More Cleveland Cavaliers Information

The Cleveland Cavaliers are a team geared towards the future, not the past. The biggest event in Cavalier history was by far the drafting of LeBron James in 2003. James, perhaps the most highly touted high school basketball star ever, was the prized jewel of his draft class. James became an instant basketball icon, and ticket sales soared from the moment he was signed. Everyone wants a chance to see this kid play. The organization hopes that his leadership, his celebrity, and most importantly his game can raise the Cavaliers to new heights.

The 2003 season was a huge transition for the Cleveland, Ohio basketball franchise. The team, which has called Quicken Loans Arena (formerly Gund Arena) home since 1994, brought in head coach Paul Silas to head up an energetic group of youngsters. LeBron James came to the league with impressive credentials. It was widely wondered whether or not he could possibly live up to the hype of daily press clipping, the weight of a franchise on his shoulders, and a $90 million shoe deal. James proved early on that he had the game to back up the hype. James' supporting cast changed dramatically in 2003. While seven footer Zydrunas Ilgauskas provided an inside presence, double-double man Carlos Boozer was the team's most effective inside threat. Early in the season, scorer Ricky Davis was James's best supporting teammate, but a trade with the Boston Celtics replaced Ricky Davis, Chris Mihm, and Michael Stewart with Tony Battie, Kedrick Brown, and Eric Williams. For years the Cavaliers have struggled in the Eastern Conference. The team is hopeful that LeBron can transform the youthful, inexperienced team into a legitimate contender in the near future.