List of Cleveland Cavaliers seasons


The Cleveland Cavaliers are an American professional basketball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They began playing in the National Basketball Association 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 [Eastern Conference (sports)|Conference (NBA)|the Eastern Conference (NBA)|Eastern Conference].
On October 14, 1970, the Cavs lost to the Buffalo Braves 92–107 in their first game. They have been awarded [List of first overall National Basketball Association|NBA draft picks|the first overall draft pick] six times, choosing Austin Carr, Brad Daugherty, LeBron James, Kyrie Irving, Anthony Bennett and Andrew Wiggins. 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. As a Cavalier, LeBron won [NBA NBA Rookie of the Year Award|Rookie of the Year Award|Rookie of the Year] as well as two MVP awards and two [NBA All-Star Game Most Valuable Player Award|All Star Game NBA Most Valuable Player|MVP awards]. He also led the Cavaliers to five NBA Finals, including the last 4 straight, and won the 2016 title as Finals MVP. 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.
In their 55 seasons, the Cavs have achieved a winning record 27 times. Highlights include 25 playoff appearances, which includes winning the Central Division championship eight times winning the Eastern Conference championship five times, and winning the NBA championship in 2016. 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 record is as of the 2024–25 season. They are in the playoffs.

Key

FinishFinal position in league or division standings
ECSFEastern Conference Semifinals
ECFEastern Conference Finals
ASG MVPAll-Star Game Most Valuable Player
COYCoach of the Year
EOYExecutive of the Year
MVPMost Valuable Player
FMVPNBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award
ROYRookie of the Year
DPOYDefensive Player of the Year
SPORSportsmanship Award
JWKCJ. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award
NBA Champions
Conference Champions
Division Champions
Playoff berth
Play-in berth

