The GOAT Center That Came To NBA Way Too Late

[@BasketNews_com]

Do you think a healthy Arvydas Sabonis in his prime would’ve dominated in the NBA? Let us know in the comments below ✍ If you enjoyed the video, help us grow by hitting the like button & subscribing to our channel! 🙌 For more content like this visit: basketnews.com Lastly, don't forget to follow us on social media: Twitter: twitter.com/basketnews_com/ Instagram: instagram.com/basketnews/ Facebook: facebook.com/basketnews/

[@hondarijus]

Definitely yes

[@gedog77]

Žinoma

[@robertvrhovec9696]

110%

[@broddy0542]

Are you augustas suliauskas?

[@sean70729]

Yeah that dude was a legend and this athleticism as a younger players was mind boggling for a player his size, never mind his skill level.

[@vecislt]

Sabonis was ahead of his time. We will never know how good he could have become if joined the NBA early, but even then he was way ahead of his time. Only in recent years NBA witnessed more of Sabonis type of players. Jokic is prime example of what Sabonis could have been in the NBA.

[@sfcboltedduck6757]

But even still Jokic is Miles below Sabonis in talent and athleticism. A prime Sabonis would have guaranteed multiple chips for Portland. Put him on the 90s team with Drexler, Porter, Kersey and Buck Williams and Jordan would have never got close to a chip let alone six

[@vecislt]

@@sfcboltedduck6757 Sabonis issue was injuries. Maybe in America with modern technology he would have done better :)

[@Jkev24]

@@vecislt well his injuries were also from being overworked. Dude made Lebron's 8 straight finals look like a vacation because the Soviet Union turned his knees into cement essentially.

[@vecislt]

@@Jkev24 Yeah, when he was a teen he got to much to deal with. However the diet they had wasn't great either. And I'm not talking about the food haha

[@ZDiddy7777]

Complete bullshit. You cant rewrite history when there are numbers scream the truth. He was a 20/12 player in a shitty league, what an Earth shattering talent.

[@markomarkovic5729]

Seeing this at 03:58, it's even sweeter when I see European players win the MVP award. It's difficult for the younger ones to understand, but European players are no better today than 20-30 years ago, the difference is that today they immediately get the opportunity in the NBA and complete freedom to take as many shots as they want. David Robinson is undoubtedly one of the best bigs in the history of basketball, and Sabonis destroyed him in the 80s.

[@bogoljubdjordjevic7528]

Ne razumeju oni to

[@aw2584]

Innit? Look at Giannis and how people laughed out loud when he was drafted in the 1st round... Jokic got drafted 2nd round... etc etc

[@ZhylvisLT]

Arguably the best video about Sabonis ever made. Also he was one 4th quarter away from the NBA finals where he most probably would have been gotten the champions ring.

[@cortlandlampe1983]

Well put ZhylvisLT. Many people do not realize how close Sabonis and the Blazers came to beating the Lakers in the conference finals in 2000. If that happens, the stacked Blazers would almost certainly defeated the Pacers in the Finals. If that happens I believe Sabonis gets much more acclaim and recognition. Not to mention I always believed that a 7th ring for Pippen would have done the same for him. I always believed that Pippen's contributions to the Bulls 6 titles was underrated.

[@kisswriters]

For all you youngsters born in the 90s, allow me to introduce you to Sabonis: before the injuries, he had ridiculous hops; handles; passing vison; deep range from three, a mid-range and post game, facing the basket and with back to basket; and he was an absolute dog... Sabonis was the reason USA basketball petitioned to allow pros to play, hence, we had the first Dream Team.

[@panoskakkavas4022]

@@kisswriters I was born in the 2000s . The man was a machine . An unguardable giant of a machine . In Europe during the 90s there wasn't a center as dominant as Sabonis was .

[@mamamo1639]

Happy to see his son have a freedom to play in the west at such a young age

[@Al-uv3dn]

I was lucky to see him live in a european championship game against my greek team in the mid 80’s. He had this wow factor. His every move was so fluid, like watching a dancer. The whole arena cheered for him. It’s shocking for greek fans to do that for an opponent but to us it felt like we were watching an exhibition game. I have no doubt in my mind that a young Sabonis would have taken the NBA by storm.

[@pierovittori1076]

I totally agree. There was this aura about him...like for a King.

[@ZDiddy7777]

And yet his numbers were so mediocre while playing against MUCH lesser talent? You probably would've said the same about Jason Williams, a mediocre PG who seemed impressive when you watched him in person, but his numbers showed what he really was. Youre mistaken if you think a guy who avg. 20 and 12 in a much weaker league 'would take the NBA by storm' because he eas 7'3" and could shoot 38% from 3.

