The best Cleveland Cavaliers to wear each uniform number

A number of talented players fill our final set of numbers, with franchise icons both old and new.

#9: Randy Smith

With due respect to Channing Frye for his backup role on the 2016 title team, Randy Smith was a prolific scorer on the wing who played two years for the Cavaliers from 1979-81.

#8: Matthew Dellavedova

Jordan Clarkson deserves a nod here, but Dellavedova rises to the top of a collection of role players. The Australian point guard became a team favorite for his frenetic play and dedication to winning.

#7: Bingo Smith

One of the biggest surprises of this entire list is that only one player has ever worn the number seven for the Cavaliers. A 6’5″ wing, Bingo Smith played 10 seasons for the Cavs, essentially the entire 1970s, after Cleveland took him in the expansion draft.

#6: Larry Nance

Mr. Slambassador only briefly wore #6 when he was first traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers, but that is enough to elevate him over the collection of backups who have otherwise donned the number.

#5: J.R. Smith

The sharpshooting and temperamental shooting guard had the best stretch of his career playing alongside LeBron James in Cleveland, with highs (2016 title) and lows (forgetting the score in Game 1 of the 2018 Finals).

#4: Ron Harper

There is steep competition for this number. Evan Mobley hopes to take the mantle eventually, and well-known names like Ben Wallace, Antawn Jamison and Shawn Kemp all wore #4, but Ron Harper was the best of the bunch. The 6’6″ guard played four seasons in Cleveland before later joining the Chicago Bulls for their second threepeat.

#3: Craig Ehlo

Being on the receiving end of one of Michael Jordan’s most iconic shots doesn’t dim the impact Craig Ehlo had for the Cavs, playing seven solid seasons for the franchise during their run in the late 80s and early 90s.

#2: Kyrie Irving

Mo Williams, Collin Sexton and Dajuan Wagner poured in a lot of points wearing #2, but the clear pick here is Kyrie Irving, who boasts the biggest shot in franchise history.

#1: Carlos Boozer

Cleveland drafted the power forward out of Duke and saw him put up two solid seasons to start his career, only for a contract dispute to end up with Boozer signing Utah.

#0: Kevin Love

Despite a number of injuries, Kevin Love is easily the pick here as a big man who did everything asked of him to win with LeBron James, then continued on as the guy left behind on lottery teams.

#00: Brandon Goodwin

Playing 36 games as a bench player is enough to win our final slot, as Goodwin stepped up in 2021-22 to back up Darius Garland down the stretch of the season.