Last Updated on July 29, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

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The Cleveland Cavaliers 1970–71 leaned on Bingo Smith as their primary scorer, while John Johnson and Rick Roberson provided valuable frontcourt production through scoring and rebounding. Lenny Wilkens directed the offense as the team’s leading playmaker and added consistent scoring from the backcourt. The statistics indicate an expansion team built around balanced offensive contributions, dependable rebounding, and experienced guard play rather than a single dominant all-around performer.

Roster

No. Player Pos Ht Wt Birth Date From
11 John Warren G 6-3 185 Jan 7, 1947 St. John’s
12 Johnny Egan G 6-0 180 Jan 31, 1939 Providence
14 Gary Suiter F 6-9 235 Jan 18, 1945 Kansas
15 John DeLong G 6-2 180 Jul 1, 1948 Miami (OH)
18 Walt Wesley C 6-11 220 Jan 25, 1945 Kansas
19 Len Chappell F 6-8 240 Jan 31, 1941 Wake Forest
20 Gary Phillips G 6-3 185 Dec 7, 1939 Houston
21 Bob Warren F 6-5 190 Jul 17, 1946 Vanderbilt
22 McCoy McLemore F 6-7 235 Apr 3, 1942 Drake
23 Rick Roberson C 6-9 231 Jul 7, 1947 Cincinnati
24 Butch Beard G 6-3 185 May 5, 1947 Louisville
25 Johnny Green F 6-5 200 Oct 12, 1933 Michigan State
30 Bobby Lewis F 6-6 200 Feb 14, 1945 North Carolina
31 Jimmy Cleamons G 6-3 185 Sep 13, 1949 Ohio State
33 Walt Frazier G 6-4 200 Mar 29, 1945 Southern Illinois
34 Jeff Huston F 6-8 220 Nov 15, 1948 Tennessee Tech

Note: Player numbers may have changed during the season and not all players played the full year with the team.

Regular Season Per Game

PLAYER NAME POS AGE G GS MPG PPG RPG APG STL BLK TOV FGA FGM FG% 3PA 3PM 3P% FTA FTM FT%
Walt Wesley C 26 82   29.6 17.7 8.7 1.0       15.1 6.9 .455       5.8 4.0 .687
John Johnson SF 23 67   34.5 16.6 6.8 4.8       15.4 6.5 .422       4.4 3.6 .805
Bingo Smith SG 24 77   30.3 15.2 5.6 3.4       14.4 6.4 .448       3.0 2.3 .761
McCoy McLemore SF 28 58   31.7 11.7 8.0 3.0       11.3 4.4 .388       3.8 2.9 .773
John Warren PG 23 82   31.8 11.5 4.2 4.2       11.0 4.6 .423       2.6 2.2 .829
Dave Sorenson PF 22 79   24.6 11.3 6.2 2.1       10.1 4.5 .445       2.9 2.3 .803
Luther Rackley C 24 74   19.4 7.6 5.3 0.9       6.4 3.0 .466       2.6 1.6 .637
Bobby Washington PG 23 47   17.5 7.4 2.2 4.0       6.6 2.6 .397       3.0 2.2 .743
Len Chappell — 30 6   14.3 6.8 3.0 0.2       6.3 2.5 .395       2.3 1.8 .786
Bobby Lewis SG 25 79   23.4 5.9 2.6 3.1       6.1 2.3 .370       1.9 1.4 .717
Joe Cooke SG 22 73   9.9 4.3 1.6 1.3       4.7 1.8 .393       0.8 0.7 .814
Johnny Egan PG 32 26   15.8 4.0 1.2 2.2       3.8 1.5 .408       1.1 1.0 .893
Cliff Anderson SG 26 23   7.4 3.4 1.6 0.7       2.6 0.8 .322       2.6 1.8 .683
Larry Mikan SF 22 53   10.1 3.0 2.6 0.8       3.5 1.2 .333       1.0 0.6 .618
Gary Suiter — 26 30   4.7 1.4 1.4 0.1       1.8 0.6 .352       0.3 0.1 .444
Gary Freeman SF 22 11   4.3 1.4 0.7 0.4       1.1 0.6 .583       0.2 0.1 .500
Team Totals     82   240.0 102.1 48.6 25.2       94.9 40.2 .424       29.0 21.6 .746

