Sabonis is among top 5 centers I've ever seen, and I've been watching basketball for almost 30 years. Politics and injuries had a huge impact on his career. At his prime, he was an incredible player.
I only saw him play with the Blazers in the 90s, when he was already over 30 years old with wrecked legs... but even then he was one of the best centers in the game. Easily the best passing big I've ever seen play... had shooting range extending out to 3pt land and everywhere in between... Although a lot of his athletic ability was gone due to bad wheels, he could score in the post as if he was a poor man's Olajuwon.... knew how to block out defenders with his body to grab rebounds and shield himself from shot blockers... he did it all... and without any real mobility.
As a passer he was on the same level as Wilt & prime Shaq. He used his size to body up & draw doubles & then just flicked the ball over his head or behind his back to cutters. If I genie gave me three wishes one of them would be to see a healthy, young sabonis play in the NBA...NOW! He would absolutely destroy today's centers. He abused the hell out of David Robinson in his prime & The Admiral was one of the smartest, most athletic centers to ever play. Imagine what Sabonis would do today?
He is most known/famous Lithuanian in Lithuania, legend for sure. By the way he was MVP of Euroleague regular season and MVP of Euroleague TOP16 at the age of 40 (and with all the injury history). Can not beat that.
It's his/hers opinion and you won't change it. And I'm very proud of it, because I'm Lithuanian. Yes, he might not be the most famous player in NBA history, but if there weren't any injuries or USSR, he would have been one of the best. He didn't even train, but still was of the NBAs elite centers. He could shoot 3s, pass the ball... Just like Pau or Dirk. In 2003 he declined a millions-worth contract from Portland and came back to the team, where he started his career 22 years ago - in 1981 and played there for 8 years - BC Zalgiris Kaunas. And how much money did he get back there? The answer is zero. He wanted to save the team from the edge of bankrupt. He even paid other players wages from his own pocket. And even then, at the age of almost 40. He averaged 16.7 PPG, 10.7 RPG, 2.4 APG and 26.3 PIR in 18 games. He ended up becoming the MVP of Euroleague's Regular Season and TOP 16.
I remember playing ball with my friends as a kid. They would refer to themselves as kobe or jordan, and refer to me as sabonis because they saw me as "white", although i am not white lol. I wore the name as a badge of honor. The man was and still is one of the greatest players to ever grace the game of basketball.
Incredible smart, creative, all round player, so skillful, manouverable and excellent shooter and defender. One of the best ever in whole basketball history.
I think Arvydad is up there but not prob not 1 but he would have if he was allowed to play in the nba when he was younger and in his prime cause he didn't get drafted till he was 30-31
+Alex G.M. First of all he's not russian, second he's better than Pau Gasol... Just look at statistics and you'll se who's better :) (Maybe he can't jump high but he can block mutch better than Pau)
+Alex G.M. He played in NBA when he was old, but when he was a liitle bit younger he was just BEAST! He broke first backboard when he was 17 i think so ... He's too mutch of a BEAST! No one stoped him even Motombo and even Shaq :P He didn't care that he was a center. He made a lot of 3s. He made passes from behind not looking or behind the head. And don't you dare to say that he's fat russian who can't jump when he's not even a russian.
+Alex G.M. You do realize that he wasn't able to come to the NBA until 10 years after he was drafted, right? By then he had been overworked by the Soviet national team and had crippling injuries to both legs. Still, even without being able to jump he WAS the starter for 5 straight years in Portland and was putting up 16-10-3-1-1 in 1998. His career 3pt% is better than Kobe's.
@@edvardasbartkus5149 I saw him breaking the backboard with one hand. December 26, 1984. Christmas tournament, Real Madrid vs URSS. Pabellón de los deportes, Madrid. The young Sabonis was a faster, bigger and stronger version of Larry Bird. Scoring, rebounding, Blocking, passing...what amazing set of skills he had. And don't forget, 7'3". Imho, the most gifted player who ever born.
I think he averaged about 28 points, 16 rebounds, 6 assists and 3 blocks per game in his Olympic career. And he didn't make his Olympic debut until he was about 26. Because of boycotts. And he'd already had numerous ACL injuries by then. Because of the USSRs crazy regime. There aren't many NBA players in the history of basketball with those Olympic numbers
I remember his games vividly. High post, low post, behind the arc, defense, passing, on-court awareness.... This guy was fundamentally rock solid! One of the best I've ever seen play!
One of the most intelligent players in the history of the game. Also, no bigman could handle the ball, shoot, dribble and, most of all, pass as good as Arvydas Sabonis. A true legend.
I remember watching this guy playing for Portland back when I was a little kid. This video brings back good memories of watching the Blazers with my dad. Thanks for uploading.
My all time favorite Portland Trailblazer and one of the best passing big men I've ever had the pleasure of watching. He was also pretty darn good from beyond the arc.
***** made of plastic? he was 7.4ft, 2.21cm u moron, also pretty heavy, no legs in world can hold that size. look at most players who are over 7.3+, all were injured and ended career way faster than sabonis. also no one ever was as fast for 7.4ft as prime sabonis in 1984-1987~ and i dont get what scrub means.