[@vrokhlenko]

Galis scoring on Sabonis was actually the biggest WOW I saw in basketball. 185 vs 223. I saw Sabonis play many times in the USSR championship. He could not jump very high and his scoring/rebounding was never through the roof. Yes, he could pass and could shoot long distance - better than any other soviet big man. He'd do fine in the NBA but I can not see him storming the league in any way.

[@partizanbgd0113]

​@@ZDiddy7777 agree.

[@zackspiker_]

It’s insane that every time he hit an obstacle he adjusted and when he hit two obstacles, he adjusted twice. He’s the Bruce Lee of basketball bigs.

[@RobertLewis85]

I remember as a really young kid when I first started watching NBA basketball, I saw Sabonis on the TrailBlazers and I could see how old he was for a rookie and had huge knee braces and was always on a super limited minutes restriction. And on every broadcast, the announcers would say Sabonis was the biggest beast in Europe and how it's a shame we never got to see even close to the best version of him. I didn't understand how huge he was in Europe until I saw an NBATV special about him decades later. Your videos are great for giving even more background on Sabonis and his European career.

[@This.Here.Channel]

As a Blazer fan, I am pained at how he didn't come over in 1989.

[@expositooculto1040]

Fantastic video, the best I have ever seen, with very detailed explanations. I had the chance to see Sabonis play live in December of 1983. He had just turned 19. He was absolutely amazing. Congratulations for the work and thank you.

[@AugustasSuliauskas]

One of the biggest what ifs in NBA history

[@l3ftie578]

This guy was like the blueprint for guys like his son, jokic, and even porzingus in a way

[@ScottKilmartin]

Sabonis was the lab child of Kareem, Wilt & Walton... such a shame he never got to the NBA before the achilles, knees and all those crates of vodka. Great video mate - best mini doco out there on Arvydas. What a player he was.

[@redhippog7]

I ve been lucky enough to watch him play, both in Europe and NBA. No doubt, one of the best european players ever. We didnt watch him play back in 1987 with CCCP in the european national championship that was held in Greece, but we did see him in Belgrade 2 years later. The semi final against Nick Galis was a memorable one and there are a couple videos to look for about the battle these 2 legends had that night.

[@jab1289]

I have heard of Galis. I think that Red Auerbach tried to sign him around 1980-81, and they couldn't complete the deal (I think he was at college at Seton Hall or something).

[@redhippog7]

@@jab1289 Yes, its been said tha R.A commented that not signing him back then, was the biggest "mistake"/regret in his career.Galis graduated SH and he did play alongside to Larry Bird in the college allstar game, trying to pass the ball more to him than scoring himself, because he knew Boston were looking to recruit him. An offseason injury and a rather large financial offer from the greek team "Aris", were the reasons that made him decide to come and play basketball in his parents homeland. The rest is History.

[@vrokhlenko]

And Galis took him apart being what, 184? I watched Sabonis played many times in the ussr championship. He was indeed the best soviet center for a while but far from a super-human.

[@thanasisb6527]

I watched him playing,first time, for USSR in 1985 in the European cup and i didn't believe my eyes.For my generation Sabonis wasn't a ''what if''.Sabonis was the best but he was unfortuned.He played in NBA at his mid thirties and we all saw of what he was capable.Imagine him young and without serious injuries.

[@triokarolis]

High quality content! Keep it up 💯

[@Killatwos29]

First time I saw Sabonis play I was in awe of what he could do as a big man unbelievable!!!

[@TheBronke]

Sabonis would be at the same level as Jordan or The Dream Hakeem if he joined NBA much earlier. He proved that he is special one, the one and only for Lithuanians. He is the GOAT of basketball for Lithuania 🇱🇹! This is what if… actually the saddest what if because of soviets….

[@zuzoni]

Sabonis in prime for me was best ever Robinson look like amater in Seul and on that geame Sabonis wasnt complitly helthy in finale he destroy Jugoslavia almost alone

[@SoggySlopster]

He’s the reason the dream team was formed. He destroyed the 1988 USA team

[@Babydinomelll]

@@zuzonithat’s cus David Robison was a amateur

[@Babydinomelll]

He was still in college

[@chrissoulsinger]

Proof if this is how he was really serviceable in his older age when he finally came. Had he came 7-10 years earlier, Portland would’ve been way more dangerous

[@padza12]

Excellent video once again! Love these profile and story videos you guys do!

