LeBron James First Tenure
The 2017–18 Cavaliers: A season of trades, injuries, and a fourth straight Finals appearance.
The 2017–18 Cleveland Cavaliers season was the 48th season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA). The Cavaliers entered the season as runners-up in the 2017 NBA Finals, where they lost to the Golden State Warriors in four games. This was the Cavaliers' first season without Kyrie Irving since the 2011–2012 season, as he was traded to the Boston Celtics during the offseason per his request. This trade ended the superteam era of the Cavaliers.
Quick Facts
- Arrival context
- First Overall Pick (2003 NBA Draft)
- Major achievement
- NBA Finals Appearance (2007)
- Conference titles
- One Eastern Conference Championship (2007)
Lore & Background
The Cavaliers clinched their playoff berth for the fourth consecutive season since LeBron James' return to Cleveland for the 2014–15 season. In the playoffs, the Cavaliers defeated the Indiana Pacers in seven games in the First Round, then swept the top-seeded Toronto Raptors in four games in the Semi-finals, before finally defeating the Boston Celtics in seven games in the conference finals. Cleveland reached the NBA Finals for the fourth straight season, despite having an injury filled roster throughout the span of the 2017–2018 season, but were swept by the defending NBA champions Golden State Warriors in four games, the first Finals sweep that occurred since 2007, when the LeBron-led Cavs were also swept by the San Antonio Spurs.
For the fourth consecutive year, the two teams met in the Finals, marking LeBron James' eighth consecutive appearance in the NBA Finals and his ninth overall appearance in the championship round. This season also marked the conclusion of James' second tenure with the Cavaliers, as he opted out of his contract during the subsequent offseason and again left the Cavaliers to sign with the Los Angeles Lakers, his second time leaving his hometown team after doing so in 2010 to join the Miami Heat.
Reader's Guide
The Cavaliers finished the regular season with a record of 50–32, good for a fourth-place finish in the Eastern Conference. In the first round of the playoffs, the fourth seeded Cavaliers faced the fifth-seeded Indiana Pacers. The Cavaliers won the series in seven games. The Cavaliers advanced to face the top-seeded Toronto Raptors, sweeping them. They then faced the second-seeded Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference finals, winning in seven games. In the NBA Finals, the Cavaliers were swept by the Golden State Warriors in four games.
Did You Know?
- Kyrie Irving was traded to the Boston Celtics on August 30, 2017.
- Dwyane Wade signed with the Cavaliers on September 27, 2017.
- Head coach Tyronn Lue took a leave of absence due to health issues on March 19, 2018.
- The Cavaliers became the first team since the 2002–03 New Jersey Nets to lose back-to-back Finals.
More in Club History & Eras
Elsewhere in Cleveland Cavaliers
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced