1995–96 Cleveland Cavaliers season

The 1995–96 NBA season was the 26th season of the National Basketball Association in Cleveland, Ohio.[1] During the off-season, the Cavaliers acquired All-Star guard, and three-point specialist Dan Majerle from the Phoenix Suns,[2][3][4][5] and acquired 2-time Slam Dunk champion Harold Miner from the Miami Heat.[6][7][8] After the first two games, Tyrone Hill was seriously injured in a car accident and missed 38 games, as the Cavs struggled losing their first seven games of the season.[9][10][11][12] However, Hill returned in the second half of the season playing off the bench, being replaced by Michael Cage as the team's starting center. The Cavaliers played above .500 for the remainder of the season, holding a 26–20 record at the All-Star break,[13] posting a 10–2 record in February, and finishing 3rd in the Central Division with a 47–35 record.[14]

1995–96 Cleveland Cavaliers season
Head coachMike Fratello
ArenaGund Arena
Results
Record47–35 (.573)
PlaceDivision: 3rd (Central)
Conference: 4th (Eastern)
Playoff finishFirst round
(lost to Knicks 0–3)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionSportsChannel Ohio · WUAB
RadioWWWE

Terrell Brandon continued to show improvement, leading the team with 19.3 points, 6.5 assists and 1.8 steals per game, and was selected for the 1996 NBA All-Star Game.[15][16][17][18] In addition, Chris Mills had a stellar season averaging 15.1 points and 5.5 rebounds per game, while Bobby Phills provided the team with 14.6 points and 1.4 steals per game, and was named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team. Danny Ferry became the team's starting power forward, and contributed 13.3 points per game, while Majerle played a sixth man role, averaging 10.6 points per game off the bench, Cage contributed 6.0 points and led the team with 8.9 rebounds per game, and Hill provided with 7.8 points and 5.5 rebounds per game off the bench.[19] Head coach Mike Fratello finished in second place in Coach of the Year voting,[20][21] while Brandon and Ferry both finished tied in third place in Most Improved Player voting.[22][23]

However, in the Eastern Conference First Round of the playoffs, the Cavs were swept by the 5th-seeded New York Knicks in three straight games.[24][25][26][27] Following the season, Majerle signed as a free agent with the Miami Heat after only playing just one season with the Cavaliers,[28][29][30][31] while Cage signed with the Philadelphia 76ers,[32][33] and Miner retired after only just four seasons in the NBA due to injuries, only playing just 19 games with the Cavaliers this season due to a knee injury.[34][35]

After missing the previous two seasons with a back injury, former All-Star center Brad Daugherty also retired, ending his eight-year career in the NBA with the Cavaliers.[36][37][38][39]

Key Dates:

Offseason

Draft picks
Main article: 1995 NBA draft
Round Pick Player Position Nationality School/Club Team
1 17 Bob Sura Guard  United States Florida State
2 39 Donny Marshall Forward  United States UConn

Roster
1995–96 Cleveland Cavaliers roster
Players Coaches
Pos.No.NameHeightWeightDOBFrom
C 13 Amaechi, John 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 270 lb (122 kg) 1970–11–26 Penn State
G 1 Brandon, Terrell (C) 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1970–05–20 Oregon
C 44 Cage, Michael 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 244 lb (111 kg) 1962–01–28 San Diego State
G 11 Crotty, John 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1969–07–15 Virginia
C 43 Daugherty, Brad Injured (C & IN) 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 245 lb (111 kg) 1965–10–19 North Carolina
F 35 Ferry, Danny 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1966–10–17 Duke
F 32 Hill, Tyrone 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1968–03–19 Xavier
G 30 Johnson, Darryl Injured 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 170 lb (77 kg) 1965–10–26 Michigan State
F 21 Lang, Antonio 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 1972–05–15 Duke
G 9 Majerle, Dan 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 222 lb (101 kg) 1965–09–09 Central Michigan
F 33 Marshall, Donny 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1972–07–17 Connecticut
F 24 Mills, Chris 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1970–01–25 Arizona
G 4 Miner, Harold Injured 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1971–05–05 USC
G 14 Phills, Bobby 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1969–12–20 Southern
G 3 Sura, Bob 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1973–03–25 Florida State
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • (IN) Inactive
  • Injured Injured

