Cleveland Cavaliers
Ohio franchise whose 2016 championship ended a 52-year Cleveland professional sports drought in the most dramatic fashion — coming back from 3-1 down against the 73-win Warriors.
Pantheon Standing
| List Name | Rank | Combined |
|---|---|---|
| Greatest NBA Franchises of All Time | #1 | 96.0 |
The Age Divide
Voters under 30 and over 35 rank Cleveland Cavaliers significantly differently across lists.
The Athletic Record
The Case For Cleveland Cavaliers
“The longevity argument alone puts them in a category of one. While others burned bright and faded, this figure consistently reinvented and dominated across decades, eras, and cultural shifts that would have destroyed lesser talents.”
“Technically unmatched. The craft here is evident in every performance, every work — the kind of effortless execution that only comes from thousands of hours of mastery made invisible. They make the impossible look inevitable.”
“Commercial success should never be held against artistic legacy. The ability to dominate charts while maintaining critical respect is a skill unto itself — one that this figure has mastered better than any peer in the conversation.”
Rank History
Ranking history will be available once voting opens for Cleveland Cavaliers.
Often Compared To
Detroit Pistons
#2NBA / Central Division — Detroit, Michigan · 1941–present
Michigan franchise whose Bad Boys in the late 1980s were the most physically intimidating team in NBA history and whose defensive philosophy ended the Chicago Bulls' first attempt at dominance.
Indiana Pacers
#3NBA / Central Division — Indianapolis, Indiana · 1967–present
Indiana franchise that came closest to defeating the Jordan Bulls in the 1990s and produced Reggie Miller — one of the greatest clutch shooters in NBA history and a Madison Square Garden villain.