Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers aren’t the most successful franchise in NBA history when it comes to hanging championship banners, to put it mildly. The Boston Celtics have 18 titles in franchise history and the Los Angeles Lakers have 17, but the Cavaliers have won just one title in franchise history.
Cleveland won the 2016 NBA title, and it couldn’t have accomplished such a feat without the play of local hero LeBron James. James appeared in 21 games for the Cavaliers during the 2016 NBA Playoffs and averaged 26.3 points, 9.5 rebounds, 7.6 assists, 2.3 steals and 1.3 blocks per game. He also was crowned Finals MVP after Cleveland beat the Golden State Warriors in Game 7 of the NBA Finals.
Current Cavaliers star Donovan Mitchell hopes to follow in James’ footsteps in the sense that he hopes to win a title for Cleveland.
Mitchell and the Cavaliers beat James’ Los Angeles Lakers by 12 points on Dec. 31 to pick up their 29th win of the season already. The 28-year-old scored 26 points and shot 8-of-20 from the field and 6-of-13 from 3-point range.
So far this season, the Cavaliers have looked like a team that could contend for the Larry O’Brien Trophy in June. Cleveland is currently on track to win 72 games, and the record for the most wins in a single season is 73. That mark was set by the Warriors in the 2015-16 campaign before that squad blew a 3-1 lead in the championship series.
The Cavaliers’ greatness this season has lied in their depth and versatility. Cleveland finds itself in the top 10 in the league in both offensive and defensive rating, and nine players are averaging 20-plus minutes of playing time per game.
A crucial stepping stone for Mitchell and the Cavaliers in their quest for a championship would be advancing past the second round of the NBA Playoffs. Cleveland hasn’t done so since back in 2018, and the Cavaliers played the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals that year.
If the Cavaliers can sustain their level of play for the remainder of the season, they will be in a prime position to advance deep into the 2025 NBA Playoffs.
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