+Gloryboy300 Made of plastic? Why are you even posting here when every basketball statement you make is inaccurate? He was a strong, athletic player that got screwed by the Soviet system: "The 1985-1988 stretch of a heavy playing schedule and lack of rest took a significant toll on Sabonis' future health and durability. Various leg injuries weren't given much time to heal due to the Cold War climate that surrounded international competition as well as BC Žalgiris - CSKA Moscow games. In a 2011 interview, Sabonis expressed an opinion that overuse by the coaches of the Soviet national program was a major contributing factor to his first Achilles' tendon injury back in 1986.[5] Another key moment for his future health took place in 1988 when Sabonis had a surgical Achilles procedure performed in Portland but was rushed back on the floor with the USSR Olympic team before a full recovery. The decision to include a limping Sabonis on the USSR roster for the 1988 Olympic games was protested at the time by Portland medical staff and was later heavily criticized.[6] Eventually Sabonis would develop chronic knee, ankle and groin issues that substantially limited his mobility and explosiveness by the mid-1990s."
В школьной команде был у нас "Сабон" У центрового позывной такой был ! ВСЕЙ командой мечтали быть похожими на Арвидаса Сабониса (для нас пацанов он был БОГОМ !) В середине 80х
I heard he had lost a step or two by the time he came to the NBA but he was really a beast when he was younger. Shame there isn't more footage of him in his younger days.
When I played overseas there was old footage when he played for a club team in Russia or one related countries. You wouldn't believe it because I didn't believe what I saw. He used to run the floor, shoot threes and was dunking on people. It would have been amazing to see him in his prime. Politics caused this injustice of not being in the NBA earlier.
Detlef Schrempf: " I played vs Sabonis, since I was 16 years old. If he would have came earlier to the NBA, he could have been one of the best players ever." Sabonis body was done when he came to the NBA, still he played fantastic. His BB IQ was so high. Nowitzki, Petrovic and Sabonis best EU players ever.
I just loved his game . Before he had any injuries in my opinion one of the top 3 centers I've ever seen play basketball. what a talent and this coming from the SuperSonics fan
+Roger Cobbs Agreed, he was arguably the best Center in the world before injuries. Side note; this man had to have the biggest head in all of human history.
Well, he is the best European player of all times (Along with Drajen Petrovic, Nikos Galis and Dirk Nowitzki). If the Americans had the chance to witness what Sabonis did at the age of 22-30 they would be talking for one the best big men in the history of basketball, up there with Wilt Chamberlain, Careem Jabbar and Bill Russell
@@habibouedraogo864 Tony parker is amongst the greatest europeans and he won NBA championships. But he never demonstrated beast-mode stats or lead a team to the top as THE superstar. His best days in San Antonio he was with Dunkan (prolly the best power forwards of all time) and Manu Ginobilly (prolly the best 6th man of all times who in a way changed basketball by introducing the eurostep in NBA). So yea, Tony Parker is an honorable mention (so is Pau Gasol) but not in the same club with the other four i mentioned. My opinion at least :-)
beaffteki I can agree with you on Pau Gasol of course but not Tony. Dude averaged 20 points a game for 4 years straight(05-09) on a team with those superstars you just mentioned. 6x all star in a loaded Western conference mid-2000s era in terms of guards...4x All nba all coming at the end of his career. you mentioned leading a team? I think being a finals MVP ends that debate. He’s one of the greatest European players.
Imagine if he played in the NBA in his prime? Ive watched him played in europe... He is like dirk nowitzki but a better rebounder and a way better big passer
***** mostly in that dirk didn't have the size to operate in the post. sabonis was huge. they were both nice from the outside. maybe dirk a little better. i'd take (healthy, young-ish, no botched acchilles surgeries) sabonis over dirk every day of the week with no regrets
postaltraining They're both pretty big. Sabonis is seven feet three inches & Dirk is seven feet. ;-) But god I would have loved to see a young Sabonis play in the NBA. He was so good.
Graham Strouse But Sabonis was 7'3" and STRONG. He had Hakeem size, would have muscled Dirk around whenever he wanted. And Sabonis could run the court too before he got hurt. Actually, for NBA fans, I think that the best comparison to prime Sabonis would have been the Dream. He was a bit better passer and outside shooter than Hakeem, but wasn't quite as smooth in the post and probably never would have been quite as dominant a defender. But Hakeem and Sabonis were the most versatile centers of the last 30 years.
+postaltraining if you ask donnie nelson who he'll pick between dirk mvp and sabas before injuries he'll pick sabas always. he says it in an interview (nothing against dirk, to me one of the first 5 europeans ever, maybe top 3)
Arvidas Sabonis is a Great athlete and a true Legend of my youth. Thanks to people like him, from whom you want to take an example, sport will always attract talented and strong-willed people.
Had season tickets for the Blazers when Sabas played. Such a great player.....If only he had been a Blazer during the Drexler-Porter-Kersey years (89-92). Thanks SABAS for playing Center as well as any Blazer ever has.
I think he is most respected foreign player in Serbia. Loved to watch him play, though it wasn`t easy when he played against Yugoslavia, but we had better team. Always admired him.
He's one of the greatest big men to ever play the game period. People that saw him play wouldn't dare argue with this statement. People that saw his games against Shaq/Hakeem/Robinsin/Mutambo/Duncan know the guy would go blow for blow even outduel them most of the games. He is easily the greatest passing big of all time. Probably up there with Kidd/Stockton group as smartest passer.
