Arvydas Sabonis Trail Blazers Career Highlights

A look back at Sabas' highlights during his career in Portland.
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[@Solidkhallid]

He was definitely ahead of his time, 7' 3", could pass like like a guard, and had 3pt range. He'd easily be an all-star nowadays

[@djstyles97]

Nikola Jokic is the spiritual successor to Arvydas Sabonis.

[@roseforyoubabe]

he would never be a true center like kareem

[@voided4844]

@@roseforyoubabe Kareem would literally just be a classic big man nowadays sabonis would thrive in today’s game or in the nba because he is the original unicorn

[@thomasschwartz3503]

He was part of the transition of big men shooting with success. Basically a Jokic in 2000.. he did it all.

[@amberkrise4519]

Now we have his son who can’t pass or shoot as good as his father😭

[@tenochvilla6296]

Greatest “what if” player of all time

[@JaeDooks]

Well, Petrovic and Bias too

[@dovydass7020]

@RShCovers prime sabonis would knock lebron the fuck out

[@itowedin]

Rigged

[@adamm7922]

Not really a “what if”. At least not what you’re talking about. There’s 100% a “what if” for if he wasn’t so injured his whole career that while he was playing, doctors didn’t even know how he was walking and he qualified for being handicapped his whole NBA career... What you’re saying is a “what if” is him still being the greatest player to ever pick up a basketball. Just in secrecy. Realistically, he was a modern Wilt with better skills

[@tenochvilla6296]

@@adamm7922 i bet you're blast at parties

[@aarontyler4250]

The prototype of jokic. As a Spurs fan he gave us the business. Moved at his own pace and held his own against the best. Respect. Could only imagine him in his prime

[@user-ul1vw9bh2y]

That bs

[@dr.peppernutz5972]

​@@user-ul1vw9bh2y🤓

[@raurmanproductions3438]

No... Sabonis was not a "Prototype" he was a well refined master and operating at about half I what he was overseas.

[@ligitascizauskas9204]

Jokičiu eščio mnogo zemli obosrat štoby stat SABONIS

[@josemanuelcaballero1162]

i saw his prime in Europe. We are afraid of Jokic now. Sabonis was the next level boss. He had all his passing, handles, and shooting. Was even bigger and a fiercer defender. And he did not treat ball as his side job. What you saw wa slike comparing 91-92 Bird with prime Bird.

[@zergmare7]

If only we had him in his younger days

[@MikolPikol]

And he would've been with the clyde drexler team 😬😬

[@ericsigersmith2831]

Ya blazers and bad luck with injuries

[@zr8693]

Could have beat the Bulls with a prime Sabonis in 92 I think

[@dwaynekeenum1916]

@@zr8693 nah

[@JulioLeonFandinho]

@@dwaynekeenum1916 Bulls didn't have anybody that could stop Sabonis, and on the other hand he was a deffensive force in the sense that he was an incredible disruptor, and at the same time a big contributor to ball distribution... consider how he elevated that 2000 Portland teams when he was healthy and imagine how he could elevate that Drexler squad, with Terry Porter, Buck Williams... the only missing piece there was a consistent center. Not saying Duckworth wasn't a good center, but he was no Sabonis, even injured and old Sabonis... so, don't say "nah" like it's an improbable specullation, because it's not

[@masterclass299]

Just imagine him without injuries and at his absolute prime.

[@zakkeister174]

Right? He still managed to play (and well) to 38

[@camf8372]

Oh don't you know it? He would've been LETHAL

[@jaysonchen3322]

He was injured and old when he joined NBA.

[@camf8372]

@@jaysonchen3322 Yeah he was but his skill set is still very unique for the time at which he joined the NBA and what he could do at the 5 position.. Metaphorically speaking, the guy could pass the ball out of his ass 🍊🏀. Still super underrated

[@sizzerb4218]

@@jaysonchen3322 could have been Jokic if he came to NBA at 22-23

[@SmellyFartSoHard]

"The X-ray alone would get him a handicap parking permit" - Don Roberts, doctor of Blazers. Yet still have a good career in NBA with his own style and condition. True HOF

[@gusfiore4029]

No knees no achilles only IQ

[@troydixson1394]

Nobody called a sobanis like Billy walton

[@DomSaget]

Im a simple man, i see Sabonis, i click like

[@charlesritter6640]

Most underrated big man of all time.

