Cavs: Big Z joins LeBron James on Cavaliers’ All-2000s team

Cleveland Cavaliers All-2000s Team – F: Drew Gooden

Drew Gooden was a 6’10” forward who bounced around a few teams before being traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2004. He immediately had a career year, with both his 14.4 points per game and 9.2 rebound average the best marks in his career, and played 3.5 years altogether in Cleveland.

The burly big man out of Kansas was not a shooter, but rather liked to mix it up inside. He shot 48.7 percent on 2-pointers while with the Cavs and rebounded 2.8 of his own team’s shots every game. Overall he averaged 8.6 total rebounds, unafraid to throw an elbow (or take one) to survive inside.

The calling card for Gooden was defense, and despite never posting high block totals he was a deterrent inside. By his final year in Cleveland the Cavs had grown into a defensive force that locked opponents down and allowed LeBron James to do everything on offense; Gooden was a key part of making that vision work.

Gooden played a total of 292 games with the franchise in the regular season along with another 33 playoff contests. He was a starter on the 2007 team that went to the NBA Finals, with the pinnacle of his contributions coming against the Washington Wizards when he dropped 24 points and 14 rebounds.

The following season Gooden was traded to the Chicago Bulls as part of the three-team trade that brought Ben Wallace to the Cavs. He would play for 10 teams total across 14 years in the league.