Miami Heat centre Zydrunas Ilgauskas announces his retirement from NBA
On Friday, September 30, 2011, NBA saw the last of a loyal and beloved figure when Miami Heat star Zydrunas Ilgauskas announced his retirement from the game. The centre had a long history with injuries and decided to call it a
day rather than go on for another pain filled season.
Ilgauskas spent the majority of his career with the Cleveland Cavaliers, becoming a revered figure among the Cavs faithful. In the summer of 2010, he departed Cleveland to play what turned out to be his only season with Miami Heat,
alongside former Cleveland hero LeBron James.
Ilgauskas played 72 games, starting 51 of them, and averaged 5.0 points and 4.0 rebounds a game, for the Heat in the regular season. He was however forced to sit out some time with recurring foot issues.
"Enough is enough," Ilgauskas told the Cleveland Plain Dealer. "My body is beat up and I'm tired physically. There is no age limit, but everyone knows when it's time."
Ilgauskas said he was tired with the hectic life of a basketball player and his body was simply not up to the task anymore. He revealed that he is looking forward to spending more time with his family now.
"I want to spend more time with my family," said Ilgauskas. "I have spent the past 15 years living out of a suitcase. It's time."
Zydrunas was picked by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 1996 NBA draft, but his career almost never took off. His first four seasons were marred by serious foot injuries and the centre even considered a premature retirement from
the game.
However after a radical surgery, Zydrunas decided to give it another go and was able to play 843 regular-season games in an NBA career, which saw him make two appearances in the All-Star game. He also went to the NBA Finals twice,
both times with the Cleveland Cavaliers, but wasn’t able to add a championship ring to his resume.
With 2,444 offensive rebounds, Zydrunas is 41st all time in the NBA and 40th all time in terms of blocks with 1,327.
His joined the Heat last summer to be part of the revolution at South Beach with James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh forming a new power centre in the NBA. The season though was hard on the 7-foot-3 player as Miami faced severe media
scrutiny and fans were hostile all over the country.
"It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience with the team being put together," Ilgauskas said. "There were lots of ups and downs. When you have a season that stretches so long and it involves more than basketball, it is tough mentally.
You are drained, it's a long year."
Tags: