List of Cleveland Cavaliers seasons

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The Cleveland Cavaliers (also known simply as the Cavs) are an American professional basketball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They began playing in the National Basketball Association (NBA) in 1970. This list summarizes the team’s season-by-season records, including post-season, and includes select season-end awards won by the team’s players and/or coaches. The Cavaliers were founded in 1970 as an expansion franchise and since their first season, they have always played in the Central Division and the Eastern Conference.[1]

On October 14, 1970, the Cavs lost to the Buffalo Braves 92–107 in their first game.[2] They have been awarded the first overall draft pick six times, choosing Austin Carr (1971), Brad Daugherty (1986), LeBron James (2003), Kyrie Irving (2011), Anthony Bennett (2013) and Andrew Wiggins (2014).[3] In his last season with the Cavs, Austin Carr won the J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award, the first of four Cavaliers to win the award (Eric Snow, Luol Deng and LeBron James won the award in 2005, 2014 and 2017, respectively).[4] As a Cavalier, LeBron won Rookie of the Year as well as two MVP awards and two All Star Game MVP awards. He also led the Cavaliers to five NBA Finals, including the last 4 straight, and won the 2016 title as Finals MVP.[5] Cleveland’s next first overall pick after James, Kyrie Irving, won Rookie of the Year in 2012 and NBA All-Star Game MVP in 2014.[6]

In their 53 seasons, the Cavs have achieved a winning record 25 times. Highlights include 23 playoff appearances, which included winning the Central Division championship seven times (1975–76, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17, and 2017–18), winning the Eastern Conference championship five times (2006–07, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17, and 2017–18), and winning the NBA championship in 2016.[1][7] In five straight playoff appearances with LeBron James in his first tenure with Cleveland, the Cavs won more playoff games than they lost each season, something they only ever managed, barely, once before, in the 1991–92 season. Overall, their winning percentage through the years is .465, with 1,984 wins and 2,286 losses in regular season play (as of the 2022–23 season). They are 125–104 in the playoffs, a winning percentage of .546. Cleveland’s 2016 championship meant that the Eastern Conference’s Central Division is the only current NBA division with more than three of its five franchises having won NBA titles (Cleveland joined Chicago, Detroit, and Milwaukee as teams with at least one championship).

LeBron James – who in his 11 seasons with the Cavaliers (in two separate stints) was the 2004 Rookie of the Year, 2008 Scoring Champion, two-time NBA MVP, three-time All-Star Game MVP, 2016 NBA Champion, and 2016 Finals MVP.

Seasons[edit]

Note: Statistics are correct as of the 2022–23 season.

All-time records[edit]

Statistic Wins Losses Win%
Regular season 1984 2287 .465
Post-season 125 104 .546
Total 2109 2390 .469
  1. ^ The Cavaliers and Pistons ended the 1978–79 season with identical 30–52 records.[16]
  2. ^ The Cavaliers and Pacers ended the 1979–80 season with identical 37–45 records.[18]
  3. ^ The Cavaliers and Bucks ended the 1987–88 season with identical 42–40 records.[27]
  4. ^ The Cavaliers and Pacers ended the 1989–90 season with identical 42–40 records.[30]
  5. ^ The Cavaliers and Pacers ended the 1993–94 season with identical 47–35 records.[35]
  6. ^ Due to the circumstances of a lockout, the 1998–99 season was shortened to 50 games, with teams beginning play on February 5, 1999.
  7. ^ Due to the circumstances of a lockout, the 2011–12 season was shortened to 66 games, with teams beginning play on December 25, 2011.
  8. ^ The 2019–20 season was suspended on March 11, 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and restarted on July 30, 2020, but the Cavaliers were not invited back to play due to playoff ineligibility, thus ending their season after 65 games.
  9. ^ The 2020–21 season was shortened to 72 games due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with teams beginning play on December 22, 2020.

References[edit]

