The Cleveland Cavaliers (also known simply as the Cavs) are an American professional basketball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They began playing in the National Basketball Association (NBA) 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 the Eastern Conference.

On October 14, 1970, the Cavs lost to the Buffalo Braves 92–107 in their first game. They have been awarded the first overall draft pick six times, choosing Austin Carr (1971), Brad Daugherty (1986), LeBron James (2003), Kyrie Irving (2011), Anthony Bennett (2013) and Andrew Wiggins (2014). 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 (Eric Snow, Luol Deng and LeBron James won the award in 2005, 2014 and 2017, respectively). As a Cavalier, LeBron won Rookie of the Year as well as two MVP awards and two All Star Game 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 56 seasons, the Cavs have achieved a winning record 28 times. Highlights include 26 playoff appearances, which includes winning the Central Division championship eight times (1975–76, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18, and 2024–25) winning the Eastern Conference championship five times (2006–07, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17, and 2017–18), 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 2025–26 season. They are in the playoffs.

Key

FinishFinal position in league or division standingsECSFEastern Conference SemifinalsECFEastern Conference FinalsASG MVPAll-Star Game Most Valuable PlayerCOYCoach of the YearEOYExecutive of the YearMVPMost Valuable PlayerFMVPNBA Finals Most Valuable Player AwardROYRookie of the YearDPOYDefensive Player of the YearSPORSportsmanship AwardJWKCJ. Walter Kennedy Citizenship AwardNBA ChampionsConference ChampionsDivision ChampionsPlayoff berthPlay-in berth

