Cleveland Cavaliers

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Lore & Background

The Cavaliers' journey was punctuated by specific dates that shaped their narrative. On December 5, the team matched an offer sheet to retain Anderson Varejão while waiving Demetris Nichols. The roster transformed significantly on February 21 through a three-team trade involving Chicago Bulls and Seattle SuperSonics, bringing in Ben Wallace, Joe Smith, Wally Szczerbiak, and Delonte West alongside a 2009 second-round pick and a trade exception. This move bolstered the squad before LeBron James scored 50 points against the New York Knicks on March 5. By March 10, an 88–80 win over Portland lifted them to a season-high 10 games over .500. The team's resilience was tested in May when they defeated Washington 105–88 on May 2 to reach the second round, only to face a grueling seven-game series against Boston that ended on May 18 with a 92–97 loss in Game 7.

In Their Own Story

Individual brilliance defined the Cavaliers' identity throughout the year. On December 17, 2007, LeBron James became the youngest NBA player to score 9,000 points. His scoring prowess continued into February; on February 27, he became the youngest to reach 10,000 points. The month of February was historic for milestones: on February 11, Drew Gooden grabbed his 2,500th rebound as a Cavalier, while Larry Hughes scored his 2,000th point with the team. Žydrūnas Ilgauskas reached multiple marks, including his 9,000th point and 1,100th blocked shot. LeBron also added to his legacy by playing his 15,000th minute on February 20 and grabbing his 2,500th rebound two days later. On the court, Damon Jones hit his 300th three-pointer as a Cavalier on February 22. These achievements culminated in All-Star recognition where LeBron James was named MVP of the NBA All-Star Game with 27 points, 9 assists, and 8 rebounds on February 17.

Reader's Guide

Fans can track the Cavaliers' season through key turning points anchored by specific dates. The pre-season began on October 9 with a 62–81 loss to Washington, followed by a regular-season start on October 31 against Dallas. A critical acquisition occurred on February 21 when Ben Wallace and Delonte West arrived via trade. LeBron James's dominance was evident early; he won Eastern Conference Player of the Week for games played November 19 through 25, again from December 31 to January 6, and throughout February 18–24. He also earned Eastern Conference Player of the Month honors for January and February 2008. The season concluded in the playoffs with a May 2 victory over Washington that secured a second-round berth, setting up a decisive seven-game series against Boston that ended on May 18.

Did You Know?

• On March 5, LeBron James scored exactly 50 points in a victory over the New York Knicks.
• The Cavaliers defeated the Boston Celtics on November 27, handing them only their second loss of the entire season.
• LeBron James became the youngest NBA player to score 10,000 points on February 27, 2008.
• On May 18, the Cavaliers lost Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semifinals to the eventual NBA champions, the Boston Celtics, by a score of 92–97.