1981–82 Cleveland Cavaliers season

The 1981–82 Cleveland Cavaliers season was the 12th season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA). The Cavaliers finished 15–67 (.183) tying the lowest winning percentage in franchise history along with the 1970–71 team.

1981–82 Cleveland Cavaliers season
Head coach	Don Delaney (fired) (4–11) Bob Kloppenburg (interim) (0–3) Chuck Daly (fired) (9–32) Bill Musselman (interim) (2–21)
General manager	Don Delaney
Owner(s)	Ted Stepien
Arena	Coliseum at Richfield
Results
Record	15–67 (.183)
Place	Division: 6th (Central) Conference: 11th (Eastern)
Playoff finish	Did not qualify
Stats at Basketball Reference
Local media
Television	WUAB
Radio	WBBG[1]
< 1980–81 1982–83 >

Offseason

Draft picks

Main article: 1981 NBA draft

Round	Pick	Player	Nationality	School/Club Team
3	55	Mickey Dillard	United States	Florida State

Roster

1981–82 Cleveland Cavaliers roster

Players

Coaches

Pos. No. Player Height Weight DOB From PF 52 Brad Branson 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1958–09–24 SMU G 10 Ron Brewer 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1955–07–16 Arkansas C 40 James Edwards 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1955–11–22 Washington G 5 Mike Evans 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 170 lb (77 kg) 1955–04–19 Kansas State SF 35 Phil Hubbard 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1956–12–13 Michigan G 20 Geoff Huston 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1957–11–08 Texas Tech C 44 Paul Mokeski 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 250 lb (113 kg) 1957–01–03 Kansas G 14 Lowes Moore 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 170 lb (77 kg) 1957–05–05 West Virginia F/C 24 Kevin Restani 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1951–12–23 San Francisco F 11 Cliff Robinson 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1960–03–13 USC G 13 James Silas 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1949–02–11 Stephen F. Austin F 31 Richard Washington  6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1955–07–15 UCLA G 8 Scott Wedman 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1952–07–29 Colorado G 33 Bob Wilkerson 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1954–08–15 Indiana

Head coach Bill Musselman Assistant(s) Gerald Oliver Legend (DP) Unsigned draft pick (FA) Free agent (S) Suspended Injured

Regular season

Season standings

Central Division v t e	W	L	PCT	GB	Home	Road	Div
y-Milwaukee Bucks	55	27	.671	–	31–10	24–17	24–6
x-Atlanta Hawks	42	40	.512	13.0	24–17	18–23	15–14
Detroit Pistons	39	43	.476	16.0	23–18	16–25	19–11
Indiana Pacers	35	47	.427	20.0	25–16	10–31	14–16
Chicago Bulls	34	48	.415	21.0	22–19	12–29	12–17
Cleveland Cavaliers	15	67	.183	40.0	9–32	6–35	5–25

#	Eastern Conference v t e
	Team	W	L	PCT	GB
1	z-Boston Celtics	63	19	.768	–
2	y-Milwaukee Bucks	55	27	.671	8
3	x-Philadelphia 76ers	58	24	.707	5
4	x-New Jersey Nets	44	38	.537	19
5	x-Washington Bullets	43	39	.524	20
6	x-Atlanta Hawks	42	40	.512	21
7	Detroit Pistons	39	43	.476	24
8	Indiana Pacers	35	47	.427	28
9	Chicago Bulls	34	48	.415	29
10	New York Knicks	33	49	.402	30
11	Cleveland Cavaliers	15	67	.183	48

