Zydrunas Ilgauskas spent 13 seasons in Cleveland before bolting to South Beach with LeBron James.
Cleveland fans view “Big Z” and LeBron in two different lights. LeBron is the villain that back stabbed his hometown and Ilgauskas is pictured as the good guy that did everything the right way.
Ilgauskas is the all-time Cavs leader in rebounds, blocks and games played. He’s second in points, trailing LeBron James.
Ilgauskas will be the seventh Cavalier to have his number retired, and the first since Mark Price’s No. 25 in 1999. Other players so honored include Nate Thurmond (42), Bingo Smith (7), Austin Carr (34), Larry Nance (22) and Brad Daugherty (43).
Cleveland plans to retire the 7-footer’s number on March 8th when they host the Knicks.