He’s super underrated he was dominant before the injuries that plagued him.I understand the solviet curtain kept him from leaving in his prime but he was so freaking good and had dribbles and a fantastic post game and was a real hustler. He had a good touch and great court vision. People don’t give the man enough credit. Also he played in a era stacked with true centers.
Watching those clips of him easily scoring on a young Shaq makes me think how badly he would have kicked Shaq's butt had they played prime to prime. I believe the only player who could have outplayed him would have been Young Kareem (I don't mention Wilt and Russell because it's so hard to do that distant a cross generational comparison); Walton in 1977 could deal with anyone in history; again, a shame we didn't get to see what he really could have done. But it's true, Sabonis had it all, the ambidexterity, the quickness (watch Russia against us in Olympics), the jump hooks with either hand, the strength, and even a damn good 3 point shot, great foul shooter, but then tops on the list, huge B ball IQ, in many ways like a huge Larry Bird
Look dude, idk what youre thinking but shaq was the most dominant force in the history of basketball.. No player, in any generation, could contain shaq. Its not hard to imagine if shaq woulda worked as hard as he couldve, that he coulda got 6-7 rings if he stayed in LA. Shaq was a gamechanging force. He would dominate.
CalcioEUnico As if. You can't compare Wilt to players nowadays or players during the Bird/Magic and Jordan era. The Sport has developed way too much. His skillset is way to low to be averaging 30 ppg nowadays. He maybe would have scored 20 ppg, i think even less. players back then had no jumpshot, the free throw shooting was worse, the competition was lower and there weren't close as many moves as we have today(Ballhandling and athleticism was worse). Nobody could do a spin move, or how to pull up, just to name 2 examples. Don't look at his stats and say "He averaged 50 ppg over a season, he could do that today". He couldn't. Shaq would destroy Wilt. I'm not saying Wilt is bad, but Shaq would destroy him.
Also, thanks for this vid, Dunkman. It's easy for people to forget about the greats. Maybe they played too long ago, or played for a bad team, or got hurt, or were victims of the Cold War. But we should still remember them & learn from them. Arvydas Sabonis was one of the best centers to ever play.
Tres años disfrutando de su juego en Valladolid, antes de dar el salto al Real Madrid y a Portland, fue un auténtico lujazo. Por aquel entonces no existían jugadores con esa altura y peso que dominasen todos los aspectos del juego de esa manera: asistencias inverosímiles, un muy buen tiro exterior, juego de pies, gancho, intimidación,... Espectacular su dupla interior aquí con Mike Schlegel y, en el Madrid, con Joe Arlauckas. Siempre podré decir que he visto jugar en directo, y mucho, a Sabonis, Homicius, Kurtinaitis, Schlegel, Óscar S. Becerra, Lalo García,..., pero sobre todo al primero. Un crack.
Where Sabonis best played was at Real Madrid (92-95), his best years, he was the undisputed king, he won the European Cup and I think where he most enjoyed
Its opponents had been able to play in the NBA with the Blazers right out of the gate or even the early nineties him and those early Trailblazer teams would have dominated the Bulls for championships, because that's what they really liked was a dominant center they can really stretch the floor
He was SPECTACULAR in his early career before injuries,almost unstoppable. It's a shame he wasn't able to play in the NBA earlier,would have been some awesome matchups.
Dude... this guy had it all, the court vision of a true point guard, shooting range, can play the inside game, can assist with blindfolds on........ the ability to leap, he was really the whole package. I don't think you can compare him with anyone.
Im a huge fan of basketball amd during school i wrote a report on Arvydas. I found out a lot about this man and how great he really was before his body went to shit. Players like Shaq, Robinson amd Divac all said that Arvydas was the best center they ever played against. So dont say he wasnt shit. Do your reserch before saying dumb things. Arvydas would of been one of the best Centers all time. Hell he wouldve been the best Center of all time. Watch the film ciz tje film never lies people.
If he'd have been able to come to the NBA a lot sooner, I'm sure he could've had a couple NBA titles. It was sad that foot and ankle injuries robbed him of some great years, but still made it up for effectiveness on the court, especially with his passing. He used his size well.
and if You look in old basketball history,when CCCR wins against USA in old 1988, four of five main players was Lithuanians, and one of them was Sabonis , we are small country by population, but we love this game, we born with this game , and we are enjoying when we are playing it in our yards
***** the year jordan first "retired" the bulls won how many fewer games than with jordan? was it 5 or 7? a hideously small number for being without an alleged GOAT
Hobosteen5 When healthy Sabonis could have been in that conversation. It's really hard to say that, though, since he got his legs screwed up so early in his career.
***** What are you smoking? Check his stats and awards so you don't look stupid stating your arguments. Sample awards? NBA Defensive Player of the Year (1988) 9× NBA All-Defensive First Team (1988-1993, 1996-1998) So your argument is FLAWED. Arvydas would have been one of the best big man in the NBA but not GOAT. Check Jordan's page while you are at it as well: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Jordan
An x ray of his foot would get you a handicapped parking permit according to the team doctor. They were surprised he could walk or run and he still avg 23 ppg and 10 rebounds in his first playoffs.
