Before the speeches, before the spotlights, before the giant No. 11 rose through the smoke to the rafters of The Q on Saturday night, Zydrunas Ilgauskas had a few minutes to spend with the people who have meant the most to him.
His family, former coaches and teammates and the Cavaliers owners and executives -- past and present -- who brought them all together gathered in a room just off the court before the lavish halftime ceremony to retire his jersey.
"Danny Ferry came to me and said, 'You know, you're the only person that bring this group together in one room. Nobody else could,''' Ilgauskas told reporters after the lavish production.