The 2005–06 Cleveland Cavaliers season was the 36th season of NBA basketball in Cleveland, Ohio. The Cavaliers finished the season with a 50–32 record, and a second-place finish in the Central Division, returning to the playoffs for the first time since 1998. In the playoffs, the Cavaliers defeated the Washington Wizards in six games in the first round and reached the semi-finals of the Eastern Conference, where they lost in seven games to the Detroit Pistons. LeBron James was the team's leading scorer and was named to the All-NBA first team. He was also selected to play in the 2006 NBA All-Star Game where he won his first All-Star MVP.
For this season, they added new dark blue road alternate uniforms added side panels to their jerseys and shorts, they remained in use until 2010.
Offseason
Free agents + AdditionsPlayer DateFormer team Larry Hughes August 4 Washington Wizards Donyell Marshall August 4 Toronto Raptors Damon Jones September 8 Miami Heat Zydrunas Ilgauskas September 13 Cleveland Cavaliers Alan Henderson September 17 Dallas Mavericks Zendon Hamilton September 30 Milwaukee Bucks Mike Wilks September 30 San Antonio Spurs+ SubtractionsPlayer DateNew team Scott Williams April 15 Retired Robert Traylor June 15 Gestibérica Vigo Lucious Harris June 16 Free agent Jeff McInnis August 11 New Jersey Nets Desagana Diop August 19 Dallas Mavericks Dajuan Wagner Free agent Jérôme Moïso Lottomatica Roma
Trades
June 28, 2005 To Cleveland Cavaliers 2006 2nd round draft pick To Milwaukee Bucks Jiří Welsch
June 29, 2005 To Cleveland Cavaliers Rights to Martynas Andriuskevicius To Orlando Magic 2006 2nd round draft pick and cash
Draft picks
Cleveland did not have a draft pick in the 2005 NBA Draft due to trades from previous seasons. 1st round pick (#13) traded to Phoenix in Wesley Person deal, sent to Charlotte as part of expansion selection.Charlotte receive Cleveland's 2005 (unconditional) first-round pick (taking Jahidi White 062204) via Phoenix receives future Cleveland first-round pick (lottery protected) Wesley Person trade 100197) – The Bobcats gained Cleveland's first-round pick in the 2005 NBA Draft (without condition). When Charlotte acquired a first-round pick from Phoenix on June 22 through the expansion selection, the Cavaliers were permitted to keep the pick if it fell within certain draft positions. With their trade for Jiri Welsh, Cleveland was forced to remove all restrictions on the '05 pick, giving the selection to the Bobcats. http://www.nbadraft.net/2005draftnotes.asp Used to draft Sean May. 2nd round pick (#44) traded to Orlando in Drew Gooden deal.Tony Battie and two future 2nd round picks traded to Orlando for Drew Gooden, Steven Hunter and the rights to Anderson Varejão http://www.nbadraft.net/2005draftnotes.asp Used to draft Martynas Andriuskevicius who was traded back to Cleveland.
Roster
Regular season
Season standings
Game log
|- style="background:#cfc;" | 1 || November 2, 2005 || New Orleans/Oklahoma City | | LeBron James (31) | Donyell Marshall (9) | Larry Hughes (6) | Gund Arena20,562 | 1–0 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 2 || November 4, 2005 || @ San Antonio | | LeBron James (20) | Donyell Marshall (10) | LeBron James (4) | SBC Center18,797 | 1–1 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 3 || November 5, 2005 || @ Memphis | | LeBron James (36) | Zydrunas Ilgauskas (11) | LeBron James (6) | FedEx Forum17,368 | 1–2 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 4 || November 7, 2005 || @ Toronto | | LeBron James (27) | Donyell Marshall (11) | LeBron James (6) | Air Canada Centre18,281 | 2–2 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 5 || November 9, 2005 || Seattle | | LeBron James (31) | Donyell Marshall, Drew Gooden, Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Alan Henderson (9) | Larry Hughes (5) | Gund Arena19,564 | 3–2 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 6 || November 11, 2005 || Memphis | | LeBron James (16) | Zydrunas Ilgauskas (12) | Larry Hughes, Eric Snow (5) | Gund Arena16,554 | 4–2 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 7 || November 13, 2005 || @ Orlando | | LeBron James (26) | Larry Hughes (9) | Larry Hughes (7) | TD Waterhouse Centre15,414 | 5–2 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 8 || November 15, 2005 || Washington | | LeBron James (37) | LeBron James (10) | Larry Hughes (8) | Gund