View full sizeZydrunas Ilgauskas returned with LeBron James to Cleveland on Tuesday, in what could be Ilgauskas' final game in Ohio.CLEVELAND, Ohio -- As if former Cavaliers center Zydrunas Ilgauskas hasn't had enough problems with his feet in his career, a whole new issue cropped up three weeks ago in Miami -- one that was potentially more dangerous than any of his previous issues.
"It's crazy," he said after Miami's shootaround Tuesday morning at The Q.
Ilgauskas, who had seven surgeries on his feet early in his career, contracted a strain of the MRSA staph infection that caused his right foot to swell up to twice its normal size. Although it initially was reported that Ilgauskas stepped on a nail at home, he now admits he doesn't know how he got the infection, although it's possible it was from an insect bite.
He made a trip to the emergency room, spent several days in the hospital and then still required nursing care at home to administer IVs and antibiotics to fight the infection, which is resistant to traditional treatment. Initially there was concern that the infection could get into the screws that were inserted into his foot in previous surgeries, but that turned out not to be a problem.
Still, it took a while for him to respond to treatment. "It wasn't getting better for a while," he said. "It scares you."
Ilgauskas missed eight games before returning to play seven minutes against Houston on Sunday. He admits he's still struggling to get back into shape. But he looked tanned and relaxed while talking and joking with a crowd of reporters.
Unlike the drama of the Heat's first visit to Cleveland, when LeBron James returned to The Q for the first time after The Decision and the Heat was playing on the second night of a back-to-back, this time the team came in a night early, which allowed Ilgauskas to spend some time with some friends grilling and drinking Great Lakes beer.
He said he thought he will spend time here this summer. He still has a house in Avon Lake.
Asked about recent reports that he was considering retirement, the 35-year-old Ilgauskas said, "We'll see how it goes." Mentioning the possibility of a lockout that could delay the start of the 2011-12 season, he said, "I guess I'll deal with it when we get there."
Samuels out: Rookie Samardo Samuels, who has been playing well as of late, missed Tuesday's game with a sprained right wrist suffered against Atlanta on Sunday. Cavs coach Byron Scott said it was possible Samuels could miss the upcoming three-game trip to Charlotte, Washington and New York.
Samuels played a key role in the upset victory over the Knicks on March 4, taking two charges from Carmelo Anthony in the last 1:32 of the game.
Fighting Irish: James said he was thrilled with his alma mater's latest state title under coach Dru Joyce.
"I'm very proud of coach Joyce," he said. "He's making a resume for himself. There's nothing anyone can say about he hasn't won without LeBron or he hasn't won without his son. He's done it twice now. It is great. To have five state championships in 10 years, it's a dynasty. Hopefully he can keep it going at my alma mater."
James was delayed trying to enter The Q for shootaround on Tuesday because he arrived in a private car with a driver instead of on the team bus. He had not requested permission ahead of time to enter in that manner, as is required of visiting players.