Miami Heat of the National Basketball Association . Nicknamed "King James", he was a three-time "Mr. Basketball" of Ohio in high school, and was highly promoted in the national media as a future NBA superstar while a...
. As if celebrating a new era in Cleveland Cavaliers basketball, the team's colors were changed from orange, black and blue back to wine and gold, with the addition of navy blue and a new primary logo.
James' status as both an area star (having played his high school basketball at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School in nearby Akron
Akron, Ohio
Akron , is the fifth largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Summit County. It is located in the Great Lakes region approximately south of Lake Erie along the Little Cuyahoga River. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 199,110. The Akron Metropolitan...
) and as one of the most highly touted prospects in NBA history has led many to view his selection as a turning point in the franchise's history. Embraced by Clevelanders as "King James," the 2003–04 season offered great hope for the future, as James rose to become a dominating player, winning the NBA Rookie of the Year Award
NBA Rookie of the Year Award
The National Basketball Association's Rookie of the Year Award is an annual National Basketball Association award given since the 1952–53 NBA season, to the top rookie of the regular season. The winner receives the Eddie Gottlieb Trophy, which is named in honor of the Philadelphia Warriors head...
. Hope was even greater for the 2004–05 season. James increased his production in terms of points, rebounds, and assists per game. Despite the loss of Carlos Boozer in the offseason, James teamed with Žydrūnas Ilgauskas
Žydrunas Ilgauskas
Žydrūnas Ilgauskas , or "Big Z" , is a retired Lithuanian professional basketball center who played for the Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat of the National Basketball Association...
and Drew Gooden
Drew Gooden
Andrew Melvin "Drew" Gooden is an American professional basketball player in the NBA who plays for the Milwaukee Bucks. Gooden is a 6'10", 250 lbs...
to form the core of the team. After a promising start, the Cavs
2004–05 Cleveland Cavaliers season
The 2004-05 Cleveland Cavaliers season was the 35th season of NBA basketball in Cleveland, Ohio. The Cavaliers finished the season with a 42–40 record, a fourth place finish in the Central Division, and barely missed out of the playoffs, losing a tiebreaker for the 8th spot to the New Jersey Nets...
began a downward spiral that eventually led to the firing of coach Paul Silas
Paul Silas
Paul Theron Silas is a retired American professional basketball player and current head coach of the Charlotte Bobcats. He attended Creighton University, where he set an NCAA record for the most rebounds in three seasons and averaged 20.6 rebounds per game in 1963...
and general manager Jim Paxson
Jim Paxson
James Joseph "Jim" Paxson is an American retired professional basketball player. A first round selection of the Portland Trail Blazers in the 1979 NBA Draft, Paxson played for the Portland and the Boston Celtics of the NBA from 1979-1990 and was twice an All-Star...
. The team failed to make the playoffs
2005 NBA Playoffs
The 2005 NBA Playoffs was the postseason of the National Basketball Association's 2004–05 season.The San Antonio Spurs, the number two ranked team in the Western Conference, won the 2005 NBA Playoffs by defeating the defending champions, the Detroit Pistons, 4-3 in the NBA Finals...
that year, tied with New Jersey Nets
New Jersey Nets
The New Jersey Nets are a professional basketball team based in Newark, New Jersey. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
for the final playoff spot with identical 42–40 records; however, the Nets owned the tiebreaker due to having the better head to head record vs the Cavs.
2005–06 Cleveland Cavaliers season
The 2005-06 Cleveland Cavaliers season was the 36th season of NBA basketball in Cleveland, Ohio. The Cavaliers finished the season with a 50–32 record, a second place finish in the Central Division, and reached the semifinals of the Eastern Conference...
made many changes in the 2005 offseason. Under new owner Dan Gilbert, the team hired a new head coach, Mike Brown, and a new general manager, former Cavaliers forward Danny Ferry
Danny Ferry
Daniel John Willard "Danny" Ferry is a retired American professional basketball player and the Vice President of Basketball Operations for the San Antonio Spurs of the National Basketball Association...
. The team experienced success on the court in the following season, clinching their first playoff appearance since 1998. After a first round win over the Washington Wizards, the Cavaliers rebounded from a 0–2 deficit in the second round against the Detroit Pistons
Detroit Pistons
The Detroit Pistons are a franchise of the National Basketball Association based in Auburn Hills, Michigan. The team's home arena is The Palace of Auburn Hills. It was originally founded in Fort Wayne, Indiana as the Fort Wayne Pistons as a member of the National Basketball League in 1941, where...
, winning three consecutive games to come one game away from the conference finals. They lost a close Game 6 at home, and followed it with a 79–61 loss in Game 7. The playoff rounds were a showcase for the emergence of LeBron James, who achieved many "youngest ever to..." records during the run.
The Cavs continued their success in the 2006–07
2006–07 Cleveland Cavaliers season
The 2006-07 Cleveland Cavaliers season was the 37th season of NBA basketball in Cleveland, Ohio. The Cavaliers finished the season with a 50–32 record, a second place finish in the Central Division, and the champions of the Eastern Conference...
season. The team earned the second seed in the East with a 50–32 record, generating a series of favorable matchups in the playoffs
2007 NBA Playoffs
The 2007 NBA Playoffs was the postseason to the National Basketball Association's 2006–2007 season.There were four rounds of postseason action, all of them in a best-of-seven format, with teams seeded on a bracket. The team with the better record wasn't necessarily the basis of seeding teams in...
. They battled 7th-seeded Wizards, who struggled with injuries near the end of the season. The Cavaliers swept this series 4–0 , and defeated the New Jersey Nets
New Jersey Nets
The New Jersey Nets are a professional basketball team based in Newark, New Jersey. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
, 4–2, in the second round.
The Cavaliers faced the Pistons in the Eastern Conference Finals. After again losing the first two games at Detroit, the Cavaliers won the next three to take a 3–2 series lead. This time, the Cavaliers eliminated Detroit in Game 6. The wins included a 109–107 double-overtime game at The Palace of Auburn Hills
The Palace of Auburn Hills
The Palace of Auburn Hills, often referred to simply as The Palace, is a sports and entertainment venue in Auburn Hills, Michigan, a suburb on the northern outskirts of Detroit, Michigan, United States. Opened in 1988, it is the home of the Detroit Pistons of the National Basketball Association...
in Game 5, in which LeBron James scored the last 25 points for the Cavs, and his performance in this game is recognized as one of the best in NBA history. They continued to a dominant 98–82 win at home in Game 6. Rookie Daniel "Boobie" Gibson
Daniel Gibson
Daniel Hiram Gibson is an American professional basketball player currently playing for the Cleveland Cavaliers of the NBA. His nickname, "Boobie," was given to him by his mother. He has played for the Cleveland Cavaliers ever since 2006 when he was drafted in the second round...
scored a career-high 31 points in the series clincher, and the franchise won its first ever Eastern Conference Championship.
The team's first trip to the NBA Finals
2007 NBA Finals
The 2007 NBA Finals was the championship series of the 2006-07 National Basketball Association season, and was the conclusion of the 2007 NBA Playoffs. The best-of-seven series was played between the Western Conference champion San Antonio Spurs and the Eastern Conference champion Cleveland...
was a short one, as they were outmatched and outplayed by the very strong San Antonio Spurs
San Antonio Spurs
The San Antonio Spurs are an American professional basketball team based in San Antonio, Texas. They are part of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association ....
, who swept the Cavs 4–0.
The Cavs
2007–08 Cleveland Cavaliers season
The 2007-08 Cleveland Cavaliers season was the 38th season of NBA basketball in Cleveland, Ohio. The Cavaliers were the defending Eastern Conference champions.Key dates:*On June 28, the 2007 NBA Draft took place in New York City, New York....
took a step back in the 2007–08 season
2007–08 Cleveland Cavaliers season
The 2007-08 Cleveland Cavaliers season was the 38th season of NBA basketball in Cleveland, Ohio. The Cavaliers were the defending Eastern Conference champions.Key dates:*On June 28, the 2007 NBA Draft took place in New York City, New York....