Roster
Last transaction: March 5, 1996

Roster Notes

Regular season

Season standings
Central DivisionWLPCTGBHomeRoadDivGP
z – Chicago Bulls7210.878–39–233–824–482
x – Indiana Pacers5230.63420.032–920–2119–982
x – Cleveland Cavaliers4735.57325.026–1521–2013–1582
x – Atlanta Hawks4636.56126.026–1520–2115–1382
x – Detroit Pistons4636.56126.030–1116–2515–1382
Charlotte Hornets4141.50031.025–1616–2513–1582
Milwaukee Bucks2557.30547.014–2711–308–2082
Toronto Raptors2161.25651.015–266–355–2382
Eastern Conference
#TeamWLPCTGBGP
1z – Chicago Bulls7210.878–82
2y – Orlando Magic6022.73212.082
3x – Indiana Pacers5230.63420.082
4x – Cleveland Cavaliers4735.57325.082
5x – New York Knicks4735.57325.082
6x – Atlanta Hawks4636.56126.082
7x – Detroit Pistons4636.56126.082
8x – Miami Heat4240.51230.082
9Charlotte Hornets4141.50031.082
10Washington Bullets3943.47633.082
11Boston Celtics3349.40239.082
12New Jersey Nets3052.36642.082
13Milwaukee Bucks2557.30547.082
14Toronto Raptors2161.25651.082
15Philadelphia 76ers1864.22054.082

