List of Cleveland Cavaliers seasons

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]

Quicken Loans Arena, home of the Cleveland Cavaliers since 1994.

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 four 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 48 seasons, the Cavs have achieved a winning record 23 times. Highlights include 20 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 Title 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 .456, with 1660 wins and 1967 losses in regular season play (as of March 13, 2015). They are 84–84 in the playoffs, a winning percentage of .500. 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).

Key
LeBron James - who in his 11 seasons with the Cavaliers (among 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.
Finish Final position in league or division standings
(No.) Number of games the coach coached
Italics Season in progress
Losses Number of regular season losses
AMVP All-Star Game Most Valuable Player
COY Coach of the Year
EOY Executive of the Year
MVP Most Valuable Player
FMVP NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award
ROY Rookie of the Year
SPOR Sportsmanship Award
JWKC J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award
NBA Champions
Conference Champions
Division Champions
Playoff berth

Seasons

Note: Statistics are correct as of the 2019–20 season.

Season Team League Conference Finish Division Finish Wins Losses Win% GB Playoffs Awards Ref.
1970–71 1970–71 NBA Eastern 8th Central 4th 15 67 .183 27 — — [8]
1971–72 1971–72 NBA Eastern 7th Central 4th 23 59 .280 15 — — [9]
1972–73 1972–73 NBA Eastern 6th Central 4th 32 50 .390 20 — — [10]
1973–74 1973–74 NBA Eastern 7th Central 4th 29 53 .354 18 — — [11]
1974–75 1974–75 NBA Eastern 6th Central 3rd 40 42 .488 20 — — [12]
1975–76 1975–76 NBA Eastern 2nd Central 1st 49 33 .598 — Won Conference Semifinals (Bullets) 4–3
Lost Conference Finals (Celtics) 4–2		 Bill Fitch (COY) [13]
1976–77 1976–77 NBA Eastern 6th Central 4th 43 39 .524 6 Lost First Round (Bullets) 2–1 — [14]
1977–78 1977–78 NBA Eastern 4th Central 3rd 43 39 .524 9 Lost First Round (Knicks) 2–0 — [15]
1978–79 1978–79 NBA Eastern 8th Central 5th[nb 1] 30 52 .366 18 — — [17]
1979–80 1979–80 NBA Eastern 8th Central 5th[nb 2] 37 45 .451 13 — Austin Carr (JWKC) [19]
1980–81 1980–81 NBA Eastern 9th Central 5th 28 54 .341 32 — — [20]
1981–82 1981–82 NBA Eastern 11th Central 6th 15 67 .183 40 — — [21]
1982–83 1982–83 NBA Eastern 10th Central 5th 23 59 .280 28 — — [22]
1983–84 1983–84 NBA Eastern 9th Central 4th 28 54 .341 22 — — [23]
1984–85 1984–85 NBA Eastern 8th Central 4th 36 46 .439 23 Lost First Round (Celtics) 3–1 — [24]
1985–86 1985–86 NBA Eastern 9th Central 5th 29 53 .354 28 — — [25]
1986–87 1986–87 NBA Eastern 9th Central 6th 31 51 .380 26 — — [26]
1987–88 1987–88 NBA Eastern 6th Central 5th[nb 3] 42 40 .512 12 Lost First Round (Bulls) 3–2 — [28]
1988–89 1988–89 NBA Eastern 3rd Central 2nd 57 25 .695 6 Lost First Round (Bulls) 3–2 — [29]
1989–90 1989–90 NBA Eastern 7th Central 4th[nb 4] 42 40 .512 17 Lost First Round (76ers) 3–2 — [31]
1990–91 1990–91 NBA Eastern 9th Central 6th 33 49 .402 28 — — [32]
1991–92 1991–92 NBA Eastern 3rd Central 2nd 57 25 .695 10 Won First Round (Nets) 3–1
Won Conference Semifinals (Celtics) 4–3
Lost Conference Finals (Bulls) 4–2		 Wayne Embry (EOY) [33]
1992–93 1992–93 NBA Eastern 3rd Central 2nd 54 28 .658 3 Won First Round (Nets) 3–2
Lost Conference Semifinals (Bulls) 4–0		 — [34]
1993–94 1993–94 NBA Eastern 6th Central 4th[nb 5] 47 35 .573 10 Lost First Round (Bulls) 3–0 — [36]
1994–95 1994–95 NBA Eastern 6th Central 4th 43 39 .524 9 Lost First Round (Knicks) 3–1 — [37]
