Final Record: 45-37 Finished: 2nd Place in Division Head Coach: Mike Brown
Season Highlights: After a season in which they finished with a 45-37 record, the Cavaliers went to their 3rd straight postseason to become the third Cavalier team to make three straight playoff appearances (1976-78 and 1988-90)…After eliminating the Washington Wizards for the third straight year in the first round of the playoffs, the Cavaliers took the eventual NBA champion Boston Celtics to a 7th game in their Eastern Conference Semifinals series. LeBron James led the way in that game with 45 points, but Paul Pierce’s 41 points helped the Celtics advance…LeBron James became the first Cavalier to win the NBA scoring title, averaging 30.0 points per game along with his 7.9 rebounds and 7.2 assists per game, also becoming the third player in NBA history to average at least those numbers (Oscar Robertson and Michael Jordan)...On March 21, LeBron James became the Cavaliers’ all-time leading scorer, surpassing Brad Daugherty’s mark of 10,389 career points …On February 21, the Cavaliers executed a blockbuster 11-man, three-team deal as the trade deadline expired. By sending Larry Hughes, Drew Gooden, Cedric Simmons, and Shannon Brown to the Bulls and Ira Newble and Donyell Marshall to the Sonics, the Cavs acquired Ben Wallace and Joe Smith from the Bulls and Wally Szczerbiak and Delonte West from the Sonics…The Cavaliers shined at this year’s All-Star Weekend in New Orleans, with LeBron James taking home his second All-Star Game MVP honor and Daniel Gibson taking the MVP award for the T-Mobile Rookie Challenge. James scored 27 points for the victorious East All-Stars, and Gibson scored 33 points for the Sophomores, making a Rookie Challenge record 11 three-point field goals…The Cavaliers continued their home dominance in 2007-08, posting a record of 27-14 at Quicken Loans Arena…For the second consecutive season, the Cavaliers set a franchise record for sellouts (33).
Final Record: 50-32 Finished: 2nd Place in Division Head Coach: Mike Brown
Season Highlights: The Cavaliers reached the NBA Finals for the first time in franchise history as they topped the Washington Wizards, New Jersey Nets and Detroit Pistons to claim the team's first Eastern Conference Championship...Cleveland finished the playoffs with a 12-8 (.600) record which set a franchise record for playoff wins in a season as well as home wins in a playoff season (7-3). LeBron James became the only player in NBA playoff history (minimum 20 games played) to have averages of at least 25.0 points, 7.0 rebounds and 6.0 assists per game...LeBron James' performance in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals was one for the ages...James scored a franchise playoff-high of 48 points to go along with nine rebounds and seven assists...Mike Brown became the winningest playoff coach in team history with a mark of 19-14 (.576)...Thanks to Cleveland's Game 6 win versus Detroit in the Conference Finals, Brown surpassed Lenny Wilkens (18 wins) for the most playoff wins in team history..For the second time in team history the Cavaliers posted at least 50 wins in consecutive seasons...The season included one of most successful road campaigns in team history with a total of 20 road wins which is tied for the third best road record in team history.
Final Record: 50-32 Finished: 2nd Place in Division Head Coach: Mike Brown
Season Highlights: The Cavaliers won 50 games for the first time since the 1992-93 season and made their first playoff appearance since 1998...Cleveland finished the playoffs with a 7-6 (.538) record as they topped Washington in six games in the first round and fell to Detroit in seven games in th Eastern Conference Semifinals...LeBron James averaged 30.8 points, 8.1 rebounds and 5.8 assists per game during the playoffs as he joined Oscar Robertson as the only players to average at least 30.0 points, 8.0 rebounds and 5.0 assists in a single postseason...Mike Brown became the winningest first-year coach in team history and became just the third Cavaliers' head coach to lead his team to the playoffs in his first season...during the regular season, LeBron James became just the fourth player in NBA history to average at least 31.0 points, 7.0 rebounds and 6.0 assists for an entire season joining Oscar Robertson, Jerry West and Michael Jordan...Cleveland acquired Flip Murrary on Feb. 23rd from Seattle...in 28 games with the Cavaliers, Murray averaged 13.5 points...the Cavaliers went 31-10 at home which tied the third-best home record in team history...James was named First Team All-NBA and became the youngest All-Star Game MVP in NBA History (21 years, 55 days old).
