The 1984-85 Cleveland Cavaliers season was marked by significant struggles and transition. The team finished with a disappointing record of 36-46, placing them sixth in the Central Division of the Eastern Conference. This result meant that the Cavaliers missed the playoffs for the sixth consecutive season, highlighting a period of rebuilding and instability.
Throughout the season, the Cavaliers faced numerous challenges, including inconsistent performances and injuries. The roster underwent changes with several trades aimed at improving the team’s future prospects. Key players during this season included World B. Free, who led the team in scoring with an average of 22.5 points per game, and Roy Hinson, who contributed significantly with his defensive prowess and rebounding abilities. However, these efforts were not enough to secure a playoff spot.
One of the most notable moments of the season was the ownership change. In June 1983, the Gund brothers, George and Gordon Gund, purchased the franchise, bringing hope for a brighter future. The new ownership focused on building a competitive team, which included hiring George Karl as head coach in March 1984. Despite the team’s poor performance, Karl’s leadership was seen as a step towards long-term improvement.
The 1984-85 season was a challenging period for the Cavaliers, but it laid the groundwork for future development and set the stage for the team’s eventual resurgence in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
- Regular Season Record: 36-46
- Playoff Result: Eastern Conference First Round: 1-3
Cleveland Cavaliers Roster and Stats for 1984-85 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| World B. Free | 71 | 22.5 | 3.0 | 4.5 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 36.8 | 4 | 26.3 | 2.5 | 7.8 | 1.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Roy Hinson | 76 | 15.8 | 7.8 | 0.9 | 0.7 | 2.3 | 0.0 | 4 | 16.8 | 7.5 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 2.3 | 0.0 |
| Phil Hubbard | 76 | 15.8 | 6.3 | 1.5 | 1.1 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 4 | 15.5 | 5.0 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 100.0 |
| Johnny Davis | 76 | 12.4 | 1.6 | 5.6 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 26.7 | 3 | 9.3 | 2.0 | 5.0 | 1.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Melvin Turpin | 79 | 10.6 | 5.7 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 1.1 | 0.0 | 4 | 6.3 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 |
| Paul Thompson | 33 | 10.5 | 3.5 | 1.8 | 1.2 | 0.6 | 27.3 | |||||||
| John Bagley | 81 | 9.9 | 3.6 | 8.6 | 1.6 | 0.1 | 11.5 | 4 | 12.8 | 4.0 | 10.0 | 2.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Edgar Jones | 26 | 8.2 | 4.2 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 4 | 6.3 | 2.0 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Michael Wilson | 11 | 7.0 | 1.6 | 2.2 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Ben Poquette | 79 | 6.7 | 6.0 | 1.0 | 0.6 | 0.8 | 17.7 | 4 | 7.5 | 3.5 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 1.5 | 0.0 |
| Lonnie Shelton | 57 | 6.4 | 4.7 | 1.7 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 4 | 11.5 | 5.5 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.0 |
| Jeff Cook | 18 | 6.1 | 5.8 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Ron Anderson | 36 | 5.8 | 2.4 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 50.0 | 2 | 0.0 | 1.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Mark West | 65 | 3.9 | 3.8 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 4 | 2.0 | 4.5 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Kevin Williams | 46 | 3.5 | 1.4 | 1.3 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 2 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Geoff Huston | 8 | 3.3 | 0.1 | 2.9 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Robert Smith | 7 | 2.3 | 0.6 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Campy Russell | 3 | 2.0 | 1.7 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Butch Graves | 4 | 1.3 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |||||||
Cleveland Cavaliers in the 1985 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs First Round vs. Boston Celtics
In the first round of the 1985 NBA Playoffs, the Cleveland Cavaliers faced the Boston Celtics. Despite a valiant effort, the Cavaliers were overpowered by the Celtics' star-studded lineup, featuring legends like Larry Bird. Ultimately, Cleveland was swept in the series, highlighting the gap between their emerging team and the championship-caliber Celtics.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 18, 1985 | @ Boston Celtics | L 126-123 | |
| Apr 20, 1985 | @ Boston Celtics | L 108-106 | |
| Apr 23, 1985 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 105-98 | |
| Apr 25, 1985 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 117-115 |
Cleveland Cavaliers 1984-85 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1984-85 season for the Cleveland Cavaliers.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 26, 1984 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 111-101 | |
| Oct 27, 1984 | vs. New Jersey Nets | L 131-106 | |
| Oct 30, 1984 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 124-107 | |
| Nov 02, 1984 | vs. Indiana Pacers | L 116-109 | |
| Nov 03, 1984 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 117-88 | |
