Check out highlights from Big Z's career, ranging from draft day to his final days as a Cavalier. Visit nba.com/video for more highlights.
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Not many people in their right mind would stay with the Cavs for 14 years. This man is one of those people who really found a home in Cleveland. Thank you Z
yea, also cleveland is a shitty place to live
Patrick Charles He lived near me in Avon Lake , not cleveland lol.
His From Lithuania :)
TheSquidKing XX Doesn't mean he never lived in Cleveland. I mean what do you expect? He travels everyday to USA for a basketball game when he's all the way from Lithuania?
I see. He traveled from Lithuania to the United States for NBA basketball. Well he recently received citizenship and lives JAV.End their career for family wanted to spend time with family.But However, it IS the NBA legend. BIG Z
He was a true Cavalier. He probably joined the Heat just to be with Lebron.
That’s what I suspected, but yes he is and will forever be a true Cavalier.
the most underated center of all time
Sabonis
Big Z was such a beast truly a great player! Too bad he was the only good player Lebron had in his entire career in Cleveland :X
can't forget Mo Williams also... even though that's not saying much lmao
larry hughes was good back then and gooden was solid
Kiloetry Mo Williams could have died in during the Cavs playoff run and nobody would notice.
Kiloetry he was an all star averaged 17 points and 6 assists for 3 seasons dumb fuck so basically he had 2 other all stars just a shitty only offensive coach like mike brown and lebron has another shitty coach erick spoelstra who doesnt know basketball thats why the assistant coaches joe crawford and the refs are there to help
@@HermDCrypt same with Lebron because they got swept
All these negative comments about "Z" are just stupid. He played with with the team when they were AWFUL, he fought back through injuries that if most of you had received, you would quit. He gave and still does give a lot to the Cavaliers. Congrats, Z! Well deserved.
I dont see any negative comments
Poetic Frost There probably were 4 years go when the comment was posted.
JR The GOAT Smith 6*
iVerified from them it wasnt
14 Years with the Cavs
12 with the Cavs, 1 with the Heat
@@loganray5091 He was with the Cavs from 1996 to 2010.
Lebron's best and most trusted teammate/friend from the Cavs. WP Z11!
I respect a player that stays on a team for such a long time and doesnt earn a ring, in my opinion there should be another award for this.
he followed lebron to the heat?
Andrew Moncrieff For like one season.
Andrew Moncrieff because Cavs wanted to rebuild...
Great player was Big Z. Retired after his first season with Miami along side of his boy LeBron.
He carried LeBron to the finals
***** You're a confused LeBron hater. LeBron scored the last 25 points in game 6 vs. the Pistons. LeBron carried that team to the finals.
dolphinfootball23 lol no he didn’t Lebron struggled in game 6 . The player of the game was Danny Gibson cuz he dropped 31 off the bench and played great defense 😂 stop sucking on Lebron
@dolphinfootball22 he's talking about in Miami, but it was also a joke.
Big Z wasn't an atlethic player... he has more metal in his feets than a real bones... Z spent couple of years walking on crutches and when no one expected he still manage to had a success in the best basketball league of the world... Thanks for recognition the Cleveland Cavaliers organization and the NBA...
Everyone look at SCORPAS :) he is one who lives in Chicagos suburb and hates evyryone better then him :) Best sekmes tau gay. from Lithuniania :)
Zivile Vainutyte o Tau nekažką su rašymu...
scorpas Tai, kad tau dar prasciau.
Big Z was the only good player that Lebron played with in Cleveland.
Guanlin zhou He was old. But Carlos boozer was pretty good corgi
Andrew Meng Waht about mah boi mo williams?
DiggersbyTCG True dat, he was pretty nice too. Lets not forget to mention Varejao as well.
Andrew Meng ya vargio
Andrew Meng Varejao was only good for getting dunked on
He retired in 2011 but it took the NBA 3 years to make Z's highlights.
they made it because of Jersey retirement
Matt Perkinsisnotmyrealname But still...
I'm always glad to see overlooked players get their recognition.
Z was an absolute privilege to watch. Crazy to think how good he might have been without all those ankle surgeries the first 5 years. But a major testament to his character that he pushed through it to have the career he had.
Z would've been widely considered one of the greats had those injuries not affected his mobility. A 7'3 shooter, with handles, great passer and good footwork in 98! He was too good! As you said a privilege to witness his greatness.
I remember the first 3 I saw him shoot.....I was like 7 and it was so weird seeing such a big dude shooting from outside!
not exactly weird. It's just that it's rare to see someone who is 7'3" or taller to shoot beyond the arc
Congratz Big Z
Zydrunas was 1 of my fav players growing up idk why but man its awesome to see a highlight vid of him it feels like forever since i saw him play
cmon guys, show some respect, thats lebrons dad.
i must not have been as into bball as i am now to not notice his greatness i swear before recently i just thought he was another big body who did some dirty work off the bench
exactly my thoughts when i saw that he was getting his number retired. first thing i said to myself, "HE'S getting his number retired??"
the only thing that i think of when i hear his name is when j. wall punched him lol
***** Are you 12 yo?
***** no im not a cleveland fan lmao. nice try jack
Who remembers when Big Z dominated the rookie game back in '98 & won MVP?
I just installed 2k10 to play with the old cavs again ;-) Big Z for the Hook!
+kohlefaserbong lol
The 06-07 team is a legend team
Big Z! I was there that was a magical moment!
Balled with him all the time on 2K5 back in the day. Cavs legend
I see so much of Z in Jokic today. Man, what a talent he was!
One of the few big men that could effectively shoot from the perimeter.
Been killin it with this man in 2k lately so I had to come pay my respect🙏
Underrated player
If he was healthier, he is one of the few bigs that can play modern basketball. He is the reason i play the 07 cavs in 2k
Another great player from the 96' draft
Greatest player to ever play the game.
Don't get ahead of yourself
LOL
Something that Goat Robert Sacre would say
Greatest big man with a soft touch maybe
@@williamharrington6383 that’s Dirk
before the foot injuries this guy was incredible
Class act
Z...my fave underrated center🏀🏀🏀
I always wonder what it would be like if people like Big Z and Yao were 10 years younger and injury free. Big guys with smooth shots would be so effective nowadays, pretty much a next level alridge. The thought alone is scary.
I wish injuries didn't bring down all those that could have been great like T-Mac, Vince Carter, and Grant Hill as well....and soon Dwyane Wade :/ hopefully not
NameBigg Who says Im down.
NameBigg Dwyane Wade is pretty much a lock for HoF and has had a great career despite his injuries, even right now he's considered a top 5sg of all time. I agree with the rest tho, just imagine a Portland with a healty Roy and Oden, or a rockets with a healthy Tmac and Yao, crazy teams those would've been.
***** yeah i know he is one of the greats and he is my favorite, it's just painful to see him decline because of his knees, not being able to play in the olympics and whatnot. I really hope he will develope and refine his jump shot and post game like kobe and MJ and no more knee issues! His jump shot and post are looking good and getting better so i'm glad :)
NameBigg vince carter only got injured a few times and they werent major he has a hall of fame career you should be bringing up his cousin tmac
career highlights only a minute long? come on
If Z played in today’s NBA mannnn.. They just didn’t big man really trying to expand their game back then like they do now. Z would’ve been a three level paint defending beast. One of my favorite Cavs ever he was so reliable for us
This dude was not a nobody! Big Z was an All-Star level talent that was limited by his multiple foot surgeries. He's one of LBJ favorite teammates for good reasons. If only he did not get those foot injuries at the start of his career, he would've been a way better #2 option alongside LBJ than the version that they got
Congrats to Zydrunas!
Big-Z + LJ = AMAZING
if he only stayed in miami until 2012 he'll have 1 ring ... he deserve to have one.
he does not have a ring. Big Z retired after 2011 loss to dallas.
It's crazy that i see Z everyday balling out in my schools gym.
Sheesh I miss this smooth, savvy and skilled big guy.
Big z is a legend!
Big Z's secret handshake with Lebron before every game was the best
Really deserve a ring, but making up with a jersey retirement. One of the most versatile center players in the history.
This man was monstrous in nba 2k12
I hope Jonas Valaciunas will become as good, if not better. Than Big Z
he has alot of potential
OJ Sarfo He’s pretty close right now at age 26.
@@jrthegoatsmith712 he is 27
@9%beer 3 months ago, he was 26.
I'm here because I'm a huge Cavs fan and I literally just met him at my golf course where I work. He is playing golf right now
He played golf at my course yesterday!! Nice guy!
šaunuolis Žydrūnas ! respect !
He was so nice.
Big z what a beast
He was awesome
Great player
Big Z!!!
BIG Z! He was my sister's favorite player. She loved him show much, she chose number 11 when she played softball.
Congrats
So many légende in the draft 96
First big man that was consistently shooting from 3!
im from lithuania to i rly like zydrunas but he is like monster cuz hes wery high btw greatest center in the world
I swear LeBron was in more of Zydrunas's Career Highlights then he was.
Big Z! Lithuania
pff almost never played for national team, didnt wanted our nationality on passport, had great cheance to help to win european gold or try reach olympic gold in 2004 but always said no. not much lithuanian.
he is not lithuanian
Very unspoken guy, always a pro.
beastttt
ilgauskas is the best 🇱🇹🇱🇹🇱🇹
Big Z!
BIG Z !
The Goat
I miss Big Z !
This guy deserves a ring :(
How can you not like big Z no one in the NBA would mess with him
Strangest big man, as his game was most skillful and unpredictable! Played for the heat if I'm not mistaken :D
man this dude was a monster.
Cavs Legend 💪
How did i not know about this man
guys like Z paved the way for the Jokic's of today
Shaq named 3 players in Open Court discussion who he could not stop. Big Z was one of them
Big Z- Power Sniper LTU!!!
I'm proud to be lithuanian guy because of him so happy for him :)
Jis zajabys su saboniu
He never played for the senior Lithuanian team and in 2014 he relinquished his Lithuanian citizenship
@@giuseppemaggio5894 why would you want to represent this dumpster fire of a country ? Also he lost the spot in a national team because of javtokas. Any self respecting player would have done what he did
Imagine the NBA posting ya Career highlights & it’s 1 and a half minute long😂😂
I remember this guy.
BIG ZEEEEEEE
the only good player other than lbj on the Cleveland roster during those years
j.j. hickson? mo williams?
^ there we go
damn no wonder why they had a horrible year 2008
He would've thrived in this eras game. A finnese big man that can shoot from everywhere
Just have been curious with no expectations at all, but got really surprised by some really good plays by "Big Z". I have been following the NBA since 1997, but actually never realized how competent this guy was...
then it's a lie saying "I have been following the NBA since 1997" because if it was true you'd know who he was and how good he was.
Well, not really... I know, Ilgauskas was a solid player but not as "fancy" as e.g. Kobe, Shaq or Iverson. So his highlight plays were a little bit under the radar and wasn't provided by the media that much...
Wheatbeerlover dude, Big Z wasn't an atlethic player... he has more metal in his feets than a real bones... he spent couple of years walking on crutches and still manage to had a success in the best basketball league of the world.
Remember when Zydrunas was schooling Shaq. Probably the greatest foreign Center ever.
yao, mate.
in what world?
Daniel Chung Hakeem Olajuwon
hakeem was better but big z is still a beast
greatest foreign center? lol Yao would have to disagree
During Lebron’s first years he was one of the only ones that liked or got along with Lebron. To Big Z, one of the best cavaliers of all time
Big Z...best surfer ever XD
HE HAD NO SPEED, WAS SLUGGISH, NOT ATHLETIC, BUT HE STILL MANAGED TO BE SUCCESSFUL EFFECTIVE SCORING POINTS AND A PRETTY IMPORTANT PART OF THE CAVS TRAM
I miss Big Z
he's got that lithuanian blood 💪🇱🇹
see ya big z
Boy you can tell it's a lot of noob NBA fans in here.
Indeed. The stench of 2010 and beyond fans in here is something else.
Best centers on Cavs Ilgauskas and Mozgov
Daugherty?
that 1996 draft was no joke
.... Greg ostertag with shooting skills
His shooting form is really alot of Pau Gasol! Really similar :)
01:16 lots of Zs in the crowd looks like they all fell asleep, haha
Wow, 20th pick? Cleveland had a Big Zteal right there!
BIG ZZZZ
A very generous move by the NBA to put up a very long career highlight video for Z. LOL