The moniker didn’t just appear out of thin air. Before the Cleveland Cavaliers took their first court in 1970, the city held a contest to find the right identity. The Plain Dealer newspaper organized the whole affair, looking for a name that stuck. They landed on “Cavaliers.”
It’s a name with history. A cavalier is more than just a basketball team. It refers to a knight or gentleman trained in arms and horsemanship. The word carries weight. It suggests chivalry. It suggests bravery in battle. When the franchise launched, they weren’t just picking a mascot. They were borrowing the spirit of a warrior class. The name set the tone for a franchise built on grit.