The 1982-83 Cleveland Cavaliers season was a challenging period for the franchise. The team struggled throughout the season, finishing with a disappointing record of 23-59. This placed them at the bottom of the Central Division and tied for the second-worst record in the NBA that year. The Cavaliers’ performance was characterized by inconsistency and difficulties on both ends of the court, which contributed to their poor overall standing.
During this season, the Cavaliers underwent a coaching change as Tom Nissalke started as the head coach but was replaced by interim coach Gene Littles after a 2-19 start. Littles managed to improve the team’s performance slightly, but the Cavaliers still faced significant challenges in terms of competitiveness and cohesiveness. The roster featured standout players like World B. Free, who was the team’s leading scorer, averaging 23.9 points per game. Despite his efforts, the Cavaliers struggled to find a winning formula.
The 1982-83 season was part of a difficult era for the Cavaliers, who were attempting to rebuild and find stability within the organization. The team’s struggles highlighted the need for significant changes in both player personnel and coaching strategies to become competitive in the league. This season set the stage for future restructuring efforts aimed at improving the franchise’s fortunes in the subsequent years.
- Regular Season Record: 23-59
- Playoff Result: Did not make playoffs
Cleveland Cavaliers Roster and Stats for 1982-83 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| World B. Free | 54 | 24.2 | 2.9 | 3.7 | 1.5 | 0.2 | 36.6 | |||||||
| Scott Wedman | 35 | 18.1 | 5.9 | 2.5 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 40.9 | |||||||
| Cliff Robinson | 77 | 18.0 | 11.1 | 1.9 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 0.0 | |||||||
| James Edwards | 15 | 12.3 | 6.4 | 0.9 | 0.5 | 0.9 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Geoff Huston | 80 | 12.2 | 2.0 | 6.1 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 33.3 | |||||||
| Ron Brewer | 21 | 11.4 | 1.8 | 1.3 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Phil Hubbard | 82 | 9.5 | 5.7 | 1.1 | 1.1 | 0.1 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Larry Kenon | 32 | 7.3 | 3.7 | 1.1 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Jeff Cook | 30 | 7.1 | 6.9 | 1.5 | 0.9 | 0.6 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Carl Nicks | 9 | 7.0 | 2.9 | 1.2 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Bob Wilkerson | 77 | 6.7 | 3.1 | 2.5 | 0.9 | 0.2 | 0.0 | |||||||
| John Bagley | 68 | 5.7 | 1.4 | 2.5 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Paul Mokeski | 23 | 5.5 | 6.0 | 1.1 | 0.5 | 1.0 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Bruce Flowers | 53 | 4.9 | 3.4 | 0.9 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Sam Lacey | 60 | 4.2 | 3.8 | 2.0 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 22.2 | |||||||
| Darren Tillis | 37 | 4.1 | 3.3 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.8 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Steve Hayes | 65 | 3.6 | 3.6 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 0.6 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Dave Magley | 14 | 0.9 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |||||||
Cleveland Cavaliers 1982-83 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1982-83 season for the Cleveland Cavaliers.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 29, 1982 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 104-93 | |
| Oct 31, 1982 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | L 119-95 | |
| Nov 02, 1982 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 128-119 | |
| Nov 04, 1982 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 118-111 | |
| Nov 05, 1982 | vs. New Jersey Nets | L 99-91 | |
| Nov 10, 1982 | @ Golden State Warriors | W 132-120 | |
| Nov 12, 1982 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 94-81 | |
| Nov 14, 1982 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 111-98 | |
| Nov 18, 1982 | @ San Diego Clippers | L 107-98 | |
| Nov 19, 1982 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 101-94 | |
| Nov 21, 1982 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 129-79 | |
| Nov 23, 1982 | vs. Utah Jazz | L 121-99 | |
| Nov 26, 1982 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | L 120-102 | |
| Nov 28, 1982 | vs. Kansas City Kings | W 118-110 | |
| Nov 30, 1982 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 88-78 | |