. They battled injuries and had many roster changes, including a three team trade at the trade deadline in which the team acquired F Joe Smith, G-F Wally Szczerbiak
Wally Szczerbiak
Walter Robert "Wally" Szczerbiak is an American former professional basketball player.-Early life:Szczerbiak was born in Madrid, Spain, while his father Walter was playing for Real Madrid, and spent much of his childhood in Europe during his father's playing career...
, F-C Ben Wallace
Ben Wallace
Ben Camey Wallace is an American basketball center for the Detroit Pistons of the NBA. A native of Alabama, Wallace attended Cuyahoga Community College and Virginia Union University and signed with the Washington Bullets as an undrafted free agent in 1996...
, and G Delonte West
Delonte West
Delonte Maurice West is an American professional basketball player who last played with the Boston Celtics of the NBA.-High school career:...
. The Cavs finished 45–37 and lost in the second round against eventual champion Boston of the playoffs
2008 NBA Playoffs
The 2008 NBA Playoffs was the postseason for the National Basketball Association's 2007–08 season which ended with the Eastern Conference champion Boston Celtics defeating the Western Conference champion Los Angeles Lakers 4–2....
.
In the 2008 off-season, the team made a major change to its lineup, trading G Damon Jones and Smith (who later in the season rejoined the Cavs after being released by Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City Thunder
The Oklahoma City Thunder are a professional basketball franchise based in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association ; their home court is at Chesapeake Energy Arena....
) for point guard Mo Williams
Mo Williams
Maurice "Mo" Williams is an American professional basketball player who currently plays for the Los Angeles Clippers of the National Basketball Association...
. This trade was made in hopes of bringing another scorer to aid James.
In the next season, the Cavs made astounding progress. They finished with a record of 66–16, the winningest season in the franchise's history. The year marked other notable franchise records, including a 13-game winning streak, and road and home winning records. The Cavs entered the playoffs
2009 NBA Playoffs
The 2009 NBA Playoffs was the postseason for the National Basketball Association's 2008–09 season. The playoffs started on April 18, 2009 with ABC, ESPN, TNT, and NBA TV broadcasting the games in the United States...
as the #1 seed in the NBA with home court advantage throughout the playoffs. They finished the season 39–2 at home, one win short of the best all-time home record. Head Coach Mike Brown won NBA Coach of the Year honors and LeBron James
LeBron James
LeBron Raymone James is an American professional basketball player for the Miami Heat of the National Basketball Association . Nicknamed "King James", he was a three-time "Mr. Basketball" of Ohio in high school, and was highly promoted in the national media as a future NBA superstar while a...
finished second in the NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award
NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award
The National Basketball Association's Defensive Player of the Year Award is an annual National Basketball Association award given since the 1982–83 NBA season, to the top defensive player of the regular season...
and won the NBA MVP. The Cavs began the 2009 postseason by sweeping the 8th-seeded Detroit Pistons
2008–09 Detroit Pistons season
The 2008–09 Detroit Pistons season is the 68th season of the franchise, 61st in the National Basketball Association . The season is the first for new head coach Michael Curry, who took over for Flip Saunders after Saunders was fired at the conclusion of the 2007–08 season.During the season, the...
4–0, winning every game by 10 or more points. In the conference semifinals, the Cavaliers faced the 4th-seeded Atlanta Hawks
2008–09 Atlanta Hawks season
The 2008–09 Atlanta Hawks season was the 63rd season of the franchise, 60th in the National Basketball Association . It ended on Monday, May 11, 2009 with a loss at home to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the second-round of the playoffs.-Key dates:...
, who had defeated the Miami Heat
2008–09 Miami Heat season
The 2008–09 Miami Heat season will be the 21st season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association .-Key dates:*June 26: The 2008 NBA Draft will take place in New York City, New York.*July 1: The free agency period will start....
in seven games. Despite the Cavaliers' long layoff between the series they swept the Hawks 4–0, again winning each game by at least ten points, becoming the first team in NBA history to win eight straight playoff games by a double-digit margin.
The Cavs then met the Orlando Magic
2008–09 Orlando Magic season
The 2008–09 Orlando Magic season was the 20th season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association .-Key dates:*June 26: The 2008 NBA Draft took place in New York City, New York.*July 1: The free agency period started....
in the Eastern Conference Finals. The Cavs lost Game 1 of the series 107–106 at home despite James' 49-point effort. Despite winning Game 2 by a score of 96–95, with the help of a James buzzer beating three-pointer, it was not enough as Orlando eventually took the series in 6 games.
On June 25, 2009, 4-time NBA Champion and 15-time All-Star center Shaquille O'Neal
Shaquille O'Neal
Shaquille Rashaun O'Neal , nicknamed "Shaq" , is a former American professional basketball player. Standing tall and weighing , he was one of the heaviest players ever to play in the NBA...
was traded from the Phoenix Suns
Phoenix Suns
The Phoenix Suns are a professional basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association and the only team in their division not to be based in California. Their home arena since 1992 has been the US...
to the Cavaliers. The trade sent Ben Wallace
Ben Wallace
Ben Camey Wallace is an American basketball center for the Detroit Pistons of the NBA. A native of Alabama, Wallace attended Cuyahoga Community College and Virginia Union University and signed with the Washington Bullets as an undrafted free agent in 1996...
and Sasha Pavlovic to Phoenix along with the 46th pick in the 2010 NBA Draft
2010 NBA Draft
The 2010 NBA Draft was held on June 24, 2010 at the Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. The draft, which started at 7:00 pm Eastern Daylight Time , was broadcast in the United States on ESPN. In this draft, National Basketball Association teams took turns selecting amateur...
and $500,000 in cash considerations.
During the 2009 offseason, the Cavaliers signed wingman Anthony Parker
Anthony Parker
Anthony Michael Parker is an American professional basketball player who last played with the Cleveland Cavaliers of the National Basketball Association . After graduating from Bradley University with a major in liberal arts, he entered the 1997 NBA Draft and played briefly in the NBA before...
, and forwards Leon Powe
Leon Powe
Leon Powe, Jr. is an American professional basketball power forward who last played for the Memphis Grizzlies of the National Basketball Association . Drafted in 2006 by the Denver Nuggets, Powe grew up in Oakland, California and played college basketball at the University of California, Berkeley...
and Jamario Moon
Jamario Moon
Jamario Raman Moon is an American professional basketball player. Moon played college basketball for one season at Meridian Community College and began his professional career with teams in the United States Basketball League and NBA Development League, the Harlem Globetrotters, and Mexican...
for the following season. On February 17, 2010, the Cavaliers acquired All-Star forward Antawn Jamison
Antawn Jamison
Antawn Cortez Jamison is an American professional basketball player in the National Basketball Association . He currently plays power forward for the Cleveland Cavaliers and was a member of the USA National Team for the 2006 FIBA World Championships...
from the Washington Wizards
Washington Wizards
The Washington Wizards are a professional basketball team based in Washington, D.C., previously known as Washington Bullets. They play in the National Basketball Association .-Early years:...
and Sebastian Telfair
Sebastian Telfair
Sebastian Telfair is an American professional basketball player who last played for the Minnesota Timberwolves. Telfair was the 13th overall pick in the 2004 NBA Draft by the Portland Trail Blazers out of Abraham Lincoln High School...
from the LA Clippers in a three way trade. The Cavaliers originally lost Žydrūnas Ilgauskas
Žydrunas Ilgauskas
Žydrūnas Ilgauskas , or "Big Z" , is a retired Lithuanian professional basketball center who played for the Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat of the National Basketball Association...
(center) in this trade, but after being waived by Washington, he signed back with the Cavaliers on March 23, 2010 for the rest of the 2009–2010 season. The Cavaliers managed to finish with the NBA's best record for the second straight season, with a 61–21 record. LeBron James was named the NBA MVP, for the second consecutive year. The Cavaliers defeated the Chicago Bulls
Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls are an American professional basketball team based in Chicago, Illinois, playing in the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1966. They play their home games at the United Center...
