Basketball player Žydrūnas Ilgauskas was nicknamed “Big Z.”
The nickname combines the first letter of his given name with his imposing size. The Lithuanian center stood 7 feet 3 inches tall and became one of the most important players in Cleveland Cavaliers history. Fans and broadcasters commonly used “Big Z” throughout his NBA career, while “Z” was also used as a shorter form.
Ilgauskas was born in Kaunas, Lithuania, in 1975 and entered the NBA after Cleveland selected him with the 20th pick in the 1996 draft. Serious foot injuries interrupted the beginning of his career, but he recovered and became a reliable scorer, rebounder, and shot-blocker. He was selected to two NBA All-Star teams.
Ilgauskas spent most of his career with Cleveland and played in the Cavaliers’ 2007 NBA Finals run. His No. 11 jersey was later retired by the franchise. Although he briefly played for the Miami Heat in 2010–11, “Big Z” remains especially associated with his long tenure in Cleveland.