@@D34DxChevy So is Jokic yes he was far away from being born when Sabonis was the best passer (center position) and at that time not that many could shoot 3pts at 2m and 21cm or (around there)
and what bad did he experience in the USSR? became the champion of the world of Europe and the Olympic games of his lineup and it is very bad for you because he played with the inscription of the USSR but what Arvydas himself says about it With all the flaws of how the Soviet idea was implemented in our country, many ideological principles underlying it - a sense of collectivism, tolerance towards other nations, a willingness to sacrifice everything for the homeland - are not bad at all for the moral education of people and athletes, agree? Of course. I often said that my homeland is the Soviet Union .. Do you have any unrealized childhood dream? Or was basketball so busy all the time that there was no possibility of dreaming? In our youth, by and large, there was one dream - to get into the national team. It was the most important thing in life. If he made his way into the national team, he received a training suit with the inscription "USSR. from the interview with Sabonis 2013.
![Arvydas Sabonis [21 pts 20 reb] VS Michael Jordan [33 pts] 1998](/img/n.gif)
Sabonis is among top 5 centers I've ever seen, and I've been watching basketball for almost 30 years. Politics and injuries had a huge impact on his career. At his prime, he was an incredible player.
I second that, I too been watching basketball for about 30yrs and I agree he is one of the top 5 centers I've ever seen
I only saw him play with the Blazers in the 90s, when he was already over 30 years old with wrecked legs... but even then he was one of the best centers in the game. Easily the best passing big I've ever seen play... had shooting range extending out to 3pt land and everywhere in between... Although a lot of his athletic ability was gone due to bad wheels, he could score in the post as if he was a poor man's Olajuwon.... knew how to block out defenders with his body to grab rebounds and shield himself from shot blockers... he did it all... and without any real mobility.
I've seen some clips from his USSR days. He was insanely good.
Graham Strouse Do you still have it? Post it up!
Sabonis and Divac - Those two are definitly the best and unique
Pera Peric
Kakav mrtvi divac,haha,a jeste jadni vi srbi svugdje bi se htjeli uguzičit.
As a passer he was on the same level as Wilt & prime Shaq. He used his size to body up & draw doubles & then just flicked the ball over his head or behind his back to cutters. If I genie gave me three wishes one of them would be to see a healthy, young sabonis play in the NBA...NOW! He would absolutely destroy today's centers. He abused the hell out of David Robinson in his prime & The Admiral was one of the smartest, most athletic centers to ever play. Imagine what Sabonis would do today?
He is most known/famous Lithuanian in Lithuania, legend for sure.
By the way he was MVP of Euroleague regular season and MVP of Euroleague TOP16 at the age of 40 (and with all the injury history). Can not beat that.
He's my favorite player ever!
god the Blazers suck when are u guys going to put a decent team together
God u know nothing about basketball
How can this be your favorite player
It's his/hers opinion and you won't change it. And I'm very proud of it, because I'm Lithuanian. Yes, he might not be the most famous player in NBA history, but if there weren't any injuries or USSR, he would have been one of the best. He didn't even train, but still was of the NBAs elite centers. He could shoot 3s, pass the ball... Just like Pau or Dirk. In 2003 he declined a millions-worth contract from Portland and came back to the team, where he started his career 22 years ago - in 1981 and played there for 8 years - BC Zalgiris Kaunas. And how much money did he get back there? The answer is zero. He wanted to save the team from the edge of bankrupt. He even paid other players wages from his own pocket. And even then, at the age of almost 40. He averaged 16.7 PPG, 10.7 RPG, 2.4 APG and 26.3 PIR in 18 games. He ended up becoming the MVP of Euroleague's Regular Season and TOP 16.
Sabonis was a beast. Ya'll must be little kids.
@@greatness7619 lmao dumbass if Sabonis came into the NBA at 21 and received proper medical assistance during his career he would be top3 centers ever
wow...this guy must be the "trailblazer" who opened doors for the many Lithuanian players we see today in the europian leauges and nba.respect
A legend of my childhood...
+MetalDisorder Wreck Not Igor - Vladimir Tkachenko. Igor is his son.
+Matteo Tomaselli--yes....with Galis, Petrovic, Oscar and Ratja, Divac, Kukoc (later)...
Сабонис....есть Сабонис...легенда Литовского народа.
Great player.Really Legend.Respect from Azerbaijan.
Best passing big man i ever saw at that height fr.
you need to look up Vlade Divac highlights, if you wanna see big man passing skills.
LIETUVA TEVINE
miamihitstick He was good too
Lol @miamihitstick he could barely walk.
Chris Kaman as well.
I remember playing ball with my friends as a kid. They would refer to themselves as kobe or jordan, and refer to me as sabonis because they saw me as "white", although i am not white lol. I wore the name as a badge of honor. The man was and still is one of the greatest players to ever grace the game of basketball.
Finally, someone who knows what he's talking about!
I love Sabonis he was amazing when an older injured player he was able to use his skills to adapt and shine ✨
No doubt the best international center of all time.Top FIBA player of all time
Incredible smart, creative, all round player, so skillful, manouverable and excellent shooter and defender. One of the best ever in whole basketball history.
It's like watching figure skating on the hardwood, so elegant.
best big man to ever play basketball.
Don’t disrespect Kareem,
😂
I think Arvydad is up there but not prob not 1 but he would have if he was allowed to play in the nba when he was younger and in his prime cause he didn't get drafted till he was 30-31
stop the disrespect, Hakeem, Kareem, Wilt,Bill deserve that title more
Tim Duncan
He Is a Lithuanian Legend. The best Center there was. At least in Europe.
