| Team: | Cleveland Cavaliers |
| End Year: | 1971 |
| Wins: | 15 |
| Losses: | 67 |
| Division: | Central |
| Division Place: | 4 |
| Conf Place: | 8 |
| Coach: | Bill Fitch |
| Arena: | Cleveland Arena |
| Playoffs: | Did not qualify |
| Television: | WEWS-TV |
| Radio: | WERE |
| No Prevseason: | 1 |
| Bbr Team: | CLE |
The 1970–71 Cleveland Cavaliers season was the inaugural season of NBA basketball in Cleveland, Ohio. The Cavaliers finished the season with a 15–67 record in their first season, finishing last in the Central Division and Eastern Conference. John Johnson was named an All-Star, the first in franchise history.
Key Dates:
| Player | Position | Team |
|---|---|---|
| Butch Beard | Guard | Atlanta Hawks |
| Len Chappell | Center | Milwaukee Bucks |
| Johnny Egan | Guard | L.A. Lakers |
| Bobby Lewis | Guard | San Francisco Warriors |
| McCoy McLemore | Center | Detroit Pistons |
| Don Ohl | Guard | Atlanta Hawks |
| Walt Wesley | Center | Chicago Bulls |
| Loy Petersen | Guard | Chicago Bulls |
| Luther Rackley | Center | Cincinnati Royals |
| Bingo Smith | Guard | San Diego Rockets |
| John Warren | Guard | New York Knickerbockers |
See main article: 1970 NBA draft.
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | School/Club Team |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 7 | John Johnson | Forward | Iowa | |
| 2 | 26 | Dave Sorenson | Forward | Ohio State | |
| 3 | 41 | Surry Oliver | Guard | Stephen F. Austin | |
| 4 | 60 | Glen Vidnovic | Forward | Iowa | |
| 5 | 75 | Wayne Sokolowski | Forward | Ashland | |
| 6 | 94 | Joe Cooke | Guard | Indiana | |
| 7 | 109 | Narvis Anderson | Forward | Stephen F. Austin | |
| 8 | 128 | Walt Robertson | Forward | Loyola University Chicago | |
| 9 | 143 | Tom Lagodich | Guard | Kent State | |
| 10 | 162 | Ken Johnson | Forward | Indiana | |
| 1970–71 NBA Records | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| width=100 | Team | ATL | BAL | BOS | BUF | CHI | CIN | CLE | DET | LAL | MIL | NYK | PHI | PHO | POR | SDR | SFW | SEA |
| Atlanta | — | 3–3 | 2–4 | 3–1 | 1–4 | 2–4 | 4–0 | 0–5 | 3–2 | 1–4 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 1–4 | 2–2 | 2–3 | 2–3 | 3–2 | |
| Baltimore | 3–3 | — | 3–3 | 3–1 | 2–3 | 3–3 | 4–0 | 2–3 | 2–3 | 1–4 | 2–4 | 3–3 | 3–2 | 2–2 | 4–1 | 2–3 | 3–2 | |
| Boston | 4–2 | 3–3 | — | 4–0 | 4–1 | 4–2 | 3–1 | 2–3 | 3–2 | 0–5 | 0–6 | 4–2 | 2–3 | 2–2 | 3–2 | 3–2 | 3–2 | |
| Buffalo | 1–3 | 1–3 | 0–4 | — | 0–4 | 0–4 | 5–7 | 1–5 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 6–6 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | |
| Chicago | 4–1 | 3–2 | 1–4 | 4–0 | — | 4–0 | 4–0 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 1–5 | 3–2 | 3–2 | 3–3 | 3–1 | 6–0 | 4–2 | 3–2 | |
| Cincinnati | 4–2 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 4–0 | 0–4 | — | 5–1 | 1–4 | 1–4 | 1–4 | 2–4 | 1–5 | 1–4 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 2–3 | 1–4 | |
| Cleveland | 0–4 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 7–5 | 0–4 | 1–5 | — | 2–2 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 2–10 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 0–4 | |
| Detroit | 5–0 | 3–2 | 3–2 | 5–1 | 3–3 | 4–1 | 2–2 | — | 2–3 | 1–5 | 2–3 | 2–3 | 2–4 | 3–1 | 4–2 | 1–4 | 3–1 | |
