Greatest moment in each NBA franchise’s history

Cleveland Cavaliers: Drafting LeBron James

The Cleveland Cavaliers have been to the NBA Finals twice in their history, have won four division titles in their history, and have seen great talents like Brad Daugherty, Nate Thurmond and Austin Carr suit up for the team in their history. However, there’s been no greater moment for the Cavs since they were founded in 1970 than when they won the first-overall pick in the 2003 NBA Draft and selected LeBron James.

Again, this may seem like another moment that’s a bit of a cop out rather than picking one of LeBron’s great moments in Cleveland. However, the moment that this team landed LeBron absolutely changed the team and the fans in Cleveland forever, which is the calling card of a great moment.

After playoff berths and early exits throughout the 90s, the Cavs had fallen on hard times as a franchise. From 1998-2003, Cleveland’s highest win total for a season was a meager 32 and the team won only 17 games in the 2002-03 season that ultimately landed them the top pick.

Then came LeBron and everything changed. James raised their win total to 35 in his first year, to 42 in his second year, and to 50 in just his third NBA season. Then, in just his fourth season with the team, He took them to their first ever NBA Finals appearance, even if the Spurs swept them.

We all know about James’ unharmonious departure in the summer of 2010 and his return to Cleveland in the summer of 2014. However, his departure doesn’t factor into the equation.

What drafting LeBron meant to Cleveland is hard to quantify. Not only did they get a once-in-a-generation talent that immediately put them on the path to success, but they also were getting an Ohio native that could save the franchise. It was the hometown kid taking his city to the Promised Land. That kind of change of fortunes and installation of hope in a team and city should never be understated. And drafting LeBron did just that for the Cavs.

Next: Dallas Mavericks