1995–96 1995–96 NBA Eastern 4th Central 3rd 47 35 .573 25 Lost First Round (Knicks) 3–0 — [38]
1996–97 1996–97 NBA Eastern 9th Central 5th 42 40 .512 27 — Terrell Brandon (SPOR) [39]
1997–98 1997–98 NBA Eastern 6th Central 5th 47 35 .573 15 Lost First Round (Pacers) 3–1 Wayne Embry (EOY) [40]
1998–99 1998–99[nb 6] NBA Eastern 11th Central 7th 22 28 .440 11 — — [41]
1999–2000 1999–2000 NBA Eastern 11th Central 6th 32 50 .390 24 — — [42]
2000–01 2000–01 NBA Eastern 11th Central 6th 30 52 .366 22 — — [43]
2001–02 2001–02 NBA Eastern 14th Central 7th 29 53 .354 21 — — [44]
2002–03 2002–03 NBA Eastern 15th Central 8th 17 65 .207 33 — — [45]
2003–04 2003–04 NBA Eastern 9th Central 5th 35 47 .427 26 — LeBron James (ROY) [46]
2004–05 2004–05 NBA Eastern 9th Central 4th 42 40 .512 12 — Eric Snow (JWKC) [47]
2005–06 2005–06 NBA Eastern 4th Central 2nd 50 32 .610 14 Won First Round (Wizards) 4–2
Lost Conference Semifinals (Pistons) 4–3		 LeBron James (AMVP) [48]
2006–07 2006–07 NBA Eastern 2nd Central 2nd 50 32 .610 3 Won First Round (Wizards) 4–0
Won Conference Semifinals (Nets) 4–2
Won Conference Finals (Pistons) 4–2
Lost NBA Finals (Spurs) 4–0		 — [49]
2007–08 2007–08 NBA Eastern 4th Central 2nd 45 37 .549 14 Won First Round (Wizards) 4–2
Lost Conference Semifinals (Celtics) 4–3		 LeBron James (AMVP) [50]
2008–09 2008–09 NBA Eastern 1st Central 1st 66 16 .805 — Won First Round (Pistons) 4–0
Won Conference Semifinals (Hawks) 4–0
Lost Conference Finals (Magic) 4–2		 LeBron James (MVP)
Mike Brown (COY)		 [51]
2009–10 2009–10 NBA Eastern 1st Central 1st 61 21 .744 — Won First Round (Bulls) 4–1
Lost Conference Semifinals (Celtics) 4–2		 LeBron James (MVP) [52]
2010–11 2010–11 NBA Eastern 15th Central 5th 19 63 .232 43 — — [53]
2011–12 2011–12[nb 7] NBA Eastern 13th Central 5th 21 45 .318 29 — Kyrie Irving (ROY) [54]
2012–13 2012–13 NBA Eastern 13th Central 5th 24 58 .293 25.5 — — [55]
2013–14 2013–14 NBA Eastern 10th Central 3rd 33 49 .402 23 — Kyrie Irving (AMVP)
Luol Deng (JWKC)		 [56]
2014–15 2014–15 NBA Eastern 2nd Central 1st 53 29 .646 — Won First Round (Celtics) 4–0
Won Conference Semifinals (Bulls) 4–2
Won Conference Finals (Hawks) 4–0
Lost NBA Finals (Warriors) 4–2		 — [57]
2015–16 2015–16 NBA Eastern 1st Central 1st 57 25 .695 — Won First Round (Pistons) 4–0
Won Conference Semifinals (Hawks) 4–0
Won Conference Finals (Raptors) 4–2
Won NBA Finals (Warriors) 4–3		 LeBron James (FMVP) [58]
2016–17 2016–17 NBA Eastern 2nd Central 1st 51 31 .622 — Won First Round (Pacers) 4–0
Won Conference Semifinals (Raptors) 4–0
Won Conference Finals (Celtics) 4–1
Lost NBA Finals (Warriors) 4–1		 LeBron James (JWKC) [59]
2017–18 2017–18 NBA Eastern 4th Central 1st 50 32 .610 — Won First Round (Pacers) 4–3
Won Conference Semifinals (Raptors) 4–0
Won Conference Finals (Celtics) 4–3
Lost NBA Finals (Warriors) 4–0		 LeBron James (AMVP) [60]
2018–19 2018–19 NBA Eastern 14th Central 5th 19 63 .232 41 — — [61]
2019–20 2019–20[nb 8] NBA Eastern 15th Central 5th 19 46 .292 34 — — [62]

All-time records
Statistic Wins Losses Win%
Regular season 1867 2168 .463
Post-season 119 97 .551
Total 1986 2265 .467

Notes
  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.

References
General
  • "Cleveland Cavaliers". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved March 4, 2012.
  • "Cleveland Cavaliers Season Summaries". NBA.com. NBA Media Ventures, LLC. Retrieved March 4, 2012.
Specific
  1. "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.
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  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.
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