Cleveland Cavaliers GOAT Rankings

The debate rages on.

Many consider either LeBron James or Michael Jordan the greatest player in NBA history—the GOAT, as the title is widely abbreviated in sports circles. Some want to put Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in the conversation, while others seem determined to include Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain.

None of these answers are inherently correct or incorrect. Realizing that is vital.

We’re not going to fall into the trap made by other GOAT rankings and insist our order is the only acceptable one, since everyone values different legacy components uniquely. That’s what makes this conversation so difficult in and of itself: How much are you swayed by championships, longevity, era translations and every other possible piece of the argument?

Our rankings here are intended to tell you who produced the most on both ends of the floor relative to his peers. The longer the high-level production was sustained, the better. But team-based results like deep playoff runs and championships don’t have any bearing in this particular article, which focuses entirely on the Cleveland Cavaliers franchise.

Sections

  • Methodology
  • Flaws
  • GOAT Progression
  • Per-Season GOAT Standings
  • Top-Ranked Seasons
  • Top Rookie Seasons

Methodology

Our rankings are centered around the accumulation of GOAT points, which are calculated using the following steps:

  1. Isolate all TPA scores earned during any given season from 1951-52 through 2017-18, combining both regular-season and postseason numbers.
  2. Calculate the average and standard deviation of the data for the relevant season.
  3. Convert TPA scores to Z-Scores (standard deviations above or below the average). The Z-Scores then function as GOAT points.
  4. Sum GOAT points from all seasons to find career scores, though only players with at least 1.0 GOAT points will be depicted pictorially.

Flaws

This is by no means a perfect examination of basketball history, so treat it as a baseline if you desire.

Notable Flaw No. 1: TPA isn’t a Perfect Stat

Since TPA is derived from box plus/minus, we’re looking only at box-score stats and failing to give players proper credit for solid defensive switching, beneficial picks at the top of the key and so much more. Scores before 1973-74 are estimated through a correlation with win shares, which allows for some variance as well. A few players (see: Westbrook, Russell) even see their scores boosted by extreme interaction effects between assist percentage and usage rate, as BPM was never intended to handle such high numbers.

Notable Flaw No. 2: No Anecdotes

Memorable shots don’t matter here. Nor do performances that came in crunch-time scenarios. The stories told by these players can’t necessarily be quantified, even though they largely color our perception of these contributors.

Not a Flaw: Higher Scores for Modern Players

Because the league has more players these days (deeper rosters and more franchises), the standard deviation naturally shrinks. That makes it easier for modern standouts to earn higher Z-Scores, and thus higher numbers of GOAT points during a single go-round. This isn’t a flaw, so much as a purposeful part of the design.

Deviating from the pack in a positive fashion is harder in the modern Association, as back-end players who sit on the pine for large portions of contests have improved drastically. The supply/demand curve is the only justification necessary; the NBA has a finite number of roster spots and far more qualified players looking to earn them, which forces the level of those end-of-bench contributors to undergo an upward progression.

The league as a whole improves every year.

The GOAT Progression

  • Season Positives: None
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: None

  • Season Positives: Butch Beard (0.17), Jackie Ridgle (0.162)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: Butch Beard, Jackie Ridgle
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: None

  • Season Positives: Lenny Wilkens (1.242), Barry Clemens (0.499), John Warren (0.2)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: Lenny Wilkens, Barry Clemens
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: None

  • Season Positives: Lenny Wilkens (1.198)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: None

  • Season Positives: Jim Cleamons (0.673), Jim Chones (0.339), Austin Carr (0.339), Bingo Smith (0.321), Jim Brewer (0.238), Foots Walker (0.179), Dick Snyder (0.173)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: Jim Chones, Foots Walker, Dick Snyder, Jim Cleamons
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: None

  • Season Positives: Jim Brewer (1.381), Jim Cleamons (1.343), Campy Russell (0.389), Foots Walker (0.38), Dick Snyder (0.103)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: Jim  Brewer
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: None

  • Season Positives: Jim Brewer (0.586), Campy Russell (0.379), Foots Walker (0.328), Jim Cleamons (0.225), Nate Thurmond (0.151)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: Campy Russell, Nate Thurmond
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: Jim Chones

  • Season Positives: Campy Russell (1.309), Foots Walker (1.242), Walt Frazier (0.789), Elmore Smith (0.208), Jim Brewer (0.148)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: Walt Frazier, Elmore Smith
    • Entered the Top 20: Walt Frazier, Elmore Smith
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: Dick Snyder
    • Dropped out of the Top 20: Dick Snyder

  • Season Positives: Campy Russell (1.133), Foots Walker (0.617)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: Barry Clemens
    • Entered the Top 20: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: Elmore Smith
    • Dropped out of the Top 20: Elmore Smith

  • Season Positives: Dave Robisch (1.347), Foots Walker (0.972), Campy Russell (0.307), Mike Mitchell (0.152)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: Dave Robisch
    • Entered the Top 20: Dave Robisch
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: Barry Clemens
    • Dropped out of the Top 20: None

  • Season Positives: Bill Laimbeer (0.979), Kenny Carr (0.407)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: Bill Laimbeer, Kenny Carr
    • Entered the Top 20: Bill Laimbeer, Kenny Carr
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: Jackie Ridgle, Nate Thurmond
    • Dropped out of the Top 20: None

  • Season Positives: Scott Wedman (0.114), Lowes Moore (0.009)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: None
    • Entered the Top 20: Scott Wedman, Lowes Moore
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 20: None

  • Season Positives: None
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: None
    • Entered the Top 20: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 20: None

  • Season Positives: Jeff Cook (0.375), Paul Thompson (0.19), Phil Hubbard (0.161), World B. Free (0.123)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: Jeff Cook
    • Entered the Top 20: Jeff Cook, Paul Thompson, World B. Free, Phil Hubbard
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: Butch Beard
    • Dropped out of the Top 20: None

  • Season Positives: World B. Free (1.115), Phil Hubbard (0.525), John Bagley (0.222), Roy Hinson (0.027), Ben Poquette (0.013)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: World B. Free, Phil Hubbard
    • Entered the Top 20: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: Kenny Carr, Jeff Cook
    • Dropped out of the Top 20: None

  • Season Positives: World B. Free (0.743), Roy Hinson (0.377), Melvin Turpin (0.208)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: Kenny Carr
    • Entered the Top 20: Roy Hinson
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: Phil Hubbard
    • Dropped out of the Top 20: None

  • Season Positives: Ron Harper (1.061), Hot Rod Williams (0.737), Brad Daugherty (0.581)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: Ron Harper, Hot Rod Williams
    • Entered the Top 20: Ron Harper, Hot Rod Williams, Brad Daugherty
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: Walt Frazier, Kenny Carr
    • Dropped out of the Top 20: Barry Clemens, Scott Wedman, Lowes Moore

  • Season Positives: Ron Harper (0.646), Brad Daugherty (0.646), Mark Price (0.526), Hot Rod Williams (0.344), Craig Ehlo (0.245)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: Brad Daugherty
    • Entered the Top 20: Craig Ehlo
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: Bill Laimbeer
    • Dropped out of the Top 20: Phil Hubbard

  • Season Positives: Ron Harper (2.418), Larry Nance (1.643), Mark Price (1.552), Brad Daugherty (1.189), Hot Rod Williams (0.822), Craig Ehlo (0.69)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: Larry Nance
    • Entered the Top 20: Larry Nance, Mark Price
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: Dave Robisch
    • Dropped out of the Top 20: Jackie Ridgle, Nate Thurmond

  • Season Positives: Mark Price (1.685), Craig Ehlo (1.196), Hot Rod Williams (0.967), Larry Nance (0.914)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: Mark Price, Craig Ehlo
    • Entered the Top 20: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: Jim Cleamons, Jim Brewer
    • Dropped out of the Top 20: None

  • Season Positives: Larry Nance (1.873), Brad Daugherty (1.054), Craig Ehlo (0.346), Mark Price (0.197), Hot Rod Williams (0.15)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: None
    • Entered the Top 20: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 20: None

  • Season Positives: Larry Nance (2.827), Brad Daugherty (2.271), Hot Rod Williams (1.792), Mark Price (1.35), Craig Ehlo (0.536)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: None
    • Entered the Top 20: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 20: None

  • Season Positives: Brad Daugherty (2.512), Larry Nance (2.171), Mark Price (1.359), Craig Ehlo (1.092), Hot Rod Williams (0.167), Jerome Lane (0.094)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: None
    • Entered the Top 20: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 20: None

  • Season Positives: Mark Price (1.94), Hot Rod Williams (1.193), Gerald Wilkins (0.838), Brad Daugherty (0.717), Larry Nance (0.244), Tyrone Hill (0.243), Rod Higgins (0.038)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: None
    • Entered the Top 20: Tyrone Hill
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 20: Butch Beard

  • Season Positives: Terrell Brandon (0.854), Hot Rod Williams (0.827), Mark Price (0.641), Michael Cage (0.378), Danny Ferry (0.114), Elmer Bennett (0.02)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: None
    • Entered the Top 20: Michael Cage
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 20: Tyrone Hill

  • Season Positives: Terrell Brandon (2.558), Bobby Phills (0.752), Michael Cage (0.649), Dan Majerle (0.501), Chris Mills (0.342)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: Terrell Brandon
    • Entered the Top 20: Terrell Brandon, Dan Majerle
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: World B. Free
    • Dropped out of the Top 20: Roy Hinson, Paul Thompson

  • Season Positives: Terrell Brandon (2.22), Chris Mills (0.946), Tyrone Hill (0.723), Bobby Phills (0.461), Bob Sura (0.439)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: None
    • Entered the Top 20: Chris Mills, Bobby Phills
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 20: Kenny Carr, Jeff Cook

