CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Cavaliers will add four greats to the franchise’s Wall of Honor on March 26 prior to that evening’s game against the Chicago Bulls.
The Cavs announced Tuesday that World B. Free, Gordon Gund, Campy Russell and Lenny Wilkens comprise the 2022 class of honorees.
The Cavs said the “Wall of Honor program was created to recognize deserving former members of the franchise and serve as a special, permanent way to honor those who have played such a distinguished, pivotal role in Cavs history.”
“The 2022 class of inductees has impacted the Cavaliers organization in deep and different ways,” said Cavaliers and Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse CEO Len Komoroski. “As we look at their respective contributions, it is very clear and easy to understand how each has significantly elevated the franchise and deserves a special place of honor as part of our history.”
Here is a bio from the Cavs on the four inductees:
Free helped energize a resurgence for the franchise and brought a special fan connection and energetic appeal every step of the way. He owns the second-highest career scoring average in Cavaliers history (23.0 PPG) and led the Cavs to the 1985 NBA Playoffs after a seven-year absence. He never averaged less than 22.0 PPG in any of his four seasons with Cleveland.
As principal owner and chairman of the Cavaliers from 1983-2005, Gund saved the team by acquiring the franchise in 1983. He also helped create downtown’s thriving Gateway District by agreeing to move the team there starting in 1994. Gund was a caring leader that established integrity, business and basketball acumen, charitable giving, and civic pride as organizational imperatives for the franchise. He remained a Minority Partner in the franchise from 2005-2021.
Russell played seven seasons with the Cavaliers, including the 1975-76 Miracle of Richfield season. He was an NBA All-Star in 1979 and ranks among the Cavaliers all-time leaders in PTS (6,588), FGM (2,480) and FTM (1,627). Russell is an Ohio Basketball Hall of Fame inductee (2014) and is still heavily involved in the Cavaliers community with numerous charitable initiatives and programs. He also still serves as the Cavaliers director of alumni relations and is the pregame and postgame analyst for Bally Sports Ohio’s broadcasts of Cavalier games on television.
Wilkens holds the franchise record for most wins as a coach (316) and led the Cavaliers to five playoff appearances (1988, 1989, 1990, 1992, 1993). He was recently named one of the Top 15 Coaches in NBA history as part of the league’s 75th Season celebration. Wilkens was also an NBA All-Star as a Cavaliers player (1973) and the first Cavalier to be the head coach in an All-Star Game (1989). Wilkens was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1998.