Final Record: 42-40 Finished: 4th Place in Division Head Coach: Paul Silas 34-30, Brendan Malone 8-10
Season Highlights: The Cavaliers selected Luke Jackson with the 10th overall pick in the 2004 NBA Draft and acquired Aleksandar "Sasha" Pavlovic, Eric Snow, Drew Gooden, and Anderson Varejao in a number of off-season trades...Cleveland sported a 29-12 (.707) record at home - the Cavaliers' best home record since the 1993-94 season when the Cavs went 31-10 (.756) at the Coliseum....LeBron James recorded four triple-doubles on the season, including his first which occurred on January 19th vs. Portland. He became the youngest player in NBA history to record a triple-double...For just the fifth time in Cavaliers' history, the team sent two players to represent Cleveland in the NBA All-Star Game (James and Ilgauskas)...On March 1, the NBA approved the purchase of the Cleveland Cavaliers by an investor group led by Dan Gilbert, chairman and founder of Quicken Loans, the nation's largest online lender and Michigan-based home mortgage company Rock Financial...The Cleveland Cavaliers announced on March 21, 2005 that Paul Silas had been relieved of his duties as head coach and assistant coach Brendan Malone would serve as the Cavaliers' head coach. The Cavaliers fell just one game short of reaching the post-season.
Final Record: 35-47 Finished: 5th Place in Division Head Coach: Paul Silas
Season Highlights: With the first pick in the 2003 NBA Draft, the Cavaliers selected LeBron James…on June 2, 2003, Paul Silas was named the 15th head coach in team history…Cleveland more than doubled its win total from the previous season (17 in 02-03 to 35 in 03-04)…James became the first Cavalier in franchise history and youngest player ever to be named NBA Rookie of the Year…he averaged 20.9 points, 5.5 rebounds and 5.9 assists per game on the season…James became just the third rookie in NBA history to average 20+ points, 5+ rebounds and 5+ assists (Oscar Robertson and Michael Jordan)…Cleveland acquired Jeff McInnis from Portland in exchange for Darius Miles on Jan. 21…in 31 games with McInnis as the starting point guard, the team went 20-11…James won all six Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month awards during the season...Carlos Boozer averaged 15.5 points and 11.4 rebounds to become the first Cavalier since the 94-95 season to average a double-double.
Final Record: 17-65 Finished: 8th Place in Division Head Coach: John Lucas 8-34, Keith Smart 9-31
Season Highlights: On draft day, Cavaliers selected Dajuan Wagner (No. 6) and Carlos Boozer (No. 35)…acquired Darius Miles and Harold Jamison from the Los Angeles Clippers in exchange for Andre Miller and Bryant Stith…on Jan. 20, John Lucas was relieved of his duties as head coach and Keith Smart served as interim head coach…Zydrunas Ilgauskas was named an All-Star, the Cavaliers first since 1998…Carlos Boozer and Dajuan Wagner participated as rookies in the Got Milk? Rookie Challenge…Boozer won Got Milk? Rookie of the Month for April, finished the season ranked third in the NBA in field goal percentage (.536) and was named All-Rookie Second Team…on April 16, the Cavaliers revealed new colors (a new expression of Wine and Gold), logos, uniforms and court design for the 2003-04 season.
Final Record: 29-53 Finished: 7th Place in Division Head Coach: John Lucas
Season Highlights: On June 19, John Lucas was hired as the 13th head coach in franchise history…first round pick DeSagana Diop was diagnosed with a stress reaction in the second metatarsal of his left foot on Sept. 18… acquired Ricky Davis and Brian Skinner on Oct. 26 in a three-way trade…on Dec. 3, Zydrunas Ilgauskas was taken off the Injured List…Andre Miller was named Player of the Week for week ending Dec. 9…Chris Mihm was selected to participate in the Got Milk? Rookie Challenge as a sophomore…Miller was again named Player of the Week for week ending Feb. 17, becoming the only Cavalier in history to be named Player of the Week two times in one season…on March 12, Miller was selected to the USA Basketball 2002 Men’s World Championship Team…Miller became the first Cavalier in franchise history to lead the league in assists, averaging 10.9 per game.
