Every Cleveland Cavaliers Retired Number and the Story Behind It

There is no shortage of jerseys hanging in the rafters at Rocket Arena. And there will be more in the years to come.

Let’s take a look at the full list of each player to have their jersey retired by the Cavs!

#6 Bill Russell

A true pioneer of the game, on and off the floor, Bill Russell passed away in the summer of 2022. After winning 12 titles in Boston, he continued to make waves in the basketball community. The first black head coach in major American sports. A civil rights activist. A true pioneer.

The NBA decided to retire his uniform across the entire league following his passing. The only players still wearing it were ones who were already rocking it.

#7 Bingo Smith

One of first true greats in Cleveland Cavaliers franchise history, Bingo Smith was integral to the Miracle at Richfield. He spent ten seasons in Cleveland, averaging 13 points and four rebounds per game. He joined the team for their inaugural campaign in 1970-71 after playing his rookie campaign in San Diego with the Rockets.

The franchise would not have been the same without his contributions, and Smith is fondly remembered by the fans. He passed away at 77 years of age in 2022.

#11 Zydrunas Ilgauskas

Big Z! Zydrunas Ilgauskas had quite the legacy in Cleveland. Injuries cost him two out of his first three seasons in the NBA, but that didn’t stop him from becoming a 2X All-Star and spending nearly 15 years in The Land. After being traded to the Wizards at the 2010 deadline, he refused to suit up for them, saying his heart was still with the Cavs. A month later, he rejoined the team.

He averaged 14 points, seven boards, and nearly two blocks across 771 appearances. In another era, Ilgauskas could have been a knockdown 3PT shooter. His legacy will be forever in Cleveland. He worked as a special assistant to the GM shortly after retiring.

#22 Larry Nance Sr.

Larry Nance! The OG was one of a kind. Not many small forwards could block shots like Senior could, as he earned three All-Defense nods during his eight-year run in Cleveland. Acquired from the Suns in 1988, he played the second half of his career with the Cavs.

A multi-time All-Star who lived above the rim, he was a huge tone setter during his time here. Even cooler was when his son, Larry Nance Jr. was acquired and given permission to wear his father’s jersey.

The Nance name is beloved in Cleveland, and alays will be.

#25 Mark Price

Known as The OK Kid, Mark Price was truly one of a kind. You’d be hard pressed to find a better shooter than this guy during his heyday in Cleveland. A 4X All-Star and multi-time 3PT Shootout champ, Price also threw dozens of lobs to Larry Nance.

Averaging 16 points and seven assists across 582 contests, he was integral to the playoff success that the team had. He, Nance, and Brad Daugherty (coming in a few sections) helped lead the Cavs to their second-ever Eastern Conference Finals. Price helped the team eliminate the Celtics in 1992, ending Larry Bird’s Hall-of-Fame career.

Price still comes back to Cavs games and has the respect of everybody.

#34 Austin Carr

Mr. Cavalier! The #1 pick in the 1971 NBA Draft, Austin Carr still holds the record for most points scored in a March Madness game. On March 9, 1970, he scored 61 for Notre Dame. Nobody has touched the record since.

The fourth All-Star in franchise history, he averaged 20+ points across each of his first three seasons with the Cavs. Carr played nine total years with the franchise, and has been part of the team’s broadcast coverage for decades. His role in the Miracle at Richfield and consistency during his long run here made is a no-brainer to hang his jersey in the rafters.

His catchphrases are second-to-none, and his 16 points per game help to seal his spot up top.

#42 Nate Thurmond

Perhaps the most surprising name on the list, most of Nate Thurmond’s Hall-of-Fame career happened outside of Cleveland. He was an incredible player with the Warriors, earning seven All-Star nods and five All-Defense selections.

He was traded by the Bulls to the Cavs early in the 1975 season, and he spent two years here. Thurmond only averaged five points and six rebounds in nearly 20 minutes a night. He did play big in the Miracle at Richfield run, and averaged six points and nine rebounds across 13 appearances in the 1976 playoffs.

Combining that with the fact that he is originally from Akron may be the best reason for his uniform hanging in the rafters.

Shoutout to the late Nate Thurmond!

#43 Brad Daugherty

No Cavs list is complete without Brad Daugherty. The big man was the #1 pick in 1986 out of North Carolina. He was 16 years old when he started there, making him 20 when he was selected. The best part of it was that the Mavs had this pick, and decided to send it to Cleveland at the trade deadline. Thus, #43 would be a Cavalier.

A 5X All-Star, Daugherty unfortunately had his career cut very short. Back issues forced him to retire at the ripe old age of 28. He averaged 19-10-4 with nearly a steal and block per contest over eight seasons, but that was all he had in the tank. He helped the team make five playoff trips, and teamed with Mark Price and Larry Nance Sr. to take the team to the 1992 ECF.

The legacy would be even larger if not for the injuries forcing retirement. This is one of the best Cavs ever, and absolutely belongs in the franchise’s Mount Rushmore discussions.

Shoutout Joe Tait

Joe Tait was the first-ever voice of the Cavs when the team began in 1970. He was the the franchise for over 40 years. There is absolutely no surprise his name is up there. The perch where Tim Alcorn calls games on the radio is named for the late Tait.

The voice of a generation! Long live Joe Tait.

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