| Team: | Cleveland Cavaliers |
| End Year: | 1983 |
| Wins: | 23 |
| Losses: | 59 |
| Division: | Central |
| Division Place: | 5 |
| Conf Place: | 10 |
| Coach: | Tom Nissalke |
| Gm: | Harry Weltman |
| Owner: | Ted Stepien |
| Arena: | Coliseum at Richfield |
| Playoffs: | Did not qualify |
| Bbr Team: | CLE |
| Television: | WUAB |
| Radio: | WBBG[1] |
The 1982–83 Cleveland Cavaliers season was the 13th season for the team in the National Basketball Association (NBA) and in Cleveland, Ohio. It involved the team going 23-59 in Ted Stepien's final season as the team's owner.
| Round | Pick | Player | Nationality | School/Club Team |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 12 | John Bagley | PG | Boston College |
| 2 | 28 | Dave Magley | PF | Kansas |
z - clinched division title
y - clinched division title
x - clinched playoff spot
| 1982-83 NBA Records | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| width=100 | Team | ATL | BOS | CHI | CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GSW | HOU | IND | KCK | LAL | MIL | NJN | NYK | PHI | PHO | POR | SAS | SDC | SEA | UTA | WAS |
| Atlanta | — | 1–5 | 5–1 | 6–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 6–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–4 | 2–4 | 3–2 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–2 | |
| Boston | 5–1 | — | 3–2 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 5–1 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–3 | |
| Chicago | 1–5 | 2–3 | — | 5–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 2–4 | 1–4 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–5 | |
| Cleveland | 0–6 | 1–5 | 1–5 | — | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 0–6 | 1–5 | 0–5 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–2 | |
| Dallas | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | — | 3–3 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 2–3 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 3–2 | 2–4 | 5–0 | 2–3 | 2–4 | 0–2 | |
| Denver | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–3 | — | 2–0 | 4–1 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 1–4 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 4–1 | 2–3 | 2–4 | 3–2 | 3–2 | 4–2 | 1–1 | |
| Detroit | 3–3 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 5–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | — | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 3–2 | 1–5 | 0–6 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 3–2 | |
| Golden State | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 1–4 | 0–2 | — | 3–2 | 1–1 | 1–4 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 1–4 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 3–2 | 2–0 | |
| Houston | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 2–3 | — | 2–0 | 1–5 | 0–5 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–5 | 0–5 | 1–5 | 2–3 | 1–4 | 0–6 | 1–1 | |
| Indiana | 0–6 | 1–4 | 2–4 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | — | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 0–6 | 3–3 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–5 | |
| Kansas City | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 4–1 | 5–1 | 1–1 | — | 1–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–4 | 2–3 | 3–3 | 4–1 | 1–4 | 4–2 | 2–0 | |
| Los Angeles | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 5–0 | 2–0 | 4–1 | — | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 1–4 | 5–1 | 5–1 | 4–1 | 1–1 | |
| Milwaukee | 4–1 | 3–3 | 5–1 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | — | 3–2 | 4–2 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–2 | |
| New Jersey | 4–2 | 1–5 | 4–2 | 6–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 6–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | — | 4–2 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–2 | |
| New York | 2–3 | 3–3 | 4–1 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 2–4 | — | 1–5 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–2 | |
| Philadelphia | 4–2 | 3–3 | 5–1 | 5–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 6–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 3–3 | 5–1 | — | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–2 | |
| Phoenix | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 5–0 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | — | 5–1 | 3–2 | 4–2 | 5–1 | 5–0 | 0–2 | |
| Portland | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 5–0 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–5 | — | 2–3 | 5–1 | 3–3 | 3–2 | 1–1 | |
