The 1985-86 Cleveland Cavaliers season marked a transitional period for the franchise. Under the new ownership of George and Gordon Gund, the team underwent significant changes. The Cavaliers finished the regular season with a 29-53 record, placing them fourth in the Central Division and 10th in the Eastern Conference. This performance was consistent with their struggles throughout the 1980s, as they missed the playoffs for the eighth consecutive season.
Coached by George Karl, who was hired mid-season, the Cavaliers aimed to reshape their identity. The team’s roster included World B. Free, who led the scoring charge with an average of 23.4 points per game. Rookie point guard John “Hot Rod” Williams, although drafted in 1985, did not play due to legal issues, impacting the potential depth of the squad. The Cavaliers also had solid contributions from Roy Hinson, who averaged 19.6 points and 7.8 rebounds per game, and Phil Hubbard, adding further support on the front line.
Despite their struggles, the foundation for future success was being laid. The 1985-86 season was pivotal, setting the stage for the Cavaliers’ eventual rise in the late 1980s. The following draft would bring Brad Daugherty, Mark Price, and Ron Harper to the team, players who would become instrumental in Cleveland’s resurgence. While the 1985-86 season was challenging, it was a crucial step in the franchise’s evolution. The Cavaliers’ management and coaching staff used this season to learn and prepare for the upcoming changes that would alter the team’s fortunes in the years to come.
- Regular Season Record: 29-53
- Playoff Result: Did not make playoffs
Cleveland Cavaliers Roster and Stats for 1985-86 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| World B. Free | 75 | 23.4 | 2.9 | 4.2 | 1.2 | 0.3 | 42.0 | |||||||
| Roy Hinson | 82 | 19.6 | 7.8 | 1.3 | 0.8 | 1.4 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Melvin Turpin | 80 | 13.7 | 6.9 | 0.7 | 0.8 | 1.3 | 0.0 | |||||||
| John Bagley | 78 | 11.7 | 3.5 | 9.4 | 1.6 | 0.1 | 24.3 | |||||||
| Phil Hubbard | 23 | 11.4 | 5.2 | 1.3 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Eddie Johnson | 32 | 9.8 | 1.4 | 3.6 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 36.9 | |||||||
| Edgar Jones | 53 | 9.7 | 3.9 | 0.8 | 0.6 | 0.7 | 30.4 | |||||||
| Keith Lee | 58 | 7.4 | 6.1 | 1.2 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 25.0 | |||||||
| Johnny Davis | 39 | 7.0 | 0.9 | 2.7 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 18.2 | |||||||
| Dirk Minniefield | 76 | 5.5 | 1.7 | 3.5 | 0.9 | 0.0 | 27.0 | |||||||
| Ron Brewer | 40 | 5.1 | 1.3 | 1.0 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 29.4 | |||||||
| Ron Anderson | 17 | 5.1 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Ben Poquette | 81 | 5.0 | 4.6 | 1.0 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 20.0 | |||||||
| Lonnie Shelton | 44 | 4.5 | 3.3 | 1.4 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Mark West | 67 | 4.2 | 4.8 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.9 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Ben McDonald | 21 | 2.9 | 1.8 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Ennis Whatley | 8 | 2.8 | 0.9 | 1.6 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |||||||
Cleveland Cavaliers 1985-86 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1985-86 season for the Cleveland Cavaliers.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 25, 1985 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 116-115 | |
| Oct 26, 1985 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 105-100 | |
| Oct 29, 1985 | vs. Washington Bullets | L 97-90 | |
| Oct 31, 1985 | @ Washington Bullets | W 114-107 | |
| Nov 03, 1985 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | L 120-110 | |
| Nov 05, 1985 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | W 129-111 | |
| Nov 07, 1985 | @ Sacramento Kings | W 95-94 | |
| Nov 09, 1985 | @ Utah Jazz | L 121-114 | |
| Nov 10, 1985 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 110-107 | |
| Nov 14, 1985 | @ Indiana Pacers | W 112-104 | |
| Nov 16, 1985 | @ Chicago Bulls | W 132-128 | |
| Nov 19, 1985 | vs. Golden State Warriors | L 110-104 | |
| Nov 20, 1985 | @ Washington Bullets | L 101-98 | |
| Nov 22, 1985 | vs. Utah Jazz | L 121-113 | |
| Nov 24, 1985 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 98-90 | |
| Nov 26, 1985 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 113-98 | |
| Nov 30, 1985 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 119-90 | |
| Dec 03, 1985 | vs. Indiana Pacers | L 98-84 | |
