NBA professional basketball team season
NBA professional basketball team season
The 1995–96 NBA season was the 26th season of the National Basketball Association in Cleveland, Ohio .[1] During the off-season, the Cavaliers acquired three-point specialist All-Star Dan Majerle from the Phoenix Suns ,[2] [3] [4] and acquired 2-time Slam Dunk champion Harold Miner from the Miami Heat .[5] [6] After the first two games, Tyrone Hill was seriously injured in a car accident and missed 38 games, as the Cavs struggled losing their first seven games of the season.[7] [8] [9] However, Hill returned in the second half of the season playing off the bench, being replaced by Michael Cage in the lineup at center. The Cavaliers played above .500 for the remainder of the season, holding a 26–20 record at the All-Star break,[10] posting a 10–2 record in February, and finishing 3rd in the Central Division with a 47–35 record.[11]
Terrell Brandon continued to improve leading the team with 19.3 points, 6.5 assists and 1.8 steals per game, and was selected for the 1996 NBA All-Star Game .[12] In addition, Chris Mills had a stellar season averaging 15.1 points and 5.5 rebounds per game, while Bobby Phills provided the team with 14.6 points and 1.4 steals per game, and was named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team. Danny Ferry became the team's starting power forward, and contributed 13.3 points per game, while Majerle played a sixth man role, averaging 10.6 points per game off the bench, Cage contributed 6.0 points and led the team with 8.9 rebounds per game, and Hill provided with 7.8 points and 5.5 rebounds per game off the bench.[13] Head coach Mike Fratello finished in second place in Coach of the Year voting,[14] while Brandon and Ferry both finished tied in third place in Most Improved Player voting.[15] [16]
However, in the Eastern Conference First Round of the playoffs , the Cavs were swept by the 5th-seeded New York Knicks in three straight games.[17] [18] [19] Following the season, Majerle signed as a free agent with the Miami Heat ,[20] [21] [22] while Cage signed with the Philadelphia 76ers ,[23] [24] and Miner retired after just four seasons in the NBA due to injuries.[25] After missing the previous two seasons with a back injury, former All-Star center Brad Daugherty also retired, ending his eight-year career in the NBA.[26] [27]
Key Dates:
Offseason
Free Agents
Trades
Draft picks
Roster
1995–96 Cleveland Cavaliers roster
Players
Coaches
Pos.
No.
Name
Height
Weight
DOB
From
C
13
Amaechi, John
6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
270 lb (122 kg)
1970–11–26
Penn State
G
1
Brandon, Terrell (C)
5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
180 lb (82 kg)
1970–05–20
Oregon
C
44
Cage, Michael