+Mode Liukas Pau Gasol has been one hundred times better than this fat russian. Fat Sabonis couldn't jump higher than one inch.
+Alex G.M. First of all he's not russian, second he's better than Pau Gasol... Just look at statistics and you'll se who's better :) (Maybe he can't jump high but he can block mutch better than Pau)
+Alex G.M. He played in NBA when he was old, but when he was a liitle bit younger he was just BEAST! He broke first backboard when he was 17 i think so ... He's too mutch of a BEAST! No one stoped him even Motombo and even Shaq :P He didn't care that he was a center. He made a lot of 3s. He made passes from behind not looking or behind the head. And don't you dare to say that he's fat russian who can't jump when he's not even a russian.
DoViS stm bOLLOCKS. Shaq kicked his fat ass. He wasn't even an starter player in Portland. He didn't win the NBA.
+Alex G.M. You do realize that he wasn't able to come to the NBA until 10 years after he was drafted, right? By then he had been overworked by the Soviet national team and had crippling injuries to both legs. Still, even without being able to jump he WAS the starter for 5 straight years in Portland and was putting up 16-10-3-1-1 in 1998. His career 3pt% is better than Kobe's.
Rookie at age 31. Imagine if he came at 21!
he was even breaking rims :D when he was young
imagine Two best players from Europe Dražen and Arvydas in same tim
It's sad that he came into the league after multiple knee injuries.
@@edvardasbartkus5149 I saw him breaking the backboard with one hand. December 26, 1984. Christmas tournament, Real Madrid vs URSS. Pabellón de los deportes, Madrid. The young Sabonis was a faster, bigger and stronger version of Larry Bird. Scoring, rebounding, Blocking, passing...what amazing set of skills he had. And don't forget, 7'3". Imho, the most gifted player who ever born.
@Deangelo Vickers
🤦♂️🤦♂️🤦♂️😭😭😭
best passing center in the world
He could passed it to his teammates.
Great video best iv'e seen on Sabonis. Now we are blessed to see his son play for Gonzaga and hopefully NBA!
I think he averaged about 28 points, 16 rebounds, 6 assists and 3 blocks per game in his Olympic career.
And he didn't make his Olympic debut until he was about 26. Because of boycotts.
And he'd already had numerous ACL injuries by then. Because of the USSRs crazy regime.
There aren't many NBA players in the history of basketball with those Olympic numbers
+CJ Mooney Sabas is the best what Lithuania ever had
And then if Sabonis played in 1984 Los Angeles Olympic, I think USSR will beat USA 95-94
I remember his games vividly. High post, low post, behind the arc, defense, passing, on-court awareness.... This guy was fundamentally rock solid! One of the best I've ever seen play!
That's exactly what I remember and I wish there were more that played like him
+Weldon Wenturine if not for his injuries and if he was allowed to come to the U.S in his prime he would of got all stars and a couple of rings.
One of the most intelligent players in the history of the game. Also, no bigman could handle the ball, shoot, dribble and, most of all, pass as good as Arvydas Sabonis. A true legend.
Best basketball player all over the world.. ❤️ Arvidas Sabonis the 👑 king of Basketball 🏀
I remember watching this guy playing for Portland back when I was a little kid. This video brings back good memories of watching the Blazers with my dad. Thanks for uploading.
My all time favorite Portland Trailblazer and one of the best passing big men I've ever had the pleasure of watching. He was also pretty darn good from beyond the arc.
Ah...rember Sabonis so well
Think...best center ever
Such a skills...
All the best from Croatia.....🍻🍾🎉😊👍🍀🔝
and 2/3 of his career was after both legs mcl/acl injuries, this is insane, i could just dream about how he would have played without injuries...
MindaugasLegend The worst for him was blowing out both Achilles tendons.
Jonathan Hakim yes, imagine how inasne he would have been if not that big injuries
***** made of plastic? he was 7.4ft, 2.21cm u moron, also pretty heavy, no legs in world can hold that size. look at most players who are over 7.3+, all were injured and ended career way faster than sabonis. also no one ever was as fast for 7.4ft as prime sabonis in 1984-1987~
and i dont get what scrub means.
+Gloryboy300 Made of plastic? Why are you even posting here when every basketball statement you make is inaccurate? He was a strong, athletic player that got screwed by the Soviet system:
"The 1985-1988 stretch of a heavy playing schedule and lack of rest took a significant toll on Sabonis' future health and durability. Various leg injuries weren't given much time to heal due to the Cold War climate that surrounded international competition as well as BC Žalgiris - CSKA Moscow games. In a 2011 interview, Sabonis expressed an opinion that overuse by the coaches of the Soviet national program was a major contributing factor to his first Achilles' tendon injury back in 1986.[5] Another key moment for his future health took place in 1988 when Sabonis had a surgical Achilles procedure performed in Portland but was rushed back on the floor with the USSR Olympic team before a full recovery. The decision to include a limping Sabonis on the USSR roster for the 1988 Olympic games was protested at the time by Portland medical staff and was later heavily criticized.[6] Eventually Sabonis would develop chronic knee, ankle and groin issues that substantially limited his mobility and explosiveness by the mid-1990s."
В школьной команде был у нас "Сабон"
У центрового позывной такой был !
ВСЕЙ командой мечтали быть похожими на Арвидаса Сабониса
(для нас пацанов он был БОГОМ !)
В середине 80х
I heard he had lost a step or two by the time he came to the NBA but he was really a beast when he was younger. Shame there isn't more footage of him in his younger days.
Blazzers are just unlucky.
When I played overseas there was old footage when he played for a club team in Russia or one related countries. You wouldn't believe it because I didn't believe what I saw. He used to run the floor, shoot threes and was dunking on people. It would have been amazing to see him in his prime. Politics caused this injustice of not being in the NBA earlier.
grosskopf2 there are videos where he destroys david robinson when they were both young in a game between usa and rusia.
grosskopf2 He played in Lithuania in Soviet championship and national team. Get your facts straight.
***** Well excuuuuse meeee!!!!!!!!!! Regardless, he was a heck of a player dunking on people.
Detlef Schrempf: " I played vs Sabonis, since I was 16 years old. If he would have came earlier to the NBA, he could have been one of the best players ever."
Sabonis body was done when he came to the NBA, still he played fantastic. His BB IQ was so high. Nowitzki, Petrovic and Sabonis best EU players ever.
I just loved his game . Before he had any injuries in my opinion one of the top 3 centers I've ever seen play basketball. what a talent and this coming from the SuperSonics fan
That over the head pass to Stoudamire is my favorite basketball highlight ever
He Play en only one leg. The Best IQ of All Time
the legend!!
He was much better players before he came to NBA but still good but this is when he was out of prime
+Roger Cobbs
he had so many injuries, without Iron Curtain he would be one of the GOATS.
+ZKITPO No doubt.
+Roger Cobbs Agreed, he was arguably the best Center in the world before injuries. Side note; this man had to have the biggest head in all of human history.
+AM Klein lol yes he had a big egg head lol
Kaip gerai Kat dar kaškas prisimina lietuva , visi jau pamiršo 🇱🇹
Well, he is the best European player of all times (Along with Drajen Petrovic, Nikos Galis and Dirk Nowitzki). If the Americans had the chance to witness what Sabonis did at the age of 22-30 they would be talking for one the best big men in the history of basketball, up there with Wilt Chamberlain, Careem Jabbar and Bill Russell
Tony Parker as well...
@@habibouedraogo864 Tony parker is amongst the greatest europeans and he won NBA championships. But he never demonstrated beast-mode stats or lead a team to the top as THE superstar. His best days in San Antonio he was with Dunkan (prolly the best power forwards of all time) and Manu Ginobilly (prolly the best 6th man of all times who in a way changed basketball by introducing the eurostep in NBA). So yea, Tony Parker is an honorable mention (so is Pau Gasol) but not in the same club with the other four i mentioned. My opinion at least :-)
beaffteki I can agree with you on Pau Gasol of course but not Tony. Dude averaged 20 points a game for 4 years straight(05-09) on a team with those superstars you just mentioned. 6x all star in a loaded Western conference mid-2000s era in terms of guards...4x All nba all coming at the end of his career. you mentioned leading a team? I think being a finals MVP ends that debate. He’s one of the greatest European players.
Nice sky hook at 1:18. What a great center.
Yao Ming said Sabonis is his idol.
lol,,, who is Yao Ming ? :-)
@@timnic9242 who is Sabonis
@@pingenlin6272 Sabonis is the idol of Yao Ming
@@pingenlin6272 who is alex lin
Probably one of the best center in the history of basketball
Imagine if he played in the NBA in his prime? Ive watched him played in europe... He is like dirk nowitzki but a better rebounder and a way better big passer
***** mostly in that dirk didn't have the size to operate in the post. sabonis was huge. they were both nice from the outside. maybe dirk a little better. i'd take (healthy, young-ish, no botched acchilles surgeries) sabonis over dirk every day of the week with no regrets
postaltraining They're both pretty big. Sabonis is seven feet three inches & Dirk is seven feet. ;-) But god I would have loved to see a young Sabonis play in the NBA. He was so good.
Graham Strouse But Sabonis was 7'3" and STRONG. He had Hakeem size, would have muscled Dirk around whenever he wanted. And Sabonis could run the court too before he got hurt.
Actually, for NBA fans, I think that the best comparison to prime Sabonis would have been the Dream. He was a bit better passer and outside shooter than Hakeem, but wasn't quite as smooth in the post and probably never would have been quite as dominant a defender. But Hakeem and Sabonis were the most versatile centers of the last 30 years.
Jonathan Hakim he was actually 7,4 not 7,3
+postaltraining if you ask donnie nelson who he'll pick between dirk mvp and sabas before injuries he'll pick sabas always. he says it in an interview (nothing against dirk, to me one of the first 5 europeans ever, maybe top 3)
It's a shame that here in the US we never got to see him play in his prime he was a true gentle giant.
Arvidas Sabonis is a Great athlete and a true Legend of my youth. Thanks to people like him, from whom you want to take an example, sport will always attract talented and strong-willed people.
2:29 OMG that pass :O
Had season tickets for the Blazers when Sabas played. Such a great player.....If only he had been a Blazer during the Drexler-Porter-Kersey years (89-92). Thanks SABAS for playing Center as well as any Blazer ever has.
Волшебные передачи!!!!! Не каждый разыгрывающий так отдает
Sabonis, Drazen, Oscar schimit... Legends!!!!
They paved the way for the Euros.
