As the Cavs count down toward No. 27, the number’s place in team history looks more like a footnote than a headline. Only three players have worn it, and none of them left behind a long Cleveland legacy.
The first came in 1998, when Dumas finished his final NBA season with the Cavaliers. His career lasted just four years across three teams, with most of that time spent in Dallas.
That was where he had his best stretch, including the 1996 season when he averaged nearly 12 points per game. In Cleveland, though, his run was brief: seven games, 14 total points, and 12 made field goals.
Dwayne Jones followed with a longer NBA journey, but not a big scoring one in Cleveland. He spent two seasons with the Cavs across a six-year league career and averaged 1.4 points in 60 games with the team. Jones also had stops with the Celtics, Warriors, Bobcats, and Suns before his career ended.
The most recent player to wear No. 27 was Kabangele, who appeared in 16 games for Cleveland in 2021. Mfiondu’s NBA career covered only three seasons, with the bulk of his playing time coming in Los Angeles, where he appeared in 35 games for the Clippers. He also played for the Cavs and Celtics.
The number has still produced one clear team bright spot. Geoff Huston set the Cavaliers’ record with 27 assists in a game against the Golden State Warriors, and Cleveland won 110-106. He added 24 points in that game, too.
Last season, the Cavs protected home court with 27 wins in front of their own fans, a major boost during the playoff run. With the East getting tougher, that kind of support will matter again this season as Cleveland tries to get back to the Conference Finals and beyond.
Donovan Mitchell also gave No. 27 a kind of current-day connection, finishing last season at 27 points per game in 70 games. It was his best offensive season since his first year in Cleveland in 2022, and this offseason he chose to stay because of the home crowd that helped fuel the team’s success. He wants to finish his career in Cleveland and help the Cavaliers win a ring.
For No. 27, that’s the full story: a few short player stints, one record-setting night from Huston, and a number that now gets a little more shine as the Cavs keep counting down.
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Hezonjas path is especially unusual, since he has already worked his way back to the NBA after a strong overseas stint and a Spanish ACB Regular Season MVP award. Porters case is tied to both his shooting efficiency and his contract situation, while Tomlin remains the developmental wild card in the group. If even one of them takes a real step forward, Clevelands bench conversation could look a lot different than it does now. [Read more 🡒]
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Kenny Atkinson Sounds Confident In A Cavs Battle Fans Will Watch
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Atkinsons confidence matters because the Cavs have spent the offseason trying to balance development with the need to stay competitive in a tough Eastern Conference. The same conversation has surfaced elsewhere in the league, with Pacers GM Chad Buchanan also laying out how Jarace Walker fits into Indianas plans for the coming season. For Cleveland, the focus now is less on outside moves than on how much its own depth can carry when the games start to tighten. [Read more 🡒]