[@dj44640]

If you want an analogy NBA Sabonis was a better version of the Joker... and NBA Sabonis was at 30-40% of his real abilities.peak at that time.... So imagine a 7.4 Joker with rim protection

[@AJ-sw8uf]

And hops

[@revans100591]

People don't realize how good he was before the injuries he could have dominated the NBA my only concern is the NBA team and coach screwing it up like they did with Sampson and handicapping him by making him play primarily in the post.

[@partizanbgd0113]

😅😅😅, a better version of the 2 time MVP. Sabonis couldn't handle Jugoplastika and Cibona in Euroleague back in the 80s let alone NBA superstars of this era. Averaged 3 assists per game. Tired of listening this bs and creating of an urban legend for a guy that choked so many times in big games. Better than Jokic 😂😂😂😂😂

[@patrik32]

I loved how Sabas trolled Thompson (who was shaking his head on Portland drafting him ) and his team USA... Sweet

[@donalddemo]

Loved his game! couldn't jump over a piece of paper by time he showed up in NBA but he passed like Magic Johnson and had great post game and 3 point range as well!

[@GrahamCStrouse]

Sabonis was a beast in the ‘80s.

[@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.

[@OnlyGoodSHHH]

i love all these channels fiiiiiinally talking about something i was saying every other day as an 11 year old in 1999

[@MrAlexander336]

Great video! We love Arvydas Sabonis in Portland. If only he could have played with Drexler and Porter, right? Arvydas in his prime in the NBA would have been special. Arvydas played like Walton in 77' - total offense run through the big man. It's a style of basketball like fine art.

[@mannycano4599]

His son is a monster in his own right

[@nbwall56]

Great coverage on a fantastic player.

[@icecreamforcrowhurst]

I love the black & white Soviet film footage. It’s from the 80’s but they were obviously still using old cameras so it looks just like the 60’s.

[@smokymcpot5917]

Great video. Now hes got family in the nba who played on my favorite college team. Basketball dna in the family.

[@ShrinkRaptor]

We would have won a title if he had been healthy in the early 2000s. Even Drexler said they would have won a few titles in the early 90s had Sabonis been allowed to come to the US after he was drafted.

[@swl9380]

We need more the passes n today NBA ,. Miss those type plays

[@yungvegar]

I wish there was a way to see how people like Dražen, Kukoč and Sabonis would have played together in the NBA

[@bogoljubdjordjevic7528]

Divac was only who play and get a name!

[@germanost]

@@bogoljubdjordjevic7528 divac made bigger impact, really? 🤣

[@bogoljubdjordjevic7528]

@@germanost yes

[@gokublack3107]

He's a threat player when he was younger.... It's a shame we never get to see him play in the 80s and he were drafted in the best class ever! 1984-1985 season!

[@danbartov867]

I saw Sabonis playing in Europe in the 80s' and it's really a shame he couldn't get to the NBA in those years before he got injured

[@adamkarimian7137]

Great footage

[@panoskakkavas4022]

Vydas was a giant machine of a Center . So big and yet INSANELY mobile and clever as a player . At his prime he was Real Madrid's BEST prolific player ( yes , even above Arlauskas ) . Too bad I was born after 2000 - didn't have the chance to ever see him play .

[@GrahamCStrouse]

Much respect, man. It’s always good seeing young people who have a love for the history of the game. 🙂👍

[@albertsebastian4489]

I don’t think Sarunas introduced the “euro step”.. hoopers used to do it back then..we just called it “side step” back in the 80s..

[@ceslovasvieta938]

you cant imagine how good he was

[@1975longshot]

That the Atlanta Hawks draft wasn't allowed was because of his age. Overseas players needed to be 21 years old when being drafted and at the time he was only 20 years old. Not for the "put back rule" !!! Larry Bird was drafted by the Celtics in 1978 only to join them in 1980. In 1979 he played for the university of Indiana reaching the NCAA college finals, losing to Magic Johnson and Michigan State !!! In my opinion the NBA landscape would be totally different if Arvydas Sabonis in his prime would have had the possibility to play in the nba. Sorry for Magic, Bird, Isiah and even Jordan, because of how his injuries were caused by overload.

[@andruspuusta4230]

Amazing talent! Sad that politics ruined some of his young age possibilities but he still is an amazing man and hero of the Baltics!

[@nayruru]

This video does not mention his last season in Europe where he was on his way to the Euroleague final four before suffering a last second defeat to Maccabi Tel Aviv in an Epic battle

[@jonasdavidaviciu8022]

Don't remind that epic heart break.

[@lifeallah8005]

Sabonis was the best Passing center of all time n the NBA ….If he would’ve came to the NBA at a young age Whatever team he went to as along as he a good front n back court he would of have some championships under his belt

[@volkanguneylioglu9599]

If he got to nba at 21 years old with that build in Usa he would be in goat convo

[@golantrevize2256]

Era una bestia , pero con una maestría técnica y visión de juego como pocas veces se han visto.