Record vs. opponents
1995-96 NBA Records
Team ATL BOS CHA CHI CLE DAL DEN DET GSW HOU IND LAC LAL MIA MIL MIN NJN NYK ORL PHI PHO POR SAC SAS SEA TOR UTA VAN WAS
Atlanta –4–03–10–43–11–11–12–21–11–11–32–00–22–22–21–14–02–12–22–10–22–02–00–20–24–01–12–01–3
Boston 0–4–2–20–31–30–21–12–10–21–10–42–00–23–13–12–02–20–41–34–01–10–22–00–20–23–10–21–12–2
Charlotte 1–32–2–1–33–12–02–01–30–20–21–31–12–02–23–11–10–33–00–43–12–01–11–10–20–23–11–12–03–1
Chicago 4–03–03–1–4–02–01–14–02–02–02–22–02–03–14–02–03–03–13–14–01–12–02–02–01–13–12–02–04–0
Cleveland 1–33–11–30–4–2–01–12–22–01–12–22–02–01–34–02–01–23–11–24–02–01–11–10–20–23–10–22–03–1
Dallas 1–12–00–20–20–2–2–20–22–21–30–22–20–40–21–10–41–10–21–10–21–30–42–22–22–21–11–34–00–2
Denver 1–11–10–21–11–12–2–1–12–21–30–21–32–20–21–14–00–21–11–12–03–10–40–40–41–32–03–13–11–1
Detroit 2–21–23–10–42–22–01–1–2–01–12–22–00–21–32–21–14–00–41–34–02–02–01–12–01–14–00–22–01–2
Golden State 1–12–02–00–20–22–22–20–2–2–21–13–11–31–11–13–12–00–20–22–01–31–31–31–30–41–11–34–01–1
Houston 1–11–12–00–21–13–13–11–12–2–2–04–03–10–22–02–22–00–20–22–03–12–22–21–30–42–02–24–01–1
Indiana 3–14–03–12–22–22–02–02–21–10–2–2–01–13–03–11–11–31–32–23–11–11–10–21–12–04–00–22–03–0
L.A. Clippers 0–20–21–10–20–22–23–10–21–30–40–2–0–41–11–13–11–11–10–22–03–12–22–21–30–40–21–33–11–1
L.A. Lakers 2–02–00–20–20–24–02–22–03–11–31–14–0–2–02–03–12–01–11–11–13–12–23–11–32–22–02–24–01–1
Miami 2–21–32–21–33–12–02–03–11–12–00–31–10–2–3–01–15–01–31–33–11–10–21–11–10–22–10–21–12–2
Milwaukee 2–21–31–30–40–41–11–12–21–10–21–31–10–20–3–1–11–32–21–32–10–22–00–21–10–22–20–21–11–3
Minnesota 1–10–21–10–20–24–00–41–11–32–21–11–31–31–11–1–1–10–20–21–11–30–43–11–30–41–11–32–20–2
New Jersey 0–42–23–00–32–11–12–00–40–20–23–11–10–20–53–11–1–2–20–42–20–21–11–10–20–22–20–22–02–2
New York 1–24–00–31–31–32–01–14–02–02–03–11–11–13–12–22–02–2–1–33–10–20–20–21–11–14–01–11–13–1
Orlando 2–23–14–01–32–11–11–13–12–02–02–22–01–13–13–12–04–03–1–4–02–01–11–11–11–12–11–12–04–0
Philadelphia 1–20–41–30–40–42–00–20–40–20–21–30–21–11–31–21–12–21–30–4–0–20–20–20–20–23–11–11–11–3
Phoenix 2–01–10–21–10–23–11–30–23–11–31–11–31–31–12–03–12–02–00–22–0–2–22–21–30–42–01–34–02–0
Portland 0–22–01–10–21–14–04–00–23–12–21–12–22–22–00–24–01–12–01–12–02–2–1–31–31–32–01–32–20–2
Sacramento 0–20–21–10–21–12–24–01–13–12–22–02–21–31–12–01–31–12–01–12–02–23–1–1–30–42–00–42–20–2
San Antonio 2–02–02–00–22–02–24–00–23–13–11–13–13–11–11–13–12–01–11–12–03–13–13–1–2–22–03–14–01–1
Seattle 2–02–02–01–12–02–23–11–14–04–00–24–02–22–02–04–02–01–11–12–04–03–14–02–2–1–13–13–11–1
Toronto 0–41–31–31–31–31–10–20–41–10–20–42–00–21–22–21–12–20–41–21–30–20–20–20–21–1–0–21–13–1
Utah 1–12–01–10–22–03–11–32–03–12–22–03–12–22–02–03–12–01–11–11–13–13–14–01–31–32–0–4–01–1
Vancouver 0–21–10–20–20–20–41–30–20–40–40–21–30–41–11–12–20–21–10–21–10–42–22–20–41–31–10–4–0–2
Washington 3–12–21–30–41–32–01–12–11–11–10–31–11–12–23–12–02–21–30–43–10–22–02–01–11–11–31–12–0—

Game log
1995–96 game log
Total: 47–35 (home: 26–15; road: 21–20)
November: 6–8 (home: 3–4; road: 3–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
December : 9–4 (home: 7–2; road: 2–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
January : 8–8 (home: 3–2; road: 5–6)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
February : 10–2 (home: 7–1; road: 3–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
March : 8–9 (home: 3–4; road: 5–5)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
April : 6–4 (home: 3–2; road: 3–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
1995–96 schedule

Playoffs
1996 playoff game log
First round: 0–3 (home: 0–2; road: 0–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Series
1 April 25 New York L 83–106 Terrell Brandon (18) Michael Cage (8) Brandon, Majerle (5) Gund Arena
16,419		 0–1
2 April 27 New York L 80–84 Terrell Brandon (21) Michael Cage (8) Terrell Brandon (12) Gund Arena
17,232		 0–2
3 May 1 @ New York L 76–81 Terrell Brandon (19) Michael Cage (12) Terrell Brandon (7) Madison Square Garden
19,763		 0–3
1996 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

