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Arvydas Sabonis, a top-5 all-time center?

  • Here's a link to a highlight of him going against Robinson in the '86 world championships where the USSR lost 87-85.

    You can find other highlights of him in the NBA if you wish. He was a great passer, a legit 7'3, and an excellent athlete before his injuries. I think he could have been as good as Robinson or better. Imagine him playing with Drexler in Portland in their primes. I think NBA titles would have been had.

    Where would have placed him all time if he came to the NBA as a 23 year old?

    Play

    Arvydas Sabonis-Before Injuries 1986

    My highlight mix about one of the greatest centers of all time - Arvydas Sabonis from Lithuania. This mix shows how great he was before injuries, then he was playing in USSR team. Footage from 1986 world basketball championship in Spain. Sabonis was playing against D.Robinson(USA) and S.Vrankovic/V.Divac(Yugoslavia).

    http://www.youtube.com/v/06usV6451ik
    signature image signature image signature image

    Boats and Hoes

    Freeze

  • Freeze said...

    Here's a link to a highlight of him going against Robinson in the '86 world championships where the USSR lost 87-85.

    You can find other highlights of him in the NBA if you wish. He was a great passer, a legit 7'3, and an excellent athlete before his injuries. I think he could have been as good as Robinson or better. Imagine him playing with Drexler in Portland in their primes. I think NBA titles would have been had.

    Where would have placed him all time if he came to the NBA as a 23 year old?

    Would have been great to see in the NBA in his prime, but I wouldn't put him in the top 5. I probably wouldn't have David there either.

    Russell
    Kareem
    Wilt
    Olajawon (sp?)
    Shaq

    In some order.

    This post was edited by BetterOff on 6/27/2012 at 7:56 PM

    BetterOff

  • no

    kareem, russell, wilt, shaq, olajuwan, ewing, david robinson, moses malone

    rrisher

  • rrisher said...

    no

    kareem, russell, wilt, shaq, olajuwan, ewing, david robinson, moses malone

    LOL, Ewing.

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    Hey Trojans, LSU's 74 are better than your 75.

    UChucky161861

  • U-Chucky said...

    LOL, Ewing.

    he is a top 10 center all time

    rrisher

  • rrisher said...

    he is a top 10 center all time

    I wouldn't even put him top ten.

    signature image signature image signature image

    Hey Trojans, LSU's 74 are better than your 75.

    UChucky161861

  • BetterOff said...

    Would have been great to see in the NBA in his prime, but I wouldn't put him in the top 5. I probably wouldn't have David there either.

    Russell Kareem Wilt Olajawon (sp?) Shaq

    In some order.

    this

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    Walking up these hills you have no choice but to be fast!

    FSUTrackLoveFSU

  • "He's not your Vydas, he's not my Vydas....he's Arvydas!" Loved when they would say that on ESPN

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    RicoX19 ●

  • 1. Russell
    2. Wilt
    3. Kareem
    4. Shaq
    5. Olajawon
    6. Moses Malone
    7. David Robinson

    signature image signature image

    cjkarl20 ●

  • U-Chucky said...

    LOL, Ewing.

    Outside of The Dream and Mourning, Ewing had the purest set of post moves of his era, and this era. Those 3 would school every center, outside of Shaq, that started in the NBA after '93.

    Also had a very soft touch from 14-15 ft, and was a very good shot blocker.

    Alonzo Mourning, in his prime, was a monster as well.

    CRgator1 ●

  • I think Sabonis has a better career than Shaq if he comes over and wins 2 or 3 titles early with the trailblazers.

    Kareem
    Wilt
    Shaq
    Robinson
    Moses
    Russell
    Hakeem

    That's if you sort them by career win shares. I think Russell as a champion gets moved up and Hakeem moves ahead of Robinson for averaging 35 points and 12 rebounds against him in the playoffs after the MVP snub in 94-95.

    That makes my top 7
    1. Russell
    2. Kareem
    3. Wilt
    4. Shaq
    5. Hakeem
    6. Robinson
    7. Moses

    I think you could make the argument that Sabas could squeeze in before Hakeem if he had played 15 years in the NBA at his per 36 minute average of 22 ppg and 12 rebounds from his 31 year old season in Portland.

