7 Best Cleveland Cavaliers Players of All Time, Ranked

LeBron James helped the Cleveland Cavaliers regularly boast short NBA championship odds during his two stints with his hometown team.

However, there are plenty of other NBA players who have made a name for themselves in “The Land.”

Who are they? Let’s find out.

7 Best Cleveland Cavaliers Players of All Time, Ranked

Who Are the Greatest Cleveland Cavaliers Ever?

1. LeBron James

Renowned for his superior athleticism, superhuman strength, scoring prowess, playmaking abilities, and defensive skills, James stands as arguably the greatest basketball player of all time.

The kid from Akron fulfilled his promise to deliver the Cavaliers their first franchise championship during his second season back with the team that initially drafted him.

Facing a 3-1 deficit during the 2016 NBA Finals against the Golden State Warriors, who had just completed a record-breaking 73-9 regular season, James propelled the Cavs with back-to-back 41-point performances to even up the series. This set the stage for what would become one of the most thrilling Game 7s in sports history.

His defining moment came when he chased down Andre Iguodala on a fast break, blocking a go-ahead layup with just under two minutes remaining. 

This play swung the momentum in the Cavs’ favour, ultimately leading them to become the first team in NBA history to overcome a 3-1 Finals deficit. James was unanimously awarded Finals MVP honours. 

Throughout his time in Cleveland, King James led the Cavs to the Finals on four other occasions, earned MVP honours twice, and secured spots on 10 All-NBA Teams and two All-Defensive Teams.

2. Kyrie Irving

Known for having arguably the best handles and layup packages of all time, Kyrie Irving lifted the Cavs to their first championship in franchise history after drilling a stepback 3-pointer in front of Stephen Curry in the final minute of Game 7 of the 2016 NBA Finals.

Irving averaged over 27 points per game during that Finals series and was named to one All-NBA Team as a Cav.

3. Mark Price

Mark Price is one of 10 players to average at least a 50% field-goal percentage, a 40% 3-point field-goal percentage, and a 90% free-throw percentage in one season, making him the second player to achieve this feat.

The four-time All-NBA guard ranks second in assists and steals, fourth in 3-pointers, and fifth in points in franchise history.

4. Brad Daugherty

Brad Daugherty only played eight seasons in the league, but he was an All-Star in five of them.

The one-time All-NBA center averaged 19.0 points, 9.5 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and a 53.2 field-goal percentage during his career.

Daugherty has the third-most points and fourth-most rebounds in franchise history.

5. Donovan Mitchell

Donovan Mitchell helped the Cavs go 64-18 during the 2024-25 season.

His aerial acrobatics and 3-point shooting have made him one of the league’s deadliest scorers.

Mitchell and James are the only Cavs players to score at least 50 points in a playoff game.

6. Larry Nance Sr.

Known as a high-flyer, Larry Nance Sr. averaged 16.8 points, 8.2 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 2.5 blocks per game as a Cav.

The three-time All-Star earned three All-Defensive Team nods and the third-most blocks in franchise history during his time in Cleveland.

7. Zydrunas Ilgauskas

Zydrunas Ilgauskas overcame several foot injuries early in his career to become a two-time All-Star and helped the Cavs reach the Finals for the first time in 2007.

“Big-Z” has the most blocks and second-most points and rebounds in Cavs history.