CCCleveland Cavaliers
CCCleveland Cavaliers has reached the nba champions decider 5 times on record, first in 2006-07 and most recently in 2017-18. 1 win against 4 runner-up finishes is recorded below, sourced from our full nba champions list.
Data last verified: 11 August 2026.
CCCleveland Cavaliers — 1 nba champions (2015-16).
Franchise history
The Cleveland Cavaliers entered the NBA in 1970 as one of three expansion franchises, founded by local attorney Nick Mileti. The team endured lean early decades before its fortunes transformed with the 2003 NBA Draft, when Cleveland selected hometown product LeBron James with the first overall pick. James's first stint (2003-2010) delivered a 2007 Finals appearance but ended when he left for Miami as a free agent in 2010.
He returned in 2014, and over the next four seasons the Cavaliers reached four straight Finals against Golden State. The 2016 Finals produced the franchise's defining moment: down 3-1 against a 73-win Warriors team, Cleveland won three straight games, capped by a Game 7 road win, to become the first team in NBA Finals history to overcome a 3-1 deficit. The championship also ended Cleveland's 52-year wait for a major professional sports title. James left again for the Lakers in 2018.
Sources
NBA Champions won (1)
Runner-up finishes (4)
See the full nba champions list for the winner each of these years.
← Basketball · Champions list · All-time records · Season standings · Finals results · All competitions · Players