Arvydas Romas Sabonis (; born December 19, 1964) is a Lithuanian former professional
basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams, most commonly of five players each, opposing one another on a rectangular Basketball court, court, compete with the primary objective of #Shooting, shooting a basketball (ball), basketball (appr ...
player and businessman. Recognized as one of the best European players of all time, he won the
Euroscar
The Euroscar European Player of the Year Award is an annual basketball award given to the year's best male European basketball player. Its name is a portmanteau of Europe and Oscar, and the award is often referred to as "European basketball’s O ...
six times and the
Mr. Europa Award
The Mister Europa European Player of the Year Award was an annual basketball award created in 1976, and given until 2010, by the panel of journalists of the Italian weekly magazine ''Superbasket''. Its purpose was to praise the best basketball pl ...
twice. He played in a variety of leagues, including the
Spanish ACB League
The Liga ACB, known as Liga Endesa for sponsorship reasons, is the top professional basketball division of the Spanish basketball league system. Administrated by the Asociación de Clubs de Baloncesto (ACB), Liga ACB is contested by 18 teams, wi ...
, and spent seven seasons in the
National Basketball Association (NBA). Playing the
center
Center or centre may refer to:
Mathematics
*Center (geometry), the middle of an object
* Center (algebra), used in various contexts
** Center (group theory)
** Center (ring theory)
* Graph center, the set of all vertices of minimum eccentricity ...
position, Sabonis won a gold medal at the
1988 Summer Olympics
The 1988 Summer Olympics (), officially known as the Games of the XXIV Olympiad () and commonly known as Seoul 1988 ( ko, 서울 1988, Seoul Cheon gubaek palsip-pal), was an international multi-sport event held from 17 September to 2 October ...
, in
South Korea, for the
Soviet Union, and later earned bronze medals at the
1992 Olympic Games and
1996 Olympic Games
The 1996 Summer Olympics (officially the Games of the XXVI Olympiad, also known as Atlanta 1996 and commonly referred to as the Centennial Olympic Games) were an international multi-sport event held from July 19 to August 4, 1996, in Atlanta, ...
representing
Lithuania. He retired from professional basketball in 2005. Sabonis was selected by the
Portland Trail Blazers in the first round of the
1986 NBA draft, but he did not play his first NBA game until 1995, at the age of 30.
Sabonis is considered one of the best big man passers, as well as one of the best overall centers, in the history of the game.
Bill Walton
William Theodore Walton III (born November 5, 1952) is an American television sportscaster and former professional basketball player. He played college basketball for coach John Wooden and the UCLA Bruins, winning three consecutive national ...
once called Sabonis "a
Larry Bird
Larry Joe Bird (born December 7, 1956) is an American former professional basketball player, coach, and executive in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Nicknamed "the Hick from French Lick" and "Larry Legend", Bird is widely regarded a ...
" due to his unique court vision, shooting range, rugged in-game mentality, and versatility.
On August 20, 2010, Sabonis was inducted into the
FIBA Hall of Fame
The FIBA Hall of Fame, or FIBA Basketball Hall of Fame, honors players, coaches, teams, referees, and administrators who have greatly contributed to international competitive basketball. It was established by FIBA, in 1991. It includes the " Sam ...
, in recognition of his great play in international competition. On April 4, 2011, Sabonis was named to the
Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame,
and he was
as a player, inducted on August 12, 2011. At that time, he was the tallest player to ever enter the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame; one year later, he would be surpassed by
Ralph Sampson
Ralph Lee Sampson Jr. (born July 7, 1960) is an American former professional basketball player. He is a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. A phenom, three-time college national player of the year, and first overall selec ...
. On October 24, 2011, Sabonis was voted as the next President of the
Lithuanian Basketball Federation
The Lithuanian Basketball Federation ( lt, Lietuvos krepšinio federacija), also known as LKF, is a national governing body of basketball in Lithuania. It was founded in 1936, but due to Soviet occupation, the federation disappeared from FIBA. I ...
, replacing
Vladas Garastas
Vladas Garastas (born February 2, 1932 in Linkuva) is a former Lithuanian professional basketball coach and the former president of the Lithuanian Basketball Federation.
Coaching career
Before retirement, he coached the Soviet Union national te ...
, who had led the LBF since 1991. He resigned from the position on October 2, 2013, but came back to it on October 10, 2013.
His son,
Domantas Sabonis
Domantas Sabonis (; born May 3, 1996) is a Lithuanian-American professional basketball player for the Sacramento Kings of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He is a two-time NBA All-Star.
Sabonis started his career in Spain with Unica ...
, is a current NBA player.
Early life and career
Born in
Kaunas, in then
Lithuanian SSR, Soviet Union, Sabonis began playing basketball at age 13. By the time he was 15 years old, he was a member of the Soviet national junior team.
Sabonis was excused from mandatory service to the
Soviet Army, by enrolling at the
Lithuanian University of Agriculture, in his hometown.
Professional career
Žalgiris
Sabonis made his professional
club
Club may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media
* ''Club'' (magazine)
* Club, a ''Yie Ar Kung-Fu'' character
* Clubs (suit), a suit of playing cards
* Club music
* "Club", by Kelsea Ballerini from the album ''kelsea''
Brands and enterprises
...
debut in 1981, with one of the oldest basketball teams in Lithuania,
Žalgiris, in his hometown of
Kaunas. With the club, he won three consecutive
Soviet Premier League titles, and the
1986 FIBA Club World Cup
The 1986 FIBA Club World Cup took place at Córdoba and Buenos Aires, Argentina. It was the 20th edition of the FIBA Intercontinental Cup for men's basketball clubs. It was the third edition of the competition that was held under the name of FI ...
(FIBA Intercontinental Cup).
Valladolid
In 1989, Sabonis left Žalgiris, and signed with the Spanish
Liga ACB
The Liga ACB, known as Liga Endesa for sponsorship reasons, is the top professional basketball division of the Spanish basketball league system. Administrated by the Asociación de Clubs de Baloncesto (ACB), Liga ACB is contested by 18 teams, w ...
club
Fórum Valladolid. During the 1991–92 season, Sabonis helped the team to reach the semifinals at the
Korać Cup Korać is a surname. Notable persons with that name include:
* Dušan Korać (disambiguation), multiple people
* Milorad Korać (born 1969), Serbian football player and manager
* Radivoj Korać
Radivoj Korać ( sr-cyrl, Радивој Кор ...
.
Real Madrid
In 1992, after playing with Fórum Valladolid for three seasons, Sabonis joined the Spanish club
Real Madrid, and with them, he won two
Spanish League titles, and a
FIBA European League (EuroLeague) title, in
1994–95. With Real Madrid, during the
1994–95 Spanish League season, he averaged 22.9 points, 12.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.6 steals, and 2.3 blocked shots, in 42 games played. While in the
1994–95 FIBA European League season, he averaged 21.8 points, 11.2 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 1.8 steals per game, in 17 games played.
Portland Trail Blazers
Sabonis was originally selected by the
Atlanta Hawks
The Atlanta Hawks are an American professional basketball team based in Atlanta. The Hawks compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Eastern Conference Southeast Division. The team plays its home games at ...
, with the 77th overall pick, of the
1985 NBA draft
The 1985 NBA Draft took place on June 18, 1985. It was also the first NBA draft of the "lottery" era. It was also around this time where the league decreased the amount of rounds the draft spent, with the previous few years lasting up to 10 roun ...
. However, the selection was voided, because Sabonis was under 21 at the time of the draft. The following spring, he suffered a devastating
Achilles' tendon
The Achilles tendon or heel cord, also known as the calcaneal tendon, is a tendon at the back of the lower leg, and is the thickest in the human body. It serves to attach the plantaris, gastrocnemius (calf) and soleus muscles to the calcaneus ( ...
injury. Nevertheless, he was selected by the
Portland Trail Blazers, with the 24th overall pick of the
1986 NBA draft.
Sabonis was not allowed to play in the US by the Soviet authorities, despite
LSU Tigers
The LSU Tigers and Lady Tigers are the athletic teams representing Louisiana State University (LSU), a state university located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. LSU competes in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) as ...
head coach
Dale Brown
Dale Brown (born 2 November 1956) is an American writer and aviator known for aviation techno-thriller novels. At least thirteen of his novels have been ''New York Times'' Best Sellers.
Early life
Brown was born in Buffalo, New York, and was ...
's plans to have Sabonis studying and playing at
Louisiana State University, and thus keeping him in an
amateur
An amateur () is generally considered a person who pursues an avocation independent from their source of income. Amateurs and their pursuits are also described as popular, informal, self-taught, user-generated, DIY, and hobbyist.
History
Hist ...
status. However, he did go to
Portland, to rehabilitate his injury with the Blazers medical staff, in 1988, while also practicing with the team.
After the 1994–95 European season, Sabonis and Portland contacted one another about a move to the
NBA. Before signing Sabonis, Portland's then-general manager,
Bob Whitsitt
Bob Whitsitt is a former sports executive in both the National Basketball Association (NBA) and the National Football League (NFL). He has served as the general manager (or in an equivalent role) for three teams: the Seattle SuperSonics and Port ...
, asked the Blazers team physician to look at Sabonis' X-rays. Illustrating the impact of Sabonis' numerous injuries, Whitsitt recalled in a 2011 interview, that when the doctor reported the results, "He said that Arvydas could qualify for a
handicapped parking spot, based on the X-ray alone." Nevertheless, the Blazers signed Sabonis. He had a successful rookie campaign, averaging 14.5 points, on 55% shooting, and 8.1 rebounds per game while playing less than 24 minutes per game.
Sabonis was selected to the
All-Rookie First Team, and was runner-up in both
Rookie of the Year and
Sixth Man of the Year
The National Basketball Association's Sixth Man of the Year Award is an annual National Basketball Association (NBA) award given since the 1982–83 NBA season to the league's best performing player for his team coming off the bench as a substitu ...
voting.
His postseason averages went up to 23.6 points and 10.2 rebounds per game.
In the first playoff series of his NBA career, Portland lost to Utah, in five games. Sabonis averaged 16.0 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game, in 1997–98, all career-highs.
During Sabonis' first leg in Portland, the Blazers always made the playoffs (part of a 21-year streak); between 1998 and 1999, the Oregon franchise changed large parts of its roster, in order to compete for the NBA Championship (after six consecutive first round losses), with center Sabonis the only player remaining in the starting five.
Kenny Anderson and
Isaiah Rider
Isaiah Rider Jr., nicknamed J.R. (born March 12, 1971), is an American former professional basketball player who played 9 seasons in the NBA.
Rider was born in Oakland, California, and was raised in nearby Alameda. He starred in both baseball an ...
were traded for
Damon Stoudamire
Damon Lamon Stoudamire (born September 3, 1973) is an American professional basketball coach and former player who is currently an assistant coach for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association (NBA) The , point guard was selected ...
and
Steve Smith. In both those years, the Blazers reached the Western Conference Finals; in 1999 they were swept by the eventual champions, the
San Antonio Spurs, while the next year, the team (starting Sabonis, Smith, Stoudamire,
Rasheed Wallace, and recently added
Scottie Pippen) lost to the
Los Angeles Lakers (at the beginning of the team's three-peat), in seven games.
The question that frequently surrounds Sabonis' NBA career revolves around how good he could have been, had he played in the NBA during his prime. Sabonis was already 30 when he joined the Blazers, by which time he had already won multiple gold medals, suffered through numerous injuries, and had lost much of his mobility and athleticism. In
Bill Simmons
William John Simmons III (born September 25, 1969) is an American sports analyst, author, podcaster, and former sports writer who is the founder and CEO of the sports and pop culture website '' The Ringer''. Simmons first gained attention with ...
' "Book of Basketball", Sabonis the international player is idealized, while Sabonis the Blazer, is described as "lumbering up and down the court in what looked to be concrete Nikes", and ranking "just behind
Artis Gilmore
Artis Gilmore (born September 21, 1949) is an American former professional basketball player who played in the American Basketball Association (ABA) and National Basketball Association (NBA). Gilmore was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basket ...
on the Moving Like a Mummy Scale." In
ESPN
ESPN (originally an initialism for Entertainment and Sports Programming Network) is an American international basic cable sports channel owned by ESPN Inc., owned jointly by The Walt Disney Company (80%) and Hearst Communications (20%). The co ...
's David Thorpe's view, Sabonis would be the best passing big man in NBA history, and possibly a top four center overall, had he played his entire career there. In
Clyde Drexler
Clyde Austin Drexler (born June 22, 1962) is an American former professional basketball player and the commissioner of the Big3 3-on-3 basketball league. Nicknamed "Clyde the Glide", he played 15 seasons in the National Basketball Association ...