6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
244 lb (111 kg)
1962–01–28
San Diego State
G
11
Crotty, John
6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
185 lb (84 kg)
1969–07–15
Virginia
C
43
Daugherty, Brad (C & IN)
7 ft 0 in (2.13 m)
245 lb (111 kg)
1965–10–19
North Carolina
F
35
Ferry, Danny
6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
230 lb (104 kg)
1966–10–17
Duke
F
32
Hill, Tyrone
6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
240 lb (109 kg)
1968–03–19
Xavier
G
30
Johnson, Darryl
6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
170 lb (77 kg)
1965–10–26
Michigan State
F
21
Lang, Antonio
6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
205 lb (93 kg)
1972–05–15
Duke
G
9
Majerle, Dan
6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
222 lb (101 kg)
1965–09–09
Central Michigan
F
33
Marshall, Donny
6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
230 lb (104 kg)
1972–07–17
Connecticut
F
24
Mills, Chris
6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
215 lb (98 kg)
1970–01–25
Arizona
G
4
Miner, Harold
6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
210 lb (95 kg)
1971–05–05
USC
G
14
Phills, Bobby
6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
200 lb (91 kg)
1969–12–20
Southern
G
3
Sura, Bob
6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
200 lb (91 kg)
1973–03–25
Florida State
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
(DP) Unsigned draft pick(FA) Free agent(S) Suspended(IN) Inactive Injured
Roster Last transaction: March 5, 1996
Roster Notes
Regular season
Season standings
Record vs. opponents
1995-96 NBA Records
Team
ATL
BOS
CHA
CHI
CLE
DAL
DEN
DET
GSW
HOU
IND
LAC
LAL
MIA
MIL
MIN
NJN
NYK
ORL
PHI
PHO
POR
SAC
SAS
SEA
TOR
UTA
VAN
WAS
Atlanta
–
4–0
3–1
0–4
3–1
1–1
1–1
2–2
1–1
1–1
1–3
2–0
0–2
2–2
2–2
1–1
4–0
2–1
2–2
2–1
0–2
2–0
2–0
0–2
0–2
4–0
1–1
2–0
1–3
Boston
0–4
–
2–2
0–3
1–3
0–2
1–1
2–1
0–2
1–1
0–4
2–0
0–2
3–1
3–1
2–0
2–2
0–4
1–3
4–0
1–1
0–2
2–0
0–2
0–2
3–1
0–2
1–1
2–2
Charlotte
1–3
2–2
–
1–3
3–1
2–0
2–0
1–3
0–2
0–2
1–3
1–1
2–0
2–2
3–1
1–1
0–3
3–0
0–4
3–1
2–0
1–1
1–1
0–2
0–2
3–1
1–1
2–0
3–1
Chicago
4–0
3–0
3–1
–
4–0
2–0
1–1
4–0
2–0
2–0
2–2
2–0
2–0
3–1
4–0
2–0
3–0
3–1
3–1
4–0
1–1
2–0
2–0
2–0
1–1
3–1
2–0
2–0
4–0
Cleveland
1–3
3–1
1–3
0–4
–
2–0
1–1
2–2
2–0
1–1
2–2
2–0
2–0
1–3
4–0
2–0
1–2
3–1
1–2
4–0
2–0
1–1
1–1
0–2
0–2
3–1
0–2
2–0
3–1
Dallas
1–1
2–0
0–2
0–2
0–2
–
2–2
0–2
2–2
1–3
0–2
2–2
0–4
0–2
1–1
0–4
1–1
0–2
1–1
0–2
1–3
0–4
2–2
2–2
2–2
1–1
1–3
4–0
0–2
Denver
1–1
1–1
0–2
1–1
1–1
2–2
–
1–1
2–2
1–3
0–2
1–3
2–2
0–2
1–1
4–0
0–2
1–1
1–1
2–0
3–1
0–4
0–4
0–4
1–3
2–0
3–1
3–1
1–1
Detroit
2–2
1–2
3–1
0–4
2–2
2–0
1–1
–
2–0
1–1
2–2
2–0
0–2
1–3
2–2
1–1
4–0
0–4
1–3
4–0
2–0
2–0
1–1
2–0
1–1
4–0
0–2
2–0
1–2
Golden State
1–1
2–0
2–0