Arena17,685 | 6–2 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 9 || November 18, 2005 || Orlando | | Zydrunas Ilgauskas (22) | Zydrunas Ilgauskas (11) | Larry Hughes (6) | Gund Arena18,591 | 7–2 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 10 || November 19, 2005 || @ Philadelphia | | Larry Hughes (37) | Drew Gooden (13) | LeBron James (10) | Wachovia Center18,908 | 8–2 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 11 || November 22, 2005 || Boston | | LeBron James (36) | Drew Gooden (15) | Eric Snow (9) | Gund Arena17,139 | 9–2 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 12 || November 24, 2005 || @ Indiana | | LeBron James (19) | LeBron James (10) | LeBron James (4) | Conseco Fieldhouse17,243 | 9–3 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 13 || November 26, 2005 || Minnesota | | LeBron James (38) | Drew Gooden (12) | Eric Snow (3) | Gund Arena20,562 | 9–4 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 14 || November 30, 2005 || L.A. Clippers | | Zydrunas Ilgauskas (29) | Zydrunas Ilgauskas (10) | LeBron James (9) | Gund Arena18,209 | 10–4
|- style="background:#fcc;" | 15 || December 2, 2005 || @ Seattle | | LeBron James (34) | Drew Gooden (7) | LeBron James (8) | KeyArena17,072 | 10–5 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 16 || December 3, 2005 || @ L.A. Clippers | | LeBron James (30) | Drew Gooden (12) | LeBron James (6) | STAPLES Center18,369 | 10–6 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 17 || December 6, 2005 || @ Sacramento | | LeBron James (30) | Drew Gooden, Zydrunas Ilgauskas (7) | LeBron James, Larry Hughes (6) | ARCO Arena17,317 | 11–6 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 18 || December 9, 2005 || New Jersey | | LeBron James (32) | Donyell Marshall (10) | Eric Snow (5) | Gund Arena18,177 | 11–7 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 19 || December 10, 2005 || @ Milwaukee | | LeBron James (52) | LeBron James, Donyell Marshall (7) | LeBron James (7) | Bradley Center18,717 | 11–8 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 20 || December 13, 2005 || Atlanta | | LeBron James (39) | Drew Gooden (11) | LeBron James, Eric Snow (6) | Gund Arena17,114 | 11–9 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 21 || December 15, 2005 || Denver | | LeBron James (26) | Donyell Marshall (12) | LeBron James (9) | Gund Arena17,182 | 12–9 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 22 || December 17, 2005 || Miami | | LeBron James (41) | Donyell Marshall (13) | LeBron James (10) | Gund Arena20,562 | 13–9 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 23 || December 20, 2005 || Utah | | LeBron James (25) | Zydrunas Ilgauskas (7) | Eric Snow (6) | Gund Arena19,543 | 14–9 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 24 || December 22, 2005 || @ Chicago | | LeBron James (37) | Zydrunas Ilgauskas (11) | LeBron James (6) | United Center21,874 | 15–9 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 25 || December 23, 2005 || Indiana | | Drew Gooden (21) | Drew Gooden (12) | LeBron James (9) | Gund Arena18,757 | 16–9 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 26 || December 26, 2005 || Chicago | | LeBron James (32) | Zydrunas Ilgauskas (14) | LeBron James, Eric Snow (6) | Gund Arena20,562 | 17–9 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 27 || December 27, 2005 || @ New Jersey | | LeBron James (31) | Donyell Marshall (14) | LeBron James (8) | Continental Airlines Arena20,098 | 17–10 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 28 || December 31, 2005 || Detroit | | LeBron James (30) | Drew Gooden (13) | LeBron James (7) | Gund Arena20,562 | 18–10
|- style="background:#cfc;" | 29 || January 4, 2006 || @ Milwaukee | | LeBron James (32) | LeBron James (11) | LeBron James (11) | Bradley Center15,785 | 19–10 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 30 || January 5, 2006 || Houston | | LeBron James (32) | Zydrunas Ilgauskas (10) | LeBron James, Eric Snow (5) | Gund Arena18,019 | 19–11 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 31 || January 7, 2006 || Milwaukee | | LeBron James (35) | Drew Gooden (17) | LeBron James (6) | Gund Arena19,840 | 20–11 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 32 || January 10, 2006 || New York | | LeBron James (36) | Drew Gooden (12) | LeBron James (7) | Gund Arena18,064 | 20–12 