Cleveland Cavaliers
Team of Note
Overall ranking: 1050th, 7.857 points below average
This Cleveland team avoided a more prominent spot on the list of the NBA’s least-dominant teams thanks to a fortuitous schedule – or more precisely, thanks to a schedule that came to a merciful end.
The 1981-1982 Cavaliers did most of the work establishing the NBA record of 24 consecutive losses. Cleveland completed the 1981-1982 campaign with 19 straight defeats. The Cavs then opened the 1982-1983 campaign with five more losses.
The 1995-1996 Vancouver Grizzlies and 1997-1998 Denver Nuggets both lost 23 straight within a single season – but fell “short” of Cleveland’s somewhat obscure record. Consecutive game records spanning multiple seasons often get ignored. Media outlets often refer to the Vancouver and Denver losing streaks as the “official” NBA record.
The 1981-1982 Cavaliers represented the nadir of Ted Stepien’s disastrous ownership tenure. Cleveland burrowed through four coaches and 23 players, all just to tie the franchise record for most losses in a season with a 15-67 record.
Cleveland Cavaliers From Top to Bottom
All-time Ranking W-L Playoffs 28 1988-89 Cleveland Cavaliers 57-25 East first round 82 1992-93 Cleveland Cavaliers 54-28 East semifinals 125 1991-92 Cleveland Cavaliers 57-25 East finals 222 1993-94 Cleveland Cavaliers 47-35 East first round 243 2006-07 Cleveland Cavaliers 50-32 NBA finalist 282 1997-98 Cleveland Cavaliers 47-35 East first round 335 1995-96 Cleveland Cavaliers 47-35 East first round 349 1975-76 Cleveland Cavaliers 49-33 East finals 362 1996-97 Cleveland Cavaliers 42-40 365 2005-06 Cleveland Cavaliers 50-32 East semifinals 479 1976-77 Cleveland Cavaliers 43-39 East first round 484 1987-88 Cleveland Cavaliers 42-40 East first round 530 1994-95 Cleveland Cavaliers 43-39 East first round 546 1977-78 Cleveland Cavaliers 43-39 East first round 554 1979-80 Cleveland Cavaliers 37-45 556 2004-05 Cleveland Cavaliers 42-40 623 1974-75 Cleveland Cavaliers 40-42 646 1989-90 Cleveland Cavaliers 42-40 East first round 719 1998-99 Cleveland Cavaliers 22-28 823 1990-91 Cleveland Cavaliers 33-49 827 1985-86 Cleveland Cavaliers 29-53 835 1984-85 Cleveland Cavaliers 36-46 East first round 856 1972-73 Cleveland Cavaliers 32-50 877 2003-04 Cleveland Cavaliers 35-47 910 1986-87 Cleveland Cavaliers 31-51 918 2001-02 Cleveland Cavaliers 29-53 925 1978-79 Cleveland Cavaliers 30-52 928 1999-00 Cleveland Cavaliers 32-50 936 1983-84 Cleveland Cavaliers 28-54 957 1973-74 Cleveland Cavaliers 29-53 971 1980-81 Cleveland Cavaliers 28-54 974 2000-01 Cleveland Cavaliers 30-52 1082 1982-83 Cleveland Cavaliers 23-59 1109 1981-82 Cleveland Cavaliers 15-67 1112 1971-72 Cleveland Cavaliers 23-59 1136 2002-03 Cleveland Cavaliers 17-65 1152 1970-71 Cleveland Cavaliers 15-67