Final Record: 30-52 Finished: 6th Place in Division Head Coach: Randy Wittman
Season Highlights: On draft day, the Cavaliers selected Jamal Crawford (No. 8) and traded him to Chicago for Chris Mihm…acquired Matt Harpring from Orlando in exchange for Andrew DeClercq on Aug. 3…opened up the season by winning their first four games…won six consecutive games from Dec. 5 to Dec. 16…on Dec. 24, Zydrunas Ilgauskas was diagnosed with a new fracture of the navicular bone in his left foot and had season-ending surgery on Feb. 7…Andre Miller was selected as a sophomore for the Schick Rookie Challenge…Chris Mihm was named All-Rookie Second Team…Miller ranked sixth in the NBA in assists (8.0).
Final Record: 32-50 Finished: 6th Place in Division Head Coach: Randy Wittman
Season Highlights: On June 1, Jim Paxson was promoted to Senior Vice President and General Manager…drafted Andre Miller (No. 8), Trajan Langdon (No. 11) and A.J. Bramlett (No. 39) in the 1999 NBA Draft…Randy Wittman was named head coach on July 7…on Aug. 4, Lamond Murray was acquired from the Los Angeles Clippers in exchange for Derek Anderson and Johnny Newman…Mark Price, Austin Carr, Shawn Kemp, Larry Nance and Brad Daugherty were selected as the Cavaliers All-Time Starting Five as part of the Cavaliers 30th Anniversary celebration…Zydrunas Ilgauskas missed the whole season due to two surgeries on his left foot…Andre Miller was named to the Schick Rookie Challenge as a rookie and was voted All-Rookie First Team.
Final Record: 22-28 Finished: 7th Place in Division Head Coach: Mike Fratello
Season Highlights: On Sept. 17, Jim Paxson was named Vice President of Basketball Operations…strike-shortened season…on Jan. 20, the NBA and National Basketball Players Association announced a signed Collective Bargaining Agreement…on Feb. 17, Zydrunas Ilgauskas was diagnosed with a season-ending fracture of the navicular bone in his left foot…Mike Fratello’s final season as head coach…Brevin Knight finished in the top 10 in assists for the second consecutive season, in seventh place with 7.7 assists per game.
Final Record: 47-35 Finished: 5th Place in Division Head Coach: Mike Fratello
Season Highlights: Cavaliers made the playoffs after a one-year hiatus, losing to Indiana in four games…Cleveland selected Derek Anderson (No. 13), Brevin Knight (No. 16) and Cedric Henderson (No. 45) in the 1997 NBA Draft…on Sept. 25, Cavaliers acquired Shawn Kemp from Seattle in a three-way trade…on Oct. 1, Wesley Person and Tony Dumas were acquired in a three-way trade with Seattle…Person was named Player of the Week for week ending Dec. 7…Kemp was named a starter in the 1998 NBA All-Star Game, the only Cavalier in franchise history to be named a starter…four rookies [Anderson (second team), Ilgauskas (first team), Henderson (second team) and Knight (first team)] were named to the All-Rookie Team and participated in the Schick Rookie Challenge…Ilgauskas was named Most Valuable Player of the Rookie Challenge…Knight finished second in the league in steals (2.45)…Wayne Embry was named Sporting News NBA Executive of the Year for 1997-98.
Final Record: 42-40 Finished: 5th Place in Division Head Coach: Mike Fratello
Season Highlights: Cavaliers missed the playoffs after five consecutive trips…drafted Vitaly Potapenko (No. 12), Zydrunas Ilgauskas (No. 20) and Reggie Geary (No. 56) in the 1996 NBA Draft…on July 22, Daugherty officially announced his retirement…Ilgauskas underwent season-ending surgery on Oct. 16 on his right foot…Terrell Brandon was named Player of the Week for week ending Dec. 22…Cleveland hosted 1997 NBA All-Star weekend…Brandon made the All-Star team for a second consecutive season…Potapenko was selected for the Schick Rookie Challenge…Bob Sura entered the Nestle Crunch Slam Dunk contest…on June 2, Brandon was named winner of the NBA Sportsmanship Award…Tyrone Hill ranked second in the league in field goal percentage (.600) and 10th in rebounding (9.9).
Final Record: 47-35 Finished: 3rd Place in Division Head Coach: Mike Fratello
Season Highlights: Cavaliers finished with a winning record and in the playoffs for fifth consecutive season…swept by New York in the first round of the playoffs…acquired Dan Majerle, Antonio Lang and a future first-round pick in exchange for John Williams…Terrell Brandon ranked third in the league in free-throw percentage (.887) and Bobby Phills ranked seventh in three-point field goal percentage (.441)…Brandon was named an All-Star for the first time…Mike Fratello was named Coach of the Month for December after going 9-4…Brandon was named Player of the Week for week ending Dec. 3…Bob Sura represented Cleveland in the Schick Rookie Challenge…Phills was named All-Defense Second Team.
