[2] Nicknamed Big Z,[3][2] Ilgauskas is the Cavaliers' career leader in blocked shots;[4][5] his jersey no.

[6][7] Ilgauskas made his professional debut in his birthplace of Kaunas, with local club Atletas in 1993.

He spent the entire 1996–97 season on the injured list due to a broken bone in his right foot.

He was named the most valuable player of the Rookie Challenge during All-Star Weekend and selected to the All-Rookie First Team in 1997–98.

He was selected as an All-Star, but the Cavaliers finished with the third-worst record in team history (17–65) and landed the number one draft pick.

The Cavaliers drafted high school phenomenon and future NBA MVP LeBron James in 2003.

In his first home game back with the team, against the Sacramento Kings, Ilgauskas received huge ovations and support from the crowd.

[19][20] The 2010 NBA playoffs marked the first time in Ilgauskas' career in which he was not a significant part of the Cavaliers' rotation.

Ilgauskas saw only 69 minutes of floor time in the entire postseason, resulting in averages of 1.7 PPG and 1.6 RPG, far below his career playoff production.

[24][25] On December 2, during the Heat's first game in Cleveland, the fans cheered Ilgauskas in pre-game introductions, while booing the rest of the starters, including James.

The Heat made it to the 2011 NBA Finals, but fell short to the Dallas Mavericks in six games.

In September 2011, Ilgauskas announced that he was retiring from basketball, saying he wanted to spend more time with his family as well as citing long-term personal physical fatigue and basic bodily wear-and-tear.

[30] On September 18, 2015, Ilgauskas joined Saint Ignatius High School as the assistant coach for the boys' team.

In 2007, the couple lost a set of twins due to pregnancy complications that caused the infants to be born four months premature.