General
Specific
  1. ^ a b “Cleveland Cavaliers Franchise Index”. basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved March 3, 2013.
  2. ^ “1970-71 Cleveland Cavaliers Schedule and Results”. basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved March 4, 2013.
  3. ^ “Draft Index Index”. basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved March 3, 2013.
  4. ^ “J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award”. NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Archived from the original on November 19, 2010. Retrieved July 24, 2008.
  5. ^ “LeBron James Index”. basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved March 4, 2013.
  6. ^ “Kyrie Irving Index”. basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved March 4, 2013.
  7. ^ “Team Index”. basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved March 3, 2013.
  8. ^ “1970-1971 Cleveland Cavaliers”. basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved March 3, 2013.
  9. ^ “1971-1972 Cleveland Cavaliers”. basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved March 3, 2013.
  10. ^ “1972-1973 Cleveland Cavaliers”. basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved March 3, 2013.
  11. ^ “1973-1974 Cleveland Cavaliers”. basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved March 3, 2013.
  12. ^ “1974-1975 Cleveland Cavaliers”. basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved March 3, 2013.
  13. ^ “1975-1976 Cleveland Cavaliers”. basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved March 3, 2013.
  14. ^ “1976-1977 Cleveland Cavaliers”. basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved March 3, 2013.
  15. ^ “1977-1978 Cleveland Cavaliers”. basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved March 3, 2013.
  16. ^ “1978-79 NBA Season Summary”. basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved March 3, 2013.
  17. ^ “1978-1979 Cleveland Cavaliers”. basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved March 3, 2013.
  18. ^ “1979-80 NBA Season Summary”. basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved March 3, 2013.
  19. ^ “1979-1980 Cleveland Cavaliers”. basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved March 3, 2013.
  20. ^ “1980-1981 Cleveland Cavaliers”. basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved March 3, 2013.
  21. ^ “1981-1982 Cleveland Cavaliers”. basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved March 3, 2013.
  22. ^ “1982-1983 Cleveland Cavaliers”. basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved March 3, 2013.
  23. ^ “1983-1984 Cleveland Cavaliers”. basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved March 3, 2013.
  24. ^ “1984-1985 Cleveland Cavaliers”. basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved March 3, 2013.
  25. ^ “1985-1986 Cleveland Cavaliers”. basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved March 3, 2013.
  26. ^ “1986-1987 Cleveland Cavaliers”. basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved March 3, 2013.
  27. ^ “1987-88 NBA Season Summary”. basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved March 3, 2013.
  28. ^ “1987-1988 Cleveland Cavaliers”. basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved March 3, 2013.
  29. ^ “1988-1989 Cleveland Cavaliers”. basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved March 3, 2013.
  30. ^ “1989-90 NBA Season Summary”. basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved March 3, 2013.
  31. ^ “1989-1990 Cleveland Cavaliers”. basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved March 3, 2013.
  32. ^ “1990-1991 Cleveland Cavaliers”. basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved March 3, 2013.
  33. ^ “1991-1992 Cleveland Cavaliers”. basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved March 3, 2013.
  34. ^ “1992-1993 Cleveland Cavaliers”. basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved March 3, 2013.
  35. ^ “1993-94 NBA Season Summary”. basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved March 3, 2013.
  36. ^ “1993-1994 Cleveland Cavaliers”. basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved March 3, 2013.
  37. ^ “1994-1995 Cleveland Cavaliers”. basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved March 3, 2013.
  38. ^ “1995-1996 Cleveland Cavaliers”. basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved March 3, 2013.
  39. ^ “1996-1997 Cleveland Cavaliers”. basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved March 3, 2013.
  40. ^ “1997-1998 Cleveland Cavaliers”. basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved March 3, 2013.
  41. ^ “1998-1999 Cleveland Cavaliers”. basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved March 3, 2013.
  42. ^ “1999-2000 Cleveland Cavaliers”. basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved March 3, 2013.
  43. ^ “2000-2001 Cleveland Cavaliers”. basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved March 3, 2013.
  44. ^ “2001-2002 Cleveland Cavaliers”. basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved March 3, 2013.
  45. ^ “2002-2003 Cleveland Cavaliers”. basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved March 3, 2013.
  46. ^ “2003-2004 Cleveland Cavaliers”. basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved March 3, 2013.
  47. ^ “2004-2005 Cleveland Cavaliers”. basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved March 3, 2013.
  48. ^ “2005-2006 Cleveland Cavaliers”. basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved March 3, 2013.
  49. ^ “2006-2007 Cleveland Cavaliers”. basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved March 3, 2013.
  50. ^ “2007-2008 Cleveland Cavaliers”. basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved March 3, 2013.
  51. ^ “2008-2009 Cleveland Cavaliers”. basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved March 3, 2013.
  52. ^ “2009-2010 Cleveland Cavaliers”. basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved March 3, 2013.
  53. ^ “2010-2011 Cleveland Cavaliers”. basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved March 3, 2013.
  54. ^ “2011-2012 Cleveland Cavaliers”. basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved March 3, 2013.
  55. ^ “2012-13 Cleveland Cavaliers”. basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved April 21, 2013.
  56. ^ “2013-14 Cleveland Cavaliers”. basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved April 23, 2014.
  57. ^ “2014-15 Cleveland Cavaliers”. basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved March 3, 2016.
  58. ^ “2015-16 Cleveland Cavaliers”. basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved June 19, 2016.
  59. ^ “2016-17 Cleveland Cavaliers”. basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved April 4, 2019.
  60. ^ “2017-18 Cleveland Cavaliers”. basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved April 4, 2019.
  61. ^ “2018-19 Cleveland Cavaliers”. basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved April 4, 2019.
  62. ^ “2019-20 Cleveland Cavaliers”. basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved May 20, 2021.
  63. ^ “2020-21 Cleveland Cavaliers”. basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved May 20, 2021.
  64. ^ “2020-21 Cleveland Cavaliers”. basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved May 20, 2021.
  65. ^ “2020-21 Cleveland Cavaliers”. basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved March 29, 2023.