The 2005âÂÂ06 Cleveland Cavaliers season was the 36th season of NBA basketball in Cleveland, Ohio. The Cavaliers finished the season with a 50âÂÂ32 record, and a second-place finish in the Central Division, returning to the playoffs for the first time since 1998. In the playoffs, the Cavaliers defeated the Washington Wizards in six games in the first round and reached the semi-finals of the Eastern Conference where they lost in seven games to the Detroit Pistons. LeBron James was the team's leading scorer and was named to the All-NBA first team. He was also selected to play in the 2006 NBA All-Star Game where he won his first All-Star MVP.
For this season, they added new dark blue road alternate uniforms added side panels to their jerseys and shorts, they remained in use until 2010.
Cleveland did not have a draft pick in the 2005 NBA Draft due to trades from previous seasons.
|- style="background:#cfc;" | 1 || November 2, 2005 || New Orleans/Oklahoma City | | LeBron James (31) | Donyell Marshall (9) | Larry Hughes (6) | Gund Arena<br />20,562 | 1âÂÂ0 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 2 || November 4, 2005 || @ San Antonio | | LeBron James (20) | Donyell Marshall (10) | LeBron James (4) | SBC Center<br />18,797 | 1âÂÂ1 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 3 || November 5, 2005 || @ Memphis | | LeBron James (36) | Zydrunas Ilgauskas (11) | LeBron James (6) | FedEx Forum<br />17,368 | 1âÂÂ2 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 4 || November 7, 2005 || @ Toronto | | LeBron James (27) | Donyell Marshall (11) | LeBron James (6) | Air Canada Centre<br />18,281 | 2âÂÂ2 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 5 || November 9, 2005 || Seattle | | LeBron James (31) | Donyell Marshall, Drew Gooden, Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Alan Henderson (9) | Larry Hughes (5) | Gund Arena<br />19,564 | 3âÂÂ2 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 6 || November 11, 2005 || Memphis | | LeBron James (16) | Zydrunas Ilgauskas (12) | Larry Hughes, Eric Snow (5) | Gund Arena<br />16,554 | 4âÂÂ2 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 7 || November 13, 2005 || @ Orlando | | LeBron James (26) | Larry Hughes (9) | Larry Hughes (7) | TD Waterhouse Centre<br />15,414 | 5âÂÂ2 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 8 || November 15, 2005 || Washington | | LeBron James (37) | LeBron James (10) | Larry Hughes (8) | Gund Arena<br />17,685 | 6âÂÂ2 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 9 || November 18, 2005 || Orlando | | Zydrunas Ilgauskas (22) | Zydrunas Ilgauskas (11) | Larry Hughes (6) | Gund Arena<br />18,591 | 7âÂÂ2 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 10 || November 19, 2005 || @ Philadelphia | | Larry Hughes (37) | Drew Gooden (13) | LeBron James (10) | Wachovia Center<br />18,908 | 8âÂÂ2 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 11 || November 22, 2005 || Boston | | LeBron James (36) | Drew Gooden (15) | Eric Snow (9) | Gund Arena<br />17,139 | 9âÂÂ2 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 12 || November 24, 2005 || @ Indiana | | LeBron James (19) | LeBron James (10) | LeBron James (4) | Conseco Fieldhouse<br />17,243 | 9âÂÂ3 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 13 || November 26, 2005 || Minnesota | | LeBron James (38) | Drew Gooden (12) | Eric Snow (3) | Gund Arena<br />20,562 | 9âÂÂ4 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 14 || November 30, 2005 || L.A. Clippers | | Zydrunas Ilgauskas (29) | Zydrunas Ilgauskas (10) | LeBron James (9) | Gund Arena<br />18,209 | 10âÂÂ4
|- style="background:#fcc;" | 15 || December 2, 2005 || @ Seattle | | LeBron James (34) | Drew Gooden (7) | LeBron James (8) | KeyArena<br />17,072 | 10âÂÂ5 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 16 || December 3, 2005 || @ L.A. Clippers | | LeBron James (30) | Drew Gooden (12) | LeBron James (6) | STAPLES Center<br />18,369 | 10âÂÂ6 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 17 || December 6, 2005 || @ Sacramento | | LeBron James (30) | Drew Gooden, Zydrunas Ilgauskas (7) | LeBron James, Larry Hughes (6) | ARCO Arena<br />17,317 | 11âÂÂ6 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 18 || December 9, 2005 || New Jersey | | LeBron James (32) | Donyell Marshall (10) | Eric Snow (5) | Gund Arena<br />18,177 | 11âÂÂ7 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 19 || December 10, 2005 || @ Milwaukee | | LeBron James (52) | LeBron James, Donyell Marshall (7) | LeBron James (7) | Bradley Center<br />18,717 | 11âÂÂ8 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 20 || December 13, 2005 || Atlanta | | LeBron James (39) | Drew Gooden (11) | LeBron James, Eric Snow (6) | Gund Arena<br />17,114 | 11âÂÂ9 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 21 || December 15, 2005 || Denver | | LeBron James (26) | Donyell Marshall (12) | LeBron James (9) | Gund Arena<br />17,182 | 12âÂÂ9 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 22 || December 17, 2005 || Miami | | LeBron James (41) | Donyell Marshall (13) | LeBron James (10) | Gund Arena<br />20,562 | 13âÂÂ9 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 23 || December 20, 2005 || Utah | | LeBron James (25) | Zydrunas Ilgauskas (7) | Eric Snow (6) | Gund Arena<br />19,543 | 14âÂÂ9 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 24 || December 22, 2005 || @ Chicago | | LeBron James (37) | Zydrunas Ilgauskas (11) | LeBron James (6) | United Center<br />21,874 | 15âÂÂ9 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 25 || December 23, 2005 || Indiana | | Drew Gooden (21) | Drew Gooden (12) | LeBron James (9) | Gund Arena<br />18,757 | 16âÂÂ9 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 26 || December 26, 2005 || Chicago | | LeBron James (32) | Zydrunas Ilgauskas (14) | LeBron James, Eric Snow (6) | Gund Arena<br />20,562 | 17âÂÂ9 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 27 || December 27, 2005 || @ New Jersey | | LeBron James (31) | Donyell Marshall (14) | LeBron James (8) | Continental Airlines Arena<br />20,098 | 17âÂÂ10 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 28 || December 31, 2005 || Detroit | | LeBron James (30) | Drew Gooden (13) | LeBron James (7) | Gund Arena<br />20,562 | 18âÂÂ10
|- style="background:#cfc;" | 29 || January 4, 2006 || @ Milwaukee | | LeBron James (32) | LeBron James (11) | LeBron James (11) | Bradley Center<br />15,785 | 19âÂÂ10 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 30 || January 5, 2006 || Houston | | LeBron James (32) | Zydrunas Ilgauskas (10) | LeBron James, Eric Snow (5) | Gund Arena<br />18,019 | 19âÂÂ11 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 31 || January 7, 2006 || Milwaukee | | LeBron James (35) | Drew Gooden (17) | LeBron James (6) | Gund Arena<br />19,840 | 20âÂÂ11 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 32 || January 10, 2006 || New York | | LeBron James (36) | Drew Gooden (12) | LeBron James (7) | Gund Arena<br />18,064 | 20âÂÂ12 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 33 || January 12, 2006 || @ L.A. Lakers | | Zydrunas Ilgauskas (29) | Drew Gooden (11) | LeBron James (9) | STAPLES Center<br />18,997 | 20âÂÂ13 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 34 || January 14, 2006 || @ Phoenix | | LeBron James (46) | Zydrunas Ilgauskas (12) | LeBron James (8) | America West Arena<br />18,422 | 20âÂÂ14 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 35 || January 15, 2006 || @ Portland | | LeBron James (29) | LeBron James (13) | LeBron James (7) | Rose Garden Arena<br />19,383 | 20âÂÂ15 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 36 || January 18, 2006 || @ Denver | | LeBron James (24) | Alan Henderson (12) | LeBron James (9) | Pepsi Center<br />19,009 | 20âÂÂ16 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 37 || January 20, 2006 || @ Golden State | | Drew Gooden (16) | Zydrunas Ilgauskas (11) | LeBron James (6) | Oakland Arena<br />20,205 | 20âÂÂ17 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 38 || January 21, 2006 || @ Utah | | LeBron James (51) | Zydrunas Ilgauskas (8) | LeBron James (8) | Delta Center<br />19,340 | 21âÂÂ17 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 39 || January 24, 2006 || Indiana | | LeBron James (23) | Drew Gooden (10) | LeBron James (8) | Gund Arena<br />19,069 | 22âÂÂ17 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 40 || January 25, 2006 || @ Atlanta | | LeBron James (38) | Drew Gooden (14) | Eric Snow (8) | Philips Arena<br />16,089 | 23âÂÂ17 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 41 || January 27, 2006 || @ Indiana | | LeBron James (30) | LeBron James (7) | LeBron James (9) | Conseco Fieldhouse<br />18,345 | 24âÂÂ17 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 42 || January 29, 2006 || Phoenix | | LeBron James (44) | LeBron James (11) | LeBron James (7) | Gund Arena<br />20,562 | 25âÂÂ17 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 43 || January 30, 2006 || @ Charlotte | | LeBron James (30) | Drew Gooden (12) | Eric Snow (7) | Charlotte Bobcats Arena<br />17,142 | 26âÂÂ17
|- style="background:#cfc;" | 44 || February 1, 2006 || New Jersey | | LeBron James (26) | LeBron James (11) | LeBron James (10) | Gund Arena<br />19,460 | 27âÂÂ17 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 45 || February 2, 2006 || @ Miami | | LeBron James (29) | Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Drew Gooden (8) | LeBron James (7) | AmericanAirlines Arena<br />20,168 | 27âÂÂ18 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 46 || February 4, 2006 || Philadelphia | | LeBron James (31) | Zydrunas Ilgauskas (11) | LeBron James (6) | Gund Arena<br />20,562 | 27âÂÂ19 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 47 || February 6, 2006 || Milwaukee | | LeBron James (22) | LeBron James (9) | LeBron James (12) | Gund Arena<br />19,126 | 28âÂÂ19 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 48 || February 8, 2006 || @ Minnesota | | LeBron James (35) | Donyell Marshall (13) | LeBron James (8) | Target Center<br />17,093 | 29âÂÂ19 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 49 || February 10, 2006 || @ Washington | | LeBron James (18) | LeBron James, Drew Gooden (9) | LeBron James (8) | MCI Center<br />20,173 | 29âÂÂ20 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 50 || February 11, 2006 || Golden State | | LeBron James (33) | Zydrunas Ilgauskas (8) | Damon Jones (7) | Gund Arena<br />20,562 | 29âÂÂ21 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 51 || February 13, 2006 || San Antonio | | LeBron James (44) | Zydrunas Ilgauskas (11) | Eric Snow (6) | Gund Arena<br />19,486 | 30âÂÂ21 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 52 || February 15, 2006 || @ Boston | | LeBron James (43) | LeBron James (12) | LeBron James (11) | TD Garden<br />17,915 | 31âÂÂ21 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 53 || February 21, 2006 || Orlando | | LeBron James (26) | Zydrunas Ilgauskas (13) | LeBron James (9) | Gund Arena<br />20,562 | 32âÂÂ21 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 54 || February 22, 2006 || @ Philadelphia | | LeBron James (33) | Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Drew Gooden (9) | Eric Snow (8) | Wachovia Center<br />20,196 | 32âÂÂ22 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 55 || February 24, 2006 || Washington | | LeBron James (25) | Zydrunas Ilgauskas (9) | LeBron James (9) | Gund Arena<br />20,562 | 32âÂÂ23 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 56 || February 26, 2006 || @ Detroit | | LeBron James (22) | LeBron James, Zydrunas Ilgauskas (9) | LeBron James (7) | The Palace of Auburn Hills<br />22,076 | 32âÂÂ24 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 57 || February 27, 2006 || Detroit | | LeBron James (26) | Zydrunas Ilgauskas (15) | LeBron James (6) | Gund Arena<br />19,286 | 32âÂÂ25
|- style="background:#fcc;" | 58 || March 1, 2006 || Sacramento | | LeBron James, Ronald Murray, Zydrunas Ilgauskas (19) | LeBron James (7) | LeBron James (12) | Gund Arena<br />17,363 | 32âÂÂ26 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 59 || March 2, 2006 || @ Chicago | | LeBron James (33) | LeBron James (11) | LeBron James, Eric Snow (8) | United Center<br />20,726 | 33âÂÂ26 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 60 || March 5, 2006 || Chicago | | LeBron James (37) | Anderson Varejão (13) | LeBron James, Eric Snow (7) | Gund Arena<br />20,562 | 34âÂÂ26 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 61 || March 7, 2006 || Toronto | | Ronald Murray (24) | LeBron James (12) | Eric Snow (11) | Gund Arena<br />18,077 | 35âÂÂ26 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 62 || March 8, 2006 || @ Toronto | | LeBron James (35) | Drew Gooden, Donyell Marshall (8) | LeBron James, Eric Snow (6) | Air Canada Centre<br />19,800 | 36âÂÂ26 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 63 || March 10, 2006 || @ Orlando | | LeBron James (25) | Drew Gooden (12) | Eric Snow (5) | TD Waterhouse Centre<br />17,283 | 36âÂÂ27 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 64 || March 12, 2006 || @ Miami | | LeBron James (47) | Drew Gooden (12) | LeBron James, Eric Snow (4) | AmericanAirlines Arena<br />20,268 | 36âÂÂ28 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 65 || March 14, 2006 || @ Dallas | | LeBron James (36) | Zydrunas Ilgauskas (13) | LeBron James, Eric Snow (5) | American Airlines Center<br />20,425 | 36âÂÂ29 