@@yjkhjghftf Oscar Schmidt is from South America though. Still one of the best players to not play in the NBA!
Detlef Schrempf, Dirk's idol. I think he is first international player who spent 15 years in the NBA
So slept on, excellent post moves and because of him Drazen Petrovic came and ripped the league a new one with his shooting ability.
Well I am from Lithuania and I am proud of him ARVYDAS SABONIS GERIAUSIAS !!!! LIETUVA LIETUVA
Lithuanian-Europ and NBA legend. Hi was best.
and as part of which team sabonis became the champion of Europe the world and Olympic Games?
probably the best center!!!
I think he is most respected foreign player in Serbia. Loved to watch him play, though it wasn`t easy when he played against Yugoslavia, but we had better team. Always admired him.
Not flashy, but a great fundamental basketball player.
True could of been better then shaq if not injuries
He's one of the few people Shaq couldn't dominate physically
+impassable ikr and this guy is like the only guy i ever saw body shaq and could handle him.
+impassable ikr and this guy is like the only guy i ever saw body shaq and could handle him. Yao Ming also ;)
He is flashy for that size.
He's one of the greatest big men to ever play the game period. People
that saw him play wouldn't dare argue with this statement. People that saw his games against Shaq/Hakeem/Robinsin/Mutambo/Duncan know the guy would go blow for blow even outduel them most of the games. He is easily the greatest passing big of all time. Probably up there with Kidd/Stockton group as smartest passer.
He’s super underrated he was dominant before the injuries that plagued him.I understand the solviet curtain kept him from leaving in his prime but he was so freaking good and had dribbles and a fantastic post game and was a real hustler. He had a good touch and great court vision. People don’t give the man enough credit. Also he played in a era stacked with true centers.
Sabonis - a legend of all legends. You should see him on his prime, it is really something!
Watching those clips of him easily scoring on a young Shaq makes me think how badly he would have kicked Shaq's butt had they played prime to prime. I believe the only player who could have outplayed him would have been Young Kareem (I don't mention Wilt and Russell because it's so hard to do that distant a cross generational comparison); Walton in 1977 could deal with anyone in history; again, a shame we didn't get to see what he really could have done. But it's true, Sabonis had it all, the ambidexterity, the quickness (watch Russia against us in Olympics), the jump hooks with either hand, the strength, and even a damn good 3 point shot, great foul shooter, but then tops on the list, huge B ball IQ, in many ways like a huge Larry Bird
He was great but i think you should also mention Olajuwon as somebody who could have outplayed him.
oh no question
Look dude, idk what youre thinking but shaq was the most dominant force in the history of basketball.. No player, in any generation, could contain shaq. Its not hard to imagine if shaq woulda worked as hard as he couldve, that he coulda got 6-7 rings if he stayed in LA. Shaq was a gamechanging force. He would dominate.
Dave Kay Wilt Chamberlain would've destroyed Shaq. Prime for prime, it wouldn't be close - Wilt would make rag doll out of Shaq.
CalcioEUnico As if. You can't compare Wilt to players nowadays or players during the Bird/Magic and Jordan era. The Sport has developed way too much. His skillset is way to low to be averaging 30 ppg nowadays. He maybe would have scored 20 ppg, i think even less. players back then had no jumpshot, the free throw shooting was worse, the competition was lower and there weren't close as many moves as we have today(Ballhandling and athleticism was worse). Nobody could do a spin move, or how to pull up, just to name 2 examples. Don't look at his stats and say "He averaged 50 ppg over a season, he could do that today". He couldn't. Shaq would destroy Wilt. I'm not saying Wilt is bad, but Shaq would destroy him.
Also, thanks for this vid, Dunkman. It's easy for people to forget about the greats. Maybe they played too long ago, or played for a bad team, or got hurt, or were victims of the Cold War. But we should still remember them & learn from them. Arvydas Sabonis was one of the best centers to ever play.
Tres años disfrutando de su juego en Valladolid, antes de dar el salto al Real Madrid y a Portland, fue un auténtico lujazo.
Por aquel entonces no existían jugadores con esa altura y peso que dominasen todos los aspectos del juego de esa manera: asistencias inverosímiles, un muy buen tiro exterior, juego de pies, gancho, intimidación,...
Espectacular su dupla interior aquí con Mike Schlegel y, en el Madrid, con Joe Arlauckas.
Siempre podré decir que he visto jugar en directo, y mucho, a Sabonis, Homicius, Kurtinaitis, Schlegel, Óscar S. Becerra, Lalo García,..., pero sobre todo al primero. Un crack.
Probably the most completed center ever played the game!!! Todays NBA center don‘t mean shit in front of him...
Arvidassss Saabooonissss…!!!
simply one of the most brilliant players that ever played in the nba...
Where Sabonis best played was at Real Madrid (92-95), his best years, he was the undisputed king, he won the European Cup and I think where he most enjoyed
Its opponents had been able to play in the NBA with the Blazers right out of the gate or even the early nineties him and those early Trailblazer teams would have dominated the Bulls for championships, because that's what they really liked was a dominant center they can really stretch the floor
I'm a young French basketball fan and I love those 90' centers specially the extras-americans ones. I would love to be there in the 90' :-)
He was SPECTACULAR in his early career before injuries,almost unstoppable.
It's a shame he wasn't able to play in the NBA earlier,would have been some awesome matchups.