4–1 in the first round of the 2010 NBA Playoffs
2010 NBA Playoffs
The 2010 NBA Playoffs was the postseason for the National Basketball Association's 2009–10 season. The playoffs started on April 17, 2010 with ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, TNT, and NBA TV broadcasting the games in the United States...
but, in a huge upset, lost to the Boston Celtics
Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics are a National Basketball Association team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 1946, the team is currently owned by Boston Basketball Partners LLC. The Celtics play their home games at the TD Garden, which...
after leading the series 2–1, with the Celtics proceeding to win 3 consecutive games (afterwards, the Celtics went to the 2010 NBA Finals
2010 NBA Finals
The 2010 NBA Finals was the National Basketball Association championship series for the 2009–10 season. The best-of-seven playoff was contested between the Los Angeles Lakers, champions of the Western Conference and defending NBA champions, and the Boston Celtics, champions of the Eastern Conference...
and lost to the Los Angeles Lakers
Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
4–3.) Each team would suffer record-setting playoff defeats on home soil; the Celtics lost by 29, 124–95, in Game 3 (May 7), the greatest defeat in the history of the Boston Celtics in the playoffs, while the Cavaliers lost by 32, 120–88, in Game 5 (May 11).
With the Cavaliers out of the playoffs, the focus then turned to James' impending free agency. On July 8, 2010, James announced in a one hour show named The Decision on ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
that he would be signing with the Miami Heat
Miami Heat
The Miami Heat is a professional basketball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. The team is a member of the Southeast Division in the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . They play their home games at American Airlines Arena in Downtown Miami...
. The repercussions of this announcement left many in the city of Cleveland infuriated and feeling betrayed. A couple of LeBron James jerseys were burned, and the famous Nike "Witness" mural of James in downtown Cleveland was immediately taken down. Shortly after James made his announcement, Dan Gilbert, the owner of the Cavaliers, announced in an open letter on the Cavaliers website that James' decision was a "cowardly betrayal" and promised a NBA championship for the Cleveland Cavaliers before LeBron James wins one. Despite being ridiculed for the letter by the media, Cleveland fans embraced the owner, even offering to pay the $100,000 fine given by the NBA.
2010–present: Rebuilding
During the 2010 offseason, the Cavaliers fired head coach Mike Brown, along with most of their coaching staff. General Manager Danny FerryDanny Ferry
Daniel John Willard "Danny" Ferry is a retired American professional basketball player and the Vice President of Basketball Operations for the San Antonio Spurs of the National Basketball Association...
resigned on June 4, 2010 and Assistant General Manager Chris Grant was promoted to replace Ferry. On July 1, the Cavaliers hired former Los Angeles Lakers
Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
guard and former New Jersey Nets
New Jersey Nets
The New Jersey Nets are a professional basketball team based in Newark, New Jersey. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
and New Orleans Hornets head coach Byron Scott
Byron Scott (basketball)
Byron Antom Scott is a retired American National Basketball Association player and current head coach of the NBA's Cleveland Cavaliers. He was formerly the head coach of the NBA's New Jersey Nets and New Orleans Hornets. He attended Arizona State University, but left school in his junior year to...
as the 18th head coach in franchise history.
The Cavaliers spent the rest of the 2010 off-season rebuilding their team after James' departure. On July 23, they signed 2009 first-round pick Christian Eyenga
Christian Eyenga
Christian Eyenga Moenge is a Congolese professional basketball player with Joventut Badalona of the Liga ACB. In June 2009, Eyenga was drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers of the National Basketball Association with the 30th pick in that year's NBA Draft. When drafted, he played for the Spanish...
. On July 26, the Cavs traded Delonte West
Delonte West
Delonte Maurice West is an American professional basketball player who last played with the Boston Celtics of the NBA.-High school career:...
and Sebastian Telfair
Sebastian Telfair
Sebastian Telfair is an American professional basketball player who last played for the Minnesota Timberwolves. Telfair was the 13th overall pick in the 2004 NBA Draft by the Portland Trail Blazers out of Abraham Lincoln High School...
to the Minnesota Timberwolves
Minnesota Timberwolves
The Minnesota Timberwolves are an American professional basketball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . Founded in 1989, the team is currently owned by Glen Taylor...
for Ramon Sessions
Ramon Sessions
Ramon Sessions is an American professional basketball player for the NBA's Cleveland Cavaliers. He was drafted by Milwaukee with the 56th pick in the 2007 NBA Draft. Sessions played collegiately at the University of Nevada for three years. Sessions ranks second in career assists at Nevada with 478...
, Ryan Hollins
Ryan Hollins
Ryan Kenwood Hollins is an American professional basketball player who is currently a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers of the NBA. He is a 7-foot center who played collegiately for the UCLA Bruins.-High school:...
and a 2013 second round draft pick. On July 30, the Cavaliers signed free agent Joey Graham
Joey Graham
Joseph "Joey" Graham is an American professional basketball player who plays for the Cleveland Cavaliers.-College career:Graham played at Central Florida from 2000 to 2002, and at Oklahoma State from 2003 to 2005...
to a one-year, veteran's minimum contract with a team option for a second year. On August 16, the Cavs signed undrafted Jamaican rookie Samardo Samuels
Samardo Samuels
Samardo Samuels is a Jamaican professional basketball player with the Cleveland Cavaliers of the NBA. He is a 6-foot-9-inch, 265-pound power forward/center who attended college at the University of Louisville....
to a three-year, $2.3 million contract. On September 20, Jawad Williams
Jawad Williams
Jawad Hason Williams is an American professional basketball player. He played high school basketball at St. Edward High School of Lakewood, Ohio and collegiately for the University of North Carolina Tar Heels....
and the Cavs decided to resign and reached a one-year $1.02 million contract. After finishing the 2010 pre-season with a 6–2 record, the Cavs decided to waive Danny Green
Danny Green (basketball)
Daniel Richard "Danny" Green, Jr. is an American professional basketball player for KK Union Olimpija in Slovenia. He is a 6'6" guard-forward from North Carolina. Danny has the most wins in North Carolina history: he played in more games and had more wins than any Tar Heel before him...
and sign with the undrafted rookie Manny Harris
Manny Harris
Corperryale L'Adorable "Manny" Harris is a professional basketball player for the Cleveland Cavaliers of the National Basketball Association. He is a former All-Big Ten Conference guard who played three seasons for the Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team...
, the Cavs also decided to exercise the fourth-year option with J.J. Hickson. On November 18, the Cavaliers sent Christian Eyenga
Christian Eyenga
Christian Eyenga Moenge is a Congolese professional basketball player with Joventut Badalona of the Liga ACB. In June 2009, Eyenga was drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers of the National Basketball Association with the 30th pick in that year's NBA Draft. When drafted, he played for the Spanish...
to the Erie BayHawks
Erie BayHawks
The Erie BayHawks are a 2008-09 expansion team in the NBA Development League. The team plays its home games at the Louis J. Tullio Arena in Erie, Pennsylvania.The "BayHawks" name is a reference to Presque Isle Bay, on which the city of Erie lies...
, the NBA D-League affiliate. On December 27, the Cavs decided to waive Jawad Williams
Jawad Williams
Jawad Hason Williams is an American professional basketball player. He played high school basketball at St. Edward High School of Lakewood, Ohio and collegiately for the University of North Carolina Tar Heels....
and assign Samardo Samuels
Samardo Samuels
Samardo Samuels is a Jamaican professional basketball player with the Cleveland Cavaliers of the NBA. He is a 6-foot-9-inch, 265-pound power forward/center who attended college at the University of Louisville....
to the NBA D-League. One day later, the Cavs signed Alonzo Gee
Alonzo Gee
-High school and college career:Gee played basketball at William T. Dwyer High School in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.He went on to play four seasons of college basketball at the University of Alabama from the 2005–06 season until 2008–09 season...