| Dec 05, 1985 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 100-97 | |
| Dec 07, 1985 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 124-114 | |
| Dec 10, 1985 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 130-120 | |
| Dec 11, 1985 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 125-110 | |
| Dec 13, 1985 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | W 128-124 | |
| Dec 14, 1985 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 109-99 | |
| Dec 17, 1985 | vs. Houston Rockets | L 98-94 | |
| Dec 19, 1985 | @ New York Knicks | W 109-105 | |
| Dec 20, 1985 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 128-116 | |
| Dec 22, 1985 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | W 119-105 | |
| Dec 23, 1985 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 108-101 | |
| Dec 27, 1985 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 119-105 | |
| Dec 28, 1985 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | L 114-112 | |
| Dec 30, 1985 | vs. Chicago Bulls | L 121-117 | |
| Jan 03, 1986 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | W 130-111 | |
| Jan 04, 1986 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 125-106 | |
| Jan 07, 1986 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 110-101 | |
| Jan 08, 1986 | @ Boston Celtics | L 126-95 | |
| Jan 11, 1986 | vs. Sacramento Kings | W 105-101 | |
| Jan 14, 1986 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | L 120-108 | |
| Jan 16, 1986 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 116-99 | |
| Jan 18, 1986 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 108-95 | |
| Jan 20, 1986 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 108-93 | |
| Jan 22, 1986 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 107-104 | |
| Jan 24, 1986 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | L 121-114 | |
| Jan 27, 1986 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 124-103 | |
| Jan 28, 1986 | @ Houston Rockets | L 116-109 | |
| Jan 30, 1986 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 112-99 | |
| Jan 31, 1986 | @ Dallas Mavericks | L 107-91 | |
| Feb 04, 1986 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | L 105-104 | |
| Feb 06, 1986 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | L 111-103 | |
| Feb 11, 1986 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 119-97 | |
| Feb 13, 1986 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 135-117 | |
| Feb 15, 1986 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 105-99 | |
| Feb 17, 1986 | vs. New York Knicks | W 111-97 | |
| Feb 18, 1986 | @ New York Knicks | W 111-105 | |
| Feb 20, 1986 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 109-107 | |
| Feb 22, 1986 | vs. Washington Bullets | L 110-102 | |
| Feb 24, 1986 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 124-114 | |
| Feb 26, 1986 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 129-109 | |
| Feb 28, 1986 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 116-96 | |
| Mar 04, 1986 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | L 106-101 | |
| Mar 05, 1986 | @ Phoenix Suns | W 115-100 | |
| Mar 07, 1986 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 120-106 | |
| Mar 08, 1986 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 138-128 | |
| Mar 11, 1986 | @ New York Knicks | W 112-107 | |
| Mar 12, 1986 | vs. Washington Bullets | L 128-114 | |
| Mar 14, 1986 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 109-100 | |
| Mar 15, 1986 | vs. New Jersey Nets | L 102-100 | |
| Mar 17, 1986 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | L 118-112 | |
| Mar 18, 1986 | @ Boston Celtics | L 126-96 | |
| Mar 20, 1986 | vs. New York Knicks | L 93-87 | |
| Mar 22, 1986 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 123-97 | |
| Mar 25, 1986 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | L 97-91 | |
| Mar 26, 1986 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 110-108 | |
| Mar 29, 1986 | @ Atlanta Hawks | W 123-105 | |
| Apr 01, 1986 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 123-105 | |
| Apr 03, 1986 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 114-93 | |
| Apr 04, 1986 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 122-102 | |
| Apr 06, 1986 | @ Washington Bullets | L 106-95 | |
| Apr 07, 1986 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 128-104 | |
| Apr 10, 1986 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | L 102-101 | |
| Apr 11, 1986 | @ Boston Celtics | L 117-104 | |
| Apr 13, 1986 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 104-97 |