Seasons Note: Statistics are correct as of the . Season Team LeagueConference FinishDivision Finish Wins Losses Win% GB Playoffs Awards Head coach Ref. 1970–71 NBA Eastern 8th Central 4th 15 67 .183 27 —— Bill Fitch 1971–72 NBA Eastern 7th Central 4th 23 59 .280 15 —— 1972–73 NBA Eastern 6th Central 4th 32 50 .390 20 —— 1973–74 NBA Eastern 7th Central 4th 29 53 .354 18 —— 1974–75 NBA Eastern 6th Central 3rd 40 42 .488 20 —— 1975–76 NBA Eastern 2nd Central 1st 49 33 .598 — Won ECSF (Bullets) 4–3Lost ECF (Celtics) 4–2 Bill Fitch (COY) 1976–77 NBA Eastern 6th Central 4th 43 39 .524 6 Lost First round (Bullets) 2–1— 1977–78 NBA Eastern 4th Central 3rd 43 39 .524 9 Lost First round (Knicks) 2–0— 1978–79 NBA Eastern 8th Central 5th 30 52 .366 18 —— 1979–80 NBA Eastern 8th Central 5th 37 45 .451 13 — Austin Carr (JWKC)Stan Albeck 1980–81 NBA Eastern 9th Central 5th 28 54 .341 32 ——Bill Musselman (25–46)Don Delaney (3–8) 1981–82 NBA Eastern 11th Central 6th 15 67 .183 40 —— Don Delaney (4–11)Bob Kloppenburg (0–3)Chuck Daly (9–32)Bill Musselman (2–21) 1982–83 NBA Eastern 10th Central 5th 23 59 .280 28 —— Tom Nissalke 1983–84 NBA Eastern 9th Central 4th 28 54 .341 22 —— 1984–85 NBA Eastern 8th Central 4th 36 46 .439 23 Lost First round (Celtics) 3–1—George Karl 1985–86 NBA Eastern 9th Central 5th 29 53 .354 28 ——George Karl (25–42)Gene Littles (4–11) 1986–87 NBA Eastern 9th Central 6th 31 51 .380 26 —— Lenny Wilkens 1987–88 NBA Eastern 6th Central 5th 42 40 .512 12 Lost First round (Bulls) 3–2— 1988–89 NBA Eastern 3rd Central 2nd 57 25 .695 6 Lost First round (Bulls) 3–2— 1989–90 NBA Eastern 7th Central 4th 42 40 .512 17 Lost First round (76ers) 3–2— 1990–91 NBA Eastern 9th Central 6th 33 49 .402 28 —— 1991–92 NBA Eastern 3rd Central 2nd 57 25 .695 10 Won First round (Nets) 3–1Won ECSF (Celtics) 4–3Lost ECF (Bulls) 4–2 Wayne Embry (EOY) 1992–93 NBA Eastern 3rd Central 2nd 54 28 .658 3 Won First round (Nets) 3–2Lost ECSF (Bulls) 4–0— 1993–94 NBA Eastern 6th Central 4th 47 35 .573 10 Lost First round (Bulls) 3–0— Mike Fratello 1994–95 NBA Eastern 6th Central 4th 43 39 .524 9 Lost First round (Knicks) 3–1— 1995–96 NBA Eastern 4th Central 3rd 47 35 .573 25 Lost First round (Knicks) 3–0— 1996–97 NBA Eastern 9th Central 5th 42 40 .512 27 — Terrell Brandon (SPOR) 1997–98 NBA Eastern 6th Central 5th 47 35 .573 15 Lost First round (Pacers) 3–1 Wayne Embry (EOY) Due to a lockout, the 1998–99 season was shortened to 50 games, with teams beginning play on February 5, 1999. 1998–99 NBA Eastern 11th Central 7th 22 28 .440 11 —— 1999–2000 NBA Eastern 11th Central 6th 32 50 .390 24 —— Randy Wittman 2000–01 NBA Eastern 11th Central 6th 30 52 .366 22 —— 2001–02 NBA Eastern 14th Central 7th 29 53 .354 21 ——John Lucas II 2002–03 NBA Eastern 15th Central 8th 17 65 .207 33 —— John Lucas II (8–34)Keith Smart (9–31) 2003–04 NBA Eastern 9th Central 5th 35 47 .427 26 — LeBron James (ROY)Paul Silas 2004–05 NBA Eastern 9th Central 4th 42 40 .512 12 — Eric Snow (JWKC)Paul Silas (34–30)Brendan Malone (8–10) 2005–06 NBA Eastern 4th Central 2nd 50 32 .610 14 Won First round (Wizards) 4–2Lost ECSF (Pistons) 4–3 LeBron James (ASG MVP) Mike Brown 2006–07 NBA Eastern 2nd Central 2nd 50 32 .610 3Won First round (Wizards) 4–0Won ECSF (Nets) 4–2Won ECF (Pistons) 4–2Lost NBA Finals (Spurs) 4–0— 2007–08 NBA Eastern 4th Central 2nd 45 37 .549 14 Won First round (Wizards) 4–2Lost ECSF (Celtics) 4–3LeBron James (ASG MVP) 2008–09 NBA Eastern 1st Central 1st 66 16 .805 — Won First round (Pistons) 4–0Won ECSF (Hawks) 4–0Lost ECF (Magic) 4–2 LeBron James (MVP)Mike Brown (COY) 2009–10 NBA Eastern 1st Central 1st 61 21 .744 — Won First round (Bulls) 4–1Lost ECSF (Celtics) 4–2 LeBron James (MVP) 2010–11 NBA Eastern 15th Central 5th 19 63 .232 43 —— Byron Scott Due to a lockout, the 2011–12 season was shortened to 66 games, with teams beginning play on December 25, 2011. 2011–12 NBA Eastern 13th Central 5th 21 45 .318 29 — Kyrie Irving (ROY) 2012–13 NBA Eastern 13th Central 5th 24 58 25.5 — — 2013–14 NBA Eastern 10th Central 3rd 33 49 23 — Kyrie Irving (ASG MVP)Luol Deng (JWKC)Mike Brown 2014–15 NBA Eastern 2nd Central 1st 53 29 — Won First round (Celtics) 4–0 Won ECSF (Bulls) 4–2 Won ECF (Hawks) 4–0Lost NBA Finals (Warriors) 4–2 —David Blatt 2015–16 NBA Eastern 1st Central 1st 57 25 — Won First round (Pistons) 4–0 Won ECSF (Hawks) 4–0 Won ECF (Raptors) 4–2 Won NBA Finals (Warriors) 4–3 LeBron James (FMVP)David Blatt (30–11)Tyronn Lue (27–14) 2016–17 NBA Eastern 2nd Central 1st 51 31 — Won First round (Pacers) 4–0 Won ECSF (Raptors) 4–0 Won ECF (Celtics) 4–1 Lost NBA Finals (Warriors) 4–1 LeBron James (JWKC) Tyronn Lue 2017–18 NBA Eastern 4th Central 1st 50 32 — Won First round (Pacers) 4–3 Won ECSF (Raptors) 4–0 Won ECF (Celtics) 4–3 Lost NBA Finals (Warriors) 4–0LeBron James (ASG MVP) 2018–19 NBA Eastern14thCentral5th1963.23241——Tyronn Lue (0–6)Larry Drew (19–57) The 2019–20 season was suspended on March 11, 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and restarted on July 30, 2020, but the Cavaliers were not invited back to play due to playoff ineligibility, thus ending their season after 65 games.2019–20 NBA Eastern15thCentral5th1946.29233——John Beilein (14–40)J. B. Bickerstaff (5–6) The 2020–21 season was shortened to 72 games due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with teams beginning play on December 22, 2020.2020–21 NBA Eastern13thCentral4th2250.30627—— J. B. Bickerstaff 2021–22 NBA Eastern9thCentral3rd4438.5379—— 2022–23 NBA Eastern 4thCentral2nd5131.6227 Lost First round (Knicks) 4–1— 2023–24 NBA Eastern 4thCentral2nd4834.58516 Won First round (Magic) 4–3 Lost ECSF (Celtics) 4–1— 2024–25 NBA Eastern 1st Central 1st6418.780—Won First round (Heat) 4–0Lost ECSF (Pacers) 4–1Evan Mobley (DPOY)Kenny Atkinson (COY)Kenny Atkinson 2025–26 NBA Eastern 4thCentral2nd5230.6348Won First round (Raptors) 4–3Won ECSF (Pistons) 4–3Lost ECF (Knicks) 4–0

All-time records StatisticWinsLossesWin% Regular season 2,148 2,369 Postseason 144 129 Total 2,292 2,498

Notes

References General

Citations