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 33 || January 12, 2006 || @ L.A. Lakers | | Zydrunas Ilgauskas (29) | Drew Gooden (11) | LeBron James (9) | STAPLES Center18,997 | 20–13 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 34 || January 14, 2006 || @ Phoenix | | LeBron James (46) | Zydrunas Ilgauskas (12) | LeBron James (8) | America West Arena18,422 | 20–14 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 35 || January 15, 2006 || @ Portland | | LeBron James (29) | LeBron James (13) | LeBron James (7) | Rose Garden Arena19,383 | 20–15 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 36 || January 18, 2006 || @ Denver | | LeBron James (24) | Alan Henderson (12) | LeBron James (9) | Pepsi Center19,009 | 20–16 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 37 || January 20, 2006 || @ Golden State | | Drew Gooden (16) | Zydrunas Ilgauskas (11) | LeBron James (6) | Oakland Arena20,205 | 20–17 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 38 || January 21, 2006 || @ Utah | | LeBron James (51) | Zydrunas Ilgauskas (8) | LeBron James (8) | Delta Center19,340 | 21–17 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 39 || January 24, 2006 || Indiana | | LeBron James (23) | Drew Gooden (10) | LeBron James (8) | Gund Arena19,069 | 22–17 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 40 || January 25, 2006 || @ Atlanta | | LeBron James (38) | Drew Gooden (14) | Eric Snow (8) | Philips Arena16,089 | 23–17 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 41 || January 27, 2006 || @ Indiana | | LeBron James (30) | LeBron James (7) | LeBron James (9) | Conseco Fieldhouse18,345 | 24–17 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 42 || January 29, 2006 || Phoenix | | LeBron James (44) | LeBron James (11) | LeBron James (7) | Gund Arena20,562 | 25–17 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 43 || January 30, 2006 || @ Charlotte | | LeBron James (30) | Drew Gooden (12) | Eric Snow (7) | Charlotte Bobcats Arena17,142 | 26–17
|- style="background:#cfc;" | 44 || February 1, 2006 || New Jersey | | LeBron James (26) | LeBron James (11) | LeBron James (10) | Gund Arena19,460 | 27–17 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 45 || February 2, 2006 || @ Miami | | LeBron James (29) | Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Drew Gooden (8) | LeBron James (7) | AmericanAirlines Arena20,168 | 27–18 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 46 || February 4, 2006 || Philadelphia | | LeBron James (31) | Zydrunas Ilgauskas (11) | LeBron James (6) | Gund Arena20,562 | 27–19 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 47 || February 6, 2006 || Milwaukee | | LeBron James (22) | LeBron James (9) | LeBron James (12) | Gund Arena19,126 | 28–19 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 48 || February 8, 2006 || @ Minnesota | | LeBron James (35) | Donyell Marshall (13) | LeBron James (8) | Target Center17,093 | 29–19 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 49 || February 10, 2006 || @ Washington | | LeBron James (18) | LeBron James, Drew Gooden (9) | LeBron James (8) | MCI Center20,173 | 29–20 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 50 || February 11, 2006 || Golden State | | LeBron James (33) | Zydrunas Ilgauskas (8) | Damon Jones (7) | Gund Arena20,562 | 29–21 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 51 || February 13, 2006 || San Antonio | | LeBron James (44) | Zydrunas Ilgauskas (11) | Eric Snow (6) | Gund Arena19,486 | 30–21 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 52 || February 15, 2006 || @ Boston | | LeBron James (43) | LeBron James (12) | LeBron James (11) | TD Garden17,915 | 31–21 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 53 || February 21, 2006 || Orlando | | LeBron James (26) | Zydrunas Ilgauskas (13) | LeBron James (9) | Gund Arena20,562 | 32–21 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 54 || February 22, 2006 || @ Philadelphia | | LeBron James (33) | Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Drew Gooden (9) | Eric Snow (8) | Wachovia Center20,196 | 32–22 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 55 || February 24, 2006 || Washington | | LeBron James (25) | Zydrunas Ilgauskas (9) | LeBron James (9) | Gund Arena20,562 | 32–23 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 56 || February 26, 2006 || @ Detroit | | LeBron James (22)