Record vs. opponents

1981-82 NBA Records
Team	ATL	BOS	CHI	CLE	DAL	DEN	DET	GSW	HOU	IND	KCK	LAL	MIL	NYN	NYK	PHI	PHO	POR	SAS	SDC	SEA	UTA	WAS
Atlanta	—	1–5	2–3	4–2	1–1	1–1	2–4	0–2	2–0	4–2	1–1	0–2	3–3	3–2	5–1	3–3	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–1	2–0	2–4
Boston	5–1	—	4–2	5–0	2–0	1–1	6–0	1–1	1–1	4–1	2–0	1–1	3–3	5–1	5–1	4–2	1–1	1–1	2–0	2–0	0–2	2–0	6–0
Chicago	3–2	2–4	—	5–1	1–1	1–1	0–6	0–2	1–1	3–3	1–1	2–0	1–5	2–4	3–2	1–5	0–2	1–1	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	2–4
Cleveland	2–4	0–5	1–5	—	2–0	0–2	1–5	1–1	1–1	1–5	1–1	0–2	0–6	0–6	0–6	0–5	0–2	1–1	0–2	1–1	0–2	2–0	1–5
Dallas	1–1	0–2	1–1	0–2	—	1–5	1–1	0–5	2–4	1–1	4–2	1–4	1–1	2–0	1–1	0–2	2–3	2–3	1–5	2–3	1–4	3–3	1–1
Denver	1–1	1–1	1–1	2–0	5–1	—	1–1	3–2	5–1	0–2	4–2	1–4	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	2–3	2–3	2–4	5–0	2–3	3–3	2–0
Detroit	4–2	0–6	6–0	5–1	1–1	1–1	—	2–0	2–0	2–4	2–0	0–2	2–4	2–4	3–3	2–3	0–2	0–2	0–2	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–4
Golden State	2–0	1–1	2–0	1–1	5–0	2–3	0–2	—	1–4	2–0	3–2	3–3	2–0	1–1	1–1	0–2	4–2	2–4	3–2	5–1	1–5	3–2	1–1
Houston	0–2	1–1	1–1	1–1	4–2	1–5	0–2	4–1	—	2–0	3–3	1–4	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	3–2	4–1	3–3	4–1	2–3	6–0	2–0
Indiana	2–4	1–5	3–3	5–1	1–1	2–0	4–2	0–2	0–2	—	1–1	0–2	0–6	4–2	3–2	0–6	1–1	1–1	2–0	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–5
Kansas City	1–1	0–2	1–1	1–1	2–4	2–4	0–2	2–3	3–3	1–1	—	1–4	1–1	1–1	2–0	0–2	2–3	0–5	1–5	4–1	2–3	3–3	0–2
Los Angeles	2–0	1–1	0–2	2–0	4–1	4–1	2–0	3–3	4–1	2–0	4–1	—	0–2	1–1	0–2	1–1	4–2	5–1	2–3	5–1	4–2	5–0	2–0
Milwaukee	3–3	3–3	5–1	6–0	1–1	1–1	4–2	0–2	1–1	6–0	1–1	2–0	—	4–1	3–3	4–2	1–1	2–0	1–1	2–0	0–2	2–0	3–2
New Jersey	2–3	1–5	4–2	6–0	0–2	1–1	4–2	1–1	1–1	2–4	1–1	1–1	1–4	—	4–2	3–3	2–0	1–1	1–1	2–0	0–2	2–0	4–2
New York	1–5	1–5	2–3	6–0	1–1	1–1	3–3	1–1	1–1	2–3	0–2	2–0	3–3	2–4	—	1–5	0–2	1–1	0–2	2–0	0–2	2–0	1–5
Philadelphia	3–3	2–4	5–1	5–0	2–0	1–1	3–2	2–0	1–1	6–0	2–0	1–1	2–4	3–3	5–1	—	1–1	2–0	0–2	2–0	2–0	2–0	6–0
Phoenix	1–1	1–1	2–0	2–0	3–2	3–2	2–0	2–4	2–3	1–1	3–2	2–4	1–1	0–2	2–0	1–1	—	3–3	4–1	4–2	3–3	3–2	1–1
Portland	0–2	1–1	1–1	1–1	3–2	3–2	2–0	4–2	1–4	1–1	5–0	1–5	0–2	1–1	1–1	0–2	3–3	—	3–2	4–2	3–3	4–1	0–2
San Antonio	1–1	0–2	1–1	2–0	5–1	4–2	2–0	2–3	3–3	0–2	5–1	3–2	1–1	1–1	2–0	2–0	1–4	2–3	—	3–2	4–1	3–3	1–1
San Diego	1–1	0–2	0–2	1–1	3–2	0–5	0–2	1–5	1–4	0–2	1–4	1–5	0–2	0–2	0–2	0–2	2–4	2–4	2–3	—	1–5	1–4	0–2
Seattle	1–1	2–0	1–1	2–0	4–1	3–2	1–1	5–1	3–2	1–1	3–2	2–4	2–0	2–0	2–0	0–2	3–3	3–3	1–4	5–1	—	5–0	1–1
Utah	0–2	0–2	1–1	0–2	3–3	3–3	1–1	2–3	0–6	1–1	3–3	0–5	0–2	0–2	0–2	0–2	2–3	1–4	3–3	4–1	0–5	—	1–1
Washington	4–2	0–6	4–2	5–1	1–1	0–2	4–1	1–1	0–2	5–1	2–0	0–2	2–3	2–4	5–1	0–6	1–1	2–0	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	—

