Last Updated on July 29, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

League Search Page > NBA > Cleveland Cavaliers > Roster & Statistics

The Cleveland Cavaliers 1978–79 relied on Campy Russell as their primary scoring option, with Mike Mitchell emerging as another key offensive contributor. Jim Chones provided a strong interior presence through rebounding and scoring, while Foots Walker directed the offense as the team’s leading playmaker. The statistics suggest a balanced team that combined dependable frontcourt production, solid ball movement, and scoring distributed across multiple core players rather than a single dominant offensive force.

Roster

No. Player Pos Ht Wt Birth Date College/From
1 Kenny Higgs PG 6’0″ 180 Jan 31, 1955 LSU
3 Elmore Smith C 7’0″ 250 May 9, 1949 Kentucky State
7 Bingo Smith SG 6’5″ 195 Feb 26, 1946 Tulsa
11 Walt Frazier PG 6’4″ 200 Mar 29, 1945 Southern Illinois
14 Foots Walker PG 6’0″ 184 May 21, 1951 West Georgia
15 Butch Lee PG 6’0″ 185 Dec 5, 1956 Marquette
20 Campy Russell SF 6’8″ 215 Jan 12, 1952 Michigan
22 Jim Chones C 6’11” 220 Nov 30, 1949 Marquette
24 John Lambert PF 6’10” 225 Jan 14, 1953 USC
25 Terry Furlow SG 6’4″ 190 Oct 18, 1954 Michigan State
30 Mike Mitchell SF 6’7″ 215 Jan 1, 1956 Auburn
34 Austin Carr SG 6’4″ 200 Mar 10, 1948 Notre Dame
40 Harry Davis PF 6’7″ 220 Jan 27, 1956 Florida State
52 Jim Brewer PF 6’9″ 210 Dec 3, 1951 Minnesota

Regular Season Per Game

PLR POS AGE GP GS MIN PTS REB AST STL BLK TOV FGA FGM FG% 3PA 3PM 3P% FTA FTM FT%
Campy Russell SF 27 74   38.6 21.9 6.8 4.7 1.3 0.3 3.5 17.1 8.1 .476       7.1 5.6 .797
Austin Carr SG 30 82   33.1 17.0 3.5 2.6 0.9 0.2 2.1 14.2 6.7 .475       4.4 3.6 .816
Jim Chones C 29 82 82 34.8 13.4 10.3 2.2 0.6 1.2 2.3 13.1 5.8 .440       2.6 1.9 .735
Terry Furlow SG 24 49   22.7 13.3 2.0 2.1 0.8 0.3 1.8 11.6 5.6 .483       2.6 2.1 .824
Butch Lee PG 22 33   23.7 11.5 2.0 3.8 0.9 0.0 1.8 9.7 4.4 .455       3.4 2.6 .770
Bingo Smith SG 32 72   22.9 11.2 2.9 1.7 0.6 0.1 1.0 10.9 5.0 .460       1.5 1.2 .783
Walt Frazier PG 33 12   23.3 10.8 1.7 2.7 1.1 0.2 1.8 10.2 4.5 .443       2.3 1.8 .778
Mike Mitchell SF 23 80   19.7 10.7 4.1 0.8 0.6 0.4 1.3 8.8 4.5 .513       2.2 1.6 .736
Foots Walker PG 27 55   31.9 10.1 3.6 5.8 2.4 0.3 2.3 8.1 3.8 .464       3.2 2.5 .783
Elmore Smith C 29 24   13.8 6.5 4.4 0.5 0.3 0.7 1.8 5.4 2.9 .531       1.1 0.8 .692
Kenny Higgs PG 24 68   15.4 5.0 1.5 2.1 1.0 0.2 0.7 4.1 1.9 .455       1.6 1.3 .766
John Lambert PF 26 70   14.7 4.7 4.1 0.6 0.4 0.4 0.9 4.7 2.1 .450       0.8 0.5 .636
Jim Brewer PF 27 55   23.7 4.6 6.7 1.3 0.9 1.0 1.4 4.7 2.1 .440       0.9 0.4 .479
Harry Davis SF 23 40   9.9 4.1 1.7 0.4 0.3 0.2 0.6 3.8 1.7 .431       1.1 0.8 .698
Team Totals     82 82 240.0 106.5 42.5 21.9 8.4 4.1 16.8 92.7 43.4 .468       25.6 19.8 .770

