his passing to the point guard after getting the rebound is like watching a passing highlight reel, this is hilarious. no look here, behind the back there :D
At 7 foot 3 he was and will always be the greatest passing big men in history. There will never be another big men who could pass, dribble, shoot, and have the basketball IQ that he had. If it wasn't for the Soviets banning him from the NBA early in his career and forcing him to come back to play in the Olympics only a few months after tearing his achilles he could have been the best center ever.
Divac was a very good player, and had a solid career. However, when it comes to the ability to pass, step out to shoot the three, and handle the ball I believe Sabonis was better. Divac was able to play in the NBA a lot longer, and had a better career, but his overall game was better than Divac even when past his prime.
MikanMini99 There are also things where Vlade was better but, sticking to what Sabas topped Vlade about, I'd add that he was taller and bigger than the latter - which helps as center - more confident with the ball, more powerful going up to the ring (one of Vlade's weakest points) and taking position or boxing out the opponent, even when old and injured. When I put all this together, despite Divac's qualities, it tells me Sabonis was one step ahead. Only he got injured and joined the NBA well past his prime, unlike Divac...
Sabonis first season in the NBA at age 31 was better than any season Divac had in his career. Infact 6 out of 7 seasons Sabonis played in NBA were better, after he was 30 and after injuries.
Ramon Suarez Agree 100%! And honestly, I believe Sarunas Marciulionis belongs in the conversation as well. Two of my all time favorites! And if you love Sabonis game, check out Nikola Jokic! This kid is the real deal! He's already secured his spot among the all time "elite" passers! And just like Sabonis, Bird and Magic, he would be one hell of a lot of fun to play with!
I always enjoy watching him , his feel for the game is incredible, the way he grabs that ball and passes it afterwards. To me the best center there ever was , not many seven footers can shoot threes also.
Always wondered how he would have fared if he played his 20s in the NBA, he had the best touch and passing of any big man i've ever seen and could also bang w/ Shaq, he had the whole package.
I'm a Bulls fan but this is just further proof that had prime Sabonis played in those Drexler-led Blazer teams, the Bulls would have been completely dismantled by them.
Even in '88 when he was already pretty banged up he totally dominated Robinson during the the Olympics. With a prime Sabonis Portland would definitely have claimed a couple of MJ's rings. :-)
Center was almost always a weakness for the Bulls. They weren't terrible but they weren't good. A healthy Sabonis would have likely knocked off a couple of those titles.
@@GrahamCStrouse in seoul olimpics sabas was after 2 achiles surgeries and didn't play full season before olimpics, so very rusty and still kicked robinsons arse.
Very possible but counterpoint is a very rust MJ in 95 still had a competitive series with the Magic who had shaq. If hes fully in shape then maybe they win it despite having poor bigs
But even a 32 year old, out of shape, injured Sabonis was a top 5 center in the NBA. Many experts think he'd have been one of the greatest players ever if he was allowed to join the league in 1986 when he was drafted
I saw Sabas play in the 80s in Europe and he was unstoppable. He was very agile and strong. If he had been born at this time with 17 or 18 he would have been in the NBA and with the trains method of now he would mark an era.
Sabonis' passing, especially the bounce pass and no-look pass to cutters were classic. His rebounding and the art/science of getting good position were the nitty-gritty. Last but not least, his footwork was crafty. If he had played in the NBA during his prime, it would have been fantastic.
He would have been one of the best ever. He had some of the best skills of Kareem and Wilt. And he was a little taller. I so wish I could have seen him in the NBA when he was younger.
damn! this big one is fast! look at his reactions! He knew where his teammates were so that he could pass the ball to the right person in the first time!
Need to remember he was 32 and pretty out of shape when he played in the NBA. He'd had numerous knee injuries because of the USSRs crazy training regimes and playing schedules. I bet he's 325 pounds in this game. At his peak he was super athletic and closer to 270 pounds
Sabonis was unique. He wasn't as athletic as Wilt but he was so quick. And he was taller, and an excellent shooter. I don't think there's ever been a guy his height who was so skilled. He's like Magic passing the ball.
to bad this guy pass his prime when he join nba...i watch him live and he was much better than gasol's and even dirk...his skills and his size were great!
@@indianviking6940 i think he whimped a little bit. with his injuries he didnt think he would be able to compete, so he choose spain instead. I think he regrets it to this day.
sabonis got the basketball IQ, best court vision center ever, his long range shooting, great finishing, and if he's in the prime with strong physique and at 7 foot 3? he can be top 10 center of all time
Unbelievable! One of the best players in the league, even without being able to run and to jump at all!!! Never seen something like that!! And being twice the weight he was in mid 80s
Portland drafted him many years before he was even allowed to leave his country (as they were at war. They saw more than just talent in that man they saw the potential for, not just a fantastic athlete, but a fantastic athlete, who could, and would also deliver wisdom and tenacity, to the game. Making for a force to be reckoned with. And much respect to the team and to Sabonis, for coming to an agreement and both sides giving all that was promised on both sides, and then some. You are amazing Mr Sabonis.
Zamisli da su Dražen Petrović i Arvidas Sabonis zajedno igrali u Portland i to u njihove najbolje godine, rasturili bi NBA ligu. Po mene su oni dva najbolja evropska košarkaša ikad
Petro znam da si iz Zadra ali mislim da je Sabonis najbolji centar Europe, pa čak bi rekao dominantniji je bio i od Krešimira Ćosića, ne znam ni jednog centra koji je imao šut kao Sabonis a uz to bio visok 220 strašno. Za mene su Dražen Petrović i Arvydas Sabonis dva najbolja europska igrača ikad!!!
The skill of the man. I'm sure if he had a healthy career and enter the NBA in his prime Sabonis would be in the GOAT conversation and a really strong candidate for it.
In all their games since their 1977 championship, this would have gone down as the biggest win in Blazers franchise history if it weren’t for what the Pacers did to them at Market Square two nights after this.
I would love to see Oscar, Drazen, Galis and Sabas playing in the NBA from 21 until their late 30's and see how they woud have affected the league. As for Sabas in Greece we called him the wonder of nature. He was one of my chidhood idols. The most intense memory that I have of Sabas is in this game between Olympiakos and Real. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-82LXGpvsrCA.html At 3:00 a lot of fans entered the court to celebrate the victory (btw the winning shot was out of time) and I was among them and I still remember standing as kid next to Sabas and oh boy he was a GIANT!!! A God of basketball. Nothing less.
That guy was probably in his prime 10 years before and had bad knees and was slow when he finally entered the NBA. So imagine how good he would have been in his prime.
I did watch Sabonis play when he was in Portland. Back then, I already thought he was really good. And then, the people say he is crippled when he got to NBA. I do not think Sabonis being the best center at that time (or even in history) is far off. That guy is amazing.
I was never a fan of Michael Jordan tbh lol so many people ride Jordan but ive always loved players like sabonis. Even average players like Jason Terry, Mike Miller, Kevin Love (rebounding skills) not his scoring. Guys like Kevin mchale, Larry bird, bill Walton, Nikola Jokic. ill throw in Bam adebayo. These are the players I love its just a natural skill they have it separates from the likes of players like Michael or Kobe.
It was actually Sarunas Marciulionis who introduced eurostep to NBA thats why its called eurostep after all. It wasnt anything new in Europe back then.
that's how u beat Mike just wasn't team like this blazers team except the rockets with Hakeem but Jordan left to play baseball would have been the teams too beat the bulls with Jordan but it is what it is
![Arvydas Sabonis [21 pts 20 reb] VS Michael Jordan [33 pts] 1998](/img/logo.svg){kind=logo}