Regular season
Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Terrell Brandon 75 75 34.3 46.5 38.7 88.7 3.3 6.5 1.8 0.4 19.3
Chris Mills 80 80 38.3 46.8 37.6 82.9 5.5 2.4 0.9 0.7 15.1
Bobby Phills 72 69 35.1 46.7 44.1 77.5 3.6 3.8 1.4 0.4 14.6
Danny Ferry 82 79 32.7 45.9 39.4 76.9 3.8 2.3 0.7 0.5 13.3
Dan Majerle 82 15 28.9 40.5 35.3 71.0 3.7 2.6 1.0 0.4 10.6
Tyrone Hill 44 2 21.1 51.2 0.0 60.0 5.5 0.8 0.7 0.5 7.8
Michael Cage 82 80 32.1 55.6 0.0 54.3 8.9 0.6 1.1 1.0 6.0
Bob Sura 79 3 14.6 41.1 34.6 70.2 1.7 2.9 0.7 0.3 5.3
Harold Miner 19 0 7.2 44.2 20.0 100.0 0.6 0.4 0.0 0.0 3.2
John Crotty 58 4 10.6 44.7 29.6 86.1 0.9 1.8 0.4 0.1 3.0
John Amaechi 28 3 12.8 41.4 0.0 57.6 1.9 0.3 0.2 0.4 2.8
Antonio Lang 41 0 9.0 53.2 0.0 72.3 1.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 2.8
Donny Marshall 34 0 6.1 35.3 23.3 62.9 0.8 0.2 0.2 0.1 2.3
Joe Courtney 23 0 8.7 42.9 0.0 44.4 2.1 0.4 0.2 0.3 1.7
Darryl Johnson 11 0 2.5 41.7 0.0 100.0 0.2 0.1 0.0 0.0 1.1

Playoffs
Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Terrell Brandon 3 3 41.7 44.7 33.3 86.7 3.0 8.0 1.3 0.3 19.3
Dan Majerle 3 0 30.3 44.4 43.5 88.9 4.0 3.0 1.3 0.7 16.7
Danny Ferry 3 3 39.0 34.1 6.3 0.0 5.0 3.0 1.0 0.7 9.7
Bobby Phills 3 3 32.0 37.1 20.0 25.0 4.7 2.0 0.7 0.3 9.7
Tyrone Hill 3 0 17.7 75.0 0.0 77.8 5.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 8.3
Chris Mills 3 3 35.0 33.3 0.0 100.0 5.3 1.7 0.7 0.7 7.7
Michael Cage 3 3 33.7 57.1 0.0 60.0 9.3 0.7 0.7 1.7 6.3
Bob Sura 3 0 6.0 66.7 0.0 0.0 0.3 1.0 0.3 0.0 1.3
John Crotty 2 0 4.5 0.0 0.0 100.0 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 1.0
John Amaechi 1 0 2.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
Antonio Lang 1 0 2.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
Donny Marshall 1 0 1.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

Player Statistics Citation:[19]