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 66 || March 17, 2006 || Portland | | LeBron James (27) | Drew Gooden (14) | LeBron James, Eric Snow (5) | Gund Arena<br />20,562 | 37âÂÂ29 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 67 || March 19, 2006 || L.A. Lakers | | LeBron James (29) | Drew Gooden (9) | LeBron James (7) | Gund Arena<br />20,562 | 38âÂÂ29 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 68 || March 22, 2006 || Charlotte | | LeBron James (37) | LeBron James (11) | LeBron James (12) | Gund Arena<br />18,550 | 39âÂÂ29 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 69 || March 24, 2006 || Boston | | LeBron James (36) | Zydrunas Ilgauskas (11) | LeBron James (8) | Gund Arena<br />20,562 | 40âÂÂ29 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 70 || March 26, 2006 || @ Houston | | LeBron James (36) | Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Drew Gooden (8) | Damon Jones (6) | Toyota Center<br />16,839 | 41âÂÂ29 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 71 || March 29, 2006 || Dallas | | LeBron James (46) | Zydrunas Ilgauskas (9) | Eric Snow (5) | Gund Arena<br />19,401 | 42âÂÂ29
|- style="background:#cfc;" | 72 || April 1, 2006 || Miami | | LeBron James (47) | LeBron James (12) | LeBron James (9) | Gund Arena<br />20,562 | 43âÂÂ29 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 73 || April 2, 2006 || @ Charlotte | | LeBron James (35) | LeBron James (12) | LeBron James (8) | Charlotte Bobcats Arena<br />18,491 | 44âÂÂ29 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 74 || April 4, 2006 || Philadelphia | | LeBron James (37) | Anderson Varejão (14) | LeBron James (7) | Gund Arena<br />18,581 | 45âÂÂ29 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 75 || April 5, 2006 || @ New York | | LeBron James (36) | Drew Gooden, Anderson Varejão (12) | LeBron James (7) | Madison Square Garden<br />19,763 | 45âÂÂ30 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 76 || April 8, 2006 || @ New Jersey | | LeBron James (37) | Drew Gooden (9) | LeBron James (7) | Continental Airlines Arena<br />19,048 | 46âÂÂ30 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 77 || April 10, 2006 || @ New Orleans/Oklahoma City | | LeBron James (32) | Anderson Varejão (8) | LeBron James (6) | Ford Center<br />19,187 | 47âÂÂ30 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 78 || April 12, 2006 || @ Detroit | | LeBron James (22) | Zydrunas Ilgauskas (8) | Damon Jones (4) | The Palace of Auburn Hills<br />22,076 | 47âÂÂ31 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 79 || April 13, 2006 || New York | | Larry Hughes (26) | Zydrunas Ilgauskas (14) | Larry Hughes (6) | Gund Arena<br />20,562 | 48âÂÂ31 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 80 || April 16, 2006 || @ Washington | | LeBron James (17) | Anderson Varejão, Drew Gooden (9) | LeBron James, Ronald Murray (4) | MCI Center<br />18,405 | 48âÂÂ32 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 81 || April 17, 2006 || @ Boston | | Larry Hughes (21) | Larry Hughes (5) | Eric Snow (9) | TD Garden<br />18,624 | 49âÂÂ32 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 82 || April 19, 2006 || Atlanta | | Ronald Murray (19) | Anderson Varejão (18) | Ronald Murray (6) | Gund Arena<br />20,562 | 50âÂÂ32
Regular Season
Playoffs
2006 marked the first time LeBron James made the playoffs in his career, and the first time the Cavaliers had made the playoffs since 1998 with Shawn Kemp. They came off a playoff series win vs the Wizards, while the Pistons came in off a 4âÂÂ1 win vs the 8th seeded Bucks. Detroit was expected to win the series, and took a commanding two games to none lead with two wins at the Palace of Auburn Hills. James and the Cavaliers would not be intimidated however, and won their two games at home to tie the series 2âÂÂ2. Coming into game 5, both teams were confident, but the Pistons were expected to pull out the win easily. The game was low scoring throughout as usual in this series, with Cleveland holding a 68 to 66 lead throughout 3 quarters. With the game tied at 84 with 26 seconds left in regulation, Drew Gooden came through and hit a layup to give Cleveland the lead that they would never squander. James led the Cavs with 32 and this brought the series to Cleveland up 3âÂÂ2, quite shockingly. Detroit held on to a 2-point win to win game 6, and won game 7 at home to seal the deal, but this was the coming out party for the Cavaliers in the playoffs, scaring the 2004 champs.
|- style="background:#cfc;" | 1 || April 22 || Washington || W 97âÂÂ86 || LeBron James (32) || LeBron James (11) || LeBron James (11) ||Gund Arena<br>20,562 || 1âÂÂ0 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 2 || April 25 || Washington || L 84âÂÂ89 || LeBron James (26) || Drew Gooden (16) || Eric Snow (4) ||Gund Arena<br>20,562 || 1âÂÂ1 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 3 || April 28 || @ Washington || W 97âÂÂ96 || LeBron James (41) || Ilgauskas, Gooden (8) || James, Snow (3) ||MCI Center<br>20,173 || 2âÂÂ1 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 4 || April 30 || @ Washington || L 96âÂÂ106 || LeBron James (45) || Drew Gooden (11) || LeBron James (6) ||MCI Center<br>20,173 || 2âÂÂ2 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 5 || May 3 || Washington || W 121âÂÂ120 (OT) || LeBron James (38) || Donyell Marshall (11) || LeBron James (5) ||Gund Arena<br>20,562 || 3âÂÂ2 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 6 || May 5 || @ Washington || W 114âÂÂ113 (OT) || LeBron James (32) || Anderson Varejão (10) || Larry Hughes (12) ||MCI Center<br>20,173 || 4âÂÂ2
|- style="background:#fcc;" | 1 || May 7 || @ Detroit || L 86âÂÂ113 || LeBron James (22) || Anderson Varejão (8) || James, Murray (4) ||The Palace of Auburn Hills<br>22,076 || 0âÂÂ1 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 2 || May 9 || @ Detroit || L 91âÂÂ97 || LeBron James (30) || LeBron James (14) || LeBron James (7) ||The Palace of Auburn Hills<br>22,076 || 0âÂÂ2 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 3 || May 13 || Detroit || W 86âÂÂ77 || LeBron James (21) || LeBron James (10) || LeBron James (10) ||Gund Arena<br>20,562 || 1âÂÂ2 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 4 || May 15 || Detroit || W 74âÂÂ72 || LeBron James (22) || LeBron James (8) || LeBron James (9) ||Gund Arena<br>20,562 || 2âÂÂ2 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 5 || May 17 || @ Detroit || W 86âÂÂ84 || LeBron James (32) || Donyell Marshall (13) || Eric Snow (7) ||The Palace of Auburn Hills<br>22,076 || 3âÂÂ2 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 6 || May 19 || Detroit || L 82âÂÂ84 || LeBron James (32) || LeBron James (11) || Eric Snow (6) ||Gund Arena<br>20,562 || 3âÂÂ3 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 7 || May 21 || @ Detroit || L 61âÂÂ79 || LeBron James (27) || LeBron James (8) || Larry Hughes (5) ||The Palace of Auburn Hills<br>22,076 || 3âÂÂ4
<sup>*</sup>Waived by team mid-season and later re-signed to two 10-day contracts. <br><sup>**</sup>Signed to two successive 10-day contracts and then the remainder of the season. <br><sup>***</sup>Traded for and then immediately waived before playing in a game.