<P> 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 . </P>
<P> 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 . </P>
when did the cavs win their first championship
when did the cavs win their first championship
2016
2016