CLEVELAND – The Cleveland Cavaliers have been named the NBA’s Team of the Year and honored as the recipients of the league’s Inclusion Leadership Award. The achievements were announced at the NBA’s Annual Sales and Marketing Meeting on January 12, 2026. These league-wide recognitions celebrate the Cavaliers’ outstanding performance on the court, in business and in the community.
The Cavaliers delivered a third consecutive record-breaking revenue year, led by innovations in ticketing, partnerships and retail. A nearly 70% annual increase in new season ticket memberships helped the franchise reach a home sellout streak of 170 games and counting. The team’s retail and partnership success are highlighted by an unprecedented NBA City Edition uniform campaign in partnership with the Cleveland Museum of Art and progress on the Cleveland Clinic Global Peak Performance Center, part of a 25-year extension with the Cleveland Clinic. New premium and fan experiences at Rocket Arena included the addition of the members-only luxury club “HIPP,” an enhanced lighting system marking the largest in the NBA and the “Cavalanche” in-game experience powered by Wendy’s.
“This recognition affirms the bold, high-impact culture we are building at Rock Entertainment Group – one that uses sports and entertainment to drive meaningful economic energy, opportunity and pride for Cleveland and this region,” said Nic Barlage, Rock Entertainment Group, Cleveland Cavaliers and Rocket Arena CEO. “It is also a direct reflection of our Chairman Dan Gilbert’s vision, commitment and investment in building an enduring enterprise that helps our community thrive while positioning our city and our business alongside the very best in our industry. Most importantly, this honor belongs to our team members, partners, fans and community, who show up with purpose and passion every day to help turn our ambitions into something real and lasting.”
In addition to the revenue-based success, inclusion and community impact were core to the Cavaliers’ enterprise strategy, guided by Chairman Dan Gilbert’s “For More Than Profit” philosophy of In commemoration of the legacy of the 1967 Cleveland Summit, the Cavaliers launched two marquee initiatives: “A Seat at the Table: Voices of Tomorrow,” a leadership experience for nearly 100 young adults, and the “Social Impact Academy,” a fully funded nine-month program for 20 students focused on equity, civic engagement and activism.
These recognitions build on last year’s honors at the NBA Sales and Marketing Meeting, where Cavaliers team members, Pam Frasco and Cindy Norman, received the prestigious Values of the Game Award and the Pete Winemiller Guest Experience Awards, respectively.
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