Cavs: Franchise icons fill the Cavaliers’ All-1990s Team

Cavs’ All-1990s Team: C – Brad Daugherty

The Cavaliers’ run as a strong playoff team from the 1980s and into the 1990s was built on the backs of three key stars. Mark Price, the smooth-shooting point guard. Larry Nance, the pogo-stick block artist. And finally Brad Daugherty, the dominant scorer inside.

The first overall pick in the 1986 NBA Draft, Daugherty immediately delivered for the Cavaliers. He averaged 15.7 points and 8.1 rebounds as a rookie and went up from there. Daugherty would play all eight seasons of his career with the Cavs, averaging 19 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game over that career.

Five of those eight seasons fall under our purview for the Al-Decade Team. That includes 311 games for Daugherty where he operated as the primary offensive option for the Cavs. His 19.9 points per game over that span lead all players, and his touch around the basket boosted him to a 59.8 percent true-shooting, also a decade-franchise-best. He also excelled in the postseason, where his 4.6 postseason win shares are easily the top mark.

Daugherty, much like Price, saw his career cut short due to injury. Debilitating back issues caused him to miss the 1994-95 season, and he ended up retiring after being unable to return to the court after that. He totaled five All-Star appearances (three in the 1990s), one All-NBA nod (difficult given the center talent in the league) and led the Cavs to 31 postseason games in the decade.

He was the best player on the Cavs during those years, the 1A to Mark Price’s 1B. Together they are joined by Larry Nance Sr. and Hot Rod Williams from the core of those iconic teams, and Terrell Brandon rounds out the group as the “next man up” from the mid-1990s. Shawn Kemp deserves a nod for his play to close the decade, and Chris Milly, Danny Ferry and Tyrone Hill were all in consideration.

Final Tally

G – Mark Price

G – Terrell Brandon

F – Larry Nance Sr.

F – Hot Rod Williams

C – Brad Daugherty