    The blazers lost twice in the finals and once in the western conference finals from 89-91. That would have essentially been his prime as a 24, 25, and then 26 year old.

    Clyde Drexler
    Terry Porter
    Jerome Kersey
    Cliff Robinson
    Arvydas Sabonis

    sounds like a few titles to me.

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    Boats and Hoes

    Freeze

  • U-Chucky said...

    I wouldn't even put him top ten.

    he would be in the group right after those other 7 i mentioned. those 7 are by themselves and then you got george mikan, bill walton, ewing and willis reed. ewing did avg 21 ppg and 9.8 rpg and was 6th all time in blocks. those are some pretty good averages considering he had those 2 years at the end where he went to the sonics(averaged 9 and 7) then magic(6ppg and 4 rpg)

    rrisher

  • CRgator1 said...

    Outside of The Dream and Mourning, Ewing had the purest set of post moves of his era, and this era. Those 3 would school every center, outside of Shaq, that started in the NBA after '93.

    Also had a very soft touch from 14-15 ft, and was a very good shot blocker.

    Alonzo Mourning, in his prime, was a monster as well.

    Kareem
    Wilt
    Russell
    Hakeem
    Shaq
    The Admiral
    Dave Cowens
    Moses Malone
    George Mikan
    Bill Walton
    Arvydas Sabonis

    All ahead of Ewing for me.

    signature image signature image signature image

    Hey Trojans, LSU's 74 are better than your 75.

    UChucky161861

  • Freeze said...

    I think Sabonis has a better career than Shaq if he comes over and wins 2 or 3 titles early with the trailblazers.

    Kareem Wilt Shaq Robinson Moses Russell Hakeem

    That's if you sort them by career win shares. I think Russell as a champion gets moved up and Hakeem moves ahead of Robinson for averaging 35 points and 12 rebounds against him in the playoffs after the MVP snub in 94-95.

    That makes my top 7 1. Russell 2. Kareem 3. Wilt 4. Shaq 5. Hakeem 6. Robinson 7. Moses

    I think you could make the argument that Sabas could squeeze in before Hakeem if he had played 15 years in the NBA at his per 36 minute average of 22 ppg and 12 rebounds from his 31 year old season in Portland.

    The blazers lost twice in the finals and once in the western conference finals from 89-91. That would have essentially been his prime as a 24, 25, and then 26 year old.

    Clyde Drexler Terry Porter Jerome Kersey Cliff Robinson Arvydas Sabonis

    sounds like a few titles to me.

    I put Wilt #1 but I agree with everything else said. I put Wilt over russell just because his team just was no where near as good as the Celtic's teams so he had to play to hard with the Cs damn near tackling him during the playoffs on most plays. Russell gets the nod on defense but I remember Wilt and Russell saying Wilt didn't have the option to play defense because he had to do everything else.

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    Walking up these hills you have no choice but to be fast!

    FSUTrackLoveFSU

  • FSUTrackLove said...

    I put Wilt #1 but I agree with everything else said. I put Wilt over russell just because his team just was no where near as good as the Celtic's teams so he had to play to hard with the Cs damn near tackling him during the playoffs on most plays. Russell gets the nod on defense but I remember Wilt and Russell saying Wilt didn't have the option to play defense because he had to do everything else.

    Wow, you must be the oldest poster on tBB.

    signature image signature image signature image

    Hey Trojans, LSU's 74 are better than your 75.

    UChucky161861

  • U-Chucky said...

    Kareem Wilt Russell Hakeem Shaq The Admiral Dave Cowens Moses Malone George Mikan Bill Walton Arvydas Sabonis

    All ahead of Ewing for me.

    George Mikan would get eaten alive by Ewing

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    Not guilty y'all got to feel me

    eastcoastghost

  • He and Ralph Sampson had a two pretty incredible clashes in exhibition games when Ralph was in college. Sabonis was probably 19-20 at the time. For a guy who was coached by Russians, he was a hell of a player.