[@baggio4497]

Hall of Famer ..great overall player, extremely talented n gifted...for his size especially...but GOAT n all time...too many "what ifs" ...if everyone had one what if in their career ..certainly great video and huge respect for Mr Sabonis

[@GrayHughesInvestigates]

he really is the Best center ever to play.

[@mahavira108]

Longevity is an important facet of being considered one of the greats

[@AdLast]

Good stuff!

[@RicoBanani]

Arvydas the great

[@tomaslevickas6942]

Coool video! Woild like to se more videos like this one!!! Saunuolis Rokas! 🙂

[@paulmkz]

Imagine if blazers would of drafted MJ to go with Drexler and they could of gotten a young healthy Sabonis. Best team ever.

[@miguelsolanoarriola771]

The best center for History

[@karolismalasauskas]

Subscribed, only because of lithuanian acent xD good job

[@digenis5203]

I moved to Europe from the United States and at the age of 10 in 1994. Sabonis is the G.O.A.T of basketball. Jordan, Leflop are the G.O.A.Ts of the company, N.B.A

[@JK-br1mu]

He's not my Vydas. He's not your Vydas. He's Arvydas.

[@mariomm9080]

he was productive in the nba even as an old 40 year old man

[@morusque_]

u say his name so well

[@albertobarron7842]

I watched him on TV 88 Olympics he dominated the young David admiral Robinson if not those restrictions he will be a good center to play in the nba and he will dominate.

[@valentinberg7]

He would have been an MVP contender these days! Had a chance to see him in person btw😂 still draining threes like a automatic gun

[@Svendrys]

Here is the proof just turn off the sound ;) kzbin.info/www/bejne/nJXPc2uqjZxog8U

[@Xiaolongbaokid16]

You narrate like Borat in the voice of Gaddafi.

[@ItsCrawdaddy]

If Sabas comes over to Portland the year he was drafted, Portland is the team of the 90's, not Chicago. You cannot change my mind.

[@Shiljamannn]

Not sure about that, since he was getting injured all the time, and you would miss him like Lakers miss AD all the time...

[@ItsCrawdaddy]

@@Shiljamannn he was injured all the time because the USSR medical staff wouldn't let him fully heal, or subjected him to experimental procedures before throwing him back out for international competition. 85% of his injuries could've been avoided with proper medical practices.

[@zygimantas9471]

@@Shiljamannn he didn't get all those injuries, because he was made of glass like AD. It happened (first torn achilles) because of Alexander Gomelsky who was head coach of the Soviet national team at that time. I believe that with the medicine he could get in the NBA he would be fine

[@ektran4205]

mike fratello drafted arvydas in 1985 for the atlanta hawks

[@BolitaDeKetica]

@@Shiljamannn Sabonis getting here in the late 80s, getting American treatment and therapy?! Playing along Drexler, Buck and the rest? Please! The greatest player, not named Michael Jordan.

[@expositooculto1040]

I'm afraid that is not the reason why the Hawks pick was voided. I believe the reason was that, unless you declared yourself eligible before, you could only draft players in the year they turned 22. In 1985 (in December) Sabonis would turn 21. There was another draft pick that was voided in that draft. It was that of another European player, Fernando Martín, selected in the second round by the Nets, because he had turned 23 in 1985.

[@EmilioQuintana-lh6rx]

Boricua hispanic india n black iam.. i have the basketball card from sabonis was play with Pippen they went to the final west SIDE v Kobe n Shaq portand trail blazer was a great team in that time. I hope his son win a champions ring to make sabonis happy. Sabonis was humble person.

[@viliuspurtulis9196]

Dude are you Lithuanian?? Cuz u pronounce Sabonis and Marciulionis names perfectly. Sabas is legend without long career in NBA. I can only imagine what kind of beast he would have been in his prime

[@Bdrbs]

He is Lithuanian. I am guessing its Karolis Tiskevicius.

[@negrassss]

Nice one 👍

[@adamkarimian7137]

its interesting how much footage of his time injured exists

[@jackshabazz]

Joker is the reincarnation of Sabonis. Respect 😤

[@ΧαράλαμποςΔαμιανίδης-ζ5π]

i think his injuries made him a more clever player ... the years in spain were the most productive in his carrer.

[@vecislt]

He was always clever. After injuries he simply couldn't jump over people as he was used to so he had to rely on his skill more than his athletics :) you had fair share of monsters in your country too.

