Manning the Middle: Cleveland Cavaliers Center of Attention Zydrunas Ilgauskas

“He’s the big man in the middle from Lithuania No.11 Zzzzzzzz!!!!!! Zydrunas Ilgauskas” says Ahmaad, the On-court Host/Hype Man for the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Affectionately known as Big Z, he is well known for his practical jokes in the locker room and is loved  by his teammates and fans, standing 7-foot-3 260lbs has been the center of attention for the last 12 years for the Cavalier organization.

Basketball wasn’t the only sport he played, as a youngster Z loved to play soccer and volleyball. But after a growth spurt he decided to concentrate on basketball. Believe it or not Z started out as a point guard.

Ilgauskas started playing professional basketball for the Atletas Basketball club in Kaunas, Lithuania. He tried to enter into the 1995 NBA draft but broke his right foot and had to withdraw.

Z came back strong and reapplied for early entry for the 1996 draft. Then general manager Wayne Embry pulled the trigger and drafted Big Z with the 20th pick in the first round. Z however broke his right foot again and missed his rookie year.

He was able to come back the following season and was named to the All-Rookie first team in 1997-98 also was the MVP of the Rookie Challenge game. The next few years tested Z’s will as he had broke his left foot a couple of times causing him to ponder retirement at the age of 25.

But Z stood tall through the face of adversity, had his fifth surgery in six years, endured grueling months of therapy and in 2001 was able to get back on the court and show the organization that he wasn’t a first round bust that some tried to label him.

All the hard work paid off as he was named to the All-Star game in 2003 and 2005 by the Eastern Conference coaches. In 2007, had another solid season helping his team reach the NBA Finals for the first time in the franchise’s 37-year history.

Off to a solid start this season, Big Z’s stat line reads 15 points 7.7 rebounds 1.3 blocks in 26.1 minutes a night on 53 percent shooting from the field and 84 percent from the free throw stripe. Also he has added the three-point shot to his arsenal hitting on 4-of-10 attempts this season.

Big Z has been playing some of the best ball in his career thanks in part to LeBron James and also Mo Williams. The Cavs are focusing more this year establishing him in the paint. Also he is able to pick and pop to hit the 18-footer.

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