When SNL turned LeBron James' Cavaliers into a national punchline: "Our point guard is a Roomba" - United States News Beep

Following the historic events of the 2016 NBA Finals, which included the Cleveland Cavaliers coming back from a 3-1 deficit to win their first NBA Championship, it was easy to assume that the Cavaliers players and fans were on cloud nine.

After all, they had just beaten the Golden State Warriors juggernaut that went 73-9 during the regular season. With a core of experienced vets led by LeBron James, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love, there was no reason that the Cavaliers wouldn’t be considered title favorites for the coming years.

But then the Warriors signed Kevin Durant ahead of the 2016-17 season, forming arguably the most talented superteam in NBA history.

As expected, the Warriors and Cavaliers tore through the regular season and the playoffs to set up another NBA Finals matchup. This time around, however, there would be no miraculous comeback, as the Warriors defeated the Cavaliers in five games, with Durant winning Finals MVP and his first NBA title.

As if getting pummelled in the Finals wasn’t painful enough, Irving requested a trade from the Cavaliers and was ultimately dealt to the Boston Celtics in exchange for Isaiah Thomas, Jae Crowder, and Ante Zizic. The 2017-18 season would end up being one of the weirdest Cavs seasons ever, as at one point the team had James, Love, Thomas, Dwyane Wade and Derrick Rose on its roster.

Unfortunately for the Cavaliers, Thomas’ health became a concern, while Wade and Rose really didn’t pan out and all three would be gone after the trade deadline.

By the time the playoffs came along, James and Love were playing alongside the likes of Rodney Hood, George Hill, Jordan Clarkson, and Larry Nance Jr.

Still, James carried this almost unrecognizable Cavaliers roster through the playoffs and back into the NBA Finals. To nobody’s surprise, the Cavs would end up getting swept by the Warriors, who went on to win their second-straight NBA title and their third in the last four seasons.

Throughout that postseason run, James nearly averaged a triple-double, going for 34 points, nine assists, and 9.1 rebounds in that 22-game stretch. The next best Cavalier? Love averaged just 14.9 points.

James’ herculean effort to lead this particular Cavaliers roster back to the NBA Finals became the story of the postseason, and it even transcended the world of basketball and became the topic of a sketch on NBC’s Saturday Night Live.

“The Other Cavaliers”

In May of 2018, right around the time the Eastern Conference Semifinals were underway, SNL released a sketch that didn’t make it to air but was uploaded to their YouTube channel, entitled “Cleveland Cavs Promo.” The sketch, which starred guest host Donald Glover, as well as other SNL cast members, poked fun at the sorry state of the Cavaliers’ roster outside of James.

The sketch started out looking like a typical promo for the Cavaliers’ playoff run, then descended into hilarious madness by exaggerating the kind of players James had to carry in the postseason.

“Whatever LeBron needs, we’ll get it done, as long as what he needs isn’t basketball,” a pair of ‘The Other Cavaliers’”said.

The sketch then humorously goes into the roles that the other members of the team play, like giving James high-fives, giving him massages, holding his third and fourth cellphones, sweeping up his chalk, and picking up his laundry.

As the sketch goes on, the gags get funnier and funnier as the other Cavaliers get worse and worse, with the supposed “players” shooting “Granny-style”, being heavy smokers, and one being a dog.

“Our point guard is a Roomba,” said “Kevin Love” who’s played by SNL cast member Mikey Day.

“I’m still learning the rules, and I’m a slow learner!” exclaimed then-cast member Pete Davidson’s character.

The sketch ends with the other Cavaliers saying thank you and sorry to LeBron.

Yet to return to the Finals

It’s easy to poke fun at the 2018 Cavaliers, but the fact of the matter is that they’re the last Cavaliers team to ever even make it to the NBA Finals. Following that season, James left for the Los Angeles Lakers, and the Cavaliers began what can be considered a rebuilding phase.

They finished at the bottom of the conference for the next three seasons. Then they had their first winning season in 2021, finishing with a 44-38 record, which was enough to earn them a spot in the Play-In Tournament, wherein they’d ultimately lose and fail to make the postseason for a fourth straight year.

Since then, the Cavaliers have slowly rebuilt themselves into a contender. Led by Donovan Mitchell and a new core, they finally returned to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2026 for the first time since James left town.

Yet for all the success they’ve enjoyed, that 2018 run remains one of the most remarkable chapters in franchise history. After all, it wasn’t just basketball fans who were stunned that James dragged that roster to the NBA Finals.

This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Jun 6, 2026, where it first appeared in the Old School section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

When SNL turned LeBron James’ Cavaliers into a national punchline: “Our point guard is a Roomba”

Tags: