The 2025–26 Cleveland Cavaliers season was the 56th season for the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA).
With a loss to the Utah Jazz on January 12, the Cavaliers were not able to improve on their 64–18 record from their previous season. On February 4, they traded Darius Garland and a 2026 second-round pick to the Los Angeles Clippers for James Harden.
The Cavaliers clinched a playoff spot for the fourth consecutive year on April 2 with a win over the Golden State Warriors. They finished fourth in the East with a 52–30 record. In the playoffs, they defeated the Toronto Raptors in the first round and overcame a 2–0 series deficit against the top-seeded Detroit Pistons in the semifinals, each in seven games. They advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 2018 and the first time without LeBron James on their roster since 1992, facing off against the New York Knicks. However, the season would end with a whimper as the Cavaliers were swept by the eventual NBA champion New York in four games.
Draft
RoundPickPlayerPosition(s)NationalityCollege / Club 2 49 Tyrese Proctor PG/SG Australia Duke 2 58 Saliou Niang SG/SF Senegal Italy Aquila Basket Trento (Italy) The Cavaliers entered the draft holding two second-round picks: their own 58th pick and the additional 49th pick acquired via trade with the Milwaukee Bucks in 2020. Their original first-round pick was originally traded to the Utah Jazz in 2022 as an exchange for Donovan Mitchell and eventually routed to the Phoenix Suns after Cleveland finished with a better record than Utah and the Minnesota Timberwolves in the 2024–25 regular season, making the pick the least favorable selection among the three.
Roster
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Standings
Division
Conference
Game log
Preseason
| 1 | October 7 | Chicago | | Hunter, Porter Jr. (17) | De'Andre Hunter (7) | Nance Jr., Porter Jr. (4) | Rocket Arena15,348 | 0–1 |- | 2 | October 9 | @ Chicago | | Donovan Mitchell (22) | Jarrett Allen (9) | Mitchell, Mobley, Proctor (4) | United Center16,258 | 0–2 |- | 3 | October 12 | @ Boston | | Jaylon Tyson (16) | Larry Nance Jr. (9) | Proctor, Travers, Tyson (4) | TD Garden19,156 | 0–3 |- | 4 | October 14 | Detroit | | Donovan Mitchell (17) | Dean Wade (9) | Lonzo Ball (9) | Rocket Arena17,561 | 1–3
Regular season
| 1 | October 22 | @ New York | | Donovan Mitchell (31) | Evan Mobley (8) | Lonzo Ball (6) | Madison Square Garden19,812 | 0–1 |- | 2 | October 24 | @ Brooklyn | | Donovan Mitchell (35) | Evan Mobley (8) | Lonzo Ball (8) | Barclays Center17,548 | 1–1 |- | 3 | October 26 | Milwaukee | | Donovan Mitchell (24) | Jarrett Allen (11) | Evan Mobley (6) | Rocket Arena19,432 | 2–1 |- | 4 | October 27 | @ Detroit | | Donovan Mitchell (35) | Evan Mobley (11) | De'Andre Hunter (6) | Little Caesars Arena18,933 | 3–1 |- | 5 | October 29 | @ Boston | | Mobley, Tyson (19) | Evan Mobley (11) | Donovan Mitchell (6) | TD Garden19,156 | 3–2 |- | 6 | October 31 | Toronto | | Evan Mobley (29) | Evan Mobley (8) | Lonzo Ball (5) | Rocket Arena19,432 | 3–3