Game log

1981–82 game log Total: 15–67 (Home: 9–32; Road: 6–35)
October: 0–1 (home: 0–0; road: 0–1) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record
November: 4–10 (home: 2–4; road: 2–6) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 12 November 24, 1981 @ Atlanta L 92–94 (OT) The Omni 4,697 4–8
December: 2–12 (home: 2–6; road: 0–6) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 19 December 9, 1981 Atlanta W 112–108 (OT) Coliseum at Richfield 3,144 5–14
January: 2–11 (home: 1–6; road: 1–5) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 31 January 5, 1982 @ Atlanta L 103–113 The Omni 5,112 6–25 40 January 23, 1982 Atlanta L 99–109 Coliseum at Richfield 4,551 7–33
February: 3–9 (home: 2–5; road: 1–4) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 45 February 6, 1982 @ Atlanta W 88–87 The Omni 10,094 11–34
March: 3–13 (home: 2–6; road: 1–7) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record
April: 0–11 (home: 0–5; road: 0–6) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 79 April 13, 1982 Atlanta L 111–119 Coliseum at Richfield 4,245 15–64
1981–82 schedule

Player stats

Legend

GP	Games played	GS	Games started	MPG	Minutes per game
FG%	Field-goal percentage	3P%	3-point field-goal percentage	FT%	Free-throw percentage
RPG	Rebounds per game	APG	Assists per game	SPG	Steals per game
BPG	Blocks per game	PPG	Points per game

Player	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3FG%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
Mike Mitchell	27	26	36.0	45.4	0.0	72.0	5.2	1.4	1.0	0.6	19.6
Ron Brewer	47	41	36.7	46.5	23.8	77.9	2.4	2.6	1.3	0.5	19.4
James Edwards	77	75	33.0	51.1	0.0	68.4	7.5	1.6	0.3	1.5	16.7
Cliff Robinson	30	29	31.5	45.1	0.0	72.9	9.6	1.6	1.4	1.4	16.3
Kenny Carr	46	42	32.2	51.7	11.1	65.9	8.6	1.4	1.3	0.3	15.0
Lowes Moore	4	0	17.5	50.0	20.0	75.0	1.0	3.8	1.5	0.3	11.3
James Silas	67	34	21.6	43.8	0.0	86.0	1.6	3.3	0.6	0.1	11.2
Bob Wilkerson	65	38	27.8	41.8	16.7	78.4	3.8	3.6	1.4	0.4	11.0
Scott Wedman	54	39	30.3	44.1	21.7	73.3	5.6	2.5	1.4	0.3	10.9
Phil Hubbard	31	2	23.7	46.7	0.0	72.6	6.5	0.8	0.9	0.1	10.4
Geoff Huston	78	43	30.9	48.4	30.0	76.5	1.9	7.6	0.9	0.1	10.3
Reggie Johnson	23	22	26.8	53.7	0.0	79.5	5.4	1.0	0.3	0.7	9.7
Roger Phegley	27	8	21.0	48.6	30.8	80.0	2.6	2.0	0.6	0.1	9.2
Bill Laimbeer	50	4	17.9	47.0	50.0	77.5	5.5	0.9	0.4	0.6	6.7
Richard Washington	18	2	17.4	43.5	0.0	60.0	4.2	0.8	0.4	0.1	6.1
Brad Branson	10	3	17.6	40.4	0.0	91.7	3.3	0.6	0.5	0.4	5.3
Mike Evans	8	0	9.3	31.4	0.0	62.5	1.3	2.5	0.5	0.0	3.4
Paul Mokeski	28	1	12.3	42.7	0.0	76.7	3.1	0.4	0.7	0.6	3.3
Keith Herron	30	0	9.0	36.8	0.0	87.5	0.7	0.8	0.3	0.1	2.8
Mickey Dillard	33	0	6.7	36.7	0.0	65.2	0.5	1.0	0.2	0.1	2.2
Mel Bennett	3	0	7.7	50.0	0.0	16.7	1.0	0.0	0.3	0.0	1.7
Kevin Restani	34	0	9.9	38.3	0.0	58.3	2.3	0.4	0.3	0.2	1.6
Don Ford	21	1	9.6	37.5	0.0	83.3	1.7	0.5	0.4	0.0	1.1

Player Statistics Citation:^[2]

Awards and records

Awards

Records

Milestones

All-Star

Transactions

Trades

Free agents

Development League