Zydrunas Ilgauskas

Zydrunas Ilgauskas is a Lithuanian-American former professional basketball player who spent the majority of his career with the National Basketball Association playing for the Cleveland Cavaliers. He was twice named an NBA All-Star.

Player Profile and Personal Life

Žydrūnas Ilgauskas was born on June 5, 1975, in Kaunas, Lithuanian SSR, Soviet Union. He stood an imposing 7 feet 3 inches tall and weighed 260 pounds during his playing career.

Ilgauskas played as a center and wore jersey number 11, which was later retired by the Cleveland Cavaliers. He became a naturalized American citizen during his NBA career.

Professional Career

Ilgauskas started his professional career with Atletas Kaunas in Lithuania from 1993 to 1996. He was then drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers with the 20th overall pick in the 1996 NBA Draft.

Ilgauskas' NBA career got off to a rocky start due to foot injuries that caused him to miss significant time in his first few seasons. He made his NBA debut on October 31, 1997, and was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team in 1998.

Throughout his career, Ilgauskas was known for his soft touch around the basket, his ability to hit mid-range jump shots, and his shot-blocking skills. He was selected as an NBA All-Star twice, in 2003 and 2005.

Ilgauskas played 13 seasons with the Cavaliers, becoming the franchise leader in games played, rebounds, and blocked shots. He was a key member of the Cavaliers teams that made deep playoff runs in the mid-2000s, including a trip to the NBA Finals in 2007.

In his final NBA season (2010-2011), Ilgauskas joined the Miami Heat, reuniting with former teammate LeBron James. He retired after that season, concluding a 13-year NBA career.

After retirement, Ilgauskas' jersey number 11 was retired by the Cavaliers in 2014, cementing his legacy as one of the greatest players in franchise history.

Career Highlights:

• 1998 - NBA All-Rookie First Team
• 2003, 2005 - NBA All-Star
• 2014 - Jersey number 11 retired by Cleveland Cavaliers