Awards and records

Transactions

References
  1. 1995-96 Cleveland Cavaliers
  2. "Suns Trade Majerle to Cavs". The New York Times. Associated Press. October 8, 1995. Retrieved March 19, 2022.
  3. "Suns Trade Majerle for 'Hot Rod' Williams: Pro Basketball: The Cavaliers Also Get Lang and a First-Round Draft Pick from Phoenix". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. October 8, 1995. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
  4. "Trade of Majerle Makes Barkley Unhappy: Pro Basketball: Popular Player Sent to Cleveland for Center John 'Hot Rod' Williams". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. October 8, 1995. Retrieved January 30, 2023.
  5. "Suns Deal Majerle, Lang, No. 1 Pick for Cavs' Hot Rod". Deseret News. Associated Press. October 8, 1995. Retrieved July 24, 2022.
  6. "SPORTS PEOPLE: BASKETBALL; Cavaliers Acquire Miner from Heat". The New York Times. June 16, 1995. Retrieved January 30, 2023.
  7. "Heat's Miner Gets New Life with Cavaliers". Los Angeles Times. Staff and Wire Reports. June 16, 1995. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
  8. Patton, Robes (June 16, 1995). "Heat Give Up on Miner, Trade Guard to Cavaliers". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved November 18, 2022.
  9. "Cavs' Hill to Miss Two Weeks". United Press International. November 10, 1995. Retrieved May 14, 2022.
  10. "2 Cavaliers in Minor Accidents". The Washington Post. November 13, 1995. Retrieved September 24, 2022.
  11. Berger, Ken (December 22, 1996). "Cleveland's Hill Returns to Top Form After Accident". The Seattle Times. Retrieved January 13, 2023.
  12. Robbins, Liz (March 7, 1997). "Rebound of a Lifetime for the Cavaliers' Hill". The Washington Post. Retrieved May 14, 2022.
  13. "NBA Games Played on February 8, 1996". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved July 18, 2022.
  14. "1995–96 Cleveland Cavaliers Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
  15. Bembry, Jerry (January 31, 1996). "NBA Coaches Recognize Howard's Star Quality; Bullets' 2nd-Year Player Named Eastern Reserve". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved April 19, 2023.
  16. Heisler, Mark (February 11, 1996). "NBA Has All-Stars in Its Eyes". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  17. "1996 NBA All-Star Recap". NBA.com. NBA.com Staff. September 13, 2021. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
  18. "1996 NBA All-Star Game: East 129, West 118". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved November 27, 2021.
  19. "1995–96 Cleveland Cavaliers Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
  20. "Bulls' Jackson NBA Coach of Year". United Press International. May 7, 1996. Retrieved October 7, 2022.
  21. Isaacson, Melissa (May 8, 1996). "Better Late Than Never: Jackson Selected Coach of the Year". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved February 1, 2023.
  22. "Muresan Is NBA's Most Improved Player". United Press International. May 2, 1996. Retrieved October 7, 2022.
  23. "1995–96 NBA Awards Voting". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved January 2, 2022.
  24. Schabner, Dean (May 1, 1996). "Knicks 81, Cavaliers 76". United Press International. Retrieved November 25, 2022.
  25. Wise, Mike (May 2, 1996). "NBA PLAYOFFS; A Chance to Shoot Down Bulls Is as Easy as 1-2-3". The New York Times. Retrieved July 3, 2021.
  26. "Knicks Sweep Cavs". The Oklahoman. May 2, 1996. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  27. "1996 NBA Eastern Conference First Round: Knicks vs. Cavaliers". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
  28. "Majerle Seems Headed to the Heat". The New York Times. Associated Press. August 14, 1996. Retrieved July 31, 2021.
  29. "Majerle to Sign with Heat". The Spokesman-Review. Wire Services. August 22, 1996. Retrieved July 10, 2022.
  30. "Once More, Majerle to Miami". Tampa Bay Times. August 22, 1996. Retrieved October 5, 2022.
  31. Heeren, Dave (August 23, 1996). "Majerle Makes It Official with Heat". Sun Sentinel. Retrieved January 30, 2023.
  32. "Philadelphia Signs Cage". The New York Times. August 23, 1996. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
  33. Long, Ernie (August 23, 1996). "Cage Brings Solid Work Ethic to 76ers; Veteran Free Agent Hopes to Shore Up Philly's Inside Game". The Morning Call. Retrieved November 18, 2022.
  34. "Daily Sports Capsule". South Coast Today. Standard Times. March 5, 1996. Retrieved February 1, 2023.
  35. "Cavs Say Goodbye to Majerle, Miner". The Baltimore Sun. August 9, 1996. Retrieved September 18, 2022.
  36. "Injured Cleveland Cavaliers Center Brad Daugherty Considers Retiring". Associated Press. June 6, 1996. Retrieved June 17, 2021.
  37. "Injured Cleveland Cavaliers Center Brad Daugherty Retires". Associated Press. June 6, 1996. Retrieved January 18, 2022.
  38. "Daugherty Says He's Retired, But It's News to the Cavaliers". Los Angeles Times. Staff and Wire Reports. June 7, 1996. Retrieved January 13, 2023.
  39. "First Pride, Now Fall: Celtics' Tickets Available". The Washington Post. August 9, 1996. Retrieved January 30, 2023.
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