Where They Went: The Core of the ‘Miracle’ Cavs

Let’s take a look:

Austin Carr – Mr. Cavalier himself. The face of the franchise, the guy with the sweetest jumper east of the Cuyahoga. But man, those knees. Once a walking bucket out of Notre Dame, Carr just couldn’t stay healthy. By the late ’70s, he was more name than game. He stuck around through 1980, then finished his career with a quick stop in Dallas. But you’ll still see him courtside or on the FanDuel Sports Network pregame set today, wearing a mic and dropping catchphrases on Cavs broadcasts. He is Cleveland basketball.

Campy Russell – The smooth scorer. Big-time midrange game, confident as they come. Campy actually kept getting better after ’76. Made the All-Star team in ’79, then the Cavs — in classic Cavs fashion — traded him to the Knicks. He wrapped up his career in New York, but like Carr, came back to Cleveland later in life and became a broadcaster and franchise ambassador. One of the franchise’s all-time greats.

Jim Chones – The big man who could’ve changed everything. That foot injury before the Boston series? It might be the biggest “what-if” in Cavs history pre-LeBron. After ’76, Chones stayed solid, even won a ring as a backup with the Lakers in ’80. Imagine that: the heart of the Miracle team winning a title somewhere else. Today, he’s a Cavs radio analyst. Still sharp. Still tells it like it is.

Bingo Smith – The silent assassin. Pure shooter. Cool nickname, cooler game. “Bingo!” became the rallying cry before anyone knew what a rally towel was. He played until ’79, always steady, always reliable. His No. 7 hangs in the rafters today, and rightly so. One of the original Cavaliers, one of the most underrated.

Foots Walker – The floor general. Small, scrappy, always in control. Foots wasn’t flashy, but he knew how to run the show. He played with the Cavs until 1980, then moved on to New Jersey for a few more seasons. Not a star, but a tone-setter. Every team needs a Foots.

Jim Brewer – Rebounding machine and defensive glue guy. You didn’t notice him unless you watched the game with a coach’s eye. But Bill Fitch loved him. Brewer stuck around Cleveland through 1979, then bounced to Detroit and Portland. Never a star, but always respected.

Dick Snyder – The guy who hit the shot in Game 7 against Washington. Played like a man who never felt pressure. Snyder kept rolling for a few more years, then was traded to Seattle and actually won a championship with the Sonics in ’79. Funny how that works.

Nate Thurmond – A legend, even if his Cavs cameo was short. He came over late in his career to be the veteran voice in the locker room, and he was perfect in that role. Big blocks, big heart, big presence. He retired after ’77. Died in 2016, but remains one of the most respected big men to ever lace ’em up. Was the first Akron product (Central-Hower High School) to play for the Cavs.