The1994–95 Cleveland Cavaliers season was the 25th season for theCleveland Cavaliers in theNational Basketball Association.^[1] This was also the team's first season playing at theGund Arena.^[2] During the off-season, the Cavaliers signed free agentsMichael Cage,^[3][4][5] andTony Campbell.^[6][7] However, before the regular season began, the team lostBrad Daugherty to a back injury, andGerald Wilkins to a ruptured Achilles tendon, as both players were out for the entire season.^[8][9][10]

Despite losing both Daugherty and Wilkins, the Cavaliers posted an 11-game winning streak in December, which led them to a 20–8 start, and held a 28–19 record at the All-Star break.^[11] However, they played below .500 inwinning percentage for the remainder of the regular season, asMark Price only played just 48 games due to a broken wrist injury.^[12][13][14] Price would soon return, as the Cavaliers finished in fourth place in theCentral Division with a 43–39 record, and earned the sixth seed in theEastern Conference.^[15]

Price led the team with 15.8 points and 7.0 assists per game, along with 103 three-point field goals, whileTyrone Hill averaged 13.8 points and 10.9 rebounds per game, and backup point guardTerrell Brandon, who stepped up in Price's absence, provided the team with 13.3 points, 5.4 assists and 1.6 steals per game. In addition, second-year forwardChris Mills became the team's starting small forward, averaging 12.3 points per game, whileHot Rod Williams provided with 12.6 points, 6.9 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game, andBobby Phills contributed 11.0 points and 1.4 steals per game. Meanwhile, Cage averaged 5.0 points and 6.9 rebounds per game, while off the bench,Danny Ferry contributed 7.5 points per game, and Campbell contributed 6.0 points per game.^[16]

During theNBA All-Star weekend at theAmerica West Arena inPhoenix, Arizona, Hill was selected for the1995 NBA All-Star Game, as a member of the Eastern Conference All-Star team; it was his first and only All-Star appearance.^[17][18][19] Hill also finished tied in seventh place inMost Improved Player voting,^[20][21] while head coachMike Fratello finished in second place inCoach of the Year voting, behindDel Harris of theLos Angeles Lakers.^[22][21]

In the Eastern Conference First Round of the1995 NBA playoffs, the Cavaliers faced off against the 3rd–seededNew York Knicks, who were led by All-Star centerPatrick Ewing, All-Star guardJohn Starks, and Sixth Man of the Year,Anthony Mason. However, the Cavaliers were without Brandon, who suffered a leg injury during the final month of the regular season.^[23][24] After losing Game 1 on the road, 103–79 atMadison Square Garden, the Cavaliers managed to defeat the Knicks in Game 2 on the road, 90–84 to even the series. However, the Cavaliers lost the next two games at home, which included a Game 4 loss to the Knicks at the Gund Arena, 93–80, thus losing the series in four games.^[25][26][27]

During this season, the Cavaliers were known as a low-scoring, defensive team, as Fratello switched to a slow-paced, defensive coaching style;^[28][29] the team finished last in the NBA in scoring averaging 90.5 points per game, while allowing 89.8 points per game from their opponents, which was the best in the league, and also had the third best team defensive rating.^[30][31] The Cavaliers also finished fourth in the NBA in home-game attendance, with an attendance of 833,850 at the Gund Arena during the regular season.^[16][30]

Following the season, Price was traded to theWashington Bullets after nine seasons with the Cavaliers,^[32][33][34] while Williams was dealt to thePhoenix Suns,^[35][36][37] Wilkins was left unprotected in the1995 NBA expansion draft, where he was selected by theVancouver Grizzlies expansion team,^[38][39][40] Campbell was released to free agency, andJohn Battle retired.

For the season, the Cavaliers changed their primary logo and uniforms, adding black and light blue to their color scheme of orange; the team's new logo featured a basketball going into a net on a black square,^[41] while their new uniforms featured a light blue splash across their jerseys and shorts, and featured the word "CAVS" on the front of their home jerseys, and "CLEVELAND" on their road jerseys.^[42][43] However, the team's new uniforms were criticized and disliked by many fans and critics, and were considered "ugly".^[44][28]

The team's new logo would remain in use until 2003, while the uniforms would be slightly redesigned in 1997.

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	School/Club team
2	42	Gary Collier	Forward	United States	Tulsa

• 1st round pick (#16) traded toGolden State inTyrone Hill deal.^[45] Used to draftClifford Rozier.

• CenterBrad Daugherty was on theinjured reserve list due to a back injury, and missed the entire regular season.
• Guard/forwardGerald Wilkins was on the injured reserve list due to a ruptured Achilles tendon, and missed the entire regular season.

Player statistics citation:^[16]

• Cleveland Cavaliers on Database Basketball
• Cleveland Cavaliers on Basketball Reference

• Cleveland Cavaliers seasons
• 1994 in sports in Ohio
• 1995 in sports in Ohio

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