[@peso1651]

In Europe in his prime he was the best player ever. Bet in NBA he would’ve done the same. Just imagine the center bigger than Shaq, faster than Shaq, shooting like guard, making passes like PG and being one of the best defensive Center. He was dominating in every aspect.

[@Comedyvibes]

Jesus Loves you and wants you to accept him as your Lord and also saviour

[@dundalis]

Uh Shaq in his prime could run faster than a lot of guards and could jump through the roof. Sabonis was not in Shaq’s league athletically, plenty of videos of Sabonis pre injuries and was not Shaq level athletic

[@BlakeBryson1986]

​@@dundalis yea, more skilled than Shaq, but def not faster or more athletic. 2 diff players. He could hold his own against Shaq tho

[@JPE432]

Shaquille o Neal changed the game , teams started carrying 3 bigs so they could take turns hacking at Shaq. They also had to start carrying multiple goals in the arena just in case he broke the goal, they had to re engineer the way the goals where made to reinforce them after his rookie year. Think about that for a second lol

[@jonalgoulbourne]

He def wasn’t faster then Shaq lol

[@peterhandke3936]

We were so dominant in the 1980's basketball as Yugoslavia, nobody could come close. But there was this guy, who could make a difference. Sabonis. Competing either against our national team, or against Cibona with Petrovic, we feared him. We were much better as teams, but he was soooooooo big and capable. Luckily for us, he had a bad temper, too. Which did cost Zalgiris titles against Cibona. But they somehow managed to win a lost game against Yugoslavia at the Olympics, when we had 9 points +. with some 50 seconds to go. If he joined NBA in the 80's, he'd be one of the GOATs, if not the one.

[@KidFresh71]

He's not your Vydas, he's not my Vydas- he's Arvydas. What powerful, lumbering talent. My knees ache just watching his highlights.

[@jamescook6564]

Those behind the back passes were delivered with such accuracy it's amazing to see.

[@talalpern6868]

By the time he got to the NBA his knees were gone. Had he got there younger he would be an absolute beast

[@AirSullivan504]

Jokic must’ve loved watching him play. Had to be inspired

[@2nd_gen_adventures990]

Sooooo happy you guys posted this for the youngsters. This was the first “point center” ever in the NBA, nobody had ever seen a man of his size that could pass like that, and shoot

[@joe-zj8js]

Vlade divac. He had a good perimeter shot with occasional 3. Those eastern European guys were really good. He and sabonis were very athletic. Long time laker fan but loved seeing his game with the kings. That was just good basketball

[@mojebi3804]

@@joe-zj8js Divac can't touch Sabonis

[@niggaplz6216]

Bill Laimbeer was there before but he wasn't nearly as good as Sabas!

[@Radowitzki]

@@mojebi3804 Agree

[@cmend]

Not as good as Jokic tho

[@MrAlvin714]

Sabonis was ahead of his time...and came into the nba late...he was so talented

[@jesusfranco]

Best center in Blazers history.

[@chef7423]

bill walton?

[@jesusfranco]

@@chef7423 No, but it's my opinion. Walton was a beast. Sabonis was way better. The problem is that Portland had only 50% of the real Sabonis.

[@ericsigersmith2831]

Ya better than duckworth

[@zr8693]

Walton was so overrated. He was better in college than the NBA. Had like 4 good seasons in the NBA then was always hurt. Most overrated Hall of Famer ever!

[@user-ze7tl2dw4i]

@ZR 86 he brought the blazers their only chip in a Portland that no one gave a shit about and no one wanted to play for

[@danielgordinho1982]

One of the best big men of all time. Shame he wasn’t allowed to come to the NBA when he was in his 20’s. Sabonis definitely was a name I heard growing up.

[@user-ny3yd6rk5s]

Сабас красава!!! Помним,скучаем! Здоровья и удачи!!!)))

[@wassup287]

If you want to see what could have been for the Blazers, watch the '88 olympics where he mopped the floor with a prime David Robinson and won gold.

[@hessunator]

That wasn't the prime David Robinson. The Admiral hadn't even played a single NBA game at that point. He was still in the Navy.

[@chrishansen8836]

Prime? Calm down he would never be able to handle a prime Robinson

[@zr8693]

What hes saying is Sabonis took the NBA's #1 draft pick to school.