's view, if Sabonis had been able to spend his prime in Portland, next to the plethora of other Trail Blazers' All Stars (Drexler,
Terry Porter
Terry Porter (born April 8, 1963) is an American former college basketball coach and former player in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was most recently the head men's basketball coach at the University of Portland. A native of Wis ...
,
Buck Williams
Charles Linwood "Buck" Williams (born March 8, 1960) is an American former professional basketball player and former assistant coach for the Portland Trail Blazers. He was well known for his rebounding ability and trademark goggles.
Williams ...
,
Steve Johnson,
Kevin Duckworth
Kevin Jerome Duckworth (April 1, 1964 – August 25, 2008) was an American professional basketball player who played as center in the National Basketball Association (NBA). A native of Illinois, he played college basketball at Eastern Illinois U ...
, and
Clifford Robinson), the Trail Blazers would "have had four, five or six titles. Guaranteed. He was that good. He could pass, shoot three pointers, had a great post game, and dominated the paint."
On April 6, 2001, Sabonis scored a season-high 32 points while making 11 of 12 field goal attempts, during a 122-91 win over the
Golden State Warriors. After the
2000–2001 NBA season, Sabonis refused to sign an extension with the Trail Blazers and retired from the NBA. In his own words, he "was tired mentally and physically." Instead, he returned to Europe, where he signed a one-year deal, at a nominal salary, with
Žalgiris Kaunas, expecting to join the team for the most important games of the season down the stretch. However, he ended up missing that season in its entirety, resting and recovering from injuries. Sabonis rejoined the Trail Blazers for one final season, in 2002–2003.
He won the
Euroscar
The Euroscar European Player of the Year Award is an annual basketball award given to the year's best male European basketball player. Its name is a portmanteau of Europe and Oscar, and the award is often referred to as "European basketball’s O ...
twice, while playing with the Blazers. He also became a fan favorite, and had a warm welcome back when he visited Portland in 2011, en route to being enshrined into the
Naismith Hall of Fame
The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame is an American history museum and hall of fame, located at 1000 Hall of Fame Avenue in Springfield, Massachusetts. It serves as basketball's most complete library, in addition to promoting and prese ...
.
Back to Žalgiris
Sabonis came back to
Žalgiris to play his final season, in 2003–04. He led the team to the Top 16 stage of the
EuroLeague that year, and was named the
Regular Season MVP and the Top 16 MVP. He also became the team's President. Sabonis would officially retire from playing professional basketball, in 2005.
National team career
Soviet national team
In 1982, Sabonis was one of the players in the senior
Soviet Union national team that toured the United States, playing against various
college basketball
In United States colleges, top-tier basketball is governed by collegiate athletic bodies including National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), the United States Collegiate Athle ...
teams.
[
Despite being recommended to rest, instead of playing in the ]1988 Summer Olympics
The 1988 Summer Olympics (), officially known as the Games of the XXIV Olympiad () and commonly known as Seoul 1988 ( ko, 서울 1988, Seoul Cheon gubaek palsip-pal), was an international multi-sport event held from 17 September to 2 October ...
, the Soviets allowed Sabonis to remain a part of their national team.[ Sabonis led the Soviet Union to a gold medal, with a win against the 1988 edition of the United States national team, that featured future NBA All-Stars ]David Robinson
David Maurice Robinson (born August 6, 1965) is an American former professional basketball player who played for the San Antonio Spurs in the National Basketball Association (NBA) from 1989 to 2003, and minority owner of the Spurs. Nicknamed ...
, Mitch Richmond, and Danny Manning
Daniel Ricardo Manning (born May 17, 1966) is an American college basketball coach and former professional player who is the Associate Head Mens Basketball Coach at the University of Louisville. Manning played high school basketball at Walter Hin ...
in the semifinals. This was the last American Olympic team that was not composed of active NBA players. The team later beat Yugoslavia in the finals.
In his career with the senior Soviet national team, Sabonis also played at the following major tournaments: the 1982 FIBA World Championship
The 1982 FIBA World Championship was the 9th FIBA World Championship, the international basketball world championship for men's teams. The tournament was hosted by Colombia from 15 to 28 August 1982.
Qualification
Venues
Competing nations ...
(gold medal), the 1983 EuroBasket
The 1983 FIBA European Championship, commonly called FIBA EuroBasket 1983, was the 23rd FIBA EuroBasket regional basketball championship, held by FIBA Europe. It took place from 26 May to 4 June 1983 in France. Italy defeated Spain in the fina ...
(bronze medal), the 1985 EuroBasket
The 1985 FIBA European Championship, commonly called FIBA EuroBasket 1985, was the 24th FIBA EuroBasket regional basketball championship, held by FIBA Europe. It took place from 5 to 16 June 1985 in West Germany. The Soviet Union defeated Czec ...
(gold medal), the 1986 FIBA World Championship
The 1986 FIBA World Championship was the 10th FIBA World Championship, the international basketball world championship for men's teams. It was hosted by Spain and was held from 5 to 20 July 1986. The final phase of the tournament was held at the ...
(silver medal), and the 1989 EuroBasket
The 1989 FIBA European Championship, commonly called FIBA EuroBasket 1989, was the 26th FIBA EuroBasket regional basketball championship, held by FIBA Europe. It was held in Yugoslavia between 20 and 25 June 1989. Eight national teams entered th ...
(bronze medal). He was named to the EuroBasket All-Tournament Team
The FIBA EuroBasket All-Tournament Team is the FIBA Europe award that is bestowed upon the five best players of each FIBA EuroBasket tournament. Pau Gasol holds the record for most selections in the All-EuroBasket Team, with seven.
FIBA Euro ...
in 1983 and 1985, and he was named the EuroBasket MVP
The FIBA EuroBasket MVP is the FIBA Europe honor that is bestowed upon the Most Valuable Player of each FIBA EuroBasket tournament. Pau Gasol and Krešimir Ćosić share the record for most EuroBasket MVP awards, with two each. Modestas Paulausk ...
in 1985.
The 1985–1988 stretch of a heavy playing schedule, and lack of rest, took a significant toll on Sabonis' future health and durability. Various leg injuries were not given much time to heal, due to the Cold War climate that surrounded international competition, as well as the intense rivalry of the Žalgiris Kaunas versus CSKA Moscow
CSKA Moscow (russian: ЦСКА Москва) is a Russian sports club based in Moscow. It was created in 1911 in the Russian Empire on base of OLLS (Skiing Society, founded 1901). Later, during the Soviet era, it was a central piece of the big So ...
games in the USSR Premier League. In a 2011 interview, Sabonis expressed an opinion, that overuse by the coaches of the Soviet national program, was a major contributing factor to his first Achilles' tendon injury, back in 1986.[Lithuania Calling]
Also Another key moment for his future health, took place in 1988, when Sabonis had a surgical Achilles procedure performed in Portland, but was rushed back on the floor with the USSR Olympic team, before a full recovery. The decision to include a limping Sabonis, on the USSR roster for the 1988 Olympic Games, was protested at the time by the Portland medical staff, and was later heavily criticized. While the Soviets cleared him to play professionally
A professional is a member of a profession or any person who works in a specified professional activity. The term also describes the standards of education and training that prepare members of the profession with the particular knowledge and skil ...
in 1989, when his Soviet national teammate, Šarūnas Marčiulionis
Raimondas Šarūnas Marčiulionis () (born June 13, 1964) is a Lithuanian retired professional basketball player. Widely considered one of the greatest international players, he was one of the first Europeans to become a regular in the National ...
, went to North America, Sabonis postponed his travel, over feeling that he was not physically ready for the NBA.[ Eventually, Sabonis would develop chronic knee, ankle and groin issues, that substantially limited his mobility and explosiveness, by the mid-1990s.
]
Lithuanian national team
After breakup of the Soviet Union, and the independence of Lithuania, Sabonis then became a member of the senior Lithuanian national team. He represented Lithuania at the following major tournaments: the 1992 Summer Olympic Games
The 1992 Summer Olympics ( es, Juegos Olímpicos de Verano de 1992, ca, Jocs Olímpics d'estiu de 1992), officially known as the Games of the XXV Olympiad ( es, Juegos de la XXV Olimpiada, ca, Jocs de la XXV Olimpíada) and commonly known as ...
(bronze medal), the 1995 EuroBasket
The 1995 FIBA European Championship, commonly called FIBA EuroBasket 1995, was the 29th FIBA EuroBasket regional basketball championship held by FIBA Europe, which also served as Europe qualifier for the 1996 Summer Olympics, giving a berth to ea ...
(silver medal), the 1996 Summer Olympic Games
The 1996 Summer Olympics (officially the Games of the XXVI Olympiad, also known as Atlanta 1996 and commonly referred to as the Centennial Olympic Games) were an international multi-sport event held from July 19 to August 4, 1996, in Atlanta, ...
(bronze medal), and the 1999 EuroBasket
The 1999 FIBA European Championship, commonly called FIBA EuroBasket 1999, was the 31st FIBA EuroBasket regional basketball championship held by FIBA Europe, which also served as Europe qualifier for the 2000 Olympic Tournament, giving a berth ...
. He was named to the EuroBasket All-Tournament Team
The FIBA EuroBasket All-Tournament Team is the FIBA Europe award that is bestowed upon the five best players of each FIBA EuroBasket tournament. Pau Gasol holds the record for most selections in the All-EuroBasket Team, with seven.
FIBA Euro ...
in 1995.
Sabonis was also awarded a silver medal at the 2013 EuroBasket
EuroBasket 2013 was the 38th edition of the EuroBasket championship that was organized by FIBA Europe. It took place from 4 September until 22 September 2013 in Slovenia. The number of participating teams was 24.
France defeated Lithuania in t ...
tournament, due to being the Lithuanian Basketball Federation
The Lithuanian Basketball Federation ( lt, Lietuvos krepšinio federacija), also known as LKF, is a national governing body of basketball in Lithuania. It was founded in 1936, but due to Soviet occupation, the federation disappeared from FIBA. I ...
(LKF) President.
Career statistics
NBA
Regular season
, -
, style="text-align:left;",
, style="text-align:left;", Portland
, 73 , , 21 , , 23.8 , , .545 , , .375 , , .757 , , 8.1 , , 1.8 , , .9 , , 1.1 , , 14.5
, -
, style="text-align:left;",
, style="text-align:left;", Portland
, 69 , , 68 , , 25.5 , , .498 , , .371 , , .777 , , 7.9 , , 2.1 , , .9 , , 1.2 , , 13.4
, -
, style="text-align:left;",
, style="text-align:left;", Portland
, 73 , , 73 , , 32.0 , , .493 , , .261 , , .798 , , 10.0 , , 3.0 , , .9 , , 1.1 , , 16.0
, -
, style="text-align:left;",
, style="text-align:left;", Portland
, 50 , , 48 , , 27.0 , , .485 , , .292 , , .771 , , 7.9 , , 2.4 , , .7 , , 1.3 , , 12.1
, -
, style="text-align:left;",
, style="text-align:left;", Portland
, 66 , , 61 , , 25.6 , , .505 , , .368 , , .843 , , 7.8 , , 1.8 , , .7 , , 1.2 , , 11.8
, -
, style="text-align:left;",
, style="text-align:left;", Portland
, 61 , , 42 , , 21.3 , , .479 , , .067 , , .776 , , 5.4 , , 1.5 , , .7 , , 1.0 , , 10.1
, -
, style="text-align:left;",
, style="text-align:left;", Portland
, 78 , , 1 , , 15.5 , , .476 , , .500 , , .787 , , 4.3 , , 1.8 , , .8 , , .6 , , 6.1
, - class="sortbottom"
, style="text-align:center;" colspan="2", Career
, 470 , , 314 , , 24.2 , , .500 , , .328 , , .786 , , 7.3 , , 2.1 , , .8 , , 1.1 , , 12.0
Playoffs
, -
, style="text-align:left;", 1996
File:1996 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: A Centennial Olympic Park bombing, bomb explodes at Centennial Olympic Park in Atlanta, set off by a radical Anti-abortion violence, anti-abortionist; The center fuel tank explodes on TWA Flight 8 ...
, style="text-align:left;", Portland
, 5 , , 5 , , 35.4 , , .432 , , .556 , , .717 , , 10.2 , , 1.8 , , .8 , , .6 , , 23.6
, -
, style="text-align:left;", 1997
File:1997 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: The movie set of ''Titanic (1997 film), Titanic'', the List of highest-grossing films, highest-grossing movie in history at the time; ''Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone'', is published; ...
, style="text-align:left;", Portland
, 4 , , 4 , , 27.0 , , .429 , , .250 , , .875 , , 6.5 , , 2.3 , , .8 , , .8 , , 11.3
, -
, style="text-align:left;", 1998
1998 was designated as the ''International Year of the Ocean''.
Events January
* January 6 – The ''Lunar Prospector'' spacecraft is launched into orbit around the Moon, and later finds evidence for frozen water, in soil in permanently s ...
, style="text-align:left;", Portland
, 4 , , 4 , , 26.8 , , .450 , , .500 , , .857 , , 7.8 , , 1.5 , , 1.8 , , .8 , , 12.3
, -
, style="text-align:left;", 1999
File:1999 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: The funeral procession of King Hussein of Jordan in Amman; the 1999 İzmit earthquake kills over 17,000 people in Turkey; the Columbine High School massacre, one of the first major school shoot ...
, style="text-align:left;", Portland
, 13 , , 13 , , 30.2 , , .398 , , .200 , , .907 , , 8.8 , , 2.2 , , 1.2 , , 1.2 , , 10.0
, -
, style="text-align:left;", 2000
File:2000 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: Protests against Bush v. Gore after the 2000 United States presidential election; Heads of state meet for the Millennium Summit; The International Space Station in its infant form as seen from S ...
, style="text-align:left;", Portland
, 16 , , 16 , , 30.8 , , .453 , , .286 , , .796 , , 6.7 , , 1.9 , , .9 , , .8 , , 11.3
, -
, style="text-align:left;", 2001
The September 11 attacks against the United States by Al-Qaeda, which killed 2,977 people and instigated the global war on terror, were a defining event of 2001. The United States led a multi-national coalition in an invasion of Afghanist ...
, style="text-align:left;", Portland
, 3 , , 3 , , 34.7 , , .483 , , .000 , , .750 , , 8.3 , , 2.7 , , .3 , , 2.3 , , 11.3
, -
, style="text-align:left;", 2003
File:2003 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: The crew of STS-107 perished when the Space Shuttle Columbia Space Shuttle Columbia disaster, disintegrated during reentry into Atmosphere of Earth, Earth's atmosphere; SARS became an 2002– ...
, style="text-align:left;", Portland
, 6 , , 1 , , 14.3 , , .667 , , , , .800 , , 4.0 , , .8 , , .7 , , .7 , , 10.0
, - class="sortbottom"
, style="text-align:center;" colspan="2", Career
, 51 , , 46 , , 28.8 , , .452 , , .319 , , .802 , , 7.4 , , 1.9 , , .9 , , .9 , , 12.1
EuroLeague
, -
, style="text-align:left;", 1985–86
, style="text-align:left;", Žalgiris
, 13 , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , 24.5 , ,
, -
, style="text-align:left;", 1986–87
, style="text-align:left;", Žalgiris
, 6 , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , 21.3 , ,
, -
, style="text-align:left;", 1992–93
, style="text-align:left;", Real Madrid
, 20 , , , , 30.9 , , .543 , , .500 , , .663 , , style="background:#cfecec;", 12.0* , , 1.9 , , 1.2 , , , , 16.5 , ,
, -
, style="text-align:left;", 1993–94
, style="text-align:left;", Real Madrid
, 15 , , , , 34.3 , , .577 , , .350 , , .723 , , 11.9 , , 2.9 , , 1.0 , , , , 17.4 , ,
, -
, style="text-align:left; background:#afe6ba;", 1994–95†
, style="text-align:left;", Real Madrid
, 17 , , , , 33.8 , , .572 , , .545 , , .783 , , 11.2 , , 2.6 , , 1.8 , , , , 21.8 , ,
, -
, style="text-align:left;", 2003–04
, style="text-align:left;", Žalgiris
, 18 , , 14 , , 28.3 , , .560 , , .366 , , .696 , , style="background:#cfecec;", 10.7* , , 2.4 , , 1.0 , , style="background:#cfecec;", 1.6* , , 16.7 , , style="background:#cfecec;", 26.3*
, - class="sortbottom"
, style="text-align:center;" colspan="2", Career
, 89 , , , , 31.6 , , .562 , , .439 , , .716 , , 11.4 , , 2.4 , , 1.3 , , 1.6 , , 19.2 , ,
Personal life
Sabonis is married to Ingrida Mikelionytė, the first Miss Lithuania
Miss Lithuania ( lt, Mis Lietuva) is a national Beauty pageant in Lithuania.
