The Cleveland Cavaliers‘ 2024-25 season was nothing short of amazing, with the roster taking a massive step forward under new head coach Kenny Atkinson.
The franchise delivered one of the most memorable regular seasons in team history outside of their 2018 run, despite their playoff journey ending in familiar heartbreak.
Performance
Under Atkinson’s first-year guidance, the Cavaliers exploded out of the gates with an absolutely monster 15-game winning streak to start the season, joining only three other teams in NBA history to achieve this feat.
This early success would ultimately set the tone for most of the season, with the team only falling behind in a couple of short patches, finishing with a 64-18 regular season record and earning the top seed in the Eastern Conference.
Atkinson’s impact was immediately evident, as he led the team to 64 wins and earned both the NBA Coach of the Year and National Basketball Coaches Association Coach of the Year awards. His quick in-game changes were huge down the stretch, especially when it came to reducing minutes across the board and implementing a deeper rotation.
Get a 3 out of the post with this rip screen into a high stagger screen action that Kenny Atkinson ran for Donovan Mitchell out of Wedge-Punch-Rip-Double. pic.twitter.com/Bfxybzo0cw
— Ryan Pannone (@RyanPannone) June 21, 2025
The top guys on the roster had way more room to rest, which in turn increased their efficiency and overall durability throughout the season.
Overall, the fans back home in Cleveland really have nothing they can complain about, as the Cavaliers not only recorded the longest winning streak in franchise history with 16 consecutive victories, but also posted 15-game and 12-game winning streaks. At the same time, the team led the NBA in scoring, averaging 121.9 points per game, and posted the league’s best offensive rating at 121.7.
Evan Mobley also grabbed his first NBA Defensive Player of the Year award, becoming the first Cavalier to win the honour and the fifth-youngest player ever to receive it at age 23. He became the proper anchor for a defence that ranked eighth in the NBA, with Cleveland’s best defensive rating coming when he was on the court.
Look what Kenny Atkinson took away from us https://t.co/LzaEAbYq6V
— GeneDangus10 (@genedangusp) July 19, 2025
Moreover, three players managed to make it into the All-Star game: Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, and Evan Mobley.
They may have fallen apart more or less during the playoffs, but they were still one of the better teams last year, with a total point differential of +782. Sweeping a season series against 17 different opponents doesn’t just happen by accident. Maybe they can do even better next year.
Playoff Performance
The postseason started off pretty hot for the young roster, as they managed to overwhelm the Miami Heat 4-0 in that first round, setting an NBA record with a 122-point differential across the four games. And it wasn’t like these were small wins – the Cavaliers dominated every single matchup, winning by an average of 30.5 points per game.
However, the second round is where things went south almost immediately. The Indiana Pacers stunned the top-seeded Cavaliers, dropping them on their heads with a 4-1 gentleman’s sweep in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
Kenny Atkinson on Evan Mobley: “in the next 2-3 years, we need him in the MVP conversation.”
He goes on to say he needs to empower him as well as stars Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland.#LetEmKnow pic.twitter.com/0zWFZsiIJA
— Jaylon Tyson Fan Club (@IsaacOkoroFan) July 10, 2025
The series was really cooked after Cleveland lost the first two games at home, especially with Tyrese Haliburton hitting a game-winning three-pointer despite Cleveland leading by seven with 47 seconds remaining in Game 2.
Unfortunately, injuries also played a significant role in the second round, as the team had to play without Evan Mobley, De’Andre Hunter, and Darius Garland in several games.
Donovan Mitchell really tried, don’t get it twisted. He even dropped 35 points in the series-ending game, but down the stretch, he really couldn’t do much without his defensive anchor.
Kenny Atkinson with a glowing review of Cleveland after making this city his home over the past year:
“I tell people all the time… it’s an underrated city. In every sense— the sporting sense, quality of life, the schools are great…” #Letemknow #getsus pic.twitter.com/9vGbeEbxQV
— Gabriella Kreuz (@thesportsGab) April 17, 2025
Moreover, the Pacers had a team that was built for playoff success. Their relentless pace and full-court pressure exposed several solid rosters, with coach Atkinson noting “the duration of their intensity” and how Indiana’s players “never stop” throughout games.
When you are down your best defender and the other team are doing nothing but running, you’re going to end up in a hole way sooner than you expected.
That playoff disappointment really overshadowed an otherwise solid season, but if you can’t make it happen when the lights are brightest, it doesn’t matter. Perhaps this early exit will be a sobering experience for the team, motivating them to strive for victory next year.
Next Season Outlook
Looking ahead to 2025-26, the Cavaliers are in a pretty interesting spot with both opportunities and financial constraints. Cleveland are going to hit a salary cap of approximately $209.6 million, placing them well into the second apron territory with a $53.7 million practical cap deficit.
These second-apron restrictions severely limit their roster flexibility, preventing them from using the mid-level exception, trading multiple players in deals, or executing any sign-and-trades.
First coach in NBA HISTORY to start 11-0 with a new team.
KENNY ATKINSON pic.twitter.com/Rs67ES3wgV
— Across The Cavs (@AcrossCavs) November 10, 2024
For those not in the know with trade terms, Cleveland’s hands are basically tied behind their back. They can’t afford to do anything really.
However, even with that drawback, the team core is still under contract, including Mitchell, Garland, Mobley, and Jarrett Allen.
They’ll need to make a couple of hard choices with unrestricted free agents Ty Jerome, Tristan Thompson, and Javonte Green, but realistically, Jerome will be the biggest priority after his breakout season.
Evan Mobley’s contract could also increase to approximately $42 million if he makes All-NBA, triggering Rose Rule escalators in his extension, but that’s neither here nor there.
Kenny Atkinson on Donovan Mitchell:
“I don’t know what more he could do. He single-handedly kept us the lead.”
pic.twitter.com/jQWwC8XTs1— ¹⁰ (@HoodiGarland) May 7, 2025
All in all, these financial issues will likely keep Cleveland in about the same place they were last season, with GM Mike Gansey most likely focusing on retention rather than signing free agents
The organization’s real challenge will be finding ways to refine their game without making any significant roster changes. Atkinson’s system seems solid with the young core they currently have, but there is definitely room for improvement.
The 2025-26 season will test whether Cleveland can translate regular-season success into playoff wins, or if the core just can’t make it all the way.
