The 2009-10 Cleveland Cavaliers season marked a pivotal year for the franchise, as it was the final season with LeBron James before his departure to Miami. Under the guidance of head coach Mike Brown, the Cavaliers finished with the best regular-season record in the NBA at 61-21. They dominated the Central Division and secured the top seed in the Eastern Conference, largely due to James’ exceptional performance. LeBron was awarded the NBA MVP for a second consecutive year, averaging 29.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 8.6 assists per game.
During the offseason, the Cavaliers bolstered their roster by acquiring Shaquille O’Neal from the Phoenix Suns, hoping his presence could enhance their title aspirations. The team also signed veteran players like Anthony Parker and Jamario Moon to strengthen their depth. Throughout the season, the Cavaliers displayed a formidable defense and a dynamic offense, finishing in the top tier of the league in both categories.
Despite their regular-season success, the Cavaliers’ playoff run ended in disappointment. They defeated the Chicago Bulls in the first round of the playoffs but were eliminated by the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference Semifinals in six games. This loss marked a significant turning point for the franchise, as it led to LeBron James’ controversial decision to leave Cleveland in the subsequent offseason, reshaping the team’s future trajectory.
- Regular Season Record: 61-21
- Playoff Result: Eastern Conference First Round: 4-1, Eastern Conference Semifinals: 2-4
Cleveland Cavaliers Roster and Stats for 2009-10 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| LeBron James | 76 | 29.7 | 7.3 | 8.6 | 1.6 | 1.0 | 33.3 | 11 | 29.1 | 9.3 | 7.6 | 1.7 | 1.8 | 40.0 |
| Mo Williams | 69 | 15.8 | 3.0 | 5.3 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 42.9 | 11 | 14.4 | 3.1 | 5.4 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 32.7 |
| Antawn Jamison | 25 | 15.8 | 7.7 | 1.3 | 1.1 | 0.5 | 34.2 | 11 | 15.3 | 7.4 | 1.3 | 0.6 | 1.0 | 25.6 |
| Shaquille O'Neal | 53 | 12.0 | 6.7 | 1.5 | 0.3 | 1.2 | 0.0 | 11 | 11.5 | 5.5 | 1.4 | 0.2 | 1.2 | 0.0 |
| Sebastian Telfair | 4 | 9.8 | 1.0 | 3.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 22.2 | |||||||
| Delonte West | 60 | 8.8 | 2.8 | 3.3 | 0.9 | 0.5 | 32.5 | 11 | 6.7 | 1.9 | 2.6 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 15.8 |
| Anderson Varejão | 76 | 8.6 | 7.6 | 1.1 | 0.9 | 0.9 | 20.1 | 11 | 5.7 | 6.5 | 0.6 | 1.0 | 0.8 | 0.0 |
| J.J. Hickson | 81 | 8.5 | 4.9 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 11 | 3.5 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Zydrunas Ilgauskas | 64 | 7.4 | 5.4 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 0.8 | 47.8 | 7 | 1.7 | 1.6 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 |
| Anthony Parker | 81 | 7.3 | 2.9 | 1.9 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 41.4 | 11 | 8.3 | 2.4 | 1.3 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 45.5 |
| Daniel Gibson | 56 | 6.3 | 1.3 | 1.3 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 47.7 | 5 | 1.4 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 25.0 |
| Jamario Moon | 61 | 4.9 | 3.1 | 0.8 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 32.0 | 11 | 3.5 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 50.0 |
| Jawad Williams | 54 | 4.1 | 1.5 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 32.3 | 3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Leon Powe | 20 | 4.0 | 3.0 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 3 | 1.7 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Danny Green | 20 | 2.0 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 27.3 | |||||||
| Darnell Jackson | 27 | 0.8 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 33.3 | |||||||
| Cedric Jackson | 5 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Coby Karl | 3 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |||||||
Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2010 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs First Round vs. Chicago Bulls
In the first round of the 2010 NBA Playoffs, the Cleveland Cavaliers, led by LeBron James, faced the Chicago Bulls. The Cavaliers, as the top seed, showcased their dominance with a 4-1 series victory, emphasizing their championship aspirations. LeBron's stellar performance and the supporting cast's contributions highlighted Cleveland's depth and determination.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 17, 2010 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 96-83 | |
| Apr 19, 2010 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 112-102 | |
| Apr 22, 2010 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 108-106 | |
| Apr 25, 2010 | @ Chicago Bulls | W 121-98 | |
| Apr 27, 2010 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 96-94 |
Playoffs Second Round vs. Boston Celtics
In the 2010 NBA Playoffs, the Cleveland Cavaliers, led by LeBron James, faced the Boston Celtics in the second round. Despite being favorites, the Cavaliers were upset in a six-game series, with Boston's veteran trio of Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Ray Allen, along with a surging Rajon Rondo, outplaying Cleveland. This series marked the end of an era for the Cavaliers as it would be LeBron's final postseason with the team before his departure to Miami.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 01, 2010 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 101-93 | |
| May 03, 2010 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 104-86 | |