Final Record: 43-39 Finished: 4th Place in Division Head Coach: Mike Fratello
Season Highlights: Cavaliers moved to the Gund Arena, winning 26 games at home…Cleveland unveiled new uniforms on Aug. 31…season was Mark Price’s last…Larry Nance announced retirement on Sept. 27…Cavaliers tied their franchise record for consecutive victories with 11 (Dec. 9 to Dec. 30)… Mike Fratello was named Coach of the Month for December… Tyrone Hill was named an All-Star…Cavaliers lost in the first round of the playoffs (1-3) to New York…Price finished second in the league with a .914 free-throw percentage…Hill finished fifth in the NBA in rebounds (10.9).
Final Record: 47-35 Finished: 3rd Place in Division Head Coach: Mike Fratello Season Highlights: Mike Fratello was named head coach on June 17 due to Lenny Wilkens’ resignation following the previous season…Cavaliers made the playoffs for the third consecutive season, losing to Chicago in the first round (0-3)…the final season in Richfield Coliseum…Cleveland acquired Tyrone Hill from Golden State for a 1994 first-round draft choice and other considerations…on Jan. 29, Brad Daugherty passed Austin Carr to become the all-time leading scorer in franchise history…Daugherty (herniated lumbar disc) and Larry Nance (torn lateral meniscus cartilage in his right knee) suffered career-ending injuries…Mark Price was named an All-Star and All-NBA Third Team…Price defended his NBA Long Distance Shootout title, repeating as champion…Chris Mills was named to the Schick Rookie Challenge.
Final Record: 54-28 Finished: 2nd Place in Division Head Coach: Lenny Wilkens
Season Highlights: Cleveland won 50+ games in back-to-back seasons for the first time...made it to the conference semifinals before being swept by Chicago...had one 10-game winning streak (April 4 to April 21) and four other streaks of at least four consecutive wins...Mark Price led the NBA in free-throw percentage for the second straight year (.948), ranked sixth in three-point FG percentage (.416) and 10th in assists (8.0)...Brad Daugherty finished second in the NBA in field-goal percentage (.571)...Larry Nance finished sixth in blocks in the league (2.57)...Lenny Wilkens was named Coach of the Month for February...Daugherty, Nance and Price were named All-Stars...Price won the NBA's Long Distance Shootout...Price was named All-NBA First Team (the first and only Cavalier to be named to the first team)...Nance was named All-Defensive Second Team.
Final Record: 57-25 Finished: 2nd Place in Division Head Coach: Lenny Wilkens
Season Highlights: Cavaliers won 25 games more than the previous season, the largest turn-around in franchise history…made it to the Eastern Conference Finals, the only time in Cavaliers history, defeating New Jersey (3-1) and Boston (4-3) before losing to Chicago (2-4)…won a franchise-best 22 games on the road and started the season 9-0 at home…on Dec. 17, Cavaliers routed the Heat, 148-80, for the biggest win in Cavaliers history…Brad Daugherty scored 40 points against New Jersey on April 23, the highest point total by a Cavalier in a playoff game…Daugherty and Mark Price were named All-Stars as well as All-NBA (third team)…Price led the NBA in free-throw percentage (.947) and ranked 10th in assists (7.4)…Daugherty finished fourth in the NBA in field-goal percentage (.570)….Larry Nance was named NBA All-Defensive Team (second team) and finished third in the NBA in blocks (3.00)…Terrell Brandon was named to the NBA All-Rookie Team (second team)…Wayne Embry was named Sporting News NBA Executive of the Year.
Final Record: 33-49 Finished: 6th Place in Division Head Coach: Lenny Wilkens
Season Highlights: Mark Price tore his ACL on Nov. 30 and missed the remainder of the season…John Williams missed 37 consecutive games with a sprained left foot…Danny Ferry averaged 8.6 points in 81 games as a rookie…Brad Daugherty became the first player in Cavaliers history to average 20+ points and 10+ rebounds (21.6 points and 10.9 rebounds)…Daugherty was named an All-Star for the third time…Daugherty finished sixth in the league in rebounds (10.9) and Larry Nance finished sixth in blocks (2.50).
Final Record: 42-40 Finished: 4th Place in Division Head Coach: Lenny Wilkens
Season Highlights: Cavaliers made the playoffs and lost in the first round to Philadelphia, 2-3…on Nov. 16, Cavaliers acquired draft rights of Danny Ferry and Reggie Williams
for Ron Harper and three future draft choices from the Los Angeles Clippers…Mark Price finished seventh in the league in assists with 9.1...Steve Kerr led the NBA in three-point field-goal percentage at .507 and Craig Ehlo followed closely behind in seventh place at .419…John Williams finished 10th in blocks per game at 2.04…Cavaliers had four separate winning streaks of at least four games…finished the season by winning their final six games.
Final Record: 57-25 Finished: 2nd Place in Division Head Coach: Lenny Wilkens
Season Highlights: Cavaliers finished 57-25, Cleveland’s all-time best record and tied for the second best record in the NBA…Cleveland posted its best season at home, winning 37 of their 41 games...the Cavaliers won 22 straight home games (franchise record) from Dec. 15 to March 2…went 13-2 in the month of December…Ron Harper was named Player of the Week for week ending Feb. 5…four Cavaliers represented Cleveland in the All-Star Game: Lenny Wilkens as head coach, Brad Daugherty, Larry Nance and Mark Price…Price was named All-NBA Third Team, first Cavalier in franchise history…Larry Nance was named NBA All-Defensive First Team, the only Cavalier in franchise history to be named to the first team…Price ranked third in the league in three-point field-goal percentage (.441), fourth in free-throw percentage (.901) and eighth in assists (8.4)…Nance ranked fifth in blocks (2.82) and ninth in field-goal percentage (.539)…Harper ranked eighth in the NBA in steals (2.26)…lost to Chicago in the first round, 2-3.
Final Record: 42-40 Finished: 4th Place in Division Head Coach: Lenny Wilkens
Season Highlights: Cavaliers finished 42-40, winning 11 more games than the previous season and their best record since the 1977-78 season…Cleveland made the playoffs, losing to Chicago 2-3…drafted Kevin Johnson with the No. 7 overall pick and traded him along with Tyrone Corbin, Mark West and two 1988 draft picks to Phoenix for Larry Nance, Mike Sanders and Detroit’s first round choice in 1988 on Feb. 25….Brad Daugherty was named an All-Star for the first time…Lenny Wilkens was named Coach of the Month for April on the strength of the team winning 11 of their final 13 games…Mark Price finished second in the league in three-point field-goal percentage (.486)…Nance finished sixth in the NBA in blocks (2.37) and John Williams finished ninth at 1.88.
Final Record: 31-51 Finished: 6th Place in Division Head Coach: Lenny Wilkens
Season Highlights: Wayne Embry was named new Vice President and General Manager on June 19…on June 17 (the morning of the draft), the Cavaliers acquired the No. 1 pick in exchange for Roy Hinson and other considerations…Cleveland selected Brad Daugherty with the No. 1 pick, Ron Harper with the No. 8 pick and Johnny Newman in the second round (No. 29) and acquired the rights to Mark Price from Dallas…Lenny Wilkens was hired as the 10th head coach in franchise history on July 9… John Williams was named Player of the Week for the week ending Nov. 30…three rookies [Harper (22.9), Daugherty (15.7) and Williams (14.6)] led the team in scoring and were all named to the NBA All-Rookie Team...Harper was named Rookie of the Month in Dec. and January… signed Craig Ehlo as a free agent on Jan. 13…Daugherty was named Rookie of the Month in March…Harper ranked fourth in the NBA in steals with 2.55 per game.
Final Record: 29-53 Finished: 5th Place in Division Head Coach: George Karl 25-42, Gene Littles 4-11
Season Highlights: On draft day, the Cavaliers drafted Charles Oakley (First Round – No. 9) and Calvin Duncan (Second Round – No. 30). Cleveland then traded Oakley and Duncan for the Chicago Bulls first-round pick Keith Lee (No. 11) and Ennis Whatley. The Cavaliers selected John Williams with their second pick in the second round (No. 45)…on Oct. 15, the Cavaliers withdrew Williams’ player contract and he sat out his rookie campaign…Gene Littles replaced George Karl as head coach on March 16…John Bagley finished fourth in the league in assists (9.4) and World B. Free finished fifth in three-point field-goal percentage (.420) and 10th in scoring (23.4).
