Report: Zydrunas Ilgauskas wants to return to NBA

Zydrunas Ilgauskas is 39-years-old, three years retired and reportedly wants to make an NBA comeback.

Feldman suggested that LeBron James’ return to the Cavaliers likely influenced Ilgauskas’ potential return. Once embroiled in a decision between loyalty to Cleveland and the pursuit of a Championship, Ilgauskas chose the latter and failed to achieve it. He followed James to the Miami Heat and they lost to the Dallas Mavericks in the one year that Ilgauskas was there.

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With Lebron in Cleveland — and now Kevin Love — the team is a Championship contender. He has the opportunity to win a Championship as a Cavalier. It makes sense for Ilgauskas, but are the Cavaliers interested?

Ilgauskas has a precedent to set. He’s got an uphill climb. It’s not impossible — the Cleveland Cavaliers could use depth at center. But it’s definitely a longshot.

Pro Basketball Talk‘s Dan Feldman writes,

"“At 41 and after six years of retirement, Boston Celtics legend Bob Cousy returned to play seven games for the Cincinnati Royals. That’s the only precedent for Ilgauskas.John Long was 40 when he came back for the Raptors and 1996, and he hadn’t played in the NBA in five years, but he spent the middle year out playing in the CBA. Michael Jordan had been retired for three years when he returned with the Wizards, but he was just 38. More recently, a 38-year-old Rasheed Wallace had been retired two years when he came back with the Knicks.”"

The first step for the big man is proving that he belongs on and NBA court. He could be a long way away from that point.