. On January 1 and 2 the Cavs recalled Samardo Samuels
Samardo Samuels
Samardo Samuels is a Jamaican professional basketball player with the Cleveland Cavaliers of the NBA. He is a 6-foot-9-inch, 265-pound power forward/center who attended college at the University of Louisville....
and Christian Eyenga
Christian Eyenga
Christian Eyenga Moenge is a Congolese professional basketball player with Joventut Badalona of the Liga ACB. In June 2009, Eyenga was drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers of the National Basketball Association with the 30th pick in that year's NBA Draft. When drafted, he played for the Spanish...
, respectively, from the Erie BayHawks
Erie BayHawks
The Erie BayHawks are a 2008-09 expansion team in the NBA Development League. The team plays its home games at the Louis J. Tullio Arena in Erie, Pennsylvania.The "BayHawks" name is a reference to Presque Isle Bay, on which the city of Erie lies...
. On February 24, 2011 the Cavs made two trade deadline deals, acquiring former All-Star Baron Davis
Baron Davis
Baron Walter Louis Davis is an American professional basketball player with the Cleveland Cavaliers of the NBA. Drafted as the third pick in the 1999 NBA Draft by the Charlotte Hornets, Davis was a star at Crossroads School and UCLA....
and a 2011 first round draft pick from the L.A. Clippers
Los Angeles Clippers
The Los Angeles Clippers are a professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California, United States. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...
, which wound being the number one pick in the entire draft, for Mo Williams
Mo Williams
Maurice "Mo" Williams is an American professional basketball player who currently plays for the Los Angeles Clippers of the National Basketball Association...
and Jamario Moon
Jamario Moon
Jamario Raman Moon is an American professional basketball player. Moon played college basketball for one season at Meridian Community College and began his professional career with teams in the United States Basketball League and NBA Development League, the Harlem Globetrotters, and Mexican...
in return. The Cavaliers also sent a 2013 second-round pick to the Boston Celtics
Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics are a National Basketball Association team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 1946, the team is currently owned by Boston Basketball Partners LLC. The Celtics play their home games at the TD Garden, which...
for Luke Harangody
Luke Harangody
Luke Harangody is an American professional basketball player with the Cleveland Cavaliers of the NBA. Harangody completed his college career at the University of Notre Dame in 2010. He is the only men's player in the history of the Big East Conference to average 20 points and 10 rebounds...
and Semih Erden. Leon Powe
Leon Powe
Leon Powe, Jr. is an American professional basketball power forward who last played for the Memphis Grizzlies of the National Basketball Association . Drafted in 2006 by the Denver Nuggets, Powe grew up in Oakland, California and played college basketball at the University of California, Berkeley...
was waived to create roster space.
On the court, the 2010–11 season was a stark contrast from the previous two seasons. The Cavaliers were conference-worst 19–63. This season also saw the Cavs lose 26 games in a row, which set an NBA record and tied the 1976–77 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
for the longest losing streak in any American professional team sport. The Cavaliers had upset wins against the Los Angeles Lakers (57-25), Miami Heat (58-24) and Boston Celtics (56-26) during the season.
Having the second-worst team record in the 2010–11 season, the Cavaliers had high odds of winning an early draft pick in the NBA Draft Lottery
NBA Draft Lottery
The NBA Draft Lottery is an annual event held by the National Basketball Association in which the teams who had missed the playoffs in the previous season, or teams who hold the draft rights of another team that missed the playoffs in the previous season, participate in a lottery process to...
. With owner Dan Gilbert's 14 year-old son Nick representing the team at the dias (quipping "What's not to like?" when ESPN reporter Heather Cox
Heather Cox
Heather Cox is an American Sportscaster who is a sideline reporter for WNBA, NBA, college basketball and college football games on ESPN, ESPN2 and ABC Sports. As Heather Schoeny, she played college volleyball at University of the Pacific...
asked him what he thought of his father calling him "his hero" due to overcoming health problems), the pick received from the Clippers in the Mo Williams/Baron Davis trade was what became the top overall pick, even though there was only a 2.8% chance of it happening. The Cavaliers original first round selection ended up as the #4 selection in the draft. The Cavs became the first team since the 1983 Houston Rockets to have two picks in the top five in the draft. The Cavaliers took Duke guard Kyrie Irving
Kyrie Irving
Kyrie Andrew Irving is an Australian-American professional basketball player for the Cleveland Cavaliers of the National Basketball Association . He starred as point guard for Duke University as a freshman before being selected as the number one pick in the 2011 NBA Draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers...
with the first pick, even though he only played 11 games in college. With the 4th pick, the Cavaliers selected Texas power forward Tristan Thompson
Tristan Thompson
Tristan Trevor James Thompson is a Canadian basketball player who played for the 2010–11 Texas Longhorns men's basketball team. He is 6'9" and weighs 225 pounds. Thompson plays as a power forward...
.
On June 30, 2011, the team traded for small forward Omri Casspi
Omri Casspi
Omri Casspi is an Israeli professional basketball player. He is under contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers, but is playing for Maccabi Tel Aviv B.C. during the 2011 NBA lockout...
and a 2012 first-round draft pick, sending the Sacramento Kings
Sacramento Kings
The Sacramento Kings are a professional basketball team based in Sacramento, California, United States. They are currently members of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...
forward/center J.J. Hickson. The News-Herald
The News-Herald (Ohio)
The News-Herald is a newspaper distributed in the northeastern portion of Northeast Ohio, serving Lake, Geauga, and Ashtabula Counties as well as a section of eastern Cuyahoga County.-History:...
opined that Casspi will likely start at small forward for the Cavaliers.
Logos and Uniforms
As of the 2010–2011 season:The "original" wine and gold
When the Cleveland Cavaliers debuted in the NBA in 1970, the team's original jerseys were wine and gold. The first jerseys featured the feathered treatment of the letter C in Cavaliers. In 1974, they changed into the classic block lettering and checkerboard pattern that was synonymous to the 'Miracle of Richfield' teams of 1976. In 1980, the gold shade was changed from yellowish to metallic, and the uniforms removed the checkerboard pattern and placed the stripes above Cleveland and below the uniform number, the only time the city name was featured in both home and away jerseys.The orange and blue
In the 1983–84 season, the colors were changed to burnt orange, blue and white. The first Cavaliers uniform under the new scheme featured the Cavs logo (with a V in the shape of a hoop and circle above as basketball) in an arched pattern and the player name sewn onto the back shoulder as a patch, with orange being the primary color in both the away and home uniforms. However, in the 1987–88 season, orange was relegated as a secondary color, and blue was used instead as the primary for the away and home uniforms; minor change in the 1989–90 season include the city name on the blue away uniforms.The orange, blue, and black
Coinciding with the move to Gund Arena in the 1994–95 season, the Cavs changed logos and uniforms, adding black in addition to the already existing blue, orange and white colors. The uniforms used from 1994–99 featured a blue splash on the uniforms, with the city name on the black away uniforms, and the team nickname on the white home uniforms. On the home uniforms, the word 'Cavs' was in orange with black line, with numbers in black with white line; color scheme changed for the 1996–97 season, with 'Cavs' and numbers in black with orange line and 'Cleveland' in left leg of the shorts with blue splash. On the away uniforms, the word 'Cleveland' was also in orange with black line, with numbers in white with black line; color scheme changed in 1996–97 season, with 'Cleveland' and numbers in white with orange line and 'Cavs' in left leg of the shorts with blue splash. In both away jerseys, 'Cleveland' was slightly slanted upward.In the 1999–2000 season, the Cavaliers opted to go for a cleaner look, eliminating the splash and adding an orange and blue line that runs through the shorts. The home jerseys feature the team nickname and the uniform numbers are in blue with black line, while on the away jerseys, they feature the city name and the uniform numbers in white with blue line. They were used until the 2002–03 season.
The "new" wine and gold
The Cavaliers switched to a modified version of the team's classic wine and gold scheme in the 2003–04 season (metallic gold and crimson shade of wine), with navy blue added to the color scheme. The home jersey was white, with the word "Cavaliers" in wine lettering with gold trim on the front, the player's name in wine lettering with gold trim on the back, the player's numbers in navy blue, and wine and gold trim on the sides. The team's standard road uniform was wine-colored, with the word "Cleveland," the player's name, and the player's numbers all in white lettering with gold trim, as well as white and gold trim on the sides. The team's third/alternate uniform was navy blue with the word "Cleveland", the player's name, and the player's numbers all in white lettering with gold trim, as well as a wine, gold, and navy blue checkerboard trim. The checkerboard trim is a tribute to the original Cavaliers jerseys from the '70s.The return to "old school" wine and gold
The Cavaliers debuted new uniforms before the start of the 2010-11 NBA season, to coincide with the team returning to the original shades of wine and gold used in the 1970s. The home uniform is white with a wine and gold horizontal stripe trim on the collar, sleeves, waistband, and pant legs, with wine lettering for the name and number, and white shoes and socks. The road uniform is wine colored with the same stripe trim, and gold lettering on the name and number, with black shoes and socks. Both uniforms feature the secondary "Sword C" logo on each pant leg, and the slogan All for one, One for all stitched on the inside of the collar.Special uniforms
From the 2005–06 to 2007–08 seasons, the Cavaliers would wear special throwback/retro uniforms (such as those from the '70s or '80s) on select "Hardwood Classic" Nights.Beginning in the 2008–09 season, the Cavaliers began wearing special "mash-up" uniforms (combining the style from one era with the color scheme of another) on select "Cavs Fanatic" Nights—a promotion to plug the CavFanatic.com fan site
In '08–'09, the team wore "Miracle of Richfield" style "Feathered C" uniforms in colors comparable to the LeBron James era alternate uniform (royal blue with gold lettering and wine and gold trim).
In '09–'10, the team wore Price/Nance/Daugherty era style uniforms in the colors of the "Miracle of Richfield" era (wine with gold lettering)
In '10–'11, the team wore the LeBron James era alternate uniform in the colors of the Shawn Kemp era (black with white lettering and a blue, orange, and white checkerboard trim).
Home arenas
- Cleveland ArenaCleveland ArenaCleveland Arena was an arena in Cleveland, Ohio. It was built and privately financed by local businessman Albert C. Sutphin during the height of the Great Depression in 1937 as a playing site for Sutphin's AHL team, the Cleveland Barons. Later it hosted Sutphin's BAA's Cleveland Rebels and Nick...
(1970–1974) - Coliseum at RichfieldColiseum at RichfieldThe Coliseum at Richfield was an arena located in Richfield Township in Summit County, Ohio, roughly halfway between Cleveland and Akron...
(1974–1994) - Quicken Loans ArenaQuicken Loans ArenaQuicken Loans Arena , is a multi-purpose arena, in downtown Cleveland, Ohio, United States....
(formerly called GundGordon GundGordon Gund is an United States businessman and professional sports owner. He is the CEO of Gund Investment Corporation. He is the former co-owner of the San Jose Sharks and former principal owner of the Cleveland Cavaliers and is currently a minority owner of the Cavaliers...
Arena) (1994–present)
Cleveland Clinic Courts
In 2007 the Cavaliers opened their new state-of-the-art practice facility, Cleveland Clinic Courts, in Independence, OhioIndependence, Ohio
Independence is a city in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 7,133.-Geography:Independence is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land....
, a Cleveland suburb. It features many extravagant luxuries, 2 courts, a team meeting room, front office offices, as well as a kitchen among other features. Cleveland Clinic Courts replaces the former 1-court center the team used within Quicken Loans Arena
Quicken Loans Arena
Quicken Loans Arena , is a multi-purpose arena, in downtown Cleveland, Ohio, United States....
.
Ground-breaking players
- Lance AllredLance AllredLance Collin Allred is an American professional basketball player. Allred is hearing impaired, with a 75-80% hearing loss. He is the first legally deaf player in NBA history...
– 2007–2008 (First Deaf Player in the NBA) - John AmaechiJohn AmaechiJohn Uzoma Ekwugha Amaechi OBE is a retired American-born British basketball player who currently works as a psychologist, educator and political activist in Europe and the United States....
– 1995–1996 (First Openly Gay Player in the NBA)
Basketball Hall of Famers
- Nate ThurmondNate ThurmondNathaniel "Nate" Thurmond is a retired American basketball player. Dominant at both center and power forward, he was a seven-time All-Star and the first player in NBA history to record a quadruple-double....
– Player 1985 (Former player 1975–1977) - Walt FrazierWalt FrazierWalter "Clyde" Frazier is a retired American basketball player in the National Basketball Association . He was blessed with a unique combination of court vision, quickness, and size for a guard...
– Player 1987 (Former player 1977–1980) - Lenny WilkensLenny WilkensLeonard Randolph "Lenny" Wilkens is a retired American basketball player and coach in the NBA...
– Player 1989 and Coach 1998 (Former player (1972–1974) and coach (1986–1993) - Chuck DalyChuck DalyCharles Jerome "Chuck" Daly was an American basketball head coach. He led the Detroit Pistons to consecutive National Basketball Association Championships in 1989 and 1990, and the Dream Team to the men's basketball gold medal at the 1992 Summer Olympics. He had a 14-year NBA coaching...
– Coach 1994 (Former coach 1981–1982) - Wayne EmbryWayne EmbryWayne Richard Embry is a retired American basketball player; a center/forward whose 11-year career spanned from 1959 to 1969...
Contributor 1999 (Former team president and G.M. (1986–1999) and first African AmericanAfrican AmericanAfrican Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
to serve in that role in the NBA)- Joe TaitJoe TaitJoseph "Joe" Tait is an American sports broadcaster, who called the radio play by play for the Cleveland Cavaliers of the NBA. With the exception of two seasons in the early 1980s and illness in 2010-11, he has been the Cavaliers' radio announcer since the team's inception in 1970...
– 2010 winner of the Hall of Fame's Curt Gowdy Media AwardCurt Gowdy Media AwardThe Curt Gowdy Media Award is an annual award given by the Basketball Hall of Fame to outstanding basketball writers and broadcasters. It is named for American sportscaster Curt Gowdy, who was the Hall of Fame's president for seven years...
for electronic broadcasting (Retired broadcaster 1970–1980, 1982–2011)
- Joe Tait
Retired numbers
- 7 Bingo SmithBingo SmithRobert "Bingo" Smith was a Forward/Guard for the San Diego Rockets , Cleveland Cavaliers and San Diego Clippers . He helped the Cavaliers win the 1975-76 NBA Central Division....
, F, 1970–79 - 22 Larry Nance, F, 1988–94
- 25 Mark PriceMark PriceWilliam Mark Price is a retired American basketball player who played for 12 seasons in the NBA, from 1986 to 1998...
, G, 1986–95 - 34 Austin CarrAustin CarrAustin George Carr is a retired American professional basketball player for the National Basketball Association. He is known by Cleveland basketball fans as "Mr. Cavalier".-Early years and high school career:...
, G, 1971–80 - 42 Nate ThurmondNate ThurmondNathaniel "Nate" Thurmond is a retired American basketball player. Dominant at both center and power forward, he was a seven-time All-Star and the first player in NBA history to record a quadruple-double....
