The 2003-04 Cleveland Cavaliers season marked a significant turning point in the franchise’s history, primarily due to the arrival of LeBron James, the first overall pick in the 2003 NBA Draft. James was heralded as a generational talent and immediately made an impact on the team’s performance. The Cavaliers, however, finished the season with a record of 35-47, missing the playoffs but showing clear signs of improvement compared to their previous 17-65 record.
Under the guidance of head coach Paul Silas, the team demonstrated growth, particularly in the latter half of the season. LeBron James lived up to expectations, averaging 20.9 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 5.9 assists per game, earning him the NBA Rookie of the Year award. His presence invigorated the team and the fan base, bringing a renewed sense of hope for the future.
The supporting cast included Carlos Boozer, who had a breakout season with averages of 15.5 points and 11.4 rebounds per game, and Zydrunas Ilgauskas, who contributed significantly with 15.3 points and 8.1 rebounds per game. Despite the losing record, the Cavaliers were competitive in many games, illustrating the potential for future success. The 2003-04 season is often remembered as the beginning of the LeBron James era in Cleveland, setting the stage for the Cavaliers’ eventual rise to prominence in the NBA.
- Regular Season Record: 35-47
- Playoff Result: Did not make playoffs
Cleveland Cavaliers Roster and Stats for 2003-04 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| LeBron James | 79 | 20.9 | 5.5 | 5.9 | 1.6 | 0.7 | 29.0 | |||||||
| Carlos Boozer | 75 | 15.5 | 11.4 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 0.7 | 16.6 | |||||||
| Ricky Davis | 22 | 15.3 | 5.5 | 5.0 | 1.1 | 0.4 | 35.4 | |||||||
| Zydrunas Ilgauskas | 81 | 15.3 | 8.1 | 1.3 | 0.5 | 2.5 | 28.6 | |||||||
| Jeff McInnis | 31 | 11.7 | 2.6 | 7.5 | 1.2 | 0.1 | 38.8 | |||||||
| Eric Williams | 50 | 9.4 | 3.8 | 1.9 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 25.3 | |||||||
| Darius Miles | 37 | 8.9 | 4.5 | 2.2 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 16.7 | |||||||
| Lee Nailon | 22 | 7.7 | 3.0 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Chris Mihm | 22 | 6.9 | 6.4 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 1.0 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Dajuan Wagner | 44 | 6.5 | 1.3 | 1.2 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 36.0 | |||||||
| Tony Battie | 50 | 5.4 | 4.8 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 0.9 | 12.5 | |||||||
| Kedrick Brown | 34 | 5.3 | 2.3 | 1.1 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 38.8 | |||||||
| Kevin Ollie | 82 | 4.2 | 2.1 | 2.9 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 44.4 | |||||||
| Ira Newble | 64 | 4.0 | 2.4 | 1.1 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 10.5 | |||||||
| Mateen Cleaves | 4 | 3.8 | 1.8 | 4.8 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | |||||||
| J.R. Bremer | 31 | 3.5 | 1.1 | 1.3 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 28.8 | |||||||
| Jason Kapono | 41 | 3.5 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 47.7 | |||||||
| DeSagana Diop | 56 | 2.3 | 3.6 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 0.9 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Bruno Šundov | 4 | 2.3 | 2.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Michael Stewart | 8 | 1.0 | 2.3 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 1.0 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Jelani McCoy | 2 | 0.0 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |||||||
Cleveland Cavaliers 2003-04 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 2003-04 season for the Cleveland Cavaliers.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 29, 2003 | @ Sacramento Kings | L 106-92 | |
| Oct 30, 2003 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 95-86 | |
| Nov 01, 2003 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 104-85 | |
| Nov 05, 2003 | vs. Denver Nuggets | L 93-89 | |
| Nov 07, 2003 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 91-90 | |
| Nov 08, 2003 | vs. Washington Wizards | W 111-98 | |
| Nov 10, 2003 | vs. New York Knicks | W 94-80 | |
| Nov 12, 2003 | @ Miami Heat | L 88-83 | |
| Nov 14, 2003 | @ Boston Celtics | L 91-82 | |
| Nov 15, 2003 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 91-88 | |
| Nov 18, 2003 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | W 103-95 | |
