Although the Cleveland Cavaliers do not have any players in the Hall of Fame whose careers were defined by their time in Cleveland, many players have made their mark on NBA history with The Land.
The modern NBA era cannot be discussed without naming various Cavaliers, from LeBron James to Donovan Mitchell. Past generations also remember the likes of Mark Price, World B. Free and more. Fans of the organization know the struggles and tribulations the Cavs have faced, but the highlights and legacies created along the way are unforgettable.
Using ESPN Columnist John Hollinger's advanced statistic Player Efficiency Rating (PER), ten Cavaliers stand above the rest. A player's PER is a measure of their performance per minute (adjusted for pace) with a consistent average of 15.00 across the league. The consistent average allows the statistic to help compare performances over the years.
With PER in mind, these are the seven players with the best PER as a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers in franchise history.
7. Larry Nance, Sr. - 20.0
After being traded to the Cavaliers from the Phoenix Suns in the 1987-88 season, Larry Nance, Sr. adopted the team and city as his own, playing for Cleveland until his retirement in 1994. Nance earned two of his three All-Star appearances with the Cavaliers in 1989 and 1993. By the time he retired, Nance had three nominations to the NBA's All-Defense teams, as well.
The historic big man helped establish the Cavaliers as a threat to the Michael Jordan Chicago Bulls throughout the early-to-mid- nineties. While Cleveland could never eclipse the Bulls' route to their first three-peat, Nance and his associates were one of the best and most memorable teams of the era. Nance's dominant post presence and elite defense gave every opponent a horrifying matchup in an era when physical bigs were in high demand.
Since his retirement, Nance has stuck around northeast Ohio and has been an adamant supporter of the franchise. His legacy resurfaced when his son Larry Nance, Jr. joined the Cavaliers for a few years. Cleveland unretired Nance's jersey to allow his son to wear the famed number 22 during his Cavs tenure.
Unsurprisingly, Nance will not be the only Cavalier from the nineties to appear on this list.
6. Andre "The Professor" Miller - 20.2
Drafted in 1999, Andre Miller's time with the Cavaliers was cut short, only playing three seasons with the wine and gold before being traded to the Los Angeles Clippers. In a move to tank for the LeBron James draft the following summer, the Cavs gave up on a player who could have been an instant second option for the upcoming legendary forward. While the move paid off when the Cavaliers brought James to the team in 2003, they could never find a true second star in LeBron's first stint with the franchise.
In his final season with the Cavaliers, Miller averaged a league-high 10.9 assists alongside 16.5 points and 1.6 steals per game. Miller went on to have a 17-year career in the NBA with nine different teams. His greatest stretch was likely his first three with the Cavs, though, with his best assists per game and efficiency of his career.
Surprisingly, Miller never earned an All-Star appearance in nearly two decades, but his name and impact on early 2000's basketball has not been forgotten. He was one of the best almost All-Stars of his era, but he never could make the cut. While he was looked over in his time, the Cavalier prospect is a unique talent, providing elite two-way impact in the backcourt right as some of the greatest scoring guards ever came to prominence.
5. Mark Price - 20.4
With one of his best early running mates on the list, it is no surprise to see longtime Cavaliers legend Mark Price making his appearance. Price earned four All-NBA appearances as the best Cleveland player in the nineties. He led the Cavs to seven consecutive playoff berths, including a run to the Eastern Conference Finals in 1992.
In nine seasons with Cleveland, Price averaged 16.5 points and 7.2 assists with a 40.2 percent three-point shot on 3.2 attempts per game. While his volume of shooting would be considered low today, Price was a truly elite shooter for his time. In retrospect, Price's skillset may have been ahead of his time, though he was still dominant back then, too.
Price's 20.4 PER is no shock, given his immediate value in the Association. The Cavs' place in the nineties would look entirely different and much worse without Price leading the charge. The four-time All-Star is one of many Cavaliers to have their jersey hanging from the rafters, becoming the final player in franchise history to wear the number 25 alongside Nance's 22.
Throughout Cavaliers history, Mark Price stands out as the undisputed best player before LeBron James' 2003 draft. The only surprise in Price's spot on this list is that it is not higher. In truth, Price's number five ranking only speaks volumes to the next four players who have ushered in the modern era of Cavaliers brilliance.
4. Jarrett Allen - 21.1
The first current Cavalier on this list, Jarrett Allen has helped define Cleveland basketball since joining the roster in 2021 as part of the multi-team James Harden trade that sent the again disgruntled star to the Brooklyn Nets. Once Allen joined the Cavs, the team's lackluster defense quickly shifted and evolved into one of the league's leading defenses ever since.