  • Season Positives: Wesley Person (2.893), Brevin Knight (1.135), Zydrunas Ilgauskas (0.942), Shawn Kemp (0.875), Derek Anderson (0.388)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: Wesley Person
    • Entered the Top 20: Wesley Person, Brevin Knight, Zydrunas Ilgauskas
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: Lenny Wilkens
    • Dropped out of the Top 20: Bobby Phills, Walt Frazier, Dan Majerle

  • Season Positives: Shawn Kemp (2.102), Wesley Person (0.426), Derek Anderson (0.213), Brevin Knight (0.009)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: Shawn Kemp
    • Entered the Top 20: Shawn Kemp
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: Campy Russell
    • Dropped out of the Top 20: Zydrunas Ilgauskas

  • Season Positives: Bob Sura (0.935), Andre Miller (0.451)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: Campy Russell
    • Entered the Top 20: Zydrunas Ilgauskas
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: Shawn Kemp
    • Dropped out of the Top 20: Brevin Knight

  • Season Positives: Andre Miller (1.623), Clarence Weatherspoon (1.047), Robert Traylor (0.144)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: None
    • Entered the Top 20: Andre Miller, Clarence Weatherspoon
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 20: Bill Laimbeer, Zydrunas Ilgauskas

  • Season Positives: Andre Miller (2.039), Wesley Person (1.041)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: Andre Miller
    • Entered the Top 20: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: Campy Russell
    • Dropped out of the Top 20: None

  • Season Positives: Carlos Boozer (0.053)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: None
    • Entered the Top 20: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 20: None

  • Season Positives: LeBron James (1.259), Carlos Boozer (1.2), Zydrunas Ilgauskas (0.862)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: None
    • Entered the Top 20: LeBron James, Carlos Boozer
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 20: Clarence Weatherspoon, Michael Cage

  • Season Positives: LeBron James (5.621), Zydrunas Ilgauskas (0.493), Drew Gooden (0.425), Anderson Varejao (0.162)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: LeBron James
    • Entered the Top 20: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: Wesley Person
    • Dropped out of the Top 20: None

  • Season Positives: LeBron James (5.743), Zydrunas Ilgauskas (0.734)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: None
    • Entered the Top 20: Zydrunas Ilgauskas
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 20: Chris Mills

  • Season Positives: LeBron James (4.701), Zydrunas Ilgauskas (0.831), Anderson Varejao (0.635), Donyell Marshall (0.033)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: None
    • Entered the Top 20: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 20: None

  • Season Positives: LeBron James (6.391)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: None
    • Entered the Top 20: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 20: None

  • Season Positives: LeBron James (7.326), Mo Williams (1.185), Delonte West (0.895), Ben Wallace (0.708), Anderson Varejao (0.661)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: None
    • Entered the Top 20: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 20: None

  • Season Positives: LeBron James (7.575), Anderson Varejao (1.307), Mo Williams (0.749), Anthony Parker (0.351), Jamario Moon (0.083)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: None
    • Entered the Top 20: Anderson Varejao, Mo Williams
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 20: Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Carlos Boozer

  • Season Positives: Anderson Varejao (0.176)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: None
    • Entered the Top 20: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 20: None

  • Season Positives: Kyrie Irving (1.263), Anderson Varejao (0.396)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: None
    • Entered the Top 20: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 20: None

  • Season Positives: Kyrie Irving (1.391), Anderson Varejao (0.843)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: None
    • Entered the Top 20: Kyrie Irving
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 20: Dave Robisch

  • Season Positives: Kyrie Irving (1.617), Anderson Varejao (0.935), C.J. Miles (0.133)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: Anderson Varejao, Kyrie Irving
    • Entered the Top 20: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: Craig Ehlo, Foots Walker
    • Dropped out of the Top 20: None

  • Season Positives: LeBron James (3.802), Kyrie Irving (1.844), Kevin Love (0.972), Anderson Varejao (0.106)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: None
    • Entered the Top 20: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 20: None

  • Season Positives: LeBron James (4.712), Kevin Love (1.172), Tristan Thompson (0.621), J.R. Smith (0.603), Kyrie Irving (0.481)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: None
    • Entered the Top 20: Kevin Love
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 20: Mo Williams

  • Season Positives: LeBron James (4.264), Kyrie Irving (1.135), Tristan Thompson (0.581), Kevin Love (0.225)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: None
    • Entered the Top 20: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 20: None

  • Season Positives: LeBron James (6.347), Kevin Love (0.416), Kyle Korver (0.051)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: None
    • Entered the Top 20: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 20: None

Per-Season GOAT Standings

Perhaps you wish to take longevity out of the equation.

In that case, allow us to reveal the top 30 per-season scores, found simply by dividing total GOAT points by the number of NBA seasons recorded. Do note that injury-shortened campaigns (for example, Michael Jordan’s 1985-86 efforts, in which he played only 18 games while not sidelined with a broken foot) still count the same as full go-rounds. This methodology can also benefit players still in their primes, as they haven’t yet posted twilight seasons that drag down their averages.

Top-Ranked Seasons

Top Rookie Seasons