Cleveland Cavaliers · Franchise era 1 of 7
The Miracle of Richfield: the Cleveland Cavaliers story
Franchise era
1970–71—1981–82
The Miracle of Richfield
Cleveland Cavaliers
The story in one sentence
After a difficult launch, Cleveland won its first division title and playoff series in a dramatic 1976 run.
Expansion pain becomes a beloved contender
Austin Carr, Campy Russell and Nate Thurmond gave the era its recognizable core.
Its ending created the conditions for price, daugherty and nance.
Timeline
How it unfolded
The foundation
The franchise context
Cleveland's arc runs from the Miracle of Richfield through the Price–Daugherty teams to LeBron James's two transformative stays and the first major sports championship in the city's modern era.
1976
Eastern Conference First Round: Cleveland Cavaliers vs Washington Bullets
1976
Eastern Conference Semifinals: Cleveland Cavaliers vs Boston Celtics
1977
Eastern Conference First Round: Cleveland Cavaliers vs Washington Bullets
After 1981–82
What came next
A smart, balanced contender won 57 games but repeatedly found Michael Jordan and Chicago in its postseason path.
The core