Cleveland sports icon Nick Mileti, a key figure in shaping the city's sports landscape in the 1970s, has passed away at the age of 93. Mileti, who played a pivotal role in founding the Cleveland Cavaliers and owning several other sports franchises, died peacefully in his sleep in Rocky River, Ohio.
Mileti's legacy in Cleveland sports began in 1968 when he purchased the minor league hockey team, the Cleveland Barons, and the Cleveland Arena. He was instrumental in bringing the NBA to Cleveland in 1970 by spearheading ownership groups that raised funds to establish the Cavaliers as an expansion team.
