Alright, let’s talk about Arvydas Sabonis. I’ve been doing a bit of a deep dive lately, just watching old tapes and reading up, trying to really get a handle on this guy.
So, I started off, you know, remembering him mostly from his Portland days. Big dude, solid player, seemed like a good piece on those late 90s / early 00s Blazer teams. But people, especially older folks or international fans, talked about him like he was some kind of mythic figure. That got me curious. Was I missing something?
My Digging Process
First thing I did was just pull up highlights. Not just NBA stuff, but anything I could find. Old grainy footage from Europe, the Olympics. And man, oh man. The stuff you see him doing in his younger days… it’s kinda wild.
The Passing
This was the first thing that jumped out. We see good passing centers now, sure. But Sabonis, back in the 80s? He was doing behind-the-back passes, full-court outlet passes on a dime, threading needles to cutters from the high post. He wasn’t just a big guy who could pass a little; he was like a point guard stuck in a 7’3″ body. It was nuts. He saw the floor in a way most bigs just don’t.
Scoring and Skill
Then you look at his scoring. Soft touch around the rim, hook shots, could even step out and shoot a bit. He wasn’t just relying on his size; he had real skill. He could bang inside but also had finesse. It wasn’t just bully ball.
The Big “What If”
Okay, here’s the kicker. As I kept digging, the timeline became super important. He got drafted by the Blazers way back in ’86, but because of the whole Soviet Union situation, he couldn’t come over. Then, the injuries started piling up. Achilles tears, knee problems… really serious stuff for a guy that big.
- He finally gets to the NBA in 1995.
- He’s already 31 years old.
- He’s carrying the weight of multiple major injuries.
So, the Sabonis we saw in the NBA, the one I remembered? That wasn’t prime Sabonis. Not even close. That was an older, much less mobile version who was still a really good, impactful player.
Putting it Together
It hit me then. To judge Sabonis only on his NBA career is like judging a legendary guitarist based only on recordings made after they broke three fingers. Yeah, they can still play, maybe even really well, but you’re missing the magic, the peak of their powers.
Think about it: a 7’3″ guy with elite court vision and passing, soft touch, good shooting range, strong finisher… but before all the devastating injuries. That player? The one dominating Europe and international competitions? He was legitimately one of the best players on the planet. Some argue he could have been right up there with the all-time great centers had he come to the NBA earlier and stayed healthy.
So, how good was Arvydas Sabonis? Damn good. Way better than just his NBA stats or tenure show. He was a unique talent, a revolutionary kind of big man whose best years were unfortunately spent away from the NBA spotlight and hampered by injuries. What we saw in Portland was impressive, but it was just the echo of what he once was.