| Los Angeles | 2–3 | 3–2 | 2–3 | 2–2 | 4–2 | 4–1 | 4–0 | 3–2 | — | 1–4 | 3–2 | 3–2 | 2–4 | 4–0 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 4–2 | |
| Milwaukee | 4–1 | 4–1 | 5–0 | 4–0 | 5–1 | 4–1 | 4–0 | 5–1 | 4–1 | — | 1–4 | 4–1 | 4–2 | 3–1 | 4–1 | 6–0 | 5–1 | |
| New York | 3–3 | 4–2 | 6–0 | 2–2 | 2–3 | 4–2 | 4–0 | 3–2 | 2–3 | 4–1 | — | 2–4 | 4–1 | 3–1 | 4–1 | 3–2 | 2–3 | |
| Philadelphia | 2–4 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 4–0 | 2–3 | 5–1 | 3–1 | 3–2 | 2–3 | 1–4 | 4–2 | — | 3–2 | 4–0 | 3–2 | 3–2 | 3–2 | |
| Phoenix | 4–1 | 2–3 | 3–2 | 3–1 | 3–3 | 4–1 | 4–0 | 4–2 | 4–2 | 2–4 | 1–4 | 2–3 | — | 4–0 | 2–4 | 3–2 | 3–2 | |
| Portland | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 6–6 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 10–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 0–4 | — | 0–4 | 1–3 | 2–4 | |
| San Diego | 3–2 | 1–4 | 2–3 | 3–1 | 0–6 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 2–4 | 3–3 | 1–4 | 1–4 | 2–3 | 4–2 | 4–0 | — | 2–4 | 5–1 | |
| San Francisco | 3–2 | 3–2 | 2–3 | 3–1 | 2–4 | 3–2 | 3–1 | 4–1 | 2–4 | 0–6 | 2–3 | 2–3 | 2–3 | 3–1 | 4–2 | — | 3–3 | |
| Seattle | 2–3 | 2–3 | 2–3 | 3–1 | 2–3 | 4–1 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 2–4 | 1–5 | 3–2 | 2–3 | 2–3 | 4–2 | 1–5 | 3–3 | — | |
Record: 0–9 ; Home: 0–2 ; Road: 0–7
| Date | H/A/N | Opponent | W/L | Score | Record | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | October 14 | A | L | 92–107 | 0–1 | ||
| 2 | October 16 | A | L | 112–115 | 0–2 | ||
| 3 | October 17 | A | L | 108–128 | 0–3 | at Oakland, California | |
| 4 | October 20 | A | L | 98–120 | 0–4 | ||
| 5 | October 22 | A | L | 110–140 | 0–5 | ||
| 6 | October 23 | A | L | 104–108 | 0–6 | ||
| 7 | October 25 | A | L | 96–123 | 0–7 | ||
| 8 | October 28 | H | L | 99–110 | 0–8 | ||
| 9 | October 30 | H | L | 110–125 | 0–9 | ||
Record: 1–17 ; Home: 0–8 ; Road: 1–9
| Date | H/A/N | Opponent | W/L | Score | Record | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | November 1 | H | L | 107–130 | 0–10 | |
| 11 | November 2 | A | L | 87–141 | 0–11 | |
| 12 | November 4 | H | L | 108–110 | 0–12 | |
| 13 | November 7 | A | L | 91–103 | 0–13 | |
| 14 | November 8 | H | L | 105–111 | 0–14 | |
| 15 | November 10 | A | L | 74–109 | 0–15 | |
| 16 | November 12 | A | W | 105–103 | 1–15 | |
| 17 | November 13 | A | L | 91–111 | 1–16 | |
| 18 | November 14 | A | L | 110–125 | 1–17 | |
| 19 | November 16 | A | L | 86–98 | 1–18 | |
| 20 | November 18 | H | L | 98–111 | 1–19 | |
| 21 | November 20 | A | L | 112–116 | 1–20 | |
| 22 | November 21 | A | L | 94–102 | 1–21 | |
| 23 | November 22 | H | L | 99–114 | 1–22 | |
| 24 | November 25 | H | L | 99–108 | 1–23 | |
| 25 | November 27 | H | L | 102–111 | 1–24 | |
| 26 | November 28 | A | L | 86–105 | 1–25 | |
| 27 | November 29 | H | L | 99–120 | 1–26 | |
Record: 4–13 ; Home: 4–6 ; Road: 0–7
| Date | H/A/N | Opponent | W/L | Score | Record | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28 | December 4 | H | L | 107–118 | 1–27 | |
| 29 | December 6 | H | W | 108–106 | 2–27 | |
| 30 | December 9 | H | L | 102–109 | 2–28 | |
| 31 | December 11 | A | L | 92–134 | 2–29 | |
| 32 | December 12 | A | L | 95–114 | 2–30 | |
| 33 | December 13 | H | L | 95–118 | 2–31 | |
| 34 | December 15 | A | L | 92–110 | 2–32 | |
| 35 | December 16 | H | L | 84–108 | 2–33 | |
| 36 | December 18 | A | L | 94–113 | 2–34 | |
| 37 | December 19 | H | W | 123–112 | 3–34 | |
| 38 | December 20 | H | L | 103–116 | 3–35 | |
| 39 | December 22 | A | L | 80–121 | 3–36 | |
| 40 | December 25 | A | L | 100–117 | 3–37 | |
| 41 | December 26 | H | W | 120–107 | 4–37 | |
| 42 | December 27 | H | W | 114–101 | 5–37 | |
| 43 | December 29 | H | L | 97–119 | 5–38 | |
| 44 | December 31 | A | L | 85–119 | 5–39 | |
Record: 5–9 ; Home: 4–4 ; Road: 0–5 ; Neutral: 1–0:
| Date | H/A/N | Opponent | W/L | Score | Record | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 45 | January 1 | H | L | 105–128 | 5–40 | ||
| 46 | January 2 | A | L | 73–118 | 5–41 | ||
| 47 | January 4 | H | L | 106–119 | 5–42 | ||
| 48 | January 6 | H | L | 94–127 | 5–43 | ||
| 49 | January 7 | H | L | 105–110 | 5–44 | ||
| 50 | January 9 | H | W | 111–89 | 6–44 | ||
| 51 | January 14 | A | L | 106–108 | 6–45 | ||
| 52 | January 16 | A | L | 96–115 | 6–46 | ||
| 53 | January 19 | N | W | 111–79 | 7–46 | at Syracuse, New York | |
| 54 | January 24 | A | L | 110–121 | 7–47 | ||
| 55 | January 25 | H | W | 117–116 | 8–47 | ||
| 56 | January 27 | H | W | 118–104 | 9–47 | ||
| 57 | January 29 | A | L | 111–119 | 9–48 | ||
| 58 | January 31 | H | W | 117–108 | 10–48 | ||
Record: 2–12 ; Home: 1–5 ; Road: 0–7 ; Neutral: 1–0
| Date | H/A/N | Opponent | W/L | Score | Record | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 59 | February 2 | N | Buffalo Braves | W | 101–91 | 11–48 | at Rochester, New York |
| 60 | February 3 | H | L | 95–98 | 11–49 | ||
| 61 | February 5 | A | L | 105–116 | 11–50 | ||
| 62 | February 6 | A | L | 91–119 | 11–51 | ||
| 63 | February 7 | A | L | 103–112 | 11–52 | ||
| 64 | February 9 | H | L | 111–116 | 11–53 | ||
| 65 | February 12 | H | L | 105–114 | 11–54 | ||
| 66 | February 13 | H | L | 106–111 | 11–55 | ||
| 67 | February 14 | A | L | 83–108 | 11–56 | ||
| 68 | February 17 | H | L | 104–109 | 11–57 | ||
| 69 | February 19 | H | W | 125–109 | 12–57 | ||
| 70 | February 21 | A | L | 105–123 | 12–58 | ||
| 71 | February 24 | A | L | 101–123 | 12–59 | ||
| 72 | February 28 | A | L | 90–107 | 12–60 | ||
Record: 3–7 ; Home: 2–5 ; Road: 1–2
| Date | H/A/N | Opponent | W/L | Score | Record | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 73 | March 6 | A | Buffalo Braves | L | 109–120 | 12–61 |
| 74 | March 7 | A | W | 104–100 | 13–61 | |
| 75 | March 9 | H | L | 113–124 | 13–62 | |
| 76 | March 12 | H | L | 107–119 | 13–63 | |
| 77 | March 14 | H | L | 103–115 | 13–64 | |
| 78 | March 16 | H | W | 108–103 | 14–64 | |
| 79 | March 17 | A | L | 109–113 | 14–65 | |
| 80 | March 20 | H | W | 114–103 | 15–65 | |
| 81 | March 21 | H | L | 110–113 | 15–66 | |
| 82 | March 23 | H | L | 112–114 | 15–67 | |
|-style="background:#fcc;"| 10 || November 1, 1970 || Atlanta| L 107–131|||| Cleveland Arena
3,533| 0–10|-style="background:#fcc;"| 44 || December 31, 1970 || @ Atlanta| L 85–119|||| Alexander Memorial Coliseum
5,429| 5–39|-style="background:#fcc;"| 57 || January 29, 1971 || @ Atlanta| L 111–119|||| Alexander Memorial Coliseum
7,192| 9–48|-style="background:#fcc;"| 76 || March 12, 1971 || Atlanta| L 107–119|||| Cleveland Arena
8,341| 13–63