Cleveland Cavaliers

The Cleveland Cavaliers or “Cavs” joined the National Basketball Association(NBA) during an expansion year in 1970. Along with the Cavs, both the Portland Trailblazers and Buffalo Braves (now the Los Angela Clippers made there NBA debut, putting the number of team in the NBA at 17. Jerry Tomko, father of the Major League Baseball pitcher Brett Tomko, submitted the winning entry "Cavaliers" in a Cleveland Plain Dealer sponsored team naming competition. www.sportsecyclopedia.com/nba/cleveland/cavs.html The Cavs chose wine and gold as their jersey colors, wearing gold at home and wine on the road. www.cavshistory.com/jerseys/

The Cavs played their first game on October 14th against the Buffalo Braves, losing the game 107-92. They would then go on to lose their next 14 game, until on November 12th they beat the Trailblazers in Portland, 105-103. The Cavs would end the season with a record of 15-67, putting them dead last in the league. www.sportsecyclopedia.com/nba/cleveland/cavs.html

The Cleveland Cavs made their first post season appearance and won their first Central Division Title in 1976, but lost the conference finals to the Boston Celtics. They returned to the Eastern Conference finals in 1992 falling to the Chicago Bulls in six games. In 2003, they drafted a young LeBron James, who was selected as the NBA Rookie of the Year in 2004 and helped them reach the NBA Finals in 2007. www.sportsecyclopedia.com/nba/cleveland/cavs.html

The Cleveland Cavaliers finished the 2009/2010 regular season in first place with a record of 61-21.

The Cavs lost to the Boston Celtics in round two 4-2, Cavaliers vs Celtics

The Cavs beat the Chicago Bulls in round one 4-1, Cavaliers vs Bulls

Retired Jerseys

• 7 - Bingo Smith, F, 1970–1979
• 22 -Larry Nance, F, 1988–1994
• 25 - Mark Price, G, 1986–1995
• 34 - Austin Carr, G, 1971–1980
• 42 - Nate Thurmond, C, 1975–1977
• 43 - Brad Daugherty, C, 1986–1994

Hall of Famers

• Nate Thurmond – Player, 1985 (Former player 1975–1977)
• Walt Frazier – Player, 1987 (Former player 1977–1980)
• Lenny Wilkens – Player, 1989 and Coach, 1998 (Former player (1972–1974) and coach (1986–1993)
• Chuck Daly – Coach, 1994 (Former coach 1981–1982)
• Wayne Embry - Contributor, 1999 (Former team president and G.M. (1986–1999) and first African American to serve in that role in the NBA)