The crisp sound of sneakers squeaking on hardwood is the first thing that hits me when I walk into the Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. It’s a sound I’ve come to associate with anticipation, with the promise of a new season. I’m here for a preseason open practice, sitting high up in the lower bowl, watching the team run drills. From this vantage point, you can really see the gears turning—the chemistry being built, the plays being etched into muscle memory. It got me thinking about the roster, about the unique blend of youth and experience that defines this squad. I found myself, later that evening, diving deep into research, compiling what I consider to be a complete list of all current Cavaliers NBA players and their stats, trying to understand the full picture of this team’s potential.
You see, I’ve been a Cavs fan since the days of Mark Price, so I’ve seen teams built in all sorts of ways. But this current group feels different. It’s not just about the raw numbers, though they are impressive. It’s about the stories behind those numbers. Take Darius Garland, for instance. Watching him orchestrate the offense is like watching a conductor lead a symphony. Last season, he averaged 21.6 points and a staggering 8.6 assists per game. Those aren’t just digits on a screen; that’s the heartbeat of our offense. Then there’s Evan Mobley, a defensive savant who, even as a rookie, made the paint feel like a forbidden zone for opponents, swatting away 1.7 shots a game. But what truly excites me is the new blood, the players brought in to add new dimensions. That’s where Ricky Rubio comes in, and his presence made me recall an interview I read recently. He said, "Hopefully, my maturity, since I have more exposure now, I can bring that to the team and also teach them the little things I learned and the aggressiveness of being in the national team." That quote stuck with me because it’s exactly what this team needs.
Rubio’s stats from his time in Phoenix might not blow you away—maybe 7 points and 5 assists a game—but stats can be liars. His value isn’t in the box score; it’s in the huddle, in the practice gym, in the way he can steady a young team when things get chaotic. I remember a specific play from last week’s scrimmage I watched online. Garland was trapped in a double-team, the shot clock winding down, and you could feel the panic starting to set in from the stands. But Rubio, calm as ever, drifted into space, called for the ball, and with a simple pump fake, drew a foul. It was one of those "little things" he talked about. That’s the kind of veteran savvy you can’t quantify. It’s why, when you look at a complete list of all current Cavaliers NBA players and their stats, you have to look beyond the points and rebounds. You have to see the connective tissue, the players who make everyone else better.
Of course, I have my personal favorites, my guys I’m irrationally high on. Jarrett Allen is one of them. That afro is iconic, sure, but his game is just so brutally efficient. He gobbled up 10.8 rebounds a game last year, and his field goal percentage was an absurd 67.7%. I mean, come on. That’s video game numbers. And then there’s Caris LeVert. When he’s healthy and attacking the rim, he’s a nightmare matchup. I’ll admit, his consistency can be frustrating—some nights he drops 28, other nights he seems to disappear—but his potential as a secondary scorer is vital for a deep playoff run. I genuinely believe that. This team’s success hinges on more than just its stars. It’s about the sum of its parts, from the defensive tenacity of Isaac Okoro, who I desperately want to develop a more reliable three-point shot, to the floor-spacing provided by a guy like Dean Wade.
As the practice wound down and the players started heading to the locker room, I looked at my scribbled notes—a messy collection of names, numbers, and observations. That complete list of all current Cavaliers NBA players and their stats was no longer just data; it was a narrative. It’s a story of a young core, led by Garland and Mobley, learning how to win, and it’s a story of seasoned veterans like Rubio and Kevin Love, whose 13.6 points and 9.2 rebounds off the bench last year were huge, imparting the wisdom of their journeys. Love, in particular, seems reborn in his role, a walking double-double who understands his place is now to elevate the young guys. It’s that beautiful, chaotic mix that makes basketball so compelling. We might not be the favorites on paper, but paper doesn’t account for heart, for chemistry, for the slow, steady build of a team learning to trust one another. And as a fan who’s seen it all, that’s the most exciting stat of all.
