Put Prime Sabonis in the current NBA...

[Milbuck]

How hard does he shit on the current crop of big men? And where would he rank among the best players overall?

And this isn't post-injuries, Blazers Sabonis, we're talking prime Sabonis before his injuries, at his absolute best.

[DFish24]

Best big man easily and MVP Candidate.

[Smook A.]

He'd be a Top 3 player in the game today.

Prime Sabonis had it all. He could pass, defend, post up... you name it. Dude was a monster and it's a shame he got injured.

[Hey Yo]

Most oh here prob. never seen Sabonis play. One of the first Big men who could hit the 3 with consistency. He made shots like a SG would.

Very underrated 7 footer / player

[imdaman99]

I saw him play on Portland but that was way past his prime and he looked slower than molasses due to injuries.

Where did you watch him play in his prime? I don't doubt that he'd dominate. He had great passing.

[Kvnzhangyay]

I've never watched him play in his "prime" (as in not in NBA), but I've watched Bill Walton and from what I hear they had similar games, so yea he would be probably be the 4th best maybe third in the NBA

[Jameerthefear]

Maybe 10/7 at best.

[5 rings fan]

he would choke like he did against shaq , kobe is a much better and willing passer than sabonis

[Hey Yo]

Most oh here prob. never seen Sabonis play. One of the first Big men who could hit the 3 with consistency. He made shots like a SG would.

Very underrated 7 footer / player
I was wrong. I thought he shot more 3's than he did. He wasn't that effective from 3, but did have range like Ewing and Olajuwon

[oarabbus]

Pre injury Sabonis could have given Peak Shaq a run for his money.

[Nastradamus]

Sabonis was basically Marc Gasol.

[Smook A.]

Sabonis was basically Marc Gasol.
http://photo1.ask.fm/194/349/230/920003035-1ri9fnj-ba86ifbko0jc58a/preview/file.jpg

[Marlo_Stanfield]

people dont understand how good he was.
he could have been a series rival to jordan and and Shaq in his prime and if he didnt get injured so hard and could have come over earlier MJ would have at least 2 rings less.:confusedshrug:

[Nastradamus]

Dude was putting up 14 and 8. He wasn't a rival to Shaq. Jesus.

Shaq was still a dominant force til like 33

[Smook A.]

Dude was putting up 14 and 8. He wasn't a rival to Shaq. Jesus.

Shaq was still a dominant force til like 33
Yeah 14/8 AFTER some major injuries. He'd be putting up 25/14/5/3 if he never got injured.

MONSTER numbers

[Kvnzhangyay]

Yeah 14/8 AFTER some major injuries. He'd be putting up 25/14/5/3 if he never got injured.

MONSTER numbers


And you know this how?

[Roundball_Rock]

Statistically his best year in the NBA was 98' when he put up 16/10/3. He was 33 at that point and was a shell of his pre-injuries self. If he could post 16/10 at that age, post-injuries imagine what he could have done in his prime while healthy if he was not run into the ground by the Soviet Union in the 80's...

[Smook A.]

And you know this how?
:facepalm

You obviously don't know how GOOD Sabonis was pre-injuries

[Kvnzhangyay]

:facepalm

Exactly :lol

[kkb_12]

Sabonis at the end of 80's was the most complete big player I have ever seen. Years that he spent in NBA he was at 60% of his capabilities! as injuries ruined his athleticism and agility. If he made it to NBA healthy he would be one of top 3 centres in any decade.

[Smook A.]

Exactly :lol
Its a facepalm at you. Idiot

You don't have a clue how good Sabonis was before his injuries

[Smoke117]

Sabonis was basically Marc Gasol.


What? Sabonis came into the league at 31 with two ****ed up knees and was better than Marc Gasol ever was. In his 20s he was one of the most impressive mobile big man in the game with an great post up game and the ability to go all the way out to the 3pt line. The guy is the best passing center since Bill Walton, played defense, and rebounded at that. He averaged 16/10 in 32mpg (his career nba high) at 33. His per 36min averages for his career from age 31 to 38 are 17.8ppg 10.9rpg 500%fg 1.6bpg 1.2spg and 3.1apg. The guy would have been elite big man if he had come into the NBA like he should have in the late 80s along with Hakeem, Robinson, Ewing, Shaq etc...he was still one of the better players even though he didn't join the league till he was 31 with no mobility.

[Kvnzhangyay]

Its a facepalm at you. Idiot

You don't have a clue how good Sabonis was before his injuries

And you don't know how good he would have been in the NBA either dumbass lmfao

You THINK he would have been dominant. Good try though :applause:

[Angel Face]

How hard does he shit on the current crop of big men?
In this era of weak Centers, he would be the best C in the league.


And where would he rank among the best players overall?

And this isn't post-injuries, Blazers Sabonis, we're talking prime Sabonis before his injuries, at his absolute best.

3 - 5 after Durant and Lebron.

[Smook A.]

And you don't know how good he would have been in the NBA either dumbass lmfao

You THINK he would have been dominant. Good try though :applause:
The joke is on you, stupid ass.