History
Miss Lithuania began in 1993 and debuted at the Miss World competition. The pageant traditionally broadcast live on "Lietuvos rytas TV". Since 2012, the Miss ...
, a fashion model, and a movie actress. They have a daughter named Aušrinė, and three sons: Žygimantas, Tautvydas, and Domantas – the last two being born in the cities their father was playing, Valladolid and Portland. Once Sabonis left the NBA, the family moved to the Spanish coastal city of Málaga
Málaga (, ) is a Municipalities of Spain, municipality of Spain, capital of the Province of Málaga, in the Autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community of Andalusia. With a population of 578,460 in 2020, it is the second-most populou ...
.[ Domantas was drafted 11th overall in the 2016 NBA draft and is currently a two-time ]NBA All-Star
The National Basketball Association (NBA) All-Star Game is an annual exhibition basketball game. It is the main event of the NBA All-Star Weekend. Originally, the All-Star Game featured a conference-based format, featuring a team composed of a ...
, and currently plays for the Sacramento Kings. Žygimantas, and Tautvydas decided to continue their careers in Europe. Both Domantas and Tautvydas played for the Lithuania national team in different levels of competition.
In September 2011, Sabonis suffered a heart attack, while playing basketball in Lithuania. Doctors said that the heart attack was not life-threatening.
According to his son, Domantas, Arvydas is a huge fan of the Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics ( ) are an American professional basketball team based in Boston. The Celtics compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Eastern Conference Atlantic Division. Founded in 1946 as one of t ...
, his favorite basketball player is Larry Bird
Larry Joe Bird (born December 7, 1956) is an American former professional basketball player, coach, and executive in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Nicknamed "the Hick from French Lick" and "Larry Legend", Bird is widely regarded a ...
and his favorite color is green.
Popular culture
He appeared on the Lithuanian cover of the video game NBA Live 2001
''NBA Live 2001'' is the 2001 installment of the ''NBA Live'' video games series. The cover features Kevin Garnett as a member of the Minnesota Timberwolves and in Lithuanian copies of ''NBA Live 2001'', it features Arvydas Sabonis. The game was ...
.
Arvydas Sabonis' basketball career and journey to represent his native country Lithuania in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics is highlighted in the documentary film The Other Dream Team
''The Other Dream Team'' is a documentary film directed by Marius A. Markevičius. It covers the inspirational story of the 1992 Lithuania national basketball team and their journey to the bronze medal at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona. ...
. The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2012 and was distributed by Lionsgate in the U.S. and Disney internationally.
See also
*
* List of European basketball players in the United States
This is a list of European basketball players who have played in the United States at either professional or NCAA Division I level. It is intended to include players who are currently active, whether inside or outside the U.S., and former player ...
References
External links
*
FIBA Archive Profile
Euroleague.net Profile
Spanish ACB Profile
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sabonis, Arvydas
1964 births
Living people
1982 FIBA World Championship players
1986 FIBA World Championship players
Atlanta Hawks draft picks
Basketball players at the 1988 Summer Olympics
Basketball players at the 1992 Summer Olympics
Basketball players at the 1996 Summer Olympics
Basketball players from Kaunas
BC Žalgiris players
Businesspeople from Kaunas
CB Valladolid players
Centers (basketball)
Euroscar award winners
FIBA EuroBasket-winning players
FIBA Hall of Fame inductees
FIBA World Championship-winning players
Honoured Masters of Sport of the USSR
Liga ACB players
Lithuanian expatriate basketball people in the United States
Lithuanian expatriate basketball people in Spain
Lithuanian men's basketball players
Lithuanian Sportsperson of the Year winners
Medalists at the 1988 Summer Olympics
Medalists at the 1992 Summer Olympics
Medalists at the 1996 Summer Olympics
Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame inductees
National Basketball Association players from Lithuania
Olympic basketball players of Lithuania
Olympic basketball players of the Soviet Union
Olympic bronze medalists for Lithuania
Olympic gold medalists for the Soviet Union
Olympic medalists in basketball
Portland Trail Blazers draft picks
Portland Trail Blazers players
Real Madrid Baloncesto players
Recipients of the Olympic Order
Recipients of the Order of Friendship of Peoples
Recipients of the Order of the Lithuanian Grand Duke Gediminas
Soviet expatriate sportspeople in Spain
Soviet men's basketball players
Vytautas Magnus University Agriculture Academy alumni