List of Cleveland Cavaliers seasons

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

The Cleveland Cavaliers (also known 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 in 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 in 1971, Brad Daugherty in 1986, LeBron James in 2003, Kyrie Irving in 2011, Anthony Bennett in 2013 and Andrew Wiggins in 2014.^[3] In his last season with the Cavs, Carr won the J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award, the only Cavalier to ever win the award.^[4] As a Cavalier, LeBron won Rookie of the Year as well as four MVP awards and two All Star Game MVP awards.^[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 45 seasons, the Cavs have achieved a winning record 20 times. Highlights include 19 playoff appearances and five Eastern Conference Finals appearances (1975-76, 1991-92, 2006-07, 2008-09 and 2014-15), which included winning the Central Division championship four times (1975–76, 2008–09, 2009-10 and 2014-15), the Eastern Conference championship twice (2006–07 and 2014-15), and two appearances in the NBA Finals. In the 2007 NBA Finals they lost to the San Antonio Spurs.^[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 and 84 in the playoffs, a winning percentage of .500.

Key

LeBron James has won Rookie of the Year, two MVPs and two All Star Game MVPs as a Cavalier.

AMVP	All-Star Game Most Valuable Player
COY	Coach of the Year
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
EOY	Executive of the Year
MVP	Most Valuable Player
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 2015–16 season.

Season	League	Conference	Finish	Division	Finish	Wins	Losses	Win%	GB	Playoffs	Awards	Ref.
1970–71	NBA	Eastern	8th	Central	4th	15	67	.183	27	—	—	[8]
1971–72	NBA	Eastern	7th	Central	4th	23	59	.280	15	—	—	[9]
1972–73	NBA	Eastern	6th	Central	4th	32	50	.390	20	—	—	[10]
1973–74	NBA	Eastern	7th	Central	4th	29	53	.354	18	—	—	[11]
1974–75	NBA	Eastern	6th	Central	3rd	40	42	.488	20	—	—	[12]
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	NBA	Eastern	6th	Central	4th	43	39	.524	6	Lost First Round (Bullets) 2–1	—	[14]
1977–78	NBA	Eastern	4th	Central	3rd	43	39	.524	9	Lost First Round (Knicks) 2–0	—	[15]
1978–79	NBA	Eastern	8th	Central	5th[nb 1]	30	52	.366	18	—	—	[17]
1979–80	NBA	Eastern	8th	Central	5th[nb 2]	37	45	.451	13	—	Austin Carr (JWKC)	[19]
1980–81	NBA	Eastern	9th	Central	5th	28	54	.341	32	—	—	[20]
1981–82	NBA	Eastern	11th	Central	6th	15	67	.183	40	—	—	[21]
1982–83	NBA	Eastern	10th	Central	5th	23	59	.280	28	—	—	[22]
1983–84	NBA	Eastern	9th	Central	4th	28	54	.341	22	—	—	[23]
1984–85	NBA	Eastern	8th	Central	4th	36	46	.439	23	Lost First Round (Celtics) 3–1	—	[24]
1985–86	NBA	Eastern	9th	Central	5th	29	53	.354	28	—	—	[25]
1986–87	NBA	Eastern	9th	Central	6th	31	51	.380	26	—	—	[26]
1987–88	NBA	Eastern	6th	Central	5th[nb 3]	42	40	.512	12	Lost First Round (Bulls) 3–2	—	[28]
1988–89	NBA	Eastern	3rd	Central	2nd	57	25	.695	6	Lost First Round (Bulls) 3–2	—	[29]
1989–90	NBA	Eastern	7th	Central	4th[nb 4]	42	40	.512	17	Lost First Round (76ers) 3–2	—	[31]
1990–91	NBA	Eastern	9th	Central	6th	33	49	.402	28	—	—	[32]
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	NBA	Eastern	3rd	Central	2nd	54	28	.658	3	Won First Round (Nets) 3–2 Lost Conference Semifinals (Bulls) 4–0	—	[34]
1993–94	NBA	Eastern	6th	Central	4th[nb 5]	47	35	.573	10	Lost First Round (Bulls) 3–0	—	[36]
1994–95	NBA	Eastern	6th	Central	4th	43	39	.524	9	Lost First Round (Knicks) 3–1	—	[37]
1995–96	NBA	Eastern	4th	Central	3rd	47	35	.573	25	Lost First Round (Knicks) 3–0	—	[38]
1996–97	NBA	Eastern	9th	Central	5th	42	40	.512	27	—	Terrell Brandon (SPOR)	[39]
1997–98	NBA	Eastern	6th	Central	5th	47	35	.573	15	Lost First Round (Pacers) 3–1	Wayne Embry (EOY)	[40]
1998–99[nb 6]	NBA	Eastern	11th	Central	7th	22	28	.440	11	—	—	[41]
1999–00	NBA	Eastern	11th	Central	6th	32	50	.390	24	—	—	[42]
2000–01	NBA	Eastern	11th	Central	6th	30	52	.366	22	—	—	[43]
2001–02	NBA	Eastern	14th	Central	7th	29	53	.354	21	—	—	[44]
2002–03	NBA	Eastern	15th	Central	8th	17	65	.207	33	—	—	[45]
2003–04	NBA	Eastern	9th	Central	5th	35	47	.427	26	—	LeBron James (ROY)	[46]
2004–05	NBA	Eastern	9th	Central	4th	42	40	.512	12	—	Eric Snow (JWKC)	[47]
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	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	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	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	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	NBA	Eastern	15th	Central	5th	19	63	.232	43	—	—	[53]
2011–12[nb 7]	NBA	Eastern	13th	Central	5th	21	45	.318	29	—	Kyrie Irving (ROY)	[54]
2012–13	NBA	Eastern	13th	Central	5th	24	58	.293	25.5	—	—	[55]
2013–14	NBA	Eastern	10th	Central	3rd	33	49	.402	23	—	Kyrie Irving (AMVP) Luol Deng (JWKC)	[56]
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	NBA	Eastern	1st	Central	1st	57	25	.695	—	Won First Round (Pistons) 4–0 Conference Semifinals (Hawks) 2–0

All-time records

Statistic	Wins	Losses	Win%
Regular season results	1728	1996	.464
Post-season results	84	84	.500
Regular and post-season results	1755	2055	.466

Notes

1. The Cavaliers and the Pistons ended the 1978–79 season with identical 30–52 records.^[16]
2. The Cavaliers and the Pacers ended the 1979–80 season with identical 37–45 records.^[18]
3. The Cavaliers and the Bucks ended the 1987–88 season with identical 42–40 records.^[27]
4. The Cavaliers and the Pacers ended the 1989–90 season with identical 42–40 records.^[30]
5. The Cavaliers and the 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.

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. 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.