0–2
0–2
2–2
2–2
0–2
–
2–2
1–1
3–1
1–3
1–1
1–1
3–1
2–0
0–2
0–2
2–0
1–3
1–3
1–3
1–3
0–4
1–1
1–3
4–0
1–1
Houston
1–1
1–1
2–0
0–2
1–1
3–1
3–1
1–1
2–2
–
2–0
4–0
3–1
0–2
2–0
2–2
2–0
0–2
0–2
2–0
3–1
2–2
2–2
1–3
0–4
2–0
2–2
4–0
1–1
Indiana
3–1
4–0
3–1
2–2
2–2
2–0
2–0
2–2
1–1
0–2
–
2–0
1–1
3–0
3–1
1–1
1–3
1–3
2–2
3–1
1–1
1–1
0–2
1–1
2–0
4–0
0–2
2–0
3–0
L.A. Clippers
0–2
0–2
1–1
0–2
0–2
2–2
3–1
0–2
1–3
0–4
0–2
–
0–4
1–1
1–1
3–1
1–1
1–1
0–2
2–0
3–1
2–2
2–2
1–3
0–4
0–2
1–3
3–1
1–1
L.A. Lakers
2–0
2–0
0–2
0–2
0–2
4–0
2–2
2–0
3–1
1–3
1–1
4–0
–
2–0
2–0
3–1
2–0
1–1
1–1
1–1
3–1
2–2
3–1
1–3
2–2
2–0
2–2
4–0
1–1
Miami
2–2
1–3
2–2
1–3
3–1
2–0
2–0
3–1
1–1
2–0
0–3
1–1
0–2
–
3–0
1–1
5–0
1–3
1–3
3–1
1–1
0–2
1–1
1–1
0–2
2–1
0–2
1–1
2–2
Milwaukee
2–2
1–3
1–3
0–4
0–4
1–1
1–1
2–2
1–1
0–2
1–3
1–1
0–2
0–3
–
1–1
1–3
2–2
1–3
2–1
0–2
2–0
0–2
1–1
0–2
2–2
0–2
1–1
1–3
Minnesota
1–1
0–2
1–1
0–2
0–2
4–0
0–4
1–1
1–3
2–2
1–1
1–3
1–3
1–1
1–1
–
1–1
0–2
0–2
1–1
1–3
0–4
3–1
1–3
0–4
1–1
1–3
2–2
0–2
New Jersey
0–4
2–2
3–0
0–3
2–1
1–1
2–0
0–4
0–2
0–2
3–1
1–1
0–2
0–5
3–1
1–1
–
2–2
0–4
2–2
0–2
1–1
1–1
0–2
0–2
2–2
0–2
2–0
2–2
New York
1–2
4–0
0–3
1–3
1–3
2–0
1–1
4–0
2–0
2–0
3–1
1–1
1–1
3–1
2–2
2–0
2–2
–
1–3
3–1
0–2
0–2
0–2
1–1
1–1
4–0
1–1
1–1
3–1
Orlando
2–2
3–1
4–0
1–3
2–1
1–1
1–1
3–1
2–0
2–0
2–2
2–0
1–1
3–1
3–1
2–0
4–0
3–1
–
4–0
2–0
1–1
1–1
1–1
1–1
2–1
1–1
2–0
4–0
Philadelphia
1–2
0–4
1–3
0–4
0–4
2–0
0–2
0–4
0–2
0–2
1–3
0–2
1–1
1–3
1–2
1–1
2–2
1–3
0–4
–
0–2
0–2
0–2
0–2
0–2
3–1
1–1
1–1
1–3
Phoenix
2–0
1–1
0–2
1–1
0–2
3–1
1–3
0–2
3–1
1–3
1–1
1–3
1–3
1–1
2–0
3–1
2–0
2–0
0–2
2–0
–
2–2
2–2
1–3
0–4
2–0
1–3
4–0
2–0
Portland
0–2
2–0
1–1
0–2
1–1
4–0
4–0
0–2
3–1
2–2
1–1
2–2
2–2
2–0
0–2
4–0
1–1
2–0
1–1
2–0
2–2
–
1–3
1–3
1–3
2–0
1–3
2–2
0–2
Sacramento
0–2
0–2
1–1
0–2
1–1
2–2
4–0
1–1
3–1
2–2
2–0
2–2
1–3
1–1
2–0
1–3
1–1
2–0
1–1
2–0
2–2
3–1
–
1–3
0–4
2–0
0–4
2–2
0–2
San Antonio
2–0
2–0
2–0
0–2
2–0
2–2
4–0
0–2
3–1
3–1
1–1
3–1
3–1
1–1
1–1
3–1
2–0
1–1
1–1
2–0
3–1
3–1
3–1
–
2–2
2–0
3–1
4–0
1–1
Seattle
2–0
2–0
2–0
1–1
2–0
2–2
3–1
1–1
4–0
4–0
0–2
4–0
2–2
2–0
2–0
4–0
2–0
1–1
1–1
2–0
4–0
3–1
4–0
2–2
–
1–1
3–1
3–1
1–1
Toronto
0–4
1–3
1–3
1–3
1–3
1–1
0–2
0–4
1–1
0–2
0–4
2–0
0–2
1–2
2–2
1–1
2–2
0–4
1–2
1–3
0–2
0–2
0–2
0–2
1–1
–
0–2
1–1
3–1
Utah
1–1
2–0
1–1
0–2
2–0
3–1
1–3
2–0
3–1
2–2
2–0
3–1
2–2
2–0
2–0
3–1
2–0
1–1
1–1
1–1
3–1
3–1
4–0
1–3
1–3
2–0
–
4–0
1–1
Vancouver
0–2
1–1
0–2
0–2
0–2
0–4
1–3
0–2
0–4
0–4
0–2
1–3
0–4
1–1
1–1
2–2
0–2
1–1
0–2
1–1
0–4
2–2
2–2
0–4
1–3
1–1
0–4
–
0–2
Washington
3–1
2–2
1–3
0–4
1–3
2–0
1–1
2–1
1–1
1–1
0–3
1–1
1–1
2–2
3–1
2–0
2–2
1–3
0–4
3–1
0–2
2–0
2–0
1–1
1–1
1–3
1–1
2–0
—
Game log
1995–96 game log Total: 47–35 (home: 26–15; road: 21–20)
November: 6–8 (home: 3–4; road: 3–4)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location Attendance
Record
