Zydrunas Ilgauskas goes back to Cleveland Cavaliers again - NBA Update
Cleveland Cavaliers beloved big, Zydrunas Ilgauskas, although retired with a Miami Heat Jersey but he will be always remembered as a Cav.
In his 13 years career with the Cavaliers, he along with LeBron James took the team to a whole new different level and made them one of the best in the league.
Ilgauskas bid adieu to NBA last year after a poor one year injury-plagued stint with the Heat, however the former great is back to NBA and Cleveland again - not as a player this time, but as an assistant to team’s General Manager
Chris Grant.
Zydrunas approached Grant during the extended lockout period and was almost immediately offered the job because of his loyalty to the team over the years. His former team mate, Danny Ferry who also got a Cavaliers office job earlier,
had a role in him getting this job.
Ilgauskas is excited with the prospect of working with the team that made him a star and said he will be trying his best to fulfil his role.
"I always thought this would be a natural step for me after my career was over. I always felt like I had a lot to offer and I've got a lot to learn. I'm willing to learn, and my work ethic won't change. I do have a unique experience
as a player. I played with good players and bad players, good teams and bad teams. I've seen it all."
Ilgauskas could have easily got a job like this in any other team as well but his thirteen years with the Cavs created some emotional attachment with the team and therefore he opted to stay here.
"Everybody knows how I feel about the city of Cleveland and the organization and the fans. It's been home to me and my family for a long time and it will always be home."
At the moment, he is enjoying his retirement. He is coaching his son’s Miami based basketball team and also made a visit to his homeland Lithuania to celebrate his parents wedding anniversary.
"I'm doing all the things that I've missed over the years.”It's been good. I'm enjoying it."
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