Final Record: 36-46 Finished: 4th Place in Division Head Coach: George Karl
Season Highlights: George Karl took over the reigns as head coach, his first season as a head coach in the NBA…the Cavaliers opened up 2-19 before going on a 34-27 finish…Cleveland made the playoffs, losing to Boston, 1-3, in the first round…the Cavaliers went on a seven-game road winning streak from Feb. 15 to March 6, a franchise record… World B. Free was named Player of the Week (week ending Jan. 13)…Karl was named Coach of the Month for February…Free scored 45 points at Houston on Feb. 16, the third-highest point total by a Cavalier in franchise history…John Bagley finished fifth in the league in assists (8.6), Roy Hinson finished sixth in the league in blocks (2.28) and World B. Free finished seventh in three-point field-goal percentage (.368) and 15th in scoring (22.5).
Final Record: 28-54 Finished: 4th Place in Division Head Coach: Tom Nissalke
Season Highlights: Gordon Gund and George Gund III took over ownership of the Cavaliers during the off-season…George Karl joined the Cavaliers as Director of Player Acquisition…Radio play-by-play announcer Joe Tait returned to Cleveland following a two-year stint with New Jersey and Chicago…Cliff Robinson ranked eighth in the league in rebounding (10.3) and Roy Hinson ranked sixth in the NBA in blocks (1.81).
Final Record: 23-59 Finished: 5th Place in Division Head Coach: Tom Nissalke
Season Highlights: Tom Nissalke was named head coach just a week prior to the season…Cavaliers acquired World B. Free from Golden State in exchange for Ron Brewer on Dec. 15…Cleveland improved their win total from 15 to 23…Free finished eighth in the league in scoring (23.9) and Cliff Robinson ranked seventh in rebounding (11.1).
Final Record: 15-67 Finished: 6th Place in Division Head Coach: Don Delaney 4-11, Bob Kloppenburg 0-3, Chuck Daly 9-32, Bill Musselman 2-21
Season Highlights: Don Delaney started the season as General Manager and Head Coach while Bill Musselman started as Cavaliers Vice President and Director of Player Personnel…After the first 15 games of the season, Delaney was replaced by assistant coach Bob Kloppenburg, who was replaced by Chuck Daly after three games…Musselman finished the season as head coach…Cleveland acquired Ron Brewer, Reggie Johnson and cash for Mike Mitchell and Roger Phegley on Dec. 23…On Feb. 16, Cavaliers acquired Cliff Robinson from Kansas City for Reggie Johnson…23 players suited up in a Cavaliers jersey during the season.
Final Record: 28-54 Finished: 5th Place in Division Head Coach: Bill Musselman 25-46, Don Delaney 3-8
Season Highlights: Ted Stepien became the second principal owner of the Cavaliers in June of 1980…Bill Musselman coached the team to a 25-46 record before General Manager Don Delaney replaced him…Mike Mitchell was named an All-Star, leading the Cavaliers in scoring at 24.5 points per game (a franchise-best at the time and eighth in the NBA that season)…Kenny Carr (week ending Feb.1) and Mike Mitchell (week ending Feb. 22) were both named Player of the Week during the season.
Final Record: 37-45 Finished: 5th Place in Division Head Coach: Stan Albeck
Season Highlights: The Cavaliers entered their first season in franchise history without Bill Fitch as head coach…Stan Albeck coached the team to a 37-45 record in his first season…Randy Smith was acquired via trade with Portland for a future draft choice on Sept. 21…Dave Robisch and a 1980 third-round draft choice were acquired from Los Angeles for Jim Chones on Oct. 5...the Cavaliers averaged 114.1 points per game (highest in franchise history)…Clarence “Foots” Walker notched the first triple-double in franchise history on Dec. 2 with 15 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists versus Atlanta…Mike Mitchell was named Player of the Week for the week ending Dec. 30…Mitchell led the club in scoring with 22.2 points per game, then-highest in franchise history…Mitchell scored 46 points at Houston on Feb. 8, the second-best scoring game by a Cavalier in franchise history.
Final Record: 30-52 Finished: 4th Place in Division Head Coach: Bill Fitch
Season Highlights: Cavaliers missed the playoffs for the first time in four years…Campy Russell was named an All-Star and led the team in scoring at 21.9 points per game…the Cavaliers did not play in one overtime game, one of only two seasons in which that occurred (inaugural season, the other)…Clarence “Foots” Walker finished fourth in the NBA in steals (2.36)…Mike Mitchell was named All-Rookie Second Team.