| 7 | November 2 | Atlanta | | Donovan Mitchell (37) | Evan Mobley (8) | Mitchell, Mobley (5) | Rocket Arena19,432 | 4–3 |- | 8 | November 5 | Philadelphia | | Donovan Mitchell (46) | Jarrett Allen (10) | Ball, Mitchell (8) | Rocket Arena19,432 | 5–3 |- | 9 | November 7 | @ Washington | | Donovan Mitchell (24) | Jarrett Allen (14) | Darius Garland (9) | Capital One Arena14,054 | 6–3 |- | 10 | November 8 | Chicago | | Hunter, Mitchell (29) | Evan Mobley (8) | Sam Merrill (8) | Rocket Arena19,432 | 7–3 |- | 11 | November 10 | @ Miami | | Donovan Mitchell (28) | Donovan Mitchell (15) | Donovan Mitchell (8) | Kaseya Center19,600 | 7–4 |- | 12 | November 12 | @ Miami | | Jarrett Allen (30) | Jarrett Allen (10) | Ball, Porter Jr. (8) | Kaseya Center19,600 | 8–4 |- | 13 | November 13 | Toronto | | Donovan Mitchell (31) | Evan Mobley (9) | Hunter, Mitchell (6) | Rocket Arena19,432 | 8–5 |- | 14 | November 15 | Memphis | | Donovan Mitchell (30) | Evan Mobley (13) | Ball, Mitchell (5) | Rocket Arena19,432 | 9–5 |- | 15 | November 17 | Milwaukee | | Donovan Mitchell (37) | Dean Wade (8) | Donovan Mitchell (7) | Rocket Arena19,432 | 10–5 |- | 16 | November 19 | Houston | | De'Andre Hunter (25) | Allen, Porter Jr., Wade (7) | Craig Porter Jr. (5) | Rocket Arena19,432 | 10–6 |- | 17 | November 21 | Indiana | | Donovan Mitchell (32) | Evan Mobley (12) | Darius Garland (7) | Rocket Arena19,432 | 11–6 |- | 18 | November 23 | L.A. Clippers | | Donovan Mitchell (37) | Evan Mobley (10) | Darius Garland (8) | Rocket Arena19,432 | 12–6 |- | 19 | November 24 | @ Toronto | | Donovan Mitchell (17) | Jaylon Tyson (9) | Donovan Mitchell (8) | Scotiabank Arena17,127 | 12–7 |- | 20 | November 28 | @ Atlanta | | Donovan Mitchell (42) | Evan Mobley (14) | Darius Garland (10) | State Farm Arena16,124 | 12–8 |- | 21 | November 30 | Boston | | Evan Mobley (27) | Evan Mobley (14) | Garland, Mitchell (8) | Rocket Arena19,432 | 12–9
| 22 | December 1 | @ Indiana | | Donovan Mitchell (43) | Jaylon Tyson (11) | Donovan Mitchell (6) | Gainbridge Fieldhouse15,470 | 13–9 |- | 23 | December 3 | Portland | | Donovan Mitchell (33) | Evan Mobley (10) | Mitchell, Mobley (5) | Rocket Arena19,432 | 13–10 |- | 24 | December 5 | San Antonio | | Donovan Mitchell (28) | Evan Mobley (10) | Donovan Mitchell (8) | Rocket Arena19,432 | 14–10 |- | 25 | December 6 | Golden State | | Donovan Mitchell (29) | Nae'Qwan Tomlin (12) | Darius Garland (4) | Rocket Arena19,432 | 14–11 |- | 26 | December 12 | @ Washington | | Donovan Mitchell (48) | Evan Mobley (13) | Garland, Mobley (6) | Capital One Arena15,465 | 15–11 |- | 27 | December 14 | Charlotte | | Darius Garland (26) | Jaylon Tyson (13) | Darius Garland (9) | Rocket Arena19,432 | 15–12 |- | 28 | December 17 | @ Chicago | | Donovan Mitchell (32) | Lonzo Ball (7) | Darius Garland (6) | United Center18,872 | 15–13 |- | 29 | December 19 | Chicago | | Darius Garland (35) | Jarrett Allen (12) | Ball, Garland (8) | Rocket Arena19,432 | 15–14 |- | 30 | December 22 | Charlotte | | Donovan Mitchell (30) | Dean Wade (7) | Darius Garland (10) | Rocket Arena19,432 | 16–14 |- | 31 | December 23 | New Orleans | | Donovan Mitchell (27) | Jarrett Allen (9) | Garland, Porter Jr. (8) | Rocket Arena19,432 | 17–14 |- | 32 | December 25 | @ New York | | Donovan Mitchell (34) | Evan Mobley (9) | Darius Garland (10) | Madison Square Garden19,812 | 17–15 |- | 33 | December 27 | @ Houston | | Jaylon Tyson (23) | Jaylon Tyson (14) | Donovan Mitchell (6) | Toyota Center18,067 | 17–16 |- | 34 | December 29 | @ San Antonio | | Jarrett Allen (27) | Jarrett Allen (10) | Darius Garland (11) | Frost Bank Center19,010 | 18–16 |- | 35 | December 31 | Phoenix | | Donovan Mitchell (34) | Jarrett Allen (11) | Donovan Mitchell (7) | Rocket Arena19,432 | 19–16
| 36 | January 2 | Denver | | Donovan Mitchell (33) | Jarrett Allen (12) | Darius Garland (8) | Rocket Arena19,432 | 20–16 |- | 37 | January 4 | Detroit | | Donovan Mitchell (30) | Jaylon Tyson (7) | Darius Garland (6) | Rocket Arena19,432 | 20–17 |- | 38 | January 6 | @ Indiana | | Darius Garland (29) | Jarrett Allen (12) | Craig Porter Jr. (9) | Gainbridge Fieldhouse16,007 | 21–17 |- | 39 | January 8 | @ Minnesota | | Donovan Mitchell (30) | Jarrett Allen (10) | Garland, Mitchell (8) | Target Center17,274 | 21–18 |- | 40 | January 10 | Minnesota | | Donovan Mitchell (28) | Jarrett Allen (11) | Mitchell, Porter Jr. (8) | Rocket Arena19,432 | 22–18 |- | 41 | January 12 | Utah | | Darius Garland (23) | Evan Mobley (9) | Garland, Mobley (8) | Rocket Arena19,432 | 22–19 |- | 42 | January 14 | @ Philadelphia | | Donovan Mitchell (35) | Evan Mobley (13) | Donovan Mitchell (9) | Xfinity Mobile Arena19,746 | 23–19 |- | 43 | January 16 | @ Philadelphia | | Jaylon Tyson (39) | Donovan Mitchell (9) | Donovan Mitchell (12) | Xfinity Mobile Arena19,746 | 24–19 |- | 44 | January 19 | Oklahoma City | | Donovan Mitchell (19) | Jaylon Tyson (10) | Evan Mobley (5) | Rocket Arena19,432 | 24–20 |- | 45 | January 21 | @ Charlotte | | Donovan Mitchell (24) | Evan Mobley (14) | Donovan Mitchell (6) | Spectrum Center17,619 | 25–20 |- | 46 | January 23 | Sacramento | | Donovan Mitchell (33) | Evan Mobley (13) | Donovan Mitchell (8) | Rocket Arena19,432 | 26–20 |- | 47 | January 24 | @ Orlando | | Donovan Mitchell (36) | Lonzo Ball (8) | Donovan Mitchell (9) | Kia Center19,351 | 27–20 |- | 48 | January 26 | Orlando | | Donovan Mitchell (45) | Mobley, Tyson (9) | Craig Porter Jr. (5) | Rocket Arena19,432 | 28–20 |- | 49 | January 28 | L.A. Lakers | | Donovan Mitchell (25) | Jarrett Allen (9) | Jaylon Tyson (6) | Rocket Arena19,432 | 29–20 |- | 50 | January 30 | @ Phoenix | | De'Andre Hunter (17) | Jarrett Allen (7) | Bryant, Mitchell (6) | Mortgage Matchup Center17,071 | 29–21
| 51 | February 1 | @ Portland | | Jarrett Allen (40) | Jarrett Allen (17) | Craig Porter Jr. (12) | Moda Center17,240 | 30–21 |- | 52 | February 4 | @ L.A. Clippers | | Donovan Mitchell (29) | Jarrett Allen (11) | Donovan Mitchell (9) | Intuit Dome17,927 | 31–21 |- | 53 | February 7 | @ Sacramento | | Donovan Mitchell (35) | Jarrett Allen (10) | James Harden (8) | Golden 1 Center16,212 | 32–21 |- | 54 | February 9 | @ Denver | | Donovan Mitchell (32) | Jarrett Allen (13) | Donovan Mitchell (10) | Ball Arena19,647 | 33–21 |- | 55 | February 11 | Washington | | Sam Merrill (32) | Jarrett Allen (9) | James Harden (11) | Rocket Arena19,432 | 34–21 |- align="center" |colspan="9" bgcolor="#bbcaff"|All-Star Game |- | 56 | February 19 | Brooklyn | | Donovan Mitchell (17) | Jarrett Allen (10) | James Harden (9) | Rocket Arena19,432 | 35–21 |- | 57 | February 20 | @ Charlotte | | Donovan Mitchell (32) | Jarrett Allen (14) | James Harden (8) | Spectrum Center19,691 | 36–21 |- | 58 | February 22 | @ Oklahoma City | | (20) | Jarrett Allen (13) | James Harden (9) | Paycom Center18,203 | 36–22 |- | 59 | February 24 | New York | | Donovan Mitchell (23) | Jarrett Allen (10) | Dennis Schröder (5) | Rocket Arena19,432 | 37–22 |- | 60 | February 25 | @ Milwaukee | | Jarrett Allen (27) | Jarrett Allen (11) | Craig Porter Jr. (9) | Fiserv Forum14,702 | 37–23 |- | 61 | February 27 | @ Detroit | | Jarrett Allen (25) | Evan Mobley (12) | Craig Porter Jr. (12) | Little Caesars Arena20,232 | 37–24
| 62 | March 1 | @ Brooklyn | | James Harden (22) | Evan Mobley (13) | James Harden (8) | Barclays Center17,804 | 38–24 |- | 63 | March 3 | Detroit | | Jaylon Tyson (22) | Craig Porter Jr. (8) | James Harden (7) | Rocket Arena19,432 | 39–24 |- | 64 | March 8 | Boston | | Donovan Mitchell (30) | Evan Mobley (8) | James Harden (10) | Rocket Arena19,432 | 39–25 |- | 65 | March 9 | Philadelphia | | James Harden (21) | Dean Wade (10) | Donovan Mitchell (6) | Rocket Arena19,432 | 40–25 |- | 66 | March 11 | @ Orlando | | James Harden (30) | Evan Mobley (13) | James Harden (8) | Kia Center18,697 | 40–26 |- | 67 | March 13 | @ Dallas | | Evan Mobley (29) | Harden, Mobley (7) | Donovan Mitchell (8) | American Airlines Center19,512 | 41–26 |- | 68 | March 15 | Dallas | | Donovan Mitchell (26) | Evan Mobley (11) | Donovan Mitchell (11) | Rocket Arena19,432 | 41–27 |- | 69 | March 17 | @ Milwaukee | | Harden, Mobley (27) | Evan Mobley (15) | James Harden (6) | Fiserv Forum16,341 | 42–27 |- | 70 | March 19 | @ Chicago | | James Harden (36) | Evan Mobley (14) | James Harden (9) | United Center19,763 | 43–27 |- | 71 | March 21 | @ New Orleans | | Donovan Mitchell (27) | Sam Merrill (10) | James Harden (10) | Smoothie King Center16,987 | 44–27 |- | 72 | March 24 | Orlando | | Donovan Mitchell (42) | Evan Mobley (9) | James Harden (7) | Rocket Arena19,432 | 45–27 |- | 73 | March 25 | Miami | | Donovan Mitchell (28) | James Harden (9) | James Harden (7) | Rocket Arena19,432 | 45–28 |- | 74 | March 27 | Miami | | Max Strus (29) | Allen, Mobley (10)