December : 9–4 (home: 7–2; road: 2–2)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location Attendance
Record
January : 8–8 (home: 3–2; road: 5–6)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location Attendance
Record
February : 10–2 (home: 7–1; road: 3–1)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location Attendance
Record
March : 8–9 (home: 3–4; road: 5–5)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location Attendance
Record
April : 6–4 (home: 3–2; road: 3–2)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location Attendance
Record
1995–96 schedule
Playoffs
1996 playoff game log
First round: 0–3 (home: 0–2; road: 0–1)
1996 schedule
Player stats
Regular season
Player
GP
GS
MPG
FG%
3FG%
FT%
RPG
APG
SPG
BPG
PPG
Terrell Brandon
75
75
34.3
46.5
38.7
88.7
3.3
6.5
1.8
0.4
19.3
Chris Mills
80
80
38.3
46.8
37.6
82.9
5.5
2.4
0.9
0.7
15.1
Bobby Phills
72
69
35.1
46.7
44.1
77.5
3.6
3.8
1.4
0.4
14.6
Danny Ferry
82
79
32.7
45.9
39.4
76.9
3.8
2.3
0.7
0.5
13.3
Dan Majerle
82
15
28.9
40.5
35.3
71.0
3.7
2.6
1.0
0.4
10.6
Tyrone Hill
44
2
21.1
51.2
0.0
60.0
5.5
0.8
0.7
0.5
7.8
Michael Cage
82
80
32.1
55.6
0.0
54.3
8.9
0.6
1.1
1.0
6.0
Bob Sura
79
3
14.6
41.1
34.6
70.2
1.7
2.9
0.7
0.3
5.3
Harold Miner
19
0
7.2
44.2
20.0
100.0
0.6
0.4
0.0
0.0
3.2
John Crotty
58
4
10.6
44.7
29.6
86.1
0.9
1.8
0.4
0.1
3.0
John Amaechi
28
3
12.8
41.4
0.0
57.6
1.9
0.3
0.2
0.4
2.8
Antonio Lang
41
0
9.0
53.2
0.0
72.3
1.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
2.8
Donny Marshall
34
0
6.1
35.3
23.3
62.9
0.8
0.2
0.2
0.1
2.3
Joe Courtney
23
0
8.7
42.9
0.0
44.4
2.1
0.4
0.2
0.3
1.7
Darryl Johnson
11
0
2.5
41.7
0.0
100.0
0.2
0.1
0.0
0.0
1.1
Playoffs
Player
GP
GS
MPG
FG%
3FG%
FT%
RPG
APG
SPG
BPG
PPG
Terrell Brandon
3
3
41.7
44.7
33.3
86.7
3.0
8.0
1.3
0.3
19.3
Dan Majerle
3
0
30.3
44.4
43.5
88.9
4.0
3.0
1.3
0.7
16.7
Danny Ferry
3
3
39.0
34.1
6.3
0.0
5.0
3.0
1.0
0.7
9.7
Bobby Phills
3
3
32.0
37.1
20.0
25.0
4.7
2.0
0.7
0.3
9.7
Tyrone Hill
3
0
17.7
75.0
0.0
77.8
5.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
8.3
Chris Mills
3
3
35.0
33.3
0.0
100.0
5.3
1.7
0.7
0.7
7.7
Michael Cage
3
3
33.7
57.1
0.0
60.0
9.3
0.7
0.7
1.7
6.3
Bob Sura
3
0
6.0
66.7
0.0
0.0
0.3
1.0
0.3
0.0
1.3
John Crotty
2
0
4.5
0.0
0.0
100.0
0.5
0.5
0.5
0.5
1.0
John Amaechi
1
0
2.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
Antonio Lang
1
0
2.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
Donny Marshall
1
0
1.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
Player Statistics Citation:[13]
Awards and records
Awards
Records
Milestones
All-Star
Transactions
Trades
Free Agents
Development League
References
^ 1995-96 Cleveland Cavaliers
^ Press, Associated (October 8, 1995). "Suns Trade Majerle to Cavs" . The New York Times . Retrieved March 19, 2022 .