Final Record: 43-39 Finished: 3rd Place in Division Head Coach: Bill Fitch
Season Highlights: Cavaliers finished in the playoffs with a winning record for third consecutive season…fell to New York in NBA Playoffs first round, 0-2…acquired Walt Frazier from New York as compensation for anticipated signing of former Cavalier Jim Cleamons on Oct. 8…closed out the regular season by winning their six final games and nine out of the last 10…Clarence “Foots” Walker ranked sixth in the NBA in steals (2.17) and seventh in assists (5.6).
Final Record: 43-39 Finished: 4th Place in Division Head Coach: Bill Fitch
Season Highlights: Cavaliers finished in the playoffs with a winning record in consecutive seasons…fell to Washington in NBA Playoffs first round, 1-2…opened the season by winning their first eight games…Cleveland won their first nine home games of the season…Jim Brewer was named to the NBA’s All-Defensive Team (second team).
Final Record: 49-33 Finished: 1st Place in Division Head Coach: Bill Fitch
Season Highlights: The season known as “The Miracle of Richfield”…Jim Chones was acquired on May 17 for a future draft choice in a trade with Los Angeles…Cleveland made the playoffs for the first time…the Cavaliers defeated Washington in the first round of the NBA Playoffs, 4-3 before losing to Boston in six games in the conference semifinals….team went on a seven-game winning streak (Dec. 11 to Dec. 21) and an eight-game winning streak (Feb. 6 to Feb. 22) during season….Bill Fitch named NBA Coach of the Year…Jim Brewer and Jimmy Cleamons were named to the NBA’s All-Defensive team (both second team)…won 20 games on the road for the first time.
Final Record: 40-42 Finished: 3rd Place in Division Head Coach: Bill Fitch
Season Highlights: Cleveland opened Richfield Coliseum against the Boston Celtics, drawing 13,184 spectators…Cavaliers won 40 games for the first time in franchise history…Bingo Smith scored 41 points in a win at Washington on Nov. 6, becoming the second Cavalier to score 40 or more points in a game…over 20,000 (20,239) fans attended the home season finale against New York, marking the biggest crowd the Cavaliers had played in front of at that point in franchise history (home or road) and their first 20,000+ crowd.
Final Record: 29-53 Finished: 4th Place in Division Head Coach: Bill Fitch
Season Highlights: Won final game in Cleveland Arena against New York in front of 8,829 on March 24…Austin Carr is named an All-Star and averaged a then-franchise-best 21.9 points per game…Lenny Wilkens finished third in the league in assists per game (7.1).
Final Record: 32-50 Finished: 4th Place in Division Head Coach: Bill Fitch
Season Highlights: Acquired Lenny Wilkens and Barry Clemens from Seattle for Butch Beard on Aug. 23…increased win total for second consecutive season (15 to 23 to 32)…won six consecutive games from March 13 to March 21…finished season with 20 home victories for the first time…Dwight Davis named to the NBA All-Rookie Team….Wilkens named an All-Star in his first season as a Cavalier, finishing second in the league in assists per game (8.4).
Final Record: 23-59 Finished: 4th Place in Division Head Coach: Bill Fitch
Season Highlights: Selected Austin Carr with first overall pick in 1971 NBA Draft…won a franchise-best five consecutive games from Nov. 23 to Dec. 1…John Johnson and Butch Beard named All-Stars (Johnson for the second consecutive season)…first sellout in franchise history at Cleveland Arena on Jan. 5 against Los Angeles as 11,178 packed the 11,000-capacity arena…Carr named to the All-Rookie Team….Rick Roberson became first Cavalier to average a double-double (13.1 points and 12.7 rebounds).
Final Record: 15-67 Finished: 4th Place in Division Head Coach: Bill Fitch
Season Highlights: Opened inaugural season at Buffalo on Oct. 14…hosted first home game on Oct. 28 at Cleveland Arena in front of 6,144….claimed first victory on Nov. 12 at Portland with 105-103 win…Walt Wesley scored a franchise-high 50 points versus Cincinnati on Feb. 19….two days later, Wesley had first 20-20 game in franchise history with 30 points and 21 rebounds on Feb. 21 at Portland…won back-to-back games on three occasions (Dec. 26-27, Jan. 25-27 and Jan. 31 – Feb. 2)…John Johnson named first All-Star in franchise history…
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