| Nov 05, 1984 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 107-98 | |
| Nov 08, 1984 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 112-111 | |
| Nov 10, 1984 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 127-103 | |
| Nov 13, 1984 | @ Houston Rockets | L 106-98 | |
| Nov 15, 1984 | @ Atlanta Hawks | W 102-99 | |
| Nov 17, 1984 | @ New York Knicks | L 112-88 | |
| Nov 21, 1984 | vs. New York Knicks | L 109-101 | |
| Nov 23, 1984 | vs. Golden State Warriors | L 107-106 | |
| Nov 25, 1984 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 118-111 | |
| Nov 27, 1984 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | L 115-106 | |
| Dec 01, 1984 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 110-104 | |
| Dec 02, 1984 | @ Boston Celtics | L 122-99 | |
| Dec 04, 1984 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 116-112 | |
| Dec 08, 1984 | vs. Denver Nuggets | L 114-108 | |
| Dec 11, 1984 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | L 120-106 | |
| Dec 12, 1984 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 116-99 | |
| Dec 15, 1984 | vs. New York Knicks | W 102-97 | |
| Dec 18, 1984 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 118-110 | |
| Dec 20, 1984 | @ New York Knicks | L 112-97 | |
| Dec 22, 1984 | @ Indiana Pacers | W 106-103 | |
| Dec 25, 1984 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 109-106 | |
| Dec 27, 1984 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 112-108 | |
| Dec 29, 1984 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | L 115-102 | |
| Jan 02, 1985 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 108-100 | |
| Jan 03, 1985 | vs. Washington Bullets | W 100-93 | |
| Jan 05, 1985 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 111-106 | |
| Jan 08, 1985 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 107-101 | |
| Jan 11, 1985 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 130-117 | |
| Jan 12, 1985 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 101-98 | |
| Jan 14, 1985 | vs. Washington Bullets | L 101-91 | |
| Jan 15, 1985 | @ Kansas City Kings | W 116-112 | |
| Jan 17, 1985 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 98-93 | |
| Jan 19, 1985 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | L 106-105 | |
| Jan 21, 1985 | @ Washington Bullets | L 128-115 | |
| Jan 22, 1985 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | L 101-100 | |
| Jan 24, 1985 | @ Utah Jazz | W 110-109 | |
| Jan 26, 1985 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 144-127 | |
| Jan 29, 1985 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | W 110-94 | |
| Jan 30, 1985 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 120-115 | |
| Feb 01, 1985 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 126-108 | |
| Feb 02, 1985 | vs. Kansas City Kings | W 124-106 | |
| Feb 04, 1985 | @ Washington Bullets | W 121-112 | |
| Feb 06, 1985 | @ Boston Celtics | L 113-108 | |
| Feb 07, 1985 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 108-99 | |
| Feb 12, 1985 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | L 131-112 | |
| Feb 13, 1985 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 112-105 | |
| Feb 15, 1985 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | W 112-107 | |
| Feb 16, 1985 | vs. Houston Rockets | L 122-115 | |
| Feb 18, 1985 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 120-113 | |
| Feb 20, 1985 | @ Indiana Pacers | W 102-92 | |
| Feb 22, 1985 | vs. Utah Jazz | L 102-98 | |
| Feb 23, 1985 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 128-106 | |
| Feb 26, 1985 | @ Chicago Bulls | W 123-118 | |
| Feb 28, 1985 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 120-95 | |
| Mar 01, 1985 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | W 111-103 | |
| Mar 04, 1985 | @ Golden State Warriors | W 108-104 | |
| Mar 06, 1985 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | W 114-112 | |
| Mar 09, 1985 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 133-106 | |
| Mar 11, 1985 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 122-110 | |
| Mar 13, 1985 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 128-93 | |
| Mar 15, 1985 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 119-96 | |
| Mar 16, 1985 | @ Dallas Mavericks | W 135-128 | |
| Mar 19, 1985 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 116-89 | |
| Mar 20, 1985 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 128-108 | |
| Mar 22, 1985 | @ Boston Celtics | L 129-117 | |
| Mar 23, 1985 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | L 91-86 | |
| Mar 26, 1985 | vs. New York Knicks | W 112-98 | |
| Mar 28, 1985 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 122-114 | |
| Mar 30, 1985 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 117-94 | |
| Apr 02, 1985 | vs. Washington Bullets | W 122-107 | |
| Apr 03, 1985 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | W 113-110 | |
| Apr 05, 1985 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 119-118 | |
| Apr 06, 1985 | @ Washington Bullets | L 109-101 | |
| Apr 09, 1985 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 114-100 | |
| Apr 11, 1985 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 121-115 | |
| Apr 12, 1985 | @ New York Knicks | W 109-108 | |
| Apr 14, 1985 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 116-113 |