[@petr79]

Euro players in the 80s had much richer international experience than USA players because they could pick players from youth teams. Eg Divac made his debut in the men's team at age 16. In usa he'd have to be at least 23.

[@wesleym9070]

I wonder if his injuries would of been handled better in the US if he were here.

[@anwarsadat2334]

I think Magic Johnson also played against Sabonis and thought he was phenomenal. I think this might have been in the University games. Arvydas would have been phenomena. Alas, part of his peak would have coincided with Magic's/Larry's/Karl's/Thomas'/MJ's and fierce competition with very tough man-to-man and also from the likes of an older Kareem, Ewing, Robinson, Olajuwan, etc. Difficult to dominate especially with MJ around. But Arvydas would have been a fantastic player, if he had remained injury free.

[@solotenoras]

Where did the Kevin Garnett quote came from? Was it some interview? Would love to see the original.

[@BasketNews_com]

Here it is: basketnews.com/news-167519-kevin-garnett-names-his-favorite-euro-player-disagrees-with-the-soft-label.html

[@metehanturkyilmaz5707]

Such an unlucky man.. 🙁🙁 Tearing his achillies again and again... 😯😯 It's a serious injury indeed... 😞

[@doriandiggler7808]

A.S. is worldwide and all time best center on planet Earth!!!

[@l.a.a.c.5629]

I remember him, like a Larry Bird - Shaquille O'Neal hybrid.. dude was an ox!

[@therealityofitall4819]

Damn.. That version of a player would have won M.V.Ps and championships.. I believe he would have..

[@captainbluegill3357]

I'd like to see prime Bill Walton vs anyone ever

[@bofuthereturn]

arvydas in his 20s was more athletic and explosive than jokic. he was a far better defensive player as well. obviously because of his injuries he had to become more of a finess player when he came to the nba.

[@sambeaumont395]

I fully agree Sabonis is up there as one of the biggest “What Ifs” but Len Bias owns that. That said, considering his international and foreign careers I think he (Sabonis) is still one of the best centers in Basketball history. (A better version of Jokic, and Jokic is very good). Personally I think Shaq has a case for a what if, what if he had the right mentality and some maturity - could he have been the GOAT, surely he would have been in the conversation.

[@foreignersla]

Dr.J did the “ Euro “ step first in the 1970s

[@briansam2524]

Injuries robbed him of some great years, even though he came to the NBA late in his career, he was still effective with his basketball IQ.

[@christiankeil7845]

The tip dunk over Robinson is one of the all time greats.

[@BadTV1993]

If not for Arvydas going complete HAM on team USA in the late 80s, we may not have had the Dream Team formed..fact!!!!! He was like the IVAN DRAGO of Basketball to USA Basketball lol

[@FuShengAlex]

Also Oscar Schmidt dropping 55 on Team USA at the Pan American games in 1987 had a lot to do with the formation of the Dream Team.

[@7deceit7]

The big man with the most complete skillset ever.

[@vicentecampos2893]

Totally agree. In his prime he would have dominated the NBA.

[@jamesduhon2595]

Soft hands for a big man was unheard of back then.

[@ericmarks7648]

Greatest passer outside outside of Bird I ever saw. He just flipped that? WTF!?!

[@drew8703]

The deep shooting range claim was not bolstered by a 3 point bank shot clip.

[@Pikenrolas566]

🐐

[@krces1]

Top 3 big men of all time.

[@andu1854]

The iron curtain also kept all those great hockey players out of the NHL too,

[@pakopepefdez185]

it hurst listening to you confusing the Berlin Wall with the iron courtain.

[@lucasvanpelt222]

Love this player anyone want to share there starting 5 with a 6th man of the bench?

[@danielibiricu2708]

Best European ever sabonis, then petrovic, after these two all the rest

[@lisalise1622]

OF COURSE!

[@icecreamforcrowhurst]

3:27 that’s Brit actor David Jason

[@drew8703]

I dont think nba coaches at the time would have been able to institute a playing style that would have taken advantage of his skills in his prime. The trailblazers had no clue how to use Petrovic - they wanted him to be a spot up outside shooter - and lucky he got out of there to Nets who had Chuck Daly as coach.

[@drew8703]

I take that partially back given Rick Adelman was coach of Blazers and he was coach of 2000s era Kings who played style where Sabonis could have thrived.

[@MightymouseB-gw1sw]

Why you sound like zangief from street fighter?

[@emonsuparman9248]

If he played since 1986 Arvydas Sabonis could make at least 35-36 ppg same level with Wilt Chamberlain, MJ, and Harden. And in play-off stage he will make 50 ppg same level with Wilt Chamberlain...omg so sad