[@dovydass7020]

@@chrishansen8836 i bet prime robinson wouldnt handle a cripple sabonis

[@Lawyeris]

in 88 Olympics Sabas already was after 2 huge Achilles injuries, not playing more than 1 year before Olympics. Despite that, he played with Admiral equal. In 1986 world championship Sabas owns Admiral with at least 3 superb posters and some blocks. You can find and watch that game too

[@xlxl9440]

My man was in his early 30's when he actually started to play in the NBA with bad knees. Just imagine if he would have been able to play in the NBA 10 years earlier?! He would have been one of the best of all time! I'm glad he's getting some of his flowers through his son Domantas.

[@biggbagg9103]

He was a Beast 💪💪

[@ericsigersmith2831]

And is a beast on nba2k classic teams lol

[@dovydass7020]

@@ericsigersmith2831 waiting for him on 2k21

[@RipCityJB]

I worked for the Blazers and was there for most of these highlights. Sabas was my favorite Blazer ever, just a joy to watch. Still have his poster hanging in my garage.

[@unappealingundesirable2826]

I was born in Seattle in 1973, where I grew up. Sonics and Blazers fan. Japanese-American. 1993-94 and 1996 were among the BEST times of my life. I vote for one of Sabonis' top plays, from the 1995-96 season: Sonics at Blazers, triple teamed, Sabonis bounce passed to Buck Williams under the basket, and Buck jammed it. That was the difference in the Blazers winning that game.

[@moisescaballeromartel4074]

Grande sabonis. En España jugó en forum Valladolid y en Real Madrid y dejó su magia. Magnífico jugador y gran persona👍

[@jfrd-pw4hk]

Even with those bum knees, Sabas still has the body control and post skill to dominate the floor. Remember people, this dude is older than Michael Jordan. He should have played in the NBA during the 80s and early 90s. He's already in the twilight of his career when he entered the NBA.

[@ALARGADORDECU]

He's 1 year younger than MJ.

[@carlosechavarri-erasun3035]

Legend. Saw him in europe in the 80s, he was unstoppable. Extremely smart player.

[@WorldMFNWide-vt3vk]

Im 37 i remember watching him growing up he was poetry in motion, so smooth and confident one of the Goats for centers

[@davisdynasty83]

He was so fundamentally sound and a constant triple threat. He'd be highly effective now and an absolute nightmare a young Sabonis played in today's game.

[@comicthrashed4320]

The Shaq stopper. My favorite player growing up.

[@SiamHomeSource]

Not even close lol no dominant scorers have a 'stopper' but old Arvydas certainly held his own against prime Shaq, and was one of the very few that Shaq couldn't push around anywhere in the paint and bully.

[@theotherphoneplease598]

Shaq, the second best Center of the 90s, was very dominant and Sabonis "sadly" couldn´t really stop him, cause he simply wasn´t fast enough.

[@SiamHomeSource]

@@theotherphoneplease598 Shaq couldn't stop sabonis either, other than getting him in foul trouble.

[@djstyles97]

Yao was the true Shaq stopper.

[@lostone9700]

rodman is the shaq stopper but sabonis played him well.

[@zaurmchedlishvili3665]

Loved this player! In his prime, his team Zalgiris was the only one who was able to bit Soviet Red Army's team CSKA

[@ramazeliozashvili4961]

Qartvelebs gvevaseba sabonisi :)))

[@kestastreigys9728]

👍👍👍😀

[@pixytorres7117]

You forgot Aris, with Nick Gallis was the most dominant team.

[@contralt2374]

@@pixytorres7117 Здесь говорят о чемпионате ссср.

[@mosecaramanica4031]

Nobody in history like Arvydas Sabonis!!!!!

[@djstyles97]

Jokic is his spiritual successor.

[@mattysquizzato7094]

"Sabonis, with the deposit!" LMFNAO. The laughs just don't stop coming with Sabonis. What's crazy about it, is that the guy's skills are remarkable!

[@Badz_B34chst4r]

The excitement and energy in the noise the fans make in some of the clips in this video gives me goosebumps! What a legendary player!

[@packersauburneric3625]

I'm Celtics fan and love these highlights

[@yomomsahoe5797]

@@packersauburneric3625 I’m a laker fan and I love these highlights?

[@wormholefan]

Amazing! Amazing! A player got into NBA as a starting center after lost 70% of athleticism.

[@therealityofitall4819]

Shows how good he was before the injuries.. If he came to the Blazers healthy no injuries we are talking about a possible dynasty..

