Our current NBA Tuesday miniseries moves from Chicago to Cleveland this week to examine the best players in the history of the Cavaliers franchise. We are pretty sure everyone can guess with some confidence who the top dog will be here; however, what about the other 9 guys? Some of them were around for the 2016 NBA Championship run … most of them toiled in eternal frustration in eras long gone before.

No. 10: Kyrie Irving, PG—40.4 WS (2011-2017)

He was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2011 draft, and Irving didn’t disappoint in a 6-year stretch in Cleveland, making 4 All-Star teams and winning that 2016 title. He also won the 2012 ROTY vote, as he posted 21.6 ppg, 5.5 apg, 3.4 rpg, and 1.3 spg over 381 regular-season games with the Cavs, while managing 23.9 ppg, 4.7 apg, 3.1 rpg, and 1.5 spg in 52 playoff games with the team. Irving may be a nut job, but Uncle Drew balls.

No. 9: Kevin Love, PF/C—43.6 WS (2014-2023)

In 9 seasons with Cleveland, he made 2 All-Star teams and won the 2016 title. Love was steady and reliable, posting 15.7 ppg, 9.2 rpg, and 2.2 apg over 489 regular-season contests, whether as a starter or as a reserve (109 games). He did whatever was asked of him, really. In 63 playoff games from 2015-2018, Love put up 15.3 ppg and 9.7 rpg as a third wheel on offense. His best season with the Cavs was his first in 2014-2015 (8.7 WS).

No. 8: Tristan Thompson, PF/C—43.8 WS (2011-2020, 2023-present)

Never an All Star, he is the definition of a role player—and Thompson was rewarded with a ring in 2016 for his efforts and sacrifices. In 641 regular-season games with the team, and counting, he has contributed 9.2 ppg and 8.5 rpg. His best season? The championship season with 8.7 WS. In 78 playoff games, Thompson managed 7.7 ppg and 8.5 rpg, starting 65 of those games as the Cavs made 4 straight trips to the Finals.

No. 7: Anderson Varejão, PF/C—45.7 WS (2004-2016, 2021)

In 13 seasons with Cleveland, he was mostly a reserve, starting just 208 games of his 596 contests with the team. Varejão had the misfortune of being traded to Portland in February 2016 and then waived immediately. He later signed with Golden State and lost to the Cavs in the NBA Finals. Talk about bad luck! His 5.9 ppg and 5.7 rpg averages with Cleveland don’t scream “value” … but sometimes volume does pay off.

No. 6: Larry Nance, PF—56.0 WS (1987-1994)

Goin’ old school here, as Nance finished his career with Cleveland, making 2 All-Star teams in the process. He was a well-rounded player toiling on average teams, to the tune of 16.8 ppg, 8.2 rpg, 2.6 apg, and 2.5 bpg though advancing past the first round of the postseason just twice in 5 tries with the Cavaliers. His best season with the team (1991-1992) resulted in 12.2 WS albeit not an All-Star selection. Appropriate, really.

No. 5: John “Hot Rod” Williams, PF/C—58.3 WS (1986-1995)

In 661 regular-season games with the franchise, Williams started only 353 times—but he averaged 12.9 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 2.1 apg, and 1.8 bpg nonetheless. In his best year (1991-1992), Williams posted 9.2 WS as Cleveland advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals. Over 6 postseasons with the Cavs, he showed up the same, roughly: 12.4 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 2.1 apg, and 1.2 bpg—while adding 1.0 spg as well. Definitely an unsung hero.

No. 4: Zydrunas Ilgauskas, C—63.4 WS (1997-1999, 2000-2010)

A Cleveland mainstay for almost a generation, Big Z was a 2-time All Star, bridging eras of failure and success with the franchise. But his best season was his first one, when at age 22 he posted 9.4 WS before getting hurt and missing most of the next 2 years. Perhaps he was never the same player after that, but for his Cavs career, Ilgauskas averaged 13.8 ppg, 7.7 rpg, and 1.6 bpg before leaving for Miami in his last year.

No. 3: Brad Daugherty, C—65.2 WS (1986-1994)

We always find it funny how he ended up as a NASCAR television analyst, but Daugherty was a very good NBA player before his back injuries derailed his career. Averaging 19.0 ppg, 9.5 rpg, and 3.7 apg over 548 regular-season games, Daugherty put up 24.4 WS in his two best seasons combined (1991-1992, 1992-1993). He started 41 playoff games for the Cavs, contributing 19.1 ppg, 10.2 rpg, and 3.3 apg in the process. Shiny.

No. 2: Mark Price, PG—65.4 WS (1986-1995)

It’s fitting that Price and Daugherty end up together so close on this list, as their partnership was generally a fruitful one for the Cavs franchise (6 postseasons in 8 years). Price himself was a 4-time All-Star selection, averaging 16.4 ppg, 7.2 apg, and 1.3 spg in the regular season. His playoff numbers were just as productive: 17.4 ppg, 7.0 apg, and 1.4 spg. His best season (1988-1989) resulted in 11.3 WS, as he had 5 seasons over 9 WS.

No. 1: LeBron James, SG/SF/PF—154.1 WS (2003-2010, 2014-2018)

Was there ever a doubt? The King made 10 All-Star teams in 11 seasons with the Cavs, missing out only during his rookie season—when he was voted ROTY. We awarded him the league MVP nod 3 times ourselves (2006, 2009, 2010) during his times with Cleveland. His numbers? In 849 regular-season games: 27.2 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 7.3 apg, and 1.6 spg. In 152 playoff games: 30.1 ppg, 9.1 rpg, 7.8 apg, 1.7 spg, and 1.1 bpg.