In 2014, James returned to the Cavaliers after four seasons in Miami. While the Heat had a 224 -- 88 record during James ' four - year tenure and won NBA titles in 2012 and 2013, the Cavaliers went 97 -- 215 and missed the playoffs each season. The Cavaliers made several moves to build a championship - contender around James, most notably acquiring power forward Kevin Love from the Minnesota Timberwolves, which created what many fans and media referred to a "Big Three '' with James, Love, and Irving. The Lebron - led Cavaliers made four consecutive finals appearances in from 2015 to 2018, all against the Golden State Warriors, winning in 2016. The 2016 NBA Championship marked the Cavaliers ' first title in franchise history, as they became the first team to come back from a 3 -- 1 deficit to win the Finals. It was also Cleveland 's first championship in major professional sports since the 1964 Browns, signaling the end of the so - called Cleveland sports curse.
when did the cavs win their first championship
2016 2016