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October 8, 2009
Reports are circulating this morning that long time Cavaliers center Zydrunas Ilgauskas is considering retirement upon the completion of the 2009-10 season. In an interview with NBA FanHouse, Ilgauskas touched on his future.
“This [season] could be it,” Ilgauskas said. “I don’t know. … Injuries. Everything else. I’m not a spring chicken any more. So we’ll see how I feel [after the season]. I’ll decide how long I’m going to play after this year,” Ilgauskas said. “For me right now, the most important thing is winning.”
Ilguaskas, 34, is entering his 13th season in the NBA – a number that is crazy considering how rough the road was for the big man out of the gate.
Only playing in 110 games through his first five seasons, Ilgauskas had as many surgeries on his feet as he did years in the NBA. But since 2001, Ilgauskas has been nothing short of remarkable. Never the most athletic man on the floor, he has put up two seasons that garnered All-Star recognition and a career that made the Cavaliers feel that he was worth a relatively longterm deal. One that pays him over $11 million, but also one that ends this season.
Rarely will you find a guy that spends as many years in the league as Ilgauskas. Even more rare is the fact that the man they affectionately call Big Z has played for this tenure on the same team which drafted him.
“He’s had an excellent career,” coach Mike Brown said. “He’s obviously missing one thing in his career: a championship. I’m sure he would like be part of that. But he’s got a beautiful wife at home in Jennifer, and they adopted a couple of great kids.”
Now a father, Ilgauskas will have to balance family with basketball. But while the debate on if the team should retire his jersey upon career completion will debate until the decision is made, there is no denying the impact that the big man has made on the Cavaliers through good times and bad. I mean, he was forced to wear the black and electric blues!
I have a hard time picturing Cavaliers basketball without Ilgauskas, even if he will be coming off of the bench this season. FanHouse says that he has a shot at being the sixth man of the year on a very talented Cavaliers team. But while many welcome the addition of Shaquille O’Neal to this team, there is no denying who holds down the center spot in the hearts of every Cavs fan.
Feelings can change through out the season. Perhaps the team would like Ilgauskas to be a part of the franchise in a front office role. Perhaps they would like him to stick around on the floor for another year or so to groom the young post players that litter the current roster. Either way, things will work out for the best. But what better way to end a career with your team of 13 years than to finish it off with a ring?
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Ilgauskas May Retire After This Season [NBA FanHouse]
18 Comments
I don’t think retiring Z’s jersey is a debate in any way. Show me the person that doesn’t think it should happen, and I’ll show you someone who should be banned from the Q.
EZ – Rock had a solid post regarding this matter this past May [WFNY]
Z is the anti Keith Hernandez. We should hang the number for that reason alone.
I would say they need to retire his jersey. Without a doubt, there was no player who was more important to the Cavs during the years between Price/Daugherty and LeBron. He was a force in his all-star years… he just didn’t have a lick of talent around him to get into the playoffs.
No debate on whether 11 should be retired. Get him that ring so he can go out on top!
It shouldn’t be open for discussion. When Z retires, the #11 needs to be hanging at the Q. I loved during the preseason game Monday night, when Z subbed in for Shaq, the crowd roared. It never dawned on me about him now being in contention for the 6th Man Award. He’s gotta be a preseason favorite. He means as much, if not more than almost any Cavalier in history. I’ll always have the image of Z and Lebron embracing when we won the ECF. Such a beautiful moment in Cleveland sports history.
Anyone who thinks 11 shouldn’t be in the rafters with 25, 22, 7, 34, 43, 42 isn’t a true cavs fan. How great will it be to send him out with a ring?
The only other question, is if Gilbert will be able to afford free Krispy Kreme’s for Z.
unfortunately, Ginobli is the 6th man favorite as the Spurs like to manipulate awards to garner their team more respect (see Duncan being listed as PF instead of C to ensure he starts the allstar game and has a better shot at 1st team all-nba).
however, once Ginobli suffers his annual injury that forces him to miss 1/4 of the season, the door will be opened for Z.
and there should be a discussion about retiring Z’s #…
the discussion should be if we do it opening night with the championship banner unveiling..or if we give Z his own night. I say we give him his own night.
I just saw Z at the Heinen’s in Bay Village last week.
Am I the only one worried about how we have two great centers with expiring contracts this year? I mean, if both these guys go out on top with a ring, who plays center next year? If we want to build a dynasty, we gotta be thinking about that.
@ Kory – live for this year, man. This year.
And while the pulleys are in place, please lower #42 when you raise Z’s number.
The most ridiculous jersey retirement in any sport, ever. “Oooh, we almost went to the conference FINALS with an old Yoda who played less than a full season!” The paradigm of Cleveland Pathetic. You too, Bingo, better watch your back when the rafters get crowded.
Even if Ginobli is the favorite to win Sixth Man of the Year, there’s no doubt the Cavs have the best second unit in basketball: West, Moon, Ilgauskas, Hickson and Gibson.
I thought we were deep last year, but this is even better.
Cavs need to win a ring for Z. He’s a true Cavalier, love him to death.
*Tear*
I think if the Cavs win it all this year, they’ll bring back Z and or Shaq. ideally you want both back if we win it all, they have solid seasons, and the price is right. Bosh is a FA this summer, so maybe after we re-sign Lebron, we can land him, or another good center via trade.
The Cavs have the most retired numbers compared to championships. Who would’ve thought such a terrible franchise (historically) could have so many great players.
[…] the past couple days we’ve talked about how Cavaliers center Zydrunas Ilgauskas could be contemplating retirement following this year, we’ve discussed his importance to the Cavs’ legacy, and we’ve even […]