Seasons

Note: Statistics are correct as of the.
SeasonTeamLeagueConferenceFinishDivisionFinishWinsLossesWin%GBPlayoffsAwardsHead coachRef.
1970–71NBAEastern8thCentral4th1567.18327——Bill Fitch
1971–72NBAEastern7thCentral4th2359.28015——Bill Fitch
1972–73NBAEastern6thCentral4th3250.39020——Bill Fitch
1973–74NBAEastern7thCentral4th2953.35418——Bill Fitch
1974–75NBAEastern6thCentral3rd4042.48820——Bill Fitch
1975–76NBAEastern2ndCentral1st4933.598—Won ECSF 4–3
Lost ECF 4–2		Bill Fitch Bill Fitch
1976–77NBAEastern6thCentral4th4339.5246Lost First round 2–1—Bill Fitch
1977–78NBAEastern4thCentral3rd4339.5249Lost First round 2–0—Bill Fitch
1978–79NBAEastern8thCentral5th3052.36618——Bill Fitch
1979–80NBAEastern8thCentral5th3745.45113—Austin Carr Stan Albeck
1980–81NBAEastern9thCentral5th2854.34132——Bill Musselman
Don Delaney
1981–82NBAEastern11thCentral6th1567.18340——Don Delaney
Bob Kloppenburg
Chuck Daly
Bill Musselman
1982–83NBAEastern10thCentral5th2359.28028——Tom Nissalke
1983–84NBAEastern9thCentral4th2854.34122——Tom Nissalke
1984–85NBAEastern8thCentral4th3646.43923Lost First round 3–1—George Karl
1985–86NBAEastern9thCentral5th2953.35428——George Karl
Gene Littles
1986–87NBAEastern9thCentral6th3151.38026——Lenny Wilkens
1987–88NBAEastern6thCentral5th4240.51212Lost First round 3–2—Lenny Wilkens
1988–89NBAEastern3rdCentral2nd5725.6956Lost First round 3–2—Lenny Wilkens
1989–90NBAEastern7thCentral4th4240.51217Lost First round 3–2—Lenny Wilkens
1990–91NBAEastern9thCentral6th3349.40228——Lenny Wilkens
1991–92NBAEastern3rdCentral2nd5725.69510Won First round 3–1
Won ECSF 4–3
Lost ECF 4–2		Wayne Embry Lenny Wilkens
1992–93NBAEastern3rdCentral2nd5428.6583Won First round 3–2
Lost ECSF 4–0		—Lenny Wilkens
1993–94NBAEastern6thCentral4th4735.57310Lost First round 3–0—Mike Fratello
1994–95NBAEastern6thCentral4th4339.5249Lost First round 3–1—Mike Fratello
1995–96NBAEastern4thCentral3rd4735.57325Lost First round 3–0—Mike Fratello
1996–97NBAEastern9thCentral5th4240.51227—Terrell Brandon Mike Fratello
1997–98NBAEastern6thCentral5th4735.57315Lost First round 3–1Wayne Embry Mike Fratello
1998–99NBAEastern11thCentral7th2228.44011——Mike Fratello
1999–2000NBAEastern11thCentral6th3250.39024——Randy Wittman
2000–01NBAEastern11thCentral6th3052.36622——Randy Wittman
2001–02NBAEastern14thCentral7th2953.35421——John Lucas II
2002–03NBAEastern15thCentral8th1765.20733——John Lucas II
Keith Smart
2003–04NBAEastern9thCentral5th3547.42726—LeBron James Paul Silas
2004–05NBAEastern9thCentral4th4240.51212—Eric Snow Paul Silas
Brendan Malone
2005–06NBAEastern4thCentral2nd5032.61014Won First round 4–2
Lost ECSF 4–3		LeBron James Mike Brown
2006–07NBAEastern2ndCentral2nd5032.6103Won First round 4–0
Won ECSF 4–2
Won ECF 4–2
Lost NBA Finals 4–0		—Mike Brown
2007–08NBAEastern4thCentral2nd4537.54914Won First round 4–2
Lost ECSF 4–3		LeBron James Mike Brown
2008–09NBAEastern1stCentral1st6616.805—Won First round 4–0
Won ECSF 4–0
Lost ECF 4–2		LeBron James
Mike Brown 		Mike Brown
2009–10NBAEastern1stCentral1st6121.744—Won First round 4–1
Lost ECSF 4–2		LeBron James Mike Brown
2010–11NBAEastern15thCentral5th1963.23243——Byron Scott
2011–12NBAEastern13thCentral5th2145.31829—Kyrie Irving Byron Scott
2012–13NBAEastern13thCentral5th245825.5——Byron Scott
2013–14NBAEastern10thCentral3rd334923—Kyrie Irving
Luol Deng 		Mike Brown
2014–15NBAEastern 2ndCentral1st5329—Won First round 4–0
Won ECSF 4–2
Won ECF 4–0
Lost NBA Finals 4–2		—David Blatt
2015–16NBAEastern 1stCentral1st5725—Won First round 4–0
Won ECSF 4–0
Won ECF 4–2
Won NBA Finals 4–3		LeBron James David Blatt
Tyronn Lue
2016–17NBAEastern 2ndCentral1st5131—Won First round 4–0
Won ECSF 4–0
Won ECF 4–1
Lost NBA Finals 4–1		LeBron James Tyronn Lue
2017–18NBAEastern 4thCentral1st5032—Won First round 4–3
Won ECSF 4–0
Won ECF 4–3
Lost NBA Finals 4–0		LeBron James Tyronn Lue
2018–19NBAEastern14thCentral5th1963.23241——Tyronn Lue
Larry Drew
2019–20NBAEastern15thCentral5th1946.29233——John Beilein
J. B. Bickerstaff
2020–21NBAEastern13thCentral4th2250.30627——J. B. Bickerstaff
2021–22NBAEastern9thCentral3rd4438.5379——J. B. Bickerstaff
2022–23NBAEastern 4thCentral2nd5131.6227Lost First round 4–1—J. B. Bickerstaff
2023–24NBAEastern 4thCentral2nd4834.58516Won First round 4–3
Lost ECSF 4–1		—J. B. Bickerstaff
2024–25NBAEastern 1stCentral1st6418.780—Won First round 4–0
Lost ECSF 4–1		Evan Mobley
Kenny Atkinson 		Kenny Atkinson