| Nov 19, 2003 | @ Washington Wizards | L 106-95 | |
| Nov 21, 2003 | vs. Minnesota Timberwolves | L 97-83 | |
| Nov 22, 2003 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 92-83 | |
| Nov 26, 2003 | @ New Orleans Hornets | L 82-72 | |
| Nov 28, 2003 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 92-88 | |
| Nov 29, 2003 | vs. Memphis Grizzlies | L 122-115 | |
| Dec 02, 2003 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 115-103 | |
| Dec 03, 2003 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | L 90-80 | |
| Dec 06, 2003 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 95-85 | |
| Dec 09, 2003 | vs. Toronto Raptors | L 100-93 | |
| Dec 11, 2003 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 95-86 | |
| Dec 13, 2003 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 105-98 | |
| Dec 15, 2003 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 95-85 | |
| Dec 17, 2003 | vs. Houston Rockets | L 89-85 | |
| Dec 19, 2003 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | W 88-81 | |
| Dec 20, 2003 | @ Chicago Bulls | W 95-87 | |
| Dec 23, 2003 | vs. New Orleans Hornets | W 97-86 | |
| Dec 25, 2003 | @ Orlando Magic | L 113-101 | |
| Dec 26, 2003 | vs. Chicago Bulls | L 87-80 | |
| Dec 28, 2003 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 86-74 | |
| Dec 30, 2003 | vs. Indiana Pacers | L 92-89 | |
| Jan 02, 2004 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 97-82 | |
| Jan 06, 2004 | vs. New York Knicks | W 107-96 | |
| Jan 07, 2004 | @ Toronto Raptors | L 75-69 | |
| Jan 09, 2004 | @ Boston Celtics | L 107-82 | |
| Jan 12, 2004 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 89-79 | |
| Jan 13, 2004 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 104-96 | |
| Jan 15, 2004 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 119-102 | |
| Jan 17, 2004 | @ Utah Jazz | W 102-96 | |
| Jan 20, 2004 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 99-94 | |
| Jan 22, 2004 | vs. Sacramento Kings | L 95-89 | |
| Jan 24, 2004 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 95-87 | |
| Jan 26, 2004 | vs. Orlando Magic | W 99-98 | |
| Jan 28, 2004 | vs. Miami Heat | W 94-93 | |
| Jan 30, 2004 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 101-95 | |
| Feb 01, 2004 | @ Washington Wizards | W 104-100 | |
| Feb 03, 2004 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 85-82 | |
| Feb 04, 2004 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 111-106 | |
| Feb 06, 2004 | @ Minnesota Timberwolves | L 103-92 | |
| Feb 07, 2004 | vs. Washington Wizards | L 106-88 | |
| Feb 09, 2004 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 97-89 | |
| Feb 11, 2004 | vs. New Jersey Nets | L 105-85 | |
| Feb 18, 2004 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | L 114-98 | |
| Feb 20, 2004 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 89-87 | |
| Feb 22, 2004 | @ New York Knicks | W 92-86 | |
| Feb 23, 2004 | vs. New Orleans Hornets | W 104-100 | |
| Feb 25, 2004 | @ Houston Rockets | L 90-84 | |
| Feb 27, 2004 | @ Orlando Magic | W 112-107 | |
| Mar 01, 2004 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 92-81 | |
| Mar 03, 2004 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 112-80 | |
| Mar 05, 2004 | @ New Orleans Hornets | W 88-85 | |
| Mar 06, 2004 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 106-97 | |
| Mar 08, 2004 | @ Atlanta Hawks | W 108-102 | |
| Mar 10, 2004 | @ Toronto Raptors | W 106-92 | |
| Mar 14, 2004 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 107-104 | |
| Mar 16, 2004 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 111-87 | |
| Mar 19, 2004 | vs. Utah Jazz | L 97-88 | |
| Mar 21, 2004 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 96-76 | |
| Mar 23, 2004 | vs. Phoenix Suns | L 103-86 | |
| Mar 26, 2004 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 86-71 | |
| Mar 27, 2004 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 107-104 | |
| Mar 29, 2004 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 101-93 | |
| Mar 30, 2004 | @ Dallas Mavericks | L 126-109 | |
| Apr 02, 2004 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 107-89 | |
| Apr 03, 2004 | vs. Golden State Warriors | L 103-100 | |
| Apr 06, 2004 | vs. Toronto Raptors | L 87-86 | |
| Apr 07, 2004 | @ Memphis Grizzlies | L 92-74 | |
| Apr 09, 2004 | @ Miami Heat | L 106-91 | |
| Apr 10, 2004 | vs. Miami Heat | W 91-80 | |
| Apr 12, 2004 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 93-89 | |
| Apr 14, 2004 | @ New York Knicks | W 100-90 |