NBA Team Guide
Cleveland Cavaliers: History, Championships & Facts
The Cavaliers joined the NBA as an expansion team in 1970. They won the 2016 championship, the first team to win the Finals after trailing 3–1.
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Updated live from ESPN.
Quick facts
| Founded | 1970 (NBA expansion, with Portland and Buffalo) |
|---|---|
| Arena | Rocket Arena, Cleveland (opened 1994 as Gund Arena) |
| NBA titles | 1 (2016) |
| Finals appearances | 5 through 2025–26 (2007, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018) |
| Past arenas | Cleveland Arena (1970–74), Richfield Coliseum (1974–94) |
Championship history
Cleveland won its only NBA title in 2016, over Golden State. It ended a 52-year title drought for Cleveland's major pro teams, dating to the 1964 Browns.
- 2016 NBA Finals: beat the Golden State Warriors 4–3 after trailing 3–1; LeBron James was unanimous Finals MVP
- 2007 NBA Finals: lost to the San Antonio Spurs 4–0
- 2015, 2017 and 2018 NBA Finals: lost to the Golden State Warriors
Franchise history
- 1970: Began play at Cleveland Arena as an expansion team.
- 1974: Moved to the Richfield Coliseum in Richfield, Ohio.
- 1994: Moved into Gund Arena in downtown Cleveland.
- 2003: Drafted LeBron James first overall.
- 2007: Reached the NBA Finals for the first time.
- 2016: Won the NBA title with a comeback from 3–1 down against Golden State.
- 2025: The arena was renamed Rocket Arena.
Franchise record holders
| Points | LeBron James |
|---|---|
| Assists | LeBron James |
| Blocks | Zydrunas Ilgauskas, 1,269 |
Retired numbers
- 6Bill Russell (retired across the NBA)
- 7Bingo Smith
- 11Zydrunas Ilgauskas
- 22Larry Nance
- 25Mark Price
- 34Austin Carr
- 42Nate Thurmond
- 43Brad Daugherty
- MicJoe Tait (broadcaster)
Hall of Famers
Bill Fitch (coach).
Biggest rivalries
- Golden State Warriors: met in four straight NBA Finals from 2015 to 2018, with Cleveland winning in 2016.
- Boston Celtics: frequent playoff opponents, including the 2018 Eastern Conference Finals.
- Chicago Bulls: Central Division rivals, remembered for Michael Jordan's series-winning shot over Craig Ehlo in 1989.
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How many championships have the Cavaliers won?
One, in 2016. They beat the Golden State Warriors 4–3.
What made the 2016 Finals historic?
Cleveland was the first team to win the NBA Finals after trailing 3–1.
What is the Cavaliers' arena called?
Rocket Arena. It opened in 1994 as Gund Arena and later carried the Quicken Loans Arena and Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse names before the 2025 change.
Where did the Cavaliers play before downtown Cleveland?
At Cleveland Arena from 1970 to 1974, then the Richfield Coliseum from 1974 to 1994.
Who has the most blocks in Cavaliers history?
Zydrunas Ilgauskas, with 1,269. His No. 11 is retired.
Sources
Facts checked September 23, 2026. Live figures above come from ESPN.