[@pepotsasori317]

Damn. Like father like son.

[@zackspiker_]

He was everything, I loved seeing him bewilder any big trying to guard him.

[@quincyslote8058]

I'm here because I'm 36 and need to start refining my old-man game and Sabonis is the best example there is of old-man game.

[@pcorf]

Even when soreness slowed him down he was still a beautiful player to watch.

[@FernandoRodriguez-wj8fe]

I saw Sabonis plays whe he was 20 years old. If in that time he went to NBA, now he should be the best center of the history. Sorry for my english.

[@NorthmaN_87]

Bring his son Domantas Sabonis to Portland Trail Blazers !!!

[@stroud__]

as a pacers fan, we’ll keep him but thanks

[@__j3rrskioo]

Yes as a pacer fan we are keeping him

[@__j3rrskioo]

Never trading unless contracts

[@LukasSRR]

@@__j3rrskioo No. Pacers dont deserve him. There is a lot of hate to Sabonis from pacers fans. They saying that they trade Sabonis the best player of their team before they trading Turner

[@santanaincubus]

the Jazz Killers,were the Jordan Bulls and this Team, Arvydas Sabonis is one of my most feared Centers facing the Jazz, he could play in the post real well, nobody could block his shot, and he could shoot the 3 really well, never saw him miss a 3. Deadly Center. Always feared him when they faced the Jazz. Underrated Center.

[@milosjovicevic6083]

He was so bad at 3 pts

[@Acer3859]

One of the all time greats.

[@packersauburneric3625]

Loved him and wish the beat the Lakers in 2000 and wish they won in 1999 vs blazers

[@evanpatten4101]

This is when Blazer games we're loud! Last time I went people were basically staring at there phone's and acted annoyed that you were getting into the game. Such a good era of Blazers basketball

[@denisjankovic9745]

7.3 shooting 3's like guard.Rare at that time

[@sergeiorlov_43]

And passed like a God

[@gusfiore4029]

For me one of the best centers i have ever seen

[@chadkusiar4919]

Easily my favourite player ever. He carried himself in such away that he knew. He was the most talented weapon ever. He played injured his whole Career in Portland.

[@dili6933]

He is the one who knows how to play basketball, knows what to do in a team. Not just a centre, he is the player.

[@expergisci]

One of the greatest basketball players ever!

[@rafaelochoa6014]

La verdad su llegada fue tardía, su potencial era increíble cuando llegó a la NBA ya era un poco mayor y aún así tenía un nivel altísimo, se que el hubiera no existe pero imagino que de haber llegado más joven habría hecho una historia aún más grande, tuve suerte de verlo jugar.

[@tomugetsu5947]

he would be the Jokic of his era if only he started earlier in the NBA.

[@joev3568]

Here because of a buddy of mine who loves Jokic. Shared with him how much Jokic reminds me of Sabonis. Had to remind myself even how ahead of his time this dude was. Just awesome, what a force!

[@carlossauma9861]

amazing big man... don't see many like him..he is the whole deal...he was a nightmare in European league..the great Sabonis !!

[@DogecoinMode]

Sabonis playing in 90’ like its 2021

[@Nhilzer]

Such a beautiful player to watch.

[@trythisj]

Loved this player! I was a big fan of the Blazers at that time. Really ahead of his time..or the NBA's.

[@cesarleo8847]

The Joker is literally Sabonis reborn 🤯

[@rv1251]

More like this blazers, thx in advance from Lithuania

[@allanskie3728]

If he'd only came to the nba during his prime/younger years, what a dominant center he could have been..

[@louloop9137]

0:40 Gary Payton's reaction after the behind the back pass lol

[@mindaugaskliukas8667]

Our legend is the reason I follow the Blazers to this day!!!;)

[@borjacoto9053]

If Savas dont have injuries ,he was in the top 5 centers of all time.

[@pmsfar-outgrooviness8025]

That 2nd play, the behind the back pass, was the very first play he made in the NBA. I don't care too much about what if - what we got was plenty entertaining.

[@warriorj8658]

As a kid growing up I remember his beautiful passes

[@bobbykimble2013]

Much respect to one of the greats!!

[@joeynice123]

Such a treat watching him in person.

[@gfunkin2]

One of my favorite players ever growing up... I'm a small and play small as a shooter, but I always admired big men who could shoot like this, nevermind all the other things Sabonis gave you in terms of passing, creativity, and actually a pretty good mover considering all his injuries. Jokic doesn't move nearly as well.

[@starshipcaptain4753]

My favorite Blazer ever and Terry Porter oh and Buck Williams and RIP Jerome Kersey.

[@mikegazanchyan2423]

I love watching this man

[@damandrake6]

Imagine him with 22yo (when he was drafted by Portland) and no injuries 🤯

[@IrvSauce]

Sabonis and Sam Perkins kinda set the blueprint for the type of bigs we have now that can shoot, pass, and do all the typical big man stuff at a high level. Thanks for this video, it's awesome to see his greatness again.

[@Reggietheproducer]

indeed, and bill lambier

[@vivaportugal2353]

Sabas best player of history Ussr.

[@aug1x667]

Lithuania!!

[@tomasperkunas9594]

LIETUVA

[@V.J.J.V.]

Viva Portugal And best center in the world for all time

[@SITRUUNAKAKKU-kl3sf]

one of my favs

[@miquel6191]

Eras mi ídolo de juventud .Vi tantos partidos tuyos.Ojala hubiera podido llegar tan lejos como tu arvidas .

[@linassviderskis2727]

I'll never get bored with watching him...

[@dizzydacure8226]

Jokic before Jokic. 🤷🏾‍♂️ Arvydas Sabonis is very underrated. Had he been in the league earlier maybe he would have more respect. Hall of Fame nonetheless

[@alointaejames7559]

A very skilled big man who passes skills was showtime and I know he started all that center shooting 3 pointers

[@sizzerb4218]

Visual effects used make game legendary !!

[@vadikasvadikovicius6816]

Maestro, respect👍🥇

[@SupGarry]

Some facts: at this point when he joined blazers he was rusty af , wasnt even practicing with the team at all cuz his body was practicaly dead from all the injuries he had. Man was given a gift from above

[@huudamu1884]

ONE OF MY IDOLS

[@jawsdosmil]

What a player 👌🏻🔥

[@qslond6547]

The Legend!!

[@ronponce8238]

“Not MY vydas. Not YOUR vydas....but Arvydas Sabonis”

[@padraig5335]

That's how he was seen in the soviet union, and they definitely over worked his ass causing injury

[@TBgunsandbutter]

Great player both in USA & Europe now, his son's are going nuts in the leagues 🥜 🏀

[@joncabotxox9389]

One of the best big men of all time. What a skilled passer especially for a big man

[@Lewiebuckets916]

I remember watching him as a kid and he would give Shaq the bizzness!! Now his All Star son is bringing back my Sacramento Kings to relevance! Dang im getting old

[@fabriziofabrizio8821]

Da ragazzino lui è stato uno di quelli che mi ha fatto innamorare del basket!!!!

[@briansam2524]

Injuries robbed him of some great years but he was still effective with his court awareness.

[@littlehaz3l]

Truly is one of the biggest what if in the NBA. Thanks God now his son is dominating and doing very well in the NBA

[@dariusbivins7251]

Ive scored 62 points with him on 2k21

[@reynaldosptr]

man, this is only 50% of sabonis. and still so fckin good

[@NijThaGreat]

Bro was Jokic x10

[@packersauburneric3625]

Fr I miss these days of the NBA more of a bruising league even though scoring was down it took more skill I think

[@pavelp9456]

Сабонис это легенда Литовского баскетбола.

[@user-jx9uj1bz3c]

И советского всё ж таки

[@user-ez6bw4xf1g]

Куртинайтис Хомичюс Марчюленис .....

[@avitecae]

When Sabonis came to the NBA he was 31 years old and his knees were shattered. If I had arrived 5 years earlier I would have crushed them all

[@Oberschutzee]

sabonis before injures kzbin.info/www/bejne/iWKvfohop79mjqM

[@dragankitanovic6277]

😂the beginning and the announcement of the Joker party!!!

[@karagdagangimpormasyon4736]

Olajuwon VS. Sabonis in their Prime would've been a VERY GOOD match-up! 💪

[@I.Need.Everything]

Now I see why his son is so good

[@1WiggerMan]

Dad was a LEGEND.

[@packersauburneric3625]

Ya his son still ain't close to what his dad should of been could of been next shaq

[@PharticusMaximus]

He was an athletic beats at a young age, he would have done even more than what Jokic is doing now had he joined the NBA as a young player.