Sabonis elected to Hall of Fame

That earlier "best of" video is great, but it doesn't have him dominating the US as a teenager.

 

Good for him.

 

Sabas was a big reason I disliked Sheed in the end.

That towel incident was a defining moment in the jail blazer era and I wonder if Sabas would have stayed longer if Sheed had not been on the team.

 

I dont have that T shirt but I do have the tie dye Team Lithuania T shirt signed by Sabas and Sarunas Marciulionis. Not sure if I got the spelling correct on that one!

 

I was going to post about the same incident. Looking back, I wish Sabas had balled up one of his freakishly large hands and smacked the pout of off Rasheed's face, but Arvydas was too much of a class act to do that. Let's also not forget that, in part because of incidents like that one, Sabas elected to decline a player option for $7 million in 2003, and instead retired, so he wouldn't have to play with knuckleheads like Rasheed who humiliated him. Sheed was traded the following February, and it took the organization years to recover from that era.

That incident epitomized, to me, exactly why that team was so flawed, and looking back on it, I remember people actually defending Rasheed.

 

he was the wilt of the 80s, love me some sabas

 

If my Grandma was alive she would have been so proud yesterday when this was announced. He was by far her favorite Blazer! I remember watching games with her and seeing the smile on her face when he would make a three or an incredible pass.

 

Most centers you ask whether or not they could play in the league if they we're 6'6" (Shaq, no; Dream, yes). Sabas could have played in the NBA at 6'0". His skill level and understanding of the game were off the charts.

 

No. Not a a slight on his talent, but his NBA career was merely short and superb...not all-time great. I have no doubt that had he played in the NBA from his early 20s, he'd be a slam dunk NBA Hall of Famer. It's in fact a testament to his talent that he could come to the NBA at 31, broken down physically, and still be a top center.

 

YEGA!!! I made my username what it is for a reason. Sabonis is and always will be my all-time favorite Blazer.

 

No. If he would have come over after he were drafted, I think he would have stood a good chance.

 

It's sad that when Sabas first arrived the team was stuck in mediocrity and by the time they were seriously contending he'd broken down even more. Compare his rookie year to 2001. He was hardly limber, but you can see a big difference.

I remember a game at Golden State his rookie year when he had a perfect offensive night. 100% FG, 100% FT. He hit 2's, 3's. Meanwhile throwing passes over his shoulder and behind his back. The GSW fans had their collective mouths hanging open. They'd never seen a mountain of a man with such a sweet stroke and eyes in the back of his head.

 

That's great recall. The odd thing about that game, and something that I had forgotten, was that Sabas ended up with 0 assists. He must have had a bunch of hockey assists that game, because I remember that game as well in terms of his passing.

http://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/199511290GSW.html

 

Here's a great collection of videos and factoids.

 

yuck! kersey was on the warriors!

 

i always get a feeling of melancholy when thinking of sabas...his treatment by the refs against the lakers, his injuries, the what could have been...but i hope he couldnt be happier for what he accomplished all over the world.