    JoeHoo ●

  • eastcoastghost said...

    George Mikan would get eaten alive by Ewing

    Agreed, but it's a different time you can't judge it like that. Mikan dominated in his era, Ewing was never at any point even the best center in the league.

    signature image signature image signature image

    Hey Trojans, LSU's 74 are better than your 75.

    UChucky161861

  • U-Chucky said...

    Kareem
    Wilt
    Russell
    Hakeem
    Shaq
    The Admiral
    Dave Cowens
    Moses Malone
    George Mikan
    Bill Walton
    Arvydas Sabonis

    All ahead of Ewing for me.

    Good list, but PEwing was better than Cowens, imo.

    Kareem
    Wilt
    Russel
    Mikan
    Dream
    Shaw
    Malone
    DRobinson
    Ewing
    Walton

    CRgator1 ●

  • U-Chucky said...

    Agreed, but it's a different time you can't judge it like that. Mikan dominated in his era, Ewing was never at any point even the best center in the league.

    I agree, I dont like to compare different eras. At the same time, Mikan was the only center during those days. Ewing played in an era with several HOFers...Shaq, Kareem (Granted an older Kareem early in his career), Moses (same deal), Hakeem, Admiral, Zo, Mutombo

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    Not guilty y'all got to feel me

    eastcoastghost

  • It's crazy how much Lithuanians love this guy, he's a national hero over there.

    He was very good , but I wouldn't put him near the top 10.

    Wilt
    Russell
    Shaq
    Olajuwon
    Kareem
    Ewing
    Duncan (guy is a Center, no matter what he wants to say)
    Mikan
    M. Malone
    Robinson

    If you want to start playing the "what if" game, it starts and ends with Bill Walton.

    Also who knows what Yao could have done if his health didn't fail him.

    signature image signature image

    Clarkw267 ●

  • eastcoastghost said...

    I agree, I dont like to compare different eras. At the same time, Mikan was the only center during those days. Ewing played in an era with several HOFers...Shaq, Kareem (Granted an older Kareem early in his career), Moses (same deal), Hakeem, Admiral, Zo, Mutombo

    When you consider that Ewing's hype was LeBron like for it's era (he would have been the first pick whenever he chose to leave Georgetown) he was a bit of a disappointment.

    signature image signature image signature image

    Hey Trojans, LSU's 74 are better than your 75.

    UChucky161861

  • Clarkw267 said...

    It's crazy how much Lithuanians love this guy, he's a national hero over there.

    What do you expect, this is Lithuania we're talking about, they're not exactly teaming with historical figures.

    signature image signature image signature image

    Hey Trojans, LSU's 74 are better than your 75.

    UChucky161861

  • FSUTrackLove said...

    I put Wilt #1 but I agree with everything else said. I put Wilt over russell just because his team just was no where near as good as the Celtic's teams so he had to play to hard with the Cs damn near tackling him during the playoffs on most plays. Russell gets the nod on defense but I remember Wilt and Russell saying Wilt didn't have the option to play defense because he had to do everything else.

    Wilt wasn't playing with a bunch of scrubs on most of his teams. He had Billy Cunningham, Baylor, Greer, Arizin, and Thurmond. That's an impressive list. Russell just abused him in the games that mattered. He didn't care about the statistical numbers like Wilt, all he cared about was winning and it shows in these numbers:

    Wilt's record in Game 7's - 4-5
    Russell's record - 10-0

    Championships: Wilt 2 - Russell 11

    For a team game, I'll take Russell over Wilt every single time.

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    cjkarl20 ●

  • cjkarl20 said...

    1. Russell 2. Wilt 3. Kareem 4. Shaq 5. Olajawon 6. Moses Malone 7. David Robinson

    lol at Kareem above Shaq. Shaq would have pounded Kareem to the tune of 3 fouls in the first quarter.

    Kareem was a stick figure compared to Shaq. Kareem has never faced such a dominating force. Kareem wouldn't have found an answer as to how to guard Shaq.

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