, C, 1975–77 - 43 Brad Daugherty, C, 1986–94
- Retired Cavaliers radio play by play announcer Joe TaitJoe TaitJoseph "Joe" Tait is an American sports broadcaster, who called the radio play by play for the Cleveland Cavaliers of the NBA. With the exception of two seasons in the early 1980s and illness in 2010-11, he has been the Cavaliers' radio announcer since the team's inception in 1970...
also has a banner (alongside the retired numbers) honoring his 39 seasons as the "Voice of the Cavs"
- Retired Cavaliers radio play by play announcer Joe Tait
International rights
| C |  | Sasha Kaun Sasha Kaun Alexander Olegovich Kaun is a Russian professional basketball player. He played college basketball in the United States with the University of Kansas for four seasons, including the 2007–2008 national championship team... | 2008 NBA Draft 2008 NBA Draft The 2008 NBA Draft was held on June 26, 2008 at the Washington Mutual Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. In this draft, National Basketball Association teams took turns selecting amateur college basketball players and other first-time eligible players, including... | 56th pick |
| PF |  | Milan Mačvan Milan Macvan Milan Mačvan is a Serbian professional basketball player for KK Partizan, on loan from Maccabi Tel Aviv. He is 6' 9" tall and he weighs 265 lbs.... | 2011 NBA Draft 2011 NBA Draft The 2011 NBA Draft was held on June 23, 2011 at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. The draft started at 7:00 pm Eastern Daylight Time , and was broadcast in the United States on ESPN. In this draft, National Basketball Association teams took turns selecting amateur U.S. college basketball... | 54th pick |
Coaches
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Byron Scott (basketball) Byron Antom Scott is a retired American National Basketball Association player and current head coach of the NBA's Cleveland Cavaliers. He was formerly the head coach of the NBA's New Jersey Nets and New Orleans Hornets. He attended Arizona State University, but left school in his junior year to... 2010–present |
Career
- Games – Žydrūnas IlgauskasŽydrunas IlgauskasŽydrūnas Ilgauskas , or "Big Z" , is a retired Lithuanian professional basketball center who played for the Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat of the National Basketball Association...
(771) - Games Started – Žydrūnas IlgauskasŽydrunas IlgauskasŽydrūnas Ilgauskas , or "Big Z" , is a retired Lithuanian professional basketball center who played for the Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat of the National Basketball Association...
(673) - Minutes Played – LeBron JamesLeBron JamesLeBron Raymone James is an American professional basketball player for the Miami Heat of the National Basketball Association . Nicknamed "King James", he was a three-time "Mr. Basketball" of Ohio in high school, and was highly promoted in the national media as a future NBA superstar while a...
(22,105) - Field Goals Made – LeBron JamesLeBron JamesLeBron Raymone James is an American professional basketball player for the Miami Heat of the National Basketball Association . Nicknamed "King James", he was a three-time "Mr. Basketball" of Ohio in high school, and was highly promoted in the national media as a future NBA superstar while a...
(5,415) - Field Goal Attempts – LeBron JamesLeBron JamesLeBron Raymone James is an American professional basketball player for the Miami Heat of the National Basketball Association . Nicknamed "King James", he was a three-time "Mr. Basketball" of Ohio in high school, and was highly promoted in the national media as a future NBA superstar while a...
(11,403) - 3-Point Field Goals Made – Mark PriceMark PriceWilliam Mark Price is a retired American basketball player who played for 12 seasons in the NBA, from 1986 to 1998...
(802) - 3-Point Field Goal Attempts – LeBron JamesLeBron JamesLeBron Raymone James is an American professional basketball player for the Miami Heat of the National Basketball Association . Nicknamed "King James", he was a three-time "Mr. Basketball" of Ohio in high school, and was highly promoted in the national media as a future NBA superstar while a...
(2,244) - Free Throws Made – LeBron JamesLeBron JamesLeBron Raymone James is an American professional basketball player for the Miami Heat of the National Basketball Association . Nicknamed "King James", he was a three-time "Mr. Basketball" of Ohio in high school, and was highly promoted in the national media as a future NBA superstar while a...
(3,650) - Free Throw Attempts – LeBron JamesLeBron JamesLeBron Raymone James is an American professional basketball player for the Miami Heat of the National Basketball Association . Nicknamed "King James", he was a three-time "Mr. Basketball" of Ohio in high school, and was highly promoted in the national media as a future NBA superstar while a...
(4,917) - Offensive Rebounds – Žydrūnas IlgauskasŽydrunas IlgauskasŽydrūnas Ilgauskas , or "Big Z" , is a retired Lithuanian professional basketball center who played for the Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat of the National Basketball Association...
* (2,336) - Defensive Rebounds – Brad Daugherty (4,020)
- Total Rebounds – Žydrūnas IlgauskasŽydrunas IlgauskasŽydrūnas Ilgauskas , or "Big Z" , is a retired Lithuanian professional basketball center who played for the Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat of the National Basketball Association...
(5,904) - Assists – Mark PriceMark PriceWilliam Mark Price is a retired American basketball player who played for 12 seasons in the NBA, from 1986 to 1998...
(4,206) - Steals – LeBron JamesLeBron JamesLeBron Raymone James is an American professional basketball player for the Miami Heat of the National Basketball Association . Nicknamed "King James", he was a three-time "Mr. Basketball" of Ohio in high school, and was highly promoted in the national media as a future NBA superstar while a...
(955) - Blocked Shots – Žydrūnas IlgauskasŽydrunas IlgauskasŽydrūnas Ilgauskas , or "Big Z" , is a retired Lithuanian professional basketball center who played for the Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat of the National Basketball Association...
(1,269) - Turnovers – LeBron JamesLeBron JamesLeBron Raymone James is an American professional basketball player for the Miami Heat of the National Basketball Association . Nicknamed "King James", he was a three-time "Mr. Basketball" of Ohio in high school, and was highly promoted in the national media as a future NBA superstar while a...
(1,802) - Personal Fouls – Žydrūnas IlgauskasŽydrunas IlgauskasŽydrūnas Ilgauskas , or "Big Z" , is a retired Lithuanian professional basketball center who played for the Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat of the National Basketball Association...
(2,591) - Points – LeBron JamesLeBron JamesLeBron Raymone James is an American professional basketball player for the Miami Heat of the National Basketball Association . Nicknamed "King James", he was a three-time "Mr. Basketball" of Ohio in high school, and was highly promoted in the national media as a future NBA superstar while a...
(15,251)
Per game
- Minutes Played – LeBron JamesLeBron JamesLeBron Raymone James is an American professional basketball player for the Miami Heat of the National Basketball Association . Nicknamed "King James", he was a three-time "Mr. Basketball" of Ohio in high school, and was highly promoted in the national media as a future NBA superstar while a...
(42.5) - Field Goals Made – LeBron JamesLeBron JamesLeBron Raymone James is an American professional basketball player for the Miami Heat of the National Basketball Association . Nicknamed "King James", he was a three-time "Mr. Basketball" of Ohio in high school, and was highly promoted in the national media as a future NBA superstar while a...
(11.1) - Field Goals Attempted – LeBron JamesLeBron JamesLeBron Raymone James is an American professional basketball player for the Miami Heat of the National Basketball Association . Nicknamed "King James", he was a three-time "Mr. Basketball" of Ohio in high school, and was highly promoted in the national media as a future NBA superstar while a...
(23.1) - 3-Point Field Goals Made – Dan MajerleDan MajerleDaniel Lewis Majerle is a retired American professional basketball player and currently an assistant coach for the Phoenix Suns of the NBA. Known by his fans as "Downtown Dan," "Thunder Dan," and "Dan the Man," he played 14 years in the NBA, primarily with the Phoenix Suns, also with the Miami...
(1.8) - 3-Point Field Goal Attempted – Dan MajerleDan MajerleDaniel Lewis Majerle is a retired American professional basketball player and currently an assistant coach for the Phoenix Suns of the NBA. Known by his fans as "Downtown Dan," "Thunder Dan," and "Dan the Man," he played 14 years in the NBA, primarily with the Phoenix Suns, also with the Miami...
(5.0) - Free Throws Made – LeBron JamesLeBron JamesLeBron Raymone James is an American professional basketball player for the Miami Heat of the National Basketball Association . Nicknamed "King James", he was a three-time "Mr. Basketball" of Ohio in high school, and was highly promoted in the national media as a future NBA superstar while a...
(7.3) - Free Throws Attempted – LeBron JamesLeBron JamesLeBron Raymone James is an American professional basketball player for the Miami Heat of the National Basketball Association . Nicknamed "King James", he was a three-time "Mr. Basketball" of Ohio in high school, and was highly promoted in the national media as a future NBA superstar while a...
(10.3) - Offensive Rebounds – Žydrūnas IlgauskasŽydrunas IlgauskasŽydrūnas Ilgauskas , or "Big Z" , is a retired Lithuanian professional basketball center who played for the Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat of the National Basketball Association...