| May 07, 2010 | @ Boston Celtics | W 124-95 | |
| May 09, 2010 | @ Boston Celtics | L 97-87 | |
| May 11, 2010 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 120-88 | |
| May 13, 2010 | @ Boston Celtics | L 94-85 |
Cleveland Cavaliers 2009-10 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 2009-10 season for the Cleveland Cavaliers.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 27, 2009 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 95-89 | |
| Oct 28, 2009 | @ Toronto Raptors | L 101-91 | |
| Oct 30, 2009 | @ Minnesota Timberwolves | W 104-87 | |
| Oct 31, 2009 | vs. Charlotte Bobcats | W 90-79 | |
| Nov 03, 2009 | vs. Washington Wizards | W 102-90 | |
| Nov 05, 2009 | vs. Chicago Bulls | L 86-85 | |
| Nov 06, 2009 | @ New York Knicks | W 100-91 | |
| Nov 11, 2009 | @ Orlando Magic | W 102-93 | |
| Nov 12, 2009 | @ Miami Heat | W 111-104 | |
| Nov 14, 2009 | vs. Utah Jazz | W 107-103 | |
| Nov 17, 2009 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 114-108 | |
| Nov 18, 2009 | @ Washington Wizards | L 108-91 | |
| Nov 20, 2009 | @ Indiana Pacers | W 105-95 | |
| Nov 21, 2009 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 97-91 | |
| Nov 25, 2009 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 98-88 | |
| Nov 27, 2009 | @ Charlotte Bobcats | L 94-87 | |
| Nov 28, 2009 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | W 111-95 | |
| Dec 02, 2009 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 107-90 | |
| Dec 04, 2009 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 101-87 | |
| Dec 06, 2009 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | W 101-86 | |
| Dec 08, 2009 | @ Memphis Grizzlies | L 111-109 | |
| Dec 09, 2009 | @ Houston Rockets | L 95-85 | |
| Dec 11, 2009 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 104-99 | |
| Dec 13, 2009 | @ Oklahoma City Thunder | W 102-89 | |
| Dec 15, 2009 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 99-89 | |
| Dec 16, 2009 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | W 108-101 | |
| Dec 18, 2009 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 85-82 | |
| Dec 20, 2009 | @ Dallas Mavericks | L 102-95 | |
| Dec 21, 2009 | @ Phoenix Suns | W 109-91 | |
| Dec 23, 2009 | @ Sacramento Kings | W 117-104 | |
| Dec 25, 2009 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | W 102-87 | |
| Dec 27, 2009 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 108-83 | |
| Dec 29, 2009 | @ Atlanta Hawks | W 95-84 | |
| Dec 30, 2009 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 106-101 | |
| Jan 02, 2010 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 94-86 | |
| Jan 03, 2010 | vs. Charlotte Bobcats | L 91-88 | |
| Jan 06, 2010 | vs. Washington Wizards | W 121-98 | |
| Jan 08, 2010 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 99-97 | |
| Jan 10, 2010 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | W 106-94 | |
| Jan 11, 2010 | @ Golden State Warriors | W 117-114 | |
| Jan 14, 2010 | @ Utah Jazz | L 97-96 | |
| Jan 16, 2010 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | W 102-101 | |
| Jan 19, 2010 | vs. Toronto Raptors | W 108-100 | |
| Jan 21, 2010 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 93-87 | |
| Jan 23, 2010 | vs. Oklahoma City Thunder | W 100-99 | |
| Jan 25, 2010 | @ Miami Heat | W 92-91 | |
| Jan 27, 2010 | vs. Minnesota Timberwolves | W 109-95 | |
| Jan 29, 2010 | @ Indiana Pacers | W 94-73 | |
| Jan 31, 2010 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | W 114-89 | |
| Feb 02, 2010 | vs. Memphis Grizzlies | W 105-89 | |
| Feb 04, 2010 | vs. Miami Heat | W 102-86 | |
| Feb 06, 2010 | vs. New York Knicks | W 113-106 | |
| Feb 09, 2010 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 104-97 | |
| Feb 11, 2010 | vs. Orlando Magic | W 115-106 | |
| Feb 18, 2010 | vs. Denver Nuggets | L 118-116 | |
| Feb 19, 2010 | @ Charlotte Bobcats | L 110-93 | |
| Feb 21, 2010 | @ Orlando Magic | L 101-95 | |
| Feb 23, 2010 | vs. New Orleans Hornets | W 105-95 | |
| Feb 25, 2010 | @ Boston Celtics | W 108-88 | |
| Feb 26, 2010 | @ Toronto Raptors | W 126-118 | |
| Mar 01, 2010 | vs. New York Knicks | W 124-93 | |
| Mar 03, 2010 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 111-92 | |
| Mar 05, 2010 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 99-92 | |
| Mar 06, 2010 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 92-85 | |
| Mar 08, 2010 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 97-95 | |
| Mar 12, 2010 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | W 100-95 | |
| Mar 14, 2010 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 104-93 | |
| Mar 16, 2010 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 113-101 | |
| Mar 17, 2010 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 99-94 | |
| Mar 19, 2010 | @ Chicago Bulls | W 92-85 | |
| Mar 21, 2010 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 104-79 | |
| Mar 24, 2010 | @ New Orleans Hornets | W 105-92 | |
| Mar 26, 2010 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 102-97 | |
| Mar 28, 2010 | vs. Sacramento Kings | W 97-90 | |
| Mar 31, 2010 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 101-98 | |
| Apr 02, 2010 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 93-88 | |
| Apr 04, 2010 | @ Boston Celtics | L 117-113 | |
| Apr 06, 2010 | vs. Toronto Raptors | W 113-101 | |
| Apr 08, 2010 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 109-108 | |
| Apr 09, 2010 | vs. Indiana Pacers | L 116-113 | |
| Apr 11, 2010 | vs. Orlando Magic | L 98-92 | |
| Apr 14, 2010 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 99-83 |