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The Cleveland Cavaliers started in the NBA as an expansion team in 1970 along with the Portland Trail Blazers and Buffalo Braves, which became the Los Angeles Clippers. The Cavaliers were bad in the first five years in the league as expected from an expansion team. However, they made the playoffs the next three years before suffering another slump, making the playoffs once in nine seasons.
Their fortunes changed in the 1990s wherein they made the post-season five straight times from 1992 to 1996. The Cavaliers would suffer another drought until the arrival of LeBron James, who became the savior of the franchise. He might have left Cleveland in 2010 but returned in 2014 to bring a championship to the city in 2016.
Despite their reputation as not being a top destination for superstars, the Cavaliers have produced a lot of great players including James. Here are the five players from the Cavaliers who made their all-time starting five.
Center – Brad Daugherty
Brad Daugherty played his entire NBA career with the Cavaliers becoming a team legend in the process. Daugherty was a five-time All-Star in Cleveland as he led the team to five playoff appearances. He helped the Cavaliers reach the Eastern Conference Finals in 1992 but they failed to the mighty Chicago Bulls.
Daugherty’s NBA career was cut short after eight seasons due to recurring back problems. He retired in 1994 but he is still on the Cavaliers’ all-time leaderboards for most of the categories. He ranks third in points and rebounds, and seventh in assists and blocks. His No. 43 jersey is also hanging in the rafters of the Quicken Loans Arena.
Honorable Mention: Center – Zydrunas Ilgauskas
If he only played his entire NBA career in Cleveland, Zydrunas Ilgauskas would have made it over Brad Daugherty. Ilgauskas is a two-time All-Star with the Cavaliers and his No. 11 jersey was retired by the team. He ranks second in all-time points and rebounds for the franchise, and number one in total blocks.
Guard – Kyrie Irving
Although Kyrie Irving forced his way out of Cleveland in 2017, he remains one of the best players to ever suit up for the Cavaliers. Irving was drafted first overall in 2011 and he played in Cleveland for six seasons. He was a five-time All-Star with the team while also helping the Cavaliers reach the NBA Finals three times.
Irving also made the most iconic and important shot in the history of the franchise. He hit the game-winning shot in the 2016 NBA Finals that helped the Cavaliers clinch their first NBA championship. He sits eighth in the Cavaliers’ all-time scoring list while being sixth in assists, ninth in steals, and third in three-points made.
Honorable Mention: Austin Carr
Spending eight and a half seasons with the Cavaliers, Austin Carr is a team legend. His No. 34 jersey has been retired by the team and he was an All-Star with the Cavaliers in 1974. Carr was a consistent player for the Cavaliers helping them reach the post-season three times.
Guard – Mark Price
Probably the second greatest Cavaliers player ever, Mark Price led the team to the playoffs seven times during his career. Price was drafted by the Dallas Mavericks in 1986 but he was immediately dealt to the Cavaliers. He went on to become one of the premier shooters in the league at that time, as well as one of the best floor generals.
Price was a four-time All-Star for the Cavaliers, getting named to the All-NBA First Team in 1993. He was also named to the All-NBA Third Team three times while also winning the three-point shootout twice. He ranks fifth in the Cavaliers’ all-time scoring list, and second in assists, steals, and three-points made behind LeBron James.
Honorable Mention: Guard – World B. Free
Owner of one of the greatest names in basketball history, World B. Free played for the Cavaliers from 1982 to 1986. He only helped the team made the playoffs once but averaged 22.5 points per game during his tenure in Cleveland. His entertaining style of play helped the Cavaliers sell out their home games.
Forward – Larry Nance Sr.
One of the defensive players of his generation, Larry Nance Sr. played for the Cavaliers from 1988 to 1994. He arrived from the Phoenix Suns via trade and helped the Cavaliers make the playoffs five times in seven seasons. Nance electrified the crowd with his trademark high-flying acrobatic dunks.
Nance was a two-time All-Star for the Cavaliers and was named to an All-NBA Defensive Team three times. He ranks ninth in the franchise leaderboard for points, eighth in rebounds, and third in blocks. His legacy for the Cavaliers continues up to this day with his son, Larry Nance Jr. playing for the Cavaliers.
Honorable Mention: John “Hot Rod” Williams
“Hot Rod” was a fan favorite for the Cavaliers, playing for the team from 1986 to 1995. He helped the team make the playoffs six times, losing to the Chicago Bulls in six games in the 1992 Eastern Conference Finals. Williams sits seventh in the franchise’s all-time scoring list, fourth in rebounds, sixth in steals, and second in blocks.
Forward – LeBron James
There is no doubt that LeBron James is the greatest Cavaliers player of all-time. So his inclusion in the team’s all-time starting five is a no-brainer. James was a two-time NBA MVP, ten-time All-Star, eight-time All-NBA First Team, and 2004 Rookie of the Year with the Cavaliers. He also brought the suffering sports city of Cleveland their first championship since 1964 in 2016.
James also holds most the of the Cavaliers’ franchise records and ranks first in points, minutes played, rebounds, assists, steals, and three-points made in the Cavaliers’ all-time leaderboards. He might have left Cleveland twice in his career but his legacy is already secured. His legendary No. 23 jersey is surely hanging up the rafters of Quicken Loans Arena once he retires along with a bronze statue outside.
Honorable Mention: Forward – Kevin Love
A vital part of the championship-winning team in 2016, Kevin Love played the best defense of his life against Stephen Curry in the final play of the title-clinching game. Love is a two-time All-Star for the Cavaliers and if he stays in Cleveland for the rest of his career, he’ll be considered as one of the best in the franchise’s history.
