The Cavaliers fell one step short of the NBA Finals in 2026, as they fell to the Knicks in the Eastern Conference finals on Monday night. While it was a disappointing end to the season, it was a successful campaign in Cleveland that showed the franchise is a legitimate contender. That said, this offseason could get complicated.
During the 2025–26 season, the Cavs finished as the fourth seed in the East with a 52–30 record. They went seven games against both the Raptors and top-seeded Pistons to reach the conference finals, where they Knicks dominated them.