^ Press, Associated (October 8, 1995). "Suns Trade Majerle for 'Hot Rod' Williams: Pro Basketball: The Cavaliers Also Get Lang and a First-Round Draft Pick from Phoenix" . Los Angeles Times . Retrieved June 30, 2022 .
^ Press, Associated (October 8, 1995). "Suns Deal Majerle, Lang, No. 1 Pick for Cavs' Hot Rod" . Deseret News . Retrieved July 24, 2022 .
^ "Heat's Miner Gets New Life with Cavaliers" . Los Angeles Times . June 16, 1995. Retrieved January 1, 2022 .
^ Patton, Robes (June 16, 1995). "Heat Give Up on Miner, Trade Guard to Cavaliers" . Orlando Sentinel . Retrieved November 18, 2022 .
^ "Cavs' Hill to Miss Two Weeks" . United Press International . November 10, 1995. Retrieved May 14, 2022 .
^ "2 Cavaliers in Minor Accidents" . The Washington Post . November 13, 1995. Retrieved September 24, 2022 .
^ Robbins, Liz (March 7, 1997). "Rebound of a Lifetime for the Cavaliers' Hill" . The Washington Post . Retrieved May 14, 2022 .
^ "NBA Games Played on February 8, 1996" . Basketball-Reference . Retrieved July 18, 2022 .
^ "1995–96 Cleveland Cavaliers Schedule and Results" . Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 21, 2021 .
^ "1996 NBA All-Star Game: East 129, West 118" . Basketball-Reference . Retrieved November 27, 2021 .
^ a b "1995–96 Cleveland Cavaliers Roster and Stats" . Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 21, 2021 .
^ "Bulls' Jackson NBA Coach of Year" . United Press International . May 7, 1996. Retrieved October 7, 2022 .
^ "Muresan Is NBA's Most Improved Player" . United Press International . May 2, 1996. Retrieved October 7, 2022 .
^ "1995–96 NBA Awards Voting" . Basketball-Reference . Retrieved January 2, 2022 .
^ Schabner, Dean (May 1, 1996). "Knicks 81, Cavaliers 76" . United Press International . Retrieved November 25, 2022 .
^ Wise, Mike (May 2, 1996). "NBA PLAYOFFS; A Chance to Shoot Down Bulls Is as Easy as 1-2-3" . The New York Times . Retrieved July 3, 2021 .
^ "Knicks Sweep Cavs" . The Oklahoman . May 2, 1996. Retrieved June 4, 2022 .
^ Press, Associated (August 14, 1996). "Majerle Seems Headed to the Heat" . The New York Times . Retrieved July 31, 2021 .
^ Services, Wire (August 22, 1996). "Majerle to Sign with Heat" . The Spokesman-Review . Retrieved July 10, 2022 .
^ "Once More, Majerle to Miami" . Tampa Bay Times . August 22, 1996. Retrieved October 5, 2022 .
^ "Philadelphia Signs Cage" . The New York Times . August 23, 1996. Retrieved June 28, 2022 .
^ Long, Ernie (August 23, 1996). "Cage Brings Solid Work Ethic to 76ers; Veteran Free Agent Hopes to Shore Up Philly's Inside Game" . The Morning Call . Retrieved November 18, 2022 .
^ "Cavs Say Goodbye to Majerle, Miner" . The Baltimore Sun . August 9, 1996. Retrieved September 18, 2022 .
^ "Injured Cleveland Cavaliers Center Brad Daugherty Considers Retiring" . Associated Press . June 6, 1996. Retrieved June 17, 2021 .
^ "Injured Cleveland Cavaliers Center Brad Daugherty Retires" . Associated Press . June 6, 1996. Retrieved January 18, 2022 .
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