| San Antonio | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 4–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 3–2 | — | 4–1 | 1–4 | 5–1 | 2–0 | |
| San Diego | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–5 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 1–4 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 1–5 | 1–4 | — | 0–6 | 2–3 | 0–2 | |
| Seattle | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 1–5 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 3–3 | 4–1 | 6–0 | — | 5–0 | 1–1 | |
| Utah | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 2–3 | 6–0 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 1–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–5 | 2–3 | 1–5 | 3–2 | 0–5 | — | 0–2 | |
| Washington | 2–4 | 3–3 | 5–1 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | — | |
|-style="background:#fcc;"| 19 || December 7, 1982 || Atlanta| L 90–102|||| Coliseum at Richfield
2,254| 3–16|-style="background:#fcc;"| 23 || December 16, 1982 || @ Atlanta| L 97–106|||| The Omni
4,564| 3–20|-style="background:#fcc;"| 45 || February 1, 1983 || @ Atlanta| L 84–93|||| The Omni
4,802| 9–36|-style="background:#fcc;"| 47 || February 4, 1983 || Atlanta| L 81–92|||| Coliseum at Richfield
2,066| 9–38|-style="background:#fcc;"| 66 || March 18, 1983 || Atlanta| L 73–97|||| Coliseum at Richfield
2,461| 17–49|-style="background:#fcc;"| 72 || March 29, 1983 || @ Atlanta| L 82–95|||| The Omni
5,064| 18–54
| Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3FG% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| World B. Free | 54 | 51 | 35.9 | 45.8 | 35.7 | 74.7 | 2.9 | 3.7 | 1.5 | 0.2 | 24.2 | |
| Scott Wedman | 35 | 35 | 36.9 | 48.0 | 40.9 | 84.4 | 5.9 | 2.5 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 18.1 | |
| Cliff Robinson | 77 | 75 | 33.8 | 47.7 | 0.0 | 70.8 | 11.1 | 1.9 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 18.0 | |
| James Edwards | 15 | 8 | 25.5 | 48.7 | 0.0 | 62.3 | 6.4 | 0.9 | 0.5 | 0.9 | 12.3 | |
| Geoff Huston | 80 | 79 | 34.0 | 48.2 | 33.3 | 68.6 | 2.0 | 6.1 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 12.2 | |
| Ron Brewer | 21 | 18 | 26.8 | 40.0 | 0.0 | 86.3 | 1.8 | 1.3 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 11.4 | |
| Phil Hubbard | 82 | 38 | 23.8 | 48.2 | 0.0 | 68.9 | 5.7 | 1.1 | 1.1 | 0.1 | 9.5 | |
| Larry Kenon | 32 | 7 | 19.5 | 47.2 | 0.0 | 76.1 | 3.7 | 1.1 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 7.3 | |
| Jeff Cook | 30 | 20 | 26.1 | 53.7 | 0.0 | 76.0 | 6.9 | 1.5 | 0.9 | 0.6 | 7.1 | |
| Carl Nicks | 9 | 2 | 16.4 | 44.1 | 0.0 | 64.7 | 2.9 | 1.2 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 7.0 | |
| Bob Wilkerson | 77 | 11 | 22.1 | 41.7 | 0.0 | 75.0 | 3.1 | 2.5 | 0.9 | 0.2 | 6.7 | |
| John Bagley | 68 | 3 | 14.6 | 43.2 | 0.0 | 76.2 | 1.4 | 2.5 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 5.7 | |
| Paul Mokeski | 23 | 18 | 23.4 | 45.5 | 0.0 | 61.5 | 6.0 | 1.1 | 0.5 | 1.0 | 5.5 | |
| Bruce Flowers | 53 | 5 | 13.2 | 53.4 | 0.0 | 77.4 | 3.4 | 0.9 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 4.9 | |
| Sam Lacey | 60 | 33 | 20.5 | 42.0 | 22.2 | 78.4 | 3.9 | 2.0 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 4.2 | |
| Darren Tillis | 37 | 4 | 13.0 | 43.7 | 0.0 | 63.6 | 3.3 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.8 | 4.1 | |
| Steve Hayes | 65 | 3 | 16.3 | 47.9 | 0.0 | 56.9 | 3.6 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 0.6 | 3.6 | |
| Dave Magley | 14 | 0 | 4.0 | 25.0 | 0.0 | 50.0 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.9 |
Player Statistics Citation:[2]
October 7, 1982 - Traded a 1986 2nd round draft pick to the Detroit Pistons for Steve Hayes.
October 11, 1982 - Waived Mike Evans.
October 22, 1982 - Waived Michael Wilson.
October 25, 1982 - Traded Brad Branson to the Indiana Pacers for a 1983 2nd round draft pick.
October 28, 1982 - Waived Lowes Moore.
December 6, 1982 - Signed Sam Lacey as a free agent.
December 15, 1982 - Traded Ron Brewer to the Golden State Warriors for World B. Free.
December 20, 1982 - Waived Paul Mokeski.
January 7, 1983 - Waived Dave Magley.
January 10, 1983 - Acquired player rights to Larry Kenon from the Golden State Warriors.
January 14, 1983 - Traded Scott Wedman to the Boston Celtics for Darren Tillis and a 1983 1st round draft pick.
February 7, 1983 - Traded James Edwards and a 1983 1st round draft pick to the Phoenix Suns for Jeff Cook, a 1983 1st round draft pick, and a 1983 3rd round draft pick.
March 21, 1983 - Waived Larry Kenon.
March 30, 1983 - Signed Carl Nicks as a free agent.
June 27, 1983 - Traded a 1983 2nd round draft pick to the Seattle SuperSonics for Lonnie Shelton.