The Cleveland Cavaliers entered the National Basketball Association in 1970 as an expansion franchise. More than five decades later, the Cavaliers have produced some of the most memorable players, coaches, teams and moments in NBA history—including the championship that ended Cleveland’s 52-year major-sports championship drought. The Cavaliers’ story includes early struggles, the Miracle at Richfield, difficult ownership years, the arrival of LeBron James, four NBA Finals appearances in the 2010s, and the historic 2016 NBA championship. The Beginning: Cleveland Gets an NBA Team The Cavaliers began play in the 1970-71 NBA season. Attorney and Cleveland sports entrepreneur Nick Mileti was the key figure in bringing the expansion franchise to the city. Mileti had purchased the Cleveland Arena and was looking for additional major professional sports tenants. Cleveland was awarded an NBA expansion franchise in 1970. The Cavaliers were joined that year by the Buffalo Braves and Portland Trail Blazers. The team’s name came from a contest sponsored by The Plain Dealer. Jerry Tomko submitted the winning name, “Cavaliers.” Other finalists included the Jays, Foresters and Presidents. The first Cavaliers team struggled badly, finishing its inaugural season 15-67. But Cleveland basketball would eventually become one of the NBA’s most important franchises. All Cavaliers Owners The Cavaliers have had four principal ownership eras since joining the NBA. 1. Nick Mileti — 1970-1980 Nick Mileti was the Cavaliers’ founding owner and the person most responsible for bringing NBA basketball to Cleveland. Mileti remained involved with the franchise until 1980. His ownership period included the franchise’s first playoff team and its first division championship in 1976. 2. Ted Stepien — 1980-1983 Ted Stepien purchased control of the Cavaliers in 1980. Stepien’s ownership became one of the most controversial periods in franchise history. Cleveland struggled on the court, and the franchise traded away multiple future first-round draft choices. Those transactions eventually contributed to the NBA adopting what became known as the Ted Stepien Rule, which restricts teams from trading away first-round picks in consecutive future drafts. Stepien eventually considered moving the franchise to Ted Stepien Rule. Stephen considered moving to Toronto. 3. George and Gordon Gund — 1983-2005 Brothers George Gund and Gordon Gund purchased the Cavaliers in 1983 and kept the franchise in Cleveland. Their ownership brought stability after the difficult Stepien era. The Gunds hired executives and coaches who helped rebuild the franchise, including Wayne Embry and Lenny Wilkens. The organization eventually drafted Brad Daugherty, Mark Price, Ron Harper and Larry Nance, producing one of the best Cleveland teams of the 1980s and early 1990s. 4. Dan Gilbert — 2005-present Dan Gilbert led the investor group that purchased the Cavaliers in 2005. The NBA approved the purchase on March 1, 2005. Gilbert’s ownership began just before the Cavaliers selected Akron native LeBron James with the first overall pick in the 2003 draft—James had already been drafted before Gilbert purchased the team—but Gilbert’s ownership era ultimately became synonymous with the franchise’s championship years. The Cavaliers won their first NBA championship in 2016 under Gilbert’s ownership. Gilbert remains the team’s principal owner. Every Arena the Cavaliers Have Called Home Cleveland Arena 1970-1974 The Cleveland Arena was the Cavaliers’ first home. The building had already been associated with Nick Mileti before the Cavaliers arrived. Cleveland played its first four NBA seasons there. Richfield Coliseum 1974-1994 The Cavaliers moved to the Richfield Coliseum in Summit County in 1974. The larger building became the home of some of the greatest early Cavaliers teams. It was there that Cleveland captured its first division championship and made the playoffs in 1976. The Richfield years included the famous “Miracle at Richfield” era of the 1970s. Gund Arena 1994-2005 The Cavaliers moved downtown to a new arena in 1994. The building opened as Gund Arena, named for owner Gordon Gund. Quicken Loans Arena 2005-2019 Following Dan Gilbert’s purchase of the Cavaliers in 2005, the arena was renamed Quicken Loans Arena. It became the site of many of the greatest moments of the LeBron James era. Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse 2019-2025 The building was renovated and renamed Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in 2019. Rocket Arena 2025-present The building was renamed Rocket Arena in 2025 as part of a new branding agreement. The arena remains the Cavaliers’ home. The Miracle at Richfield The Cavaliers’ first great team emerged in the mid-1970s. Led by players such as Austin Carr, Bingo Smith, Jim Chones and Nate Thurmond, Cleveland reached the playoffs for the first time in 1976. The team defeated Washington in the first round before advancing to the Eastern Conference semifinals. Cleveland eventually lost to the Boston Celtics, but the 1976 season established the Cavaliers as a legitimate NBA franchise. That team became known as the Miracle at Richfield. The 1980s Cavaliers The Gund ownership era produced a major rebuilding effort. The Cavaliers drafted Brad Daugherty with the first overall pick in 1986 and later developed a powerful nucleus that included: Brad Daugherty, Mark Price, Larry Nance, Ron Harper, Craig Ehlo The Cavaliers became one of the NBA’s strongest teams during the late 1980s and early 1990s. Unfortunately for Cleveland, those teams repeatedly encountered the Chicago Bulls and Michael Jordan in the Eastern Conference. The most famous meeting came in the 1989 playoffs. Jordan’s dramatic last-second shot over Craig Ehlo in Game 5 became known simply as “The Shot.” It remains one of the most famous playoff moments in NBA history. LeBron James Changes Everything In 2003, Cleveland selected LeBron James with the first overall pick in the NBA Draft. James was an Akron, Ohio, native who became the face of the franchise almost immediately. NBA Rookie of the Year Award. In his rookie season, James averaged 20.9 points, 5.5 rebounds and 5.9 assists per game and won the 2003-04 NBA Rookie of the Year Award. Cavaliers Rookie of the Year Winners Under your requirement that the award must have been earned as a Cavalier, Cleveland has had two NBA Rookie of the Year winners: LeBron James — 2003-04 James won Rookie of the Year after… Continue reading Cleveland Cavaliers: The Complete History of the Wine and Gold