Regular Season Totals

PLAYER POS AGE GP GS MIN PTS REB AST STL BLK TOV FGA FGM FG% 3PA 3PM 3P% FTA FTM FT%
Walt Wesley   26 82   2425 1455 713 83       1241 565 .455       473 325 .687
Bingo Smith   24 77   2332 1168 429 258       1106 495 .448       234 178 .761
John Johnson   23 67   2310 1110 453 323       1032 435 .422       298 240 .805
John Warren   23 82   2610 940 344 347       899 380 .423       217 180 .829
Dave Sorenson   22 79   1940 890 486 163       794 353 .445       229 184 .803
McCoy McLemore   28 58   1839 678 463 176       654 254 .388       220 170 .773
Luther Rackley   24 74   1434 559 394 66       470 219 .466       190 121 .637
Bobby Lewis   25 79   1852 467 206 244       484 179 .370       152 109 .717
Bobby Washington   23 47   823 350 105 190       310 123 .397       140 104 .743
Joe Cooke   22 73   725 316 114 93       341 134 .393       59 48 .814
Larry Mikan   22 53   536 158 139 41       186 62 .333       55 34 .618
Johnny Egan   32 26   410 105 32 58       98 40 .408       28 25 .893
Cliff Anderson   26 23   171 79 37 16       59 19 .322       60 41 .683
Gary Suiter   26 30   140 42 41 2       54 19 .352       9 4 .444
Len Chappell   30 6   86 41 18 1       38 15 .395       14 11 .786
Gary Freeman   22 11   47 15 8 4       12 7 .583       2 1 .500
Team Totals     82   19680 8373 3982 2065       7778 3299 .424       2380 1775 .746

HeatingUp Impact Index: Team Impact Spotlight

Player Name Role Tier MPG Usage Tier PPG RPG APG STK (SPG+BPG) Impact Index* Notes Awards
John Johnson Primary Wing / All-Around Core 34.5 High 16.6 6.8 4.8 — 14.1 As the expansion Cleveland Cavaliers’ first-ever All-Star — and their first franchise-era high-volume wing — Johnson served as a foundational two-way swingman. He led the team in assists among wings and delivered reliable scoring, rebounding and facilitation on a team built from scratch.  All-Star (AS) 
Walt Wesley Starting Center / Offensive Anchor 29.6 High 17.7 8.7 1.0 — 14.7 As the Cavs’ starting big man, Wesley led the team in scoring and rebounding. He delivered career-best production, provided interior scoring and board control — including a historic 50-point game on 19 Feb 1971 that stood out the season.  —
Bingo Smith Two-Guard / Secondary Scoring Wing 30.3 High-Medium 15.2 5.6 3.4 — 12.1 Smith provided consistent secondary scoring and perimeter shooting — a go-to for jumpers and outside threat (his “rainbow jumper” would define his long-term reputation). On an otherwise weak roster, he was one of the few dependable offensive options.  —
McCoy McLemore Frontcourt Versatile / Rebounding-First 31.7 Medium 11.7 8.0 3.0 — 11.1 McLemore offered valuable rebounding and physicality on the wing/forward slot — a stabilizing presence on boards during a chaotic inaugural season. His role skewed toward inside play and effort rebounding rather than high usage scoring.  —
John Warren Primary Ball-Handler / Playmaking Guard 31.8 Medium 11.5 4.2 4.2 — 10.8 As the backcourt lead guard, Warren carried a fair share of playmaking responsibility. On a roster cobbled together via expansion draft, he helped organize the offense and distribute the ball, providing stability in transition and half-court sets.  —
Dave Sorenson Support Forward / Role-Player Big 24.6 Medium-Low 11.3 6.2 2.1 — 9.8 Sorenson offered bench/rotation minutes, giving the Cavs depth up front. He contributed modest scoring and rebounding, helping relieve the starters when tired or in foul trouble.  —
Bobby Washington Backup Guard / Situational Playmaker 17.5 Low-Medium 7.4 2.2 4.0 — 6.8 Though used sparingly, Washington provided some ball handling and playmaking depth behind the starters. On a roster with limited guard depth, his ability to pass was a moderate asset in relief.  —
Luther Rackley Backup Big / Spot Minutes Inside 19.4 Low 7.6 5.3 0.9 — 6.9 Rackley contributed as a backup center/forward, giving modest minutes and helping on the boards. His role was limited but necessary for rotation depth.  —
Johnny Egan Veteran Reserve Guard 15.8 Low 4.0 1.2 2.2 — 4.7 As an older guard on a young expansion team, Egan provided veteran presence off the bench, handling the ball occasionally and contributing modest relieve minutes at point guard. —
Joe Cooke Deep Bench Wing 9.9 Low 4.3 1.6 1.3 — 3.6 Cooke played minimal minutes, offering occasional scoring or rest for rotation players — but his impact was naturally limited in a rebuilding season.  —
Cliff Anderson Fringe Roster / Garbage-Time Role 7.4 Very Low 3.4 1.6 0.7 — 2.9 Anderson’s role was marginal, likely limited to spot minutes or end-of-game situations on a thin roster. His contribution was small.  —
Larry Mikan Young Fringe Forward 10.1 Very Low 3.0 2.6 0.8 — 3.2 Mikan was a young forward with limited role and playing time, likely developmental or depth-oriented, with little impact on overall team performance.  —
Gary Suiter Minimal-Use Bench 4.7 Very Low 1.4 1.4 0.1 — 1.5 Suiter had very limited playing time and nominal production — essentially a marginal end-of-bench body on a fledgling roster.  —
Gary Freeman Deep Bench / Development 4.3 Very Low 1.4 0.7 0.4 — 1.4 Freeman barely saw floor time; his role was purely marginal depth, perhaps developmental for future seasons.  —