Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert pulled out all the stops to help his team reach the Eastern Conference finals for the first time since the 2017-18 season.
Gilbert’s latest thoughtful gesture further endeared him to Cleveland’s loyal fan base, boosting his reputation as one of the NBA’s most supportive owners.
Dan Gilbert Earns Praise for Bringing 25 Fan-Filled Buses to Detroit for Cavs’ Game 7 Win
In Sunday’s do-or-die Game 7 Eastern Conference semifinal road matchup against the Detroit Pistons, Gilbert, who purchased the Cavaliers for $375 million in 2005, chartered 25 buses to take thousands of fans on an all-expenses-paid trip to Detroit’s Little Caesars Arena.
Gilbert’s purpose in sending Clevelanders to Detroit, which is incidentally his birthplace, was to mitigate the No. 1-seeded Pistons’ home-court advantage and to inspire his team to advance to the conference finals.
This act of kindness mirrors what Gilbert did in Games 1, 2, and 5, when he also deployed fewer than 10 buses to show the team it is not alone on the road. The heartfelt gesture for the Cavaliers faithful prompted the NBA world to heap praise on the 64-year-old, whose net worth Forbes estimates to be $22.4 billion.
“Dan Gilbert and the @cavs went BIG for tonight’s Game 7 in Detroit. Similar to Game 5, when they took eight busloads of season ticket holders up to Detroit for the game, today they’re bringing up 25 busloads of #Cavs fans, with all expenses covered for Game 7. Yes, TWENTY-FIVE!” WKYC-TV 3 sports anchor Nick Camino exclaimed on X.
Dan Gilbert and the @cavs went BIG for tonight’s Game 7 in Detroit.
Similar to Game 5 when they took eight busloads of season ticket holders up to Detroit for the game, today they’re bringing up 25 busloads of #Cavs fans, with all expenses covered for Game 7. Yes, TWENTY-FIVE!
— Nick Camino (@NickCaminoWKYC) May 17, 2026
One Cavaliers supporter commended Gilbert, writing, “Win or lose, @cavsdan is the greatest owner in sports. [25] buses loaded up to take Cavs fans to Detroit. Free tickets, bus, shirt, food, happy hour. Incredible.”
Win or lose, @cavsdan is the greatest owner in sports. 22 busses loaded up to take Cavs fans to Detroit.
Free – Tickets, bus, shirt, food, happy hour. Incredible. pic.twitter.com/VwFKZfk5sG
— Jimbo (@CleJimbo) May 17, 2026
Ohio State fan account Buckeye Scoop chimed in with a similar sentiment, declaring that Gilbert “is the best owner in sports.”
Dan Gilbert @cavsdan is the best owner in sports.
— BuckeyeScoop (@BuckeyeScoop) May 18, 2026
Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson was also grateful for his owner’s unwavering support.
“I think it speaks to watching how this organization operates. All the little stuff on the margins. He believes in every little thing counts, and if he thought that was going to give us just a tiny bit boost, which he obviously did, he’s going to make the effort,” Atkinson said.
“There’s a whole group that made that possible. I’ve never seen that in the NBA, college maybe, you know, and it mattered. I think it mattered. I think it helped. I think our guys would agree.”
#Cavs Kenny Atkinson on Dan Gilbert sending 25 buses full of Cleveland fans to Detroit for Game 7.
“Never seen anything like it in the NBA.” pic.twitter.com/9VP172ZU3K
— Leah Doherty (@LeahDohertyTV) May 18, 2026
Cover 1 Buffalo podcast host Greg Tompsett also lauded Gilbert’s financial commitment toward Cleveland fans who showed up at every game this season.
“This is a sports owner putting his money where his mouth is. Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert bought almost every ticket on the secondary market for Game 7 in Detroit to send 25… TWENTY-FIVE buses of Cavs fans to the game fed & with a Cavs T-shirt,” Tompsett raved.
This is a sports owner putting his money where his mouth is
Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert bought almost every ticket on the secondary market for game 7 in Detroit to send 25… TWENTY-FIVE buses of Cavs fans to the game fed & with a Cavs T-shirt pic.twitter.com/soqUymqkss pic.twitter.com/GPsdVvp3jh
— Greg Cover 1 🏈 (@GregTompsett) May 17, 2026
SM Highlights added that Gilbert is rightfully at the helm of the organization.
“Cavs owner Dan Gilbert is really one of us. Sent 25 buses to Detroit for game 7. Is sitting in the nose bleeds for this game. We made the right guy in charge,” the outlet gushed.
Cavs owner Dan Gilbert is really one of us.
Sent 25 busses to Detroit for game 7. Is sitting in the nose bleeds for this game.
We made the right guy in charge. pic.twitter.com/egLDUA0VU7
— SM Highlights (@SMHighlights1) May 18, 2026
A prominent Cavaliers personality who goes by the X username Ferret Allen also had nothing but kind words for the majority owner, writing, “There’s a reason Cavs fans are never chanting ‘sell the team.’ Dan Gilbert is so awesome.”
There’s a reason Cavs fans are never chanting “sell the team.” Dan Gilbert is so awesome. https://t.co/p4wPFYv74V
— 𝕱𝖊𝖗𝖗𝖊𝖙 𝖆𝖑𝖑𝖊𝖓 (@ferretallen) May 17, 2026
Gilbert’s plan to crowd the arena with visiting fans ultimately worked overwhelmingly in Cleveland’s favor. His squad jumped on the Pistons from the opening tip, building an early 9-point lead after the first quarter and never looking back en route to a resounding 125-94 victory.
The Cavaliers will advance to face the New York Knicks in the East finals, with Game 1 scheduled for Tuesday at Madison Square Garden.
