Cavaliers: Best centers in Cleveland franchise history, ranked

The Cleveland Cavaliers have sent out several talented big men since joining the NBA as an expansion team in 1970. In this piece, we'll highlight...

The Cleveland Cavaliers have sent out several talented big men since joining the NBA as an expansion team in 1970. In this piece, we'll highlight who we believe to be the five best.

5. Jim Chones

Prior to joining the Cavs in 1975, Chones played for the New York Nets in the ABA. The Wisconsin native went on to play five seasons with Cleveland in the NBA.

Alongside other great players like Austin Carr and Campy Russell, Chones helped the Cavs reach their first playoff berth in 1976. The team got their first postseason series win that year, defeating the Washington Bullets in what is now known as “The Miracle of Richfield.”

Notably, Chones now serves as a color commentator for the Cavs' radio network.

4. Anderson Varejao

“Andy,” as he came to be known, was a fan favorite in Cleveland. His big hair made him easy to spot on the court, but it was his relentless motor that stood out the most.

Minutes were hard to come by in the early stages of his NBA career, as the Cavs already had Zyrdunas Ilgauskas in the paint (more on him later). Slowly, though, Varejao earned more and more minutes, eventually serving a big role in Cleveland's playoff appearances during LeBron James' first stint with the team.

Andy became the Cavs' starting center in 2010, though a tendon injury in his right ankle would limit his playing time during that campaign (9.1 points and 9.7 rebounds per game in 31 games played).

Varejao also played a part in Cleveland's 2016 championship run. However, the Brazilian big man was traded midway through that season. To this day, he ranks 6th on the team's all-time rebounds list with 4,434.

3. Brad Daugherty

No list of great Cavs big men would be complete without an entry for Brad Daugherty. Alongside other great players like Mark Price, Ron Harper and John “Hot Rod” Williams, the Cavs became a real threat in the late '80s and early '90s. In fact, they gave a young Michael Jordan and his Bulls a run for their money in the first round of the '89 Eastern Conference Playoffs. Ultimately, though, Jordan's now-famous shot over Craig Ehlo lifted Chicago to victory in the series.

Daugherty averaged 19 points and 10 rebounds per game over the course of his eight seasons in the NBA and retired as the Cavaliers' all-time leading scorer (10,389 points) and rebounder (5,227) — records that have since been broken by LeBron James and Zyrdunas Ilgauskas, respectively. A five-time All-Star, Brad played in 41 postseason games and led Cleveland to the Eastern Conference Finals in 1992. Sadly, his career was cut a bit short due to back issues.

2. Tristan Thompson

“Double T,” as he's known, has been a steady force in the paint for Cleveland since they selected him with the 4th overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft.

An iron man for the Cavs, Thompson holds the record for consecutive games played (447). His streak was broken in April of 2017, when he missed a game against the Boston Celtics due to a sprained thumb.

Thompson is still the longest-tenured member of the Cavs, and he played a big role in the team's first championship in 2016. With Tristan roaming the paint, Cleveland went 12-1 over the first three rounds of the 2017 postseason, though they were defeated by the Golden State Warriors in the Finals.

Now, with LeBron James joining the Los Angeles Lakers, Thompson is posting the best statistics of his career. Through 57 games this season, he's averaging 12.0 points and 10.1 rebounds.

1. Zydrunas Ilgauskas

Our No. 1 big man in Cavs history is “Big Z,” Zydrunas Ilgauskas. When a young LeBron James entered the NBA as a high school phenom in the 2003 draft, Big Z was his starting center. Together, they led Cleveland on a run of playoff appearances, though the team was unable to reach the proverbial mountaintop.

Zydrunas played 12 seasons for the Cavaliers, racking up averages of 13.8 points on 53.5 percent true shooting, 7.7 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game. He is still ranked 2nd on the team's all-time rebounding list, just behind LeBron. The Lithuanian-born big man is also 2nd in games and minutes played (771 and 21,820, respectively). And when it comes to blocks and offensive rebounds, Big Z is at the top of the list.

Though he dealt with foot ailments in the early stages of his career, Ilgauskas went on to be a consistent presence for the Cavs, earning two All-Star nods. At 7-3, he had great size, but he could also stretch the floor with his smooth jumper — keeping the defense honest.