- Full nameArvydas Romas Sabonis
- Place of birthKaunas (Lithuania)
- Date of birth18/12/1964
“The czar of European basketball”
His play under the hoops, with his back to the basket, was unstoppable, and his tremendous stature did not prevent him from having the mobility, coordination and speed of movements available to a select few. He did everything well: rebound, block, slam dunk, assist, an outstanding 4 meter shot, and a no less interesting shot from the three-point line.
He was a center with the imagination of a point guard who quickly made headlines beyond Soviet borders, although Sabonis was not allowed to leave the Soviet Union until 1989. His first port of call upon leaving was Spain, specifically Valladolid, where he played for three seasons before signing with Real Madrid.
The club signed what it believed was a key component in its quest to once again put together a champion team. The Lithuanian was the foundation of a project that netted two ACB League titles, one Copa del Rey and, in particular, the European Cup. Sabonis became an absolute idol to fans, but retaining him would be tremendously difficult. The NBA came calling and the Trail Blazers got to enjoy his next seven seasons. ‘Sabas’ has always declared himself a Madrid fan.
Honours
- European Cup (1995).
- ACB League (1994, 1995).
- Copa del Rey (1993).
- USSR League (1985, 1986, 1987 with Zalgiris).
- World Club Championship (1987 with Zalgiris).
- Gold Medal, Eurobasket (1985).
- Silver Medal, Eurobasket (1995).
- Bronze Medal, Eurobasket (1983, 1989).
- Gold Medal, World Championship (1982).
- Silver Medal, World Championship (1986).
- Gold Medal, Olympic Games (1988).
- Bronze Medal, Olympic Games (1992, 1996).