It's official: Zydrunas Ilgauskas will indeed retire from basketball and forgo the one-year player option on his Miami Heat contract and retire after 13 seasons.
Big Z told the Cleveland Plain Dealer Friday "enough is enough," adding, "My body is beat up and I'm tired physically."
"There is no age limit," he said, "but everyone knows when it's time."
Ilgauskas spent 12 seasons with the Cleveland Cavaliers before joining the Heat last year. He started last season as Miami's starting center, but was slowly supplanted by Joel Anthony as the season wore on.
Big Z only appeared in 9 playoff games during the Heat's 2011 NBA Finals run, playing sparingly.
Ilgauskas exercised a one-year, $1.4 million option back in June, but a few weeks later said he was still on the fence as to whether he would play in 2011-2012.
"I want to spend more time with my family," he told the Plain Dealer. "I have spent the past 15 years living out of a suitcase. It's time."
Ilgauskas' retirement does not exactly put the Heat in a tight spot, as Anthony is the returning starter and the team is expected to make a run at a free agent center when the NBA lockout ends.
Big Z said his immediate plans are to visit his parents in Lithuania, but he could be offered a position in the Cleveland Cavaliers organization. Unlike his fellow former Cav and Heat teammate LeBron James, Ilgauskas is still beloved in Ohio.