| Dec 01, 1982 | vs. New York Knicks | L 101-84 | |
| Dec 03, 1982 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 111-103 | |
| Dec 04, 1982 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 109-89 | |
| Dec 07, 1982 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | L 102-90 | |
| Dec 08, 1982 | @ Boston Celtics | L 113-93 | |
| Dec 10, 1982 | vs. Denver Nuggets | L 117-107 | |
| Dec 15, 1982 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 99-93 | |
| Dec 16, 1982 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 106-97 | |
| Dec 18, 1982 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 97-90 | |
| Dec 21, 1982 | @ Washington Bullets | L 77-74 | |
| Dec 22, 1982 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 100-98 | |
| Dec 27, 1982 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 94-82 | |
| Dec 29, 1982 | vs. New York Knicks | L 91-87 | |
| Dec 30, 1982 | @ New York Knicks | L 94-89 | |
| Jan 02, 1983 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | L 103-95 | |
| Jan 05, 1983 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 130-116 | |
| Jan 06, 1983 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 125-107 | |
| Jan 08, 1983 | vs. Washington Bullets | W 98-82 | |
| Jan 12, 1983 | vs. Chicago Bulls | L 98-96 | |
| Jan 13, 1983 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 110-100 | |
| Jan 15, 1983 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 90-86 | |
| Jan 18, 1983 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | L 98-90 | |
| Jan 20, 1983 | @ Washington Bullets | W 97-89 | |
| Jan 21, 1983 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 105-99 | |
| Jan 23, 1983 | @ Boston Celtics | L 105-91 | |
| Jan 25, 1983 | @ New York Knicks | L 111-78 | |
| Jan 26, 1983 | vs. Chicago Bulls | L 124-119 | |
| Jan 28, 1983 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 107-106 | |
| Jan 29, 1983 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 89-88 | |
| Feb 01, 1983 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 93-84 | |
| Feb 02, 1983 | vs. New Jersey Nets | L 118-105 | |
| Feb 04, 1983 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | L 92-81 | |
| Feb 05, 1983 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 117-113 | |
| Feb 06, 1983 | vs. San Diego Clippers | W 110-107 | |
| Feb 09, 1983 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 104-94 | |
| Feb 10, 1983 | @ Indiana Pacers | W 99-95 | |
| Feb 16, 1983 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | W 99-96 | |
| Feb 17, 1983 | @ New York Knicks | L 108-92 | |
| Feb 20, 1983 | vs. Phoenix Suns | L 103-81 | |
| Feb 23, 1983 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 99-98 | |
| Feb 26, 1983 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 122-102 | |
| Feb 27, 1983 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 98-92 | |
| Mar 01, 1983 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 132-121 | |
| Mar 03, 1983 | @ Utah Jazz | L 118-113 | |
| Mar 05, 1983 | @ Dallas Mavericks | W 98-91 | |
| Mar 06, 1983 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 117-98 | |
| Mar 08, 1983 | @ Houston Rockets | W 102-99 | |
| Mar 13, 1983 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 117-83 | |
| Mar 15, 1983 | @ Washington Bullets | L 95-92 | |
| Mar 16, 1983 | vs. New Jersey Nets | L 96-90 | |
| Mar 18, 1983 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | L 97-73 | |
| Mar 20, 1983 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 90-79 | |
| Mar 22, 1983 | @ Kansas City Kings | L 117-94 | |
| Mar 23, 1983 | vs. New York Knicks | W 84-81 | |
| Mar 25, 1983 | @ Boston Celtics | L 124-102 | |
| Mar 27, 1983 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 94-80 | |
| Mar 29, 1983 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 95-82 | |
| Mar 30, 1983 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 102-95 | |
| Apr 01, 1983 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 120-111 | |
| Apr 03, 1983 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | L 96-84 | |
| Apr 05, 1983 | @ Chicago Bulls | W 101-91 | |
| Apr 07, 1983 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | L 100-87 | |
| Apr 09, 1983 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 115-105 | |
| Apr 10, 1983 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 110-105 | |
| Apr 13, 1983 | vs. Chicago Bulls | L 107-98 | |
| Apr 15, 1983 | @ Indiana Pacers | W 132-124 | |
| Apr 17, 1983 | vs. Washington Bullets | W 118-105 |