Done deal: Kyrie Irving shocks the basketball world by signing a 2-year contract to return to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Done deal: Kyrie Irving shocks the basketball world by signing a 2-year contract to return to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

HEART OF GOLD: Zydrunas Ilgauskas Donates $5.1 Million to Cleveland cavaliers Youth Development Program” I want to see our youth grow and make us proud,

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HEART OF GOLD: Zydrunas Ilgauskas Donates $5.1 Million to Cleveland Cavaliers Youth Development Program
“I want to see our youth grow and make us proud.”
In a powerful gesture of generosity and community commitment, former Cleveland Cavaliers star Zydrunas Ilgauskas has donated $5.1 million to the Cleveland Cavaliers Youth Development Program. The donation, one of the largest ever made by a former NBA player to a youth initiative, reflects Ilgauskas’s enduring bond with the city and his deep belief in the potential of its young people.
Ilgauskas, affectionately known as “Big Z” during his playing days, has long been a symbol of resilience, humility, and quiet leadership. Drafted by the Cavaliers in 1996, the 7-foot-3 center spent the majority of his career in Cleveland, becoming a two-time All-Star and a fan favorite. But perhaps more than his basketball accomplishments, it’s his off-the-court legacy that continues to grow.
“I want to see our youth grow and make us proud,” Ilgauskas said during a press conference held at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. “This city gave me a home, a career, and a family. It’s only right I give something back—especially to the next generation.”
The $5.1 million donation will be directed toward expanding and enhancing the Cavaliers Youth Development Program, which offers academic support, athletic training, mentorship, and leadership development to young people across Cleveland and surrounding communities. The initiative focuses especially on underserved neighborhoods, aiming to provide resources and opportunities that might otherwise be out of reach.

Team officials say the funds will allow for the construction of two new youth centers, the hiring of additional counselors and coaches, and the implementation of STEM and arts education programs. “Zydrunas has always been a quiet giant—not just in stature, but in heart,” said Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert. “His contribution will touch thousands of lives, and we couldn’t be more grateful.”
Ilgauskas, who retired in 2011, has remained active in Cleveland’s philanthropic and civic life. Though born and raised in Lithuania, he became a U.S. citizen and chose to raise his family in Northeast Ohio. Over the years, he’s participated in numerous charity events and youth mentoring initiatives, often avoiding the spotlight.
This latest donation, however, has placed him front and center once again—and the city is showing its appreciation. Social media has lit up with messages of gratitude, and fans are calling for the Cavaliers to honor Ilgauskas in a more permanent way, perhaps with a statue or special dedication at the arena.
For Ilgauskas, though, the real reward is knowing that his contribution could change the direction of a young person’s life.
“Basketball gave me a path,” he said. “But it was people—coaches, teachers, mentors—who made me believe I could follow it. I want to be that for someone else, even if they never meet me.”
With this extraordinary act of giving, Zydrunas Ilgauskas proves that a heart of gold is just as valuable as a championship ring.