Table of Contents
Cleveland Cavaliers
Founded in 1970
The Cleveland Cavaliers joined the NBA as an expansion team.1)
A Name Chosen by Fans
The team name “Cavaliers” was selected through a fan contest, beating “Jays,” “Foresters,” and “Presidents.”2)
First-Ever Draft Pick
The Cavs selected Austin Carr with the No. 1 overall pick in the 1971 NBA Draft.3)
First Playoff Success (1976)
The Cavaliers won their first division title in 1976.4)
The Miracle of Richfield
A thrilling 1976 playoff run ended in the Eastern Conference Finals.5)
Original Home Arena
The team played at Richfield Coliseum before moving to Gund Arena (now Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse) in 1994.6)
The King Arrives
The Cavaliers drafted LeBron James No. 1 overall in 2003.7)
Rookie of the Year
LeBron won the 2004 NBA Rookie of the Year award.8)
First NBA Finals Appearance
LeBron led the team to the 2007 NBA Finals, but they were swept by the Spurs.9)
Franchise Record for Wins
The Cavs won 66 games in the 2008-09 season.10)
LeBron’s Back-to-Back MVPs
LeBron won NBA MVP awards in 2009 and 2010.11)
The Decision (2010)
LeBron left Cleveland for the Miami Heat, causing massive controversy.12)
Winning the Draft Lottery
The Cavs had the No. 1 pick three times (2011, 2013, 2014).13)
Kyrie Irving Joins the Cavs
The team selected Kyrie Irving first overall in 2011, who won Rookie of the Year.14)
LeBron Returns (2014)
LeBron announced his return to Cleveland, promising to win a championship.15)