Regular Season Totals

PLR POS AGE GP GS MIN PTS REB AST STL BLK TOV FGA FGM FG% 3PA 3PM 3P% FTA FTM FT%
Campy Russell SF 27 74   2859 1623 503 348 98 25 259 1268 603 .476       523 417 .797
Austin Carr SG 30 82   2714 1394 290 217 77 14 175 1161 551 .475       358 292 .816
Jim Chones C 29 82 82 2850 1102 842 181 47 102 187 1073 472 .440       215 158 .735
Mike Mitchell SF 23 80   1576 855 329 60 51 29 102 706 362 .513       178 131 .736
Bingo Smith SG 32 72   1650 805 206 121 43 7 75 784 361 .460       106 83 .783
Terry Furlow SG 24 49   1110 653 96 103 40 17 87 569 275 .483       125 103 .824
Foots Walker PG 27 55   1753 553 198 321 130 18 127 448 208 .464       175 137 .783
Butch Lee PG 22 33   782 379 67 126 30 0 58 321 146 .455       113 87 .770
Kenny Higgs PG 24 68   1050 339 102 141 66 11 47 279 127 .455       111 85 .766
John Lambert PF 26 70   1030 331 290 43 25 29 65 329 148 .450       55 35 .636
Jim Brewer PF 27 55   1301 251 370 74 48 56 78 259 114 .440       48 23 .479
Elmore Smith C 29 24   332 156 106 13 7 16 42 130 69 .531       26 18 .692
Harry Davis SF 23 40   394 162 66 16 13 8 23 153 66 .431       43 30 .698
Walt Frazier PG 33 12   279 129 20 32 13 2 22 122 54 .443       27 21 .778
Team Totals     82 82 19680 8732 3485 1796 688 334 1347 7602 3556 .468       2103 1620 .770

HeatingUp Impact Index: Team Impact Spotlight

Player Name Role Tier MPG Usage Tier PPG RPG APG STK (SPG+BPG) Impact Index* Notes Awards
Campy Russell Primary Wing Scorer / Offensive Hub 38.6 High 21.9 6.8 4.7 1.6 17.50 Led team in scoring and playmaking, carrying offensive load with strong rebounding.  AS
Austin Carr Secondary Wing Scorer / Key Perimeter Threat 33.1 High 17.0 3.5 2.6 1.1 12.10 Primary perimeter scorer, capable of creating own shot; efficient FG and FT contributor.  —
Jim Chones Starting Center / Interior Anchor 34.8 Medium–High 13.4 10.3 2.2 1.8 13.85 Anchored interior with strong rebounding and defensive presence; consistent scoring from post.  —
Foots Walker Lead Guard / Facilitator 31.9 Medium 10.1 3.6 5.8 2.7 11.10 Primary ball-handler, led assists and contributed defensive activity; key in transition.  —
Butch Lee Backup Point Guard / Scoring Option 23.7 Medium 11.5 2.0 3.8 0.9 9.10 Provided scoring and playmaking off the bench; capable of spacing floor and driving.  —
Bingo Smith Wing/SG Reserve / Veteran Depth 22.9 Medium–Low 11.2 2.9 1.7 0.7 8.25 Bench scoring option; added spacing and veteran experience to rotation.  —
Walt Frazier Veteran PG / Spot Minutes 23.3 Medium–Low 10.8 1.7 2.7 1.3 8.75 Played limited minutes but contributed leadership, court vision, and perimeter defense.  —
Mike Mitchell Secondary Forward / Emerging Scorer 19.7 Medium–Low 10.7 4.1 0.8 1.0 8.30 Developed as a scoring threat off the wing; strong FG% and defensive activity.  —
Terry Furlow Backup SG / Spot Scorer 22.7 Medium–Low 13.3 2.0 2.1 1.1 9.25 Provided efficient scoring off the bench with some defensive contributions.  —
Jim Brewer PF / Defensive Specialist 23.7 Low 4.6 6.7 1.3 1.9 7.25 Focused on defense and rebounding; offered solid interior minutes and rim protection.  —
John Lambert PF Reserve / Spot Minutes 14.7 Low 4.7 4.1 0.6 0.8 5.10 Used as a backup forward; contributed modest scoring and rebounding.  —
Elmore Smith Center Reserve / Defensive Presence 13.8 Low 6.5 4.4 0.5 1.0 6.20 Offered rim protection and interior scoring in limited minutes.  —
Harry Davis Small Forward Reserve / Minimal Impact 9.9 Very Low 4.1 1.7 0.4 0.5 3.35 Limited minutes; primarily added depth on wing and occasional scoring.  —