Though Allen had not made a name for himself in Brooklyn, he has become an elite member of the Cavaliers. With a career high in points per game (16.2) and nearly tying his career high in rebounds per game (10.7), Allen is in the middle of his best season of his career. In 66 games played, Allen has helped the Cavs overcome their heavy loss of Darius Garland and Evan Mobley, carrying the frontcourt and setting a franchise record for consecutive double-double games.
Allen earned his first All-Star appearance alongside Darius Garland in 2022, becoming the first big man to earn the honors with Cleveland since Kevin Love in 2018. The Cavaliers have placed Allen next to elite passing guards throughout his tenure, making his interior scoring standout and elevate. Allen is always searching for high-percetage shots off of actions with Donovan Mitchell or Garland. He has earned his spot on this list with years of dedicated and efficient work.
3. Kyrie Irving - 21.3
Despite a tumultuous exit in 2017, Kyrie Irving's legacy with the Cleveland Cavaliers is unlike any other. When LeBron left for the Miami Heat in 2010, Cleveland was in a desperate search for a player to bring them back from the bottom of the league. Getting Kyrie Irving out of Duke one year later at the first overall pick seemed like a miracle for the team. Though he could not lift the team to the heights James had done, Irving gave the franchise hope.
Upon LeBron's return, the fit between Irving and LeBron was instantly one of the best duos in the Association. Kyrie's ability to score from anywhere on the court allowed LeBron not to exert himself totally on offense every play. Kyrie's clutch fadeaway shot at the end of the 2016 Finals encapsulates his time with Cleveland perfectly. He never backed down from the moment and will forever be recognized as one of the greatest players to play in The Land.
Having a homegrown talent such as Irving on a historic Finals team is a dream scenario for any small market franchise. Regardless of a dramatic divorce between Irving and the Cavs, Irving's six years in Cleveland were nothing short of spectacular. It would be more surprising to see him land anywhere lower on this list.
2. Donovan Mitchell - 22.8
In just under two full seasons with the Cavaliers, Donovan Mitchell has already made an unforgettable impact on the trajectory of the team. After losing in the Play-In Tournament in 2022, Mitchell joined the team and led them to their first 50-win season since LeBron James. There is much left to be said and done in Mitchell's time in Cleveland, but the start is setting up for a historic run if he sticks around.
Since arriving, Mitchell and Irving have been heavily compared in their impact on the Cavs. With Mitchell only 1.5 points ahead of Irving, the comparisons and talent of both players deserves recognition and appreciation. Mitchell joined Cleveland in the midst of his best professional years. Irving started as a rookie, hurting his overall efficiency. As time goes on, MItchell and Irving will continue to be two of the greatest Cavaliers ever, especially if Mitchell extends his tenure with a new contract this summer. While outside commentators want to see Mitchell in New York, the latest indicators point to Mitchell staying put and being happy.
Mitchell earned his first All-NBA team spot with the Cavs after just one season and was on track for another before falling below the league's new 65-game rule for regular season accolades. Mitchell also began to receive MVP buzz for his leadership and endurance throughout the Cavs' injury woes.
With career highs in points, assists and rebounds over two seasons with Cleveland, it is not hard to see why Mitchell is on this list. He entered Cleveland a multi-time All-Star and is only getting better. As the Cavaliers build around Mitchell, his efficiency and place in the NBA is only set to grow more and more.
1. LeBron James - 27.0
LeBron James at the top of this list is one of the easiest predictions to make, but the difference between James' PER and Mitchell's second-best PER magnifies the greatness that LeBron gave Cleveland over 11 seasons. With 4.2 points ahead of Mitchell, LeBron's consistent dominance year-by-year illuminates just how special the LeBron Era of Cleveland basketball was.
From his 2003 draft night to the 2016 Finals comeback, James defined the Cavaliers as a franchise. This is not to glorify James beyond what he deserves, but there is no denying that he will be the first name remembered when talking about the Cavs for decades. In just his fourth season in the NBA, James carried the Cavalier to their first-ever Finals appearance since the team's inception in 1970.
The 20-time All-Star and all-time leading scorer in both franchise and league history sits atop the list with a rating unlikely to be eclipsed anytime soon. Without LeBron's time in Cleveland, the Cavaliers' place in the history of the NBA looks dramatically different.
From draft busts to era-defining talents, the Cavaliers have seen it all. With plenty of years of disappointment or bad luck, great players are always remembered and appreciated in The Land. These players stand among the rest as the most consistently effective and impactful players Cleveland basketball has ever witnessed.