(3.2) - Defensive Rebounds – Cliff RobinsonClifford T. RobinsonClifford Trent Robinson is a retired American professional basketball player.-Professional career:A University of Southern California alumnus, Robinson was drafted into the National Basketball Association by New Jersey Nets in 1979 with the 11th overall pick in the 1979 NBA Draft...
(8.1) - Total Rebounds – Rick RobersonRick RobersonRick Roberson was a Center/Forward for the Los Angeles Lakers , Cleveland Cavaliers , Portland Trail Blazers , New Orleans Jazz and Kansas City Kings ....
(12.0) - Assists – Andre MillerAndre MillerAndre Lloyd Miller is an American professional basketball player, currently with the Denver Nuggets of the National Basketball Association.- College career :...
(10.9) - Steals – Ron HarperRon HarperRonald "Ron" Harper is a retired American professional basketball player whose career spanned from 1986 to 2001 with four teams in the NBA. At 6 ft 6 in , his position was shooting guard/point guard.- Collegiate career :...
(2.3) - Blocked Shots – Larry Nance (2.5)
- Turnovers – Shawn KempShawn KempShawn T. Kemp is a former American professional basketball player, who played in the National Basketball Association for 14 seasons. He was a six-time NBA All-Star and a three-time All-NBA Second Team member.-Early years:...
(3.4) - Personal Fouls – James EdwardsJames Edwards (basketball)James Franklin Edwards is a retired American professional basketball player. Nicknamed "Buddha" for his appearance and stoic demeanor, the 7' 0" Edwards played 19 years in the NBA, playing both the center and power forward positions...
(4.4) - Points – LeBron JamesLeBron JamesLeBron Raymone James is an American professional basketball player for the Miami Heat of the National Basketball Association . Nicknamed "King James", he was a three-time "Mr. Basketball" of Ohio in high school, and was highly promoted in the national media as a future NBA superstar while a...
(31.4)
Per 48 minutes
- Field Goals Made – LeBron JamesLeBron JamesLeBron Raymone James is an American professional basketball player for the Miami Heat of the National Basketball Association . Nicknamed "King James", he was a three-time "Mr. Basketball" of Ohio in high school, and was highly promoted in the national media as a future NBA superstar while a...
(12.5) - Field Goals Attempted – World B. FreeWorld B. FreeWorld B. Free is an American former professional basketball player who played in the NBA from 1975–1988. Free was known as the "Prince of Midair" as well as "All-World".-Early years:...
(27.6) - 3-Point Field Goals Made – Damon JonesDamon JonesDamon Darron Jones is an American professional basketball player. A 6'3" point guard–shooting guard, he played college basketball for three years with the University of Houston Cougars before declaring early for the 1997 NBA Draft, but he went undrafted.-High school career:Jones played for...
(3.2) - 3-Point Field Goals Attempted – Damon JonesDamon JonesDamon Darron Jones is an American professional basketball player. A 6'3" point guard–shooting guard, he played college basketball for three years with the University of Houston Cougars before declaring early for the 1997 NBA Draft, but he went undrafted.-High school career:Jones played for...
(8.5) - Free Throws Made – LeBron JamesLeBron JamesLeBron Raymone James is an American professional basketball player for the Miami Heat of the National Basketball Association . Nicknamed "King James", he was a three-time "Mr. Basketball" of Ohio in high school, and was highly promoted in the national media as a future NBA superstar while a...
(9.3) - Free Throws Attempted – LeBron JamesLeBron JamesLeBron Raymone James is an American professional basketball player for the Miami Heat of the National Basketball Association . Nicknamed "King James", he was a three-time "Mr. Basketball" of Ohio in high school, and was highly promoted in the national media as a future NBA superstar while a...
(12) - Offensive Rebounds – Chris DudleyChris DudleyChristen Guilford "Chris" Dudley is a retired American basketball player who played 16 years and 886 games in the NBA for five different teams. A journeyman center, he was known primarily for his defensive skill as a rebounder and shot blocker...
(6.5) - Defensive Rebounds – Cliff RobinsonClifford T. RobinsonClifford Trent Robinson is a retired American professional basketball player.-Professional career:A University of Southern California alumnus, Robinson was drafted into the National Basketball Association by New Jersey Nets in 1979 with the 11th overall pick in the 1979 NBA Draft...
(11.8) - Total Rebounds – Rick RobersonRick RobersonRick Roberson was a Center/Forward for the Los Angeles Lakers , Cleveland Cavaliers , Portland Trail Blazers , New Orleans Jazz and Kansas City Kings ....
(16.5) - Assists – Brevin KnightBrevin KnightBrevin Adon Knight is an American retired professional basketball point guard who played with nine teams in the NBA from 1997 to 2009. Knight played college basketball at Stanford University and was drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers in 1997...
(12.5) - Steals – Foots WalkerFoots WalkerClarence "Foots" Walker is a former professional basketball player. A 6' 0" guard from Vincennes University and the school now known as the University of West Georgia, Walker spent ten seasons in the NBA, playing for the Cleveland Cavaliers and the New Jersey Nets...
(3.4) - Blocked Shots – Elmore SmithElmore SmithElmore Smith is a retired American professional basketball player. A 7'0" center from Kentucky State University, he played in the National Basketball Association from 1971 to 1979...
(4.3) - Turnovers – Shawn KempShawn KempShawn T. Kemp is a former American professional basketball player, who played in the National Basketball Association for 14 seasons. He was a six-time NBA All-Star and a three-time All-NBA Second Team member.-Early years:...
(4.9) - Personal Fouls – Mark West (8.3)
- Points – LeBron JamesLeBron JamesLeBron Raymone James is an American professional basketball player for the Miami Heat of the National Basketball Association . Nicknamed "King James", he was a three-time "Mr. Basketball" of Ohio in high school, and was highly promoted in the national media as a future NBA superstar while a...
(43.3)
Individual awards
NBA Most Valuable Player
NBA Rookie of the Year NBA Rookie of the Year Award The National Basketball Association's Rookie of the Year Award is an annual National Basketball Association award given since the 1952–53 NBA season, to the top rookie of the regular season. The winner receives the Eddie Gottlieb Trophy, which is named in honor of the Philadelphia Warriors head...
NBA Coach of the Year NBA Coach of the Year Award The National Basketball Association's Coach of the Year is an annual National Basketball Association award given since the 1962–63 NBA season. The winner receives the Red Auerbach Trophy, which is named in honor of the head coach who led the Boston Celtics to nine NBA Championships from 1956 to 1966...
NBA Executive of the Year NBA Executive of the Year Award The National Basketball Association's Executive of the Year Award is an annual award given since the 1972–73 NBA season, to the league's best general managers. Before 2009, the Executive of the Year is presented annually by Sporting News, although it is officially recognized by the NBA. Since then,...
NBA Sportsmanship Award NBA Sportsmanship Award The National Basketball Association's Sportsmanship Award is an annual National Basketball Association award given since the 1995–96 NBA season, to the player who most "exemplifies the ideals of sportsmanship on the court—ethical behavior, fair play and integrity"...
J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award The J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award is an annual National Basketball Association award given since the 1974–75 NBA season to a player, coach, or trainer who shows "outstanding service and dedication to the community"...
NBA All-Rookie First Team
NBA All-Rookie Second Team
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All-NBA First Team
All-NBA Second Team
All-NBA Third Team
NBA All-Defensive First Team
NBA All-Defensive Second Team
NBA Player of the Month
NBA Coach of the Month
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NBA All-Star Weekend
NBA All-Star Game
Long Distance Shootout Three-point Shootout The Three-Point Shootout is a National Basketball Association contest held on the Saturday before the annual All-Star Game as part of the All-Star Weekend. In this contest, participants attempt to make as many three-point field goals as possible from five positions behind the three-point arc...