Yao Ming used to idolize Arvydas Sabonis
His passing was just as beautiful as Magic
just came here because of 2016 NBA DRAFT - and the 11th pick Domantas Sabonis (Son) 🏀
Me too,didn't know he had a son playing until now.
He has 3 sons, Domantas (the youngest) is the only one who plays ball.
Sabonis and Petro are the unluckiest duo in nba history. If not the troubles they faced, they both would be called goat today.
They would be called "gods"? Goats are hairy animals that produce milk.
El Quijote Greatest Of All Time
Jonathan Hakim I know I am good but you don't need to call me the greatest of all times
One of the best passing centers of all time
If he hadn't got injured, he would have been the best center ever. Even after the surgery, he was one of the best centers in NBA for sure.
Dude... this guy had it all, the court vision of a true point guard, shooting range, can play the inside game, can assist with blindfolds on........ the ability to leap, he was really the whole package. I don't think you can compare him with anyone.
Amazing center. A universal legend of basketball.
the legend
Always loved this big fella!
I ran into him at the Vilnius (Lithuania's capital) airport last month. He couldn't have been nicer. What a great guy.
Lithuania legend!!! 👏👏👏👏💪💪💪💪❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
Im a huge fan of basketball amd during school i wrote a report on Arvydas. I found out a lot about this man and how great he really was before his body went to shit. Players like Shaq, Robinson amd Divac all said that Arvydas was the best center they ever played against. So dont say he wasnt shit. Do your reserch before saying dumb things. Arvydas would of been one of the best Centers all time. Hell he wouldve been the best Center of all time. Watch the film ciz tje film never lies people.
Un extraordinario jugador, con una visión de campo espectacular!!!!
Love the reactions of his teammates after their dunks, even though the pass before the dunk was the part you gotta be exited about.
without a doubt one of the top 5 centers of all-time
If he hadn't the problem at his ankles he would be a phenomenon!!
Still well deserved hall of famer...
If he didnt join the NBA when he was like 30 he would have lead my blazers to a couple titles
he was inducted into the HOF??? that's tight! he was truly one of the most fun players to watch.
I would of loved of loved to see him play along Bird & Magic , you know your going to get the ball playing next to these guys!
If he'd have been able to come to the NBA a lot sooner, I'm sure he could've had a couple NBA titles. It was sad that foot and ankle injuries robbed him of some great years, but still made it up for effectiveness on the court, especially with his passing. He used his size well.
achilles injurys
Watching at Nba Sabonis is like Wizard Jordan.Good,but nothing like their golden years
He was playing with both knees injured due to lack of basic training in his young age.
He was a 7"3 Rick Barry before injuries.
DET fan, loved that POR '00 lineup!
and if You look in old basketball history,when CCCR wins against USA in old 1988, four of five main players was Lithuanians, and one of them was Sabonis , we are small country by population, but we love this game, we born with this game , and we are enjoying when we are playing it in our yards
Super Sabas!!!!!!!
best basketball player period.
Michael Jordan said HI
***** the year jordan first "retired" the bulls won how many fewer games than with jordan? was it 5 or 7? a hideously small number for being without an alleged GOAT
Hobosteen5 When healthy Sabonis could have been in that conversation. It's really hard to say that, though, since he got his legs screwed up so early in his career.
***** What are you smoking? Check his stats and awards so you don't look stupid stating your arguments. Sample awards?
NBA Defensive Player of the Year (1988)
9× NBA All-Defensive First Team (1988-1993, 1996-1998)
So your argument is FLAWED. Arvydas would have been one of the best big man in the NBA but not GOAT.
Check Jordan's page while you are at it as well: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Jordan
You said Jordan was a one trick poney :)
An x ray of his foot would get you a handicapped parking permit according to the team doctor. They were surprised he could walk or run and he still avg 23 ppg and 10 rebounds in his first playoffs.
One of the most skilled big men ever. Wish we could've seen him in the NBA while he was in his prime.
if he could come to the nba before that serious injury he had he would have been up there with shaq kareem and olajuwon
Im from Lithuania Arvydas Sabonis is our LEGEND
2:45 most pg today can't do that
Sabonis was actually one of the best passing big men.
alonR8 So is Nikola Jokic , must be a European thing.
@@D34DxChevy So is Jokic yes he was far away from being born when Sabonis was the best passer (center position) and at that time not that many could shoot 3pts at 2m and 21cm or (around there)
Respect this man deeply through all that the USSR put him through he still made it as a great man and a legend to the world of basketball.
and what bad did he experience in the USSR? became the champion of the world of Europe and the Olympic games of his lineup and it is very bad for you because he played with the inscription of the USSR but what Arvydas himself says about it
With all the flaws of how the Soviet idea was implemented in our country, many ideological principles underlying it - a sense of collectivism, tolerance towards other nations, a willingness to sacrifice everything for the homeland - are not bad at all for the moral education of people and athletes, agree? Of course. I often said that my homeland is the Soviet Union .. Do you have any unrealized childhood dream? Or was basketball so busy all the time that there was no possibility of dreaming? In our youth, by and large, there was one dream - to get into the national team. It was the most important thing in life. If he made his way into the national team, he received a training suit with the inscription "USSR. from the interview with Sabonis 2013.
if he played day 1 in nba, he would be top players in history, mavs fan here and i watched this guy, he coulda been top 5 ever
so skilled , underrated