Old videos but just thought I'd share. Drazen Mix: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDNtUYQhzNM&mode=related&search= (The guy scored 110+ in a game once) Really old footage of Sabonis: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JLu2SlE85tg
Yeah Dražen is one of the best international players ever.It's sad how his life ended.He would be one of the best NBA players.
I knew how good Drazen was because I watched him in the NBA, but I had no idea that Arvydas Sabonis was that quick when he was young. Sabonis was solid when he was in the NBA but I didn't realize how good he was when he was younger.
yeah, he was leaping like there is no gravity in one of the highlights of his earlier career. Imagine what half of that atheleticm would to Yao.
are you sure he wasn't the one who threw the outlet pass in that highlight? From what most of that video showed, I think he and Yao were about on par in terms of athleticism. Or at least not THAT far off. Of course, what i've heard about Sabonis in his younger days is different, but the highlights didn't really make that apparent too much. I could see Yao doing most of the things he was doing (even when he was younger) On Petrovic...I remember watching him play, and I remember some of his game. But the highlights capture the passion he played with (or at least it would seem considering how many different highlights are there)...and maybe I was too young to pick up on stuff like that from a visiting player. I enjoyed the Drazen mix.
The things that Portland could've accomplished if... 1. Drazen Petrovic's life hadn't been so tragically cut short 2. Adelman had actually given Drazen some playing time 3. Arvydas Sabonis had been allowed to play basketball in the USA by the Soviet Union while he was younger Petrovic, Sabonis, Terry Porter, and Clyde Drexler together on a team coached by Rick Adelman could've done some amazing things (considering they were already making trips to the finals in 1990 and 1992).
Sabonis was sluggish in his later years... he could barely move. He was pretty mobile back during the Olympics years. His passing was probably what was so incredible about somebody his size. Some of the no-look stuff he did was just silly. Sabonis in, in his prime, was more mobile than Yao from what I remember (and it's a bit vague). He also was probably among the best passing big men I've seen.
It would cripple him. He already has enough foot injuries with his 1 inch vertical leap. You want a guy that big moving around as little as possible on the court, something the idealist JVG didn't grasp in having him chase guards in pick and roll s and come out and set meaningless picks for the likes of John Lucas III.
The young, mobile Sabonis reminds me a lot of Andrea Bargnani in terms of finesse and athleticism, passing, shooting and shotblocking. It remains to be seen if Bargs fills out like Sabas did, but had he not had such major leg problems, perhaps Arvydas would have stayed more svelte as well. I can definitely see how the latter NBA era Sabonis would remind people of Yao, in terms of speed, footwork and general presence when he has the ball inside.
Tis a shame Sabas didn't join the NBA in his prime and when healthy. I would have loved to see him match up against Shaq and company when he still had his legs.
Sabonis is one of my all time favorite players thanks! He would have been a HOF center had he come here in 1986 or 1987
Sabonis looked unbelievable as youngster....he could've easily been all-time great center....if came into NBA in his mid 20s. Even at 30 something with injuries....he was still far better than most of the centers I've seen.
It's amazing how Sabonis could still produce even with almost all his mobility gone. He could hit that 3-pt shot. (Whoever says Yao couldn't be effective shooting 3s?) He could dominate down low with his hook shot. His passing was jaw dropping. One of the best passers, period (not just among big men). I would put his passing on par with the likes of Magic and Kidd, better than 95% of all PGs.