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Slam Dunk Contest Slam Dunk Contest The Slam Dunk Contest is an annual National Basketball Association competition held during the NBA All-Star Weekend. The contest was inaugurated by the American Basketball Association at its All-Star Game in 1976 in Denver, the same year the slam dunk was legalized in the NCAA...
Skills Challenge Skills Challenge The Taco Bell Skills Challenge is a National Basketball Association contest held on the Saturday before the annual All-Star Game as part of the All-Star Weekend. First debuted in 2003, it is a competition among guards. In this contest, participant first shoots a layup...
Rookie Challenge Rookie Challenge The Rookie Challenge is an exhibition basketball game held by the National Basketball Association on the Friday before the annual All-Star Game as part of the All-Star Weekend....
Two Ball Contest
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Radio and TV
WTAMWTAM
WTAM — branded Newsradio WTAM 1100 — is a commercial radio station licensed to Cleveland, Ohio, serving Greater Cleveland and much of surrounding Northeast Ohio. Owned by Clear Channel Communications, the station broadcasts primarily a news/talk format...
AM 1100 is the flagship of a 16 station Cavaliers radio network. Select regular season games can be heard on sister station WMMS
WMMS
WMMS — branded 100.7 WMMS: The Buzzard — is a commercial radio station licensed to Cleveland, Ohio, widely recognized as one of the most influential rock stations in America throughout much of the history of FM broadcasting...
FM 100.7 when there is a conflict with the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
. All playoff games air on WTAM, and any conflicted Indians games then go to WMMS.
John Michael (play by play) and former Cavaliers star Jim Chones
Jim Chones
James Bernett Chones is an American former professional basketball player.A 6'11" forward/center, Chones starred at Marquette University, where he earned All-America honors as a junior in 1972 after averaging 20.5 points and 11.9 rebounds per game...
(analyst) are the radio team, with WTAM morning co-host/sports director Mike Snyder hosting the pregame/halftime/postgame shows. http://www.cleveland.com/cavs Former Ohio State standout and longtime NBA player Brad Sellers
Brad Sellers
Bradley Donn Sellers is a retired American professional basketball player. A 7'0" power forward/center from the University of Wisconsin and Ohio State University, he was selected by the Chicago Bulls in the first round of the 1986 NBA Draft.Sellers was a controversial selection among the Bulls'...
joins Snyder on the postgame show for road games, while Jim Chones does so for home games.
On the television side, the vast majority of Cavaliers' games air via cable and satellite on FS Ohio, with select games (both regular season and playoffs) simulcast on WUAB
WUAB
WUAB, identified on-air as "My43 The Block, WUAB", is the MyNetworkTV affiliate in Cleveland, Ohio. The station is licensed to the suburb of Lorain, and it shares a studio in downtown Cleveland with sister station WOIO, Cleveland's CBS affiliate. Its transmitter is located in Parma, Ohio...
channel 43 (My Network TV) in Cleveland, the longtime free TV home of the Cavs. Channel 43 has aired games from 1973 to 1987 and from 1994 to present.
Play-by-play announcer Fred McLeod and analyst Austin Carr
Austin Carr
Austin George Carr is a retired American professional basketball player for the National Basketball Association. He is known by Cleveland basketball fans as "Mr. Cavalier".-Early years and high school career:...
, a former Cavaliers star, handle local TV commentary. WKRK-FM
WKRK-FM
WKRK-FM — branded Sports Radio 92.3 The Fan — is a commercial radio station licensed to Cleveland Heights, Ohio. Serving Greater Cleveland and much of surrounding Northeast Ohio, WKRK-FM is owned by CBS Radio and broadcasts a sports format...
midday co-host Jeff Phelps serves as sideline reporter, and former Cavaliers star Campy Russell
Campy Russell
Michael Campanella Russell , nicknamed Campy, is a former professional basketball player in the NBA. He played the forward position for the Cleveland Cavaliers and New York Knicks for nine years and played in the 1979 NBA All-Star Game.Before joining the NBA, Russell was a star player at the...
and Dionne Miller host the pregame, halftime, and postgame shows. For home games, Phelps and Russell will host the pregame/halftime/postgame shows at the Q, while for road games, Miller and Russell will host them from the FS Ohio studio.
Whammer
Whammer is the former mascot of the Cavs. He is a polar bearPolar Bear
The polar bear is a bear native largely within the Arctic Circle encompassing the Arctic Ocean, its surrounding seas and surrounding land masses. It is the world's largest land carnivore and also the largest bear, together with the omnivorous Kodiak Bear, which is approximately the same size...
who is said to have grown up in the tundra
Tundra
In physical geography, tundra is a biome where the tree growth is hindered by low temperatures and short growing seasons. The term tundra comes through Russian тундра from the Kildin Sami word tūndâr "uplands," "treeless mountain tract." There are three types of tundra: Arctic tundra, alpine...
and still makes occasional appearances throughout the season at Cavalier games. At halftime he used to dunk a basketball. Whammer's debut was in a November 9, 1995 game against the Chicago Bulls
Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls are an American professional basketball team based in Chicago, Illinois, playing in the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1966. They play their home games at the United Center...
. However, Whammer's tenure coincided with a long dry spell in the franchise's history, with the Shawn Kemp playoff runs being an exception. In fact, few local fans even were aware that the Cavs had a mascot.
Recently when Moondog, the current Cavaliers mascot was asked what Whammer was up to these days he responded "He e-mails the braintrust of the Cavs about twice a week trying to get his old job back. I throw him a bone occasionally and invite him back, mostly to mock him. Finally he's good for a laugh."
Moondog
Moondog is the official mascotMascot
The term mascot – defined as a term for any person, animal, or object thought to bring luck – colloquially includes anything used to represent a group with a common public identity, such as a school, professional sports team, society, military unit, or brand name...
of the Cavaliers. Like a growing number of NBA Mascots, the character has a unique connection not just to the team, but to the city and surrounding area. Cleveland
Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
is known worldwide as the rock and roll
Rock and roll
Rock and roll is a genre of popular music that originated and evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s, primarily from a combination of African American blues, country, jazz, and gospel music...
city, due to famed Cleveland radio disc jockey
Disc jockey
A disc jockey, also known as DJ, is a person who selects and plays recorded music for an audience. Originally, "disc" referred to phonograph records, not the later Compact Discs. Today, the term includes all forms of music playback, no matter the medium.There are several types of disc jockeys...
Alan Freed
Alan Freed
Albert James "Alan" Freed , also known as Moondog, was an American disc-jockey. He became internationally known for promoting the mix of blues, country and rhythm and blues music on the radio in the United States and Europe under the name of rock and roll...
, who popularized the phrase "rock and roll", breaking new ground and sparking a music explosion.
Freed called himself the "Moondog", and his listeners were "Moondoggers". When the Cavaliers looked to create a new mascot which represents the city, Moondog was a natural selection. Like Alan Freed, the mascot aims to be innovative, fun-loving, passionate and controversial.
Moondog was an NBA All-Star selection in 2003 and 2004. He is best known for his behind the back half-court shot and fierce loyalty to his Cavaliers. His first appearance was on November 5, 2003.
Sir C.C.
On November 27, 2010 during the Cavaliers-Memphis GrizzliesMemphis Grizzlies
The Memphis Grizzlies are a professional basketball team based in Memphis, Tennessee, USA. The team is part of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . Along with the Toronto Raptors, the Grizzlies were established in 1995 as part of the NBA's...
game, a new mascot debuted named Sir C.C. Sir C.C. is a swashbuckler
Swashbuckler
Swashbuckler or swasher is a term that emerged in the 16th century and has been used for rough, noisy and boastful swordsmen ever since. A possible explanation for this term is that it derives from a fighting style using a side-sword with a buckler in the off-hand, which was applied with much...
character (a la The Three Musketeers
The Three Musketeers
The Three Musketeers is a novel by Alexandre Dumas, first serialized in March–July 1844. Set in the 17th century, it recounts the adventures of a young man named d'Artagnan after he leaves home to travel to Paris, to join the Musketeers of the Guard...
) and teams up with Moondog to provide gametime entertainment at home games.