Im not the only one who thinks Sabonis would've been amazing in the NBA if he stayed healthy. He was the most complete player before injuries. He could pass, shoot, post-up, defend, grab rebounds... you name it. At the age of 33, while being hurt, Sabonis managed to put up 16/10/3/2. Now imagine IF HE WASNT INJURED... Yeah.

[Rocketswin2013]

If we're REALLY going hypothetical....Yao Ming if he never had brutal injuries...Would make a Prime Sabonis quit the NBA...Yao never even had a full blown peak and still dropped 25/10/2/1/2 50%.

[Smoke117]

No form of Sabonis had more production than Dwight Howard....

Let that sink into the souls of you hypothetical obsessors....And if we're REALLY going hypothetical....Yao Ming if he never had brutal injuries...Would make a Prime Sabonis quit the NBA...Yao never even had a full blown peak and still dropped 25/10/2/1/2 50%.

You usually say shit that isn't ****ing stupid...but you managed to reach that plateau right now. Sabonis in his prime shits on Dwight Howard and I spend half the time defending Howard who I don't even like because of idiots. You are joining that legion if you think Dwight is better than Sabonis in his prime. You might want to use the helpful edit button here, mate.

[Rocketswin2013]

You usually say shit that isn't ****ing stupid...but you managed to reach that plateau right now. Sabonis in his prime shits on Dwight Howard and I spent half the time defending Howard who I don't even like because of idiots. You are joining that legion if you think Dwight is better than Sabonis in his prime. You might want to use helpful edit button here.
:lol I hate to disagree with you smoke......So I won't.....

[Smook A.]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=06usV6451ik

[oarabbus]

If we're REALLY going hypothetical....Yao Ming if he never had brutal injuries...Would make a Prime Sabonis quit the NBA...Yao never even had a full blown peak and still dropped 25/10/2/1/2 50%.


Nah Yao would have been a fcuking legend if he never had injuries but Prime Sabonis' only equal is Shaq. And Wilt, if you swing that way.

[ProfessorMurder]

He'd destroy everybody.

[deja vu]

Would be unfair to this league of pathetic centers. Dude is 7'4" tall with amazing skill and mobility. I'd bet he'd average something like 26 ppg, 14 rpg, 5 apg, 3 bpg.

[deja vu]

If we're REALLY going hypothetical....Yao Ming if he never had brutal injuries...Would make a Prime Sabonis quit the NBA...Yao never even had a full blown peak and still dropped 25/10/2/1/2 50%.
Both Yao and Sabonis would have been top 5 centers all time if not for injuries. Maybe top 3. Two of the most talented big men ever. Not only that, they're massive. They make Shaq look like a normal human being.

[Sharmer]

Yeah 14/8 AFTER some major injuries. He'd be putting up 25/14/5/3 if he never got injured.

MONSTER numbers


Some of the younger generation are clueless when it comes to basketball, prime Sabonis would shit all over this league.

[Mr.Kite]

He's so good, lebron would have been a blazer instead of a Heat.

[Marlo_Stanfield]

are we gonna act like Sabonis wasnt the most versatile Center ever, a athletic and strong beast, one of the most unstoppable forces ever and the best passing center of all time?Yes better than Walton??
no we arent.
he was a GOAt level talent and if he would have had the chance to come in the nba at age 20 he would have shown that.
jordan and maybe shaq would have less rings:coleman:

[Marlo_Stanfield]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fdlB8tX75Mc
7`3 MONSTER shooting threes with a flick of his wrist:biggums: :biggums:
top 5 GOAt potential and i

[oarabbus]

He's so good, lebron would have been a blazer instead of a Heat.


:applause: :oldlol:

[Milbuck]

Both Yao and Sabonis would have been top 5 centers all time if not for injuries. Maybe top 3. Two of the most talented big men ever. Not only that, they're massive. They make Shaq look like a normal human being.
And which of the following would healthy Yao be better than?

Kareem
Shaq
Hakeem
Russell
Wilt
D-Rob
Ewing

[Marlo_Stanfield]

And which of the following would healthy Yao be better than?

Kareem
Shaq
Hakeem
Russell
Wilt
D-Rob
Ewing
Ewn and D-Rob

[Milbuck]

[QUOTE=Marlo_Stanfield]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fdlB8tX75Mc
7`3 MONSTER shooting threes with a flick of his wrist:biggums: :biggums:
top 5 GOAt potential and i

[Straight_Ballin]

A healthy Ronny Seiklay would have been a perfect fit with Sabonis. He once had 8 blocks in a game.

[Marlo_Stanfield]

Just absurd.

We have guys in the league today who struggle to make 4 free throws out of 10...and Sabonis is out there raining 3's like it's nothing.

There's no doubt in my mind he'd comfortably be a top 3 player in the league today. I'm not going to disrespect Lebron and Durant, but he'd give them a run for their money just in terms of pure impact on both ends of the floor. He'd be a constant MVP contender and his teams would be playing deep into the postseason year after year. The guy was as complete a center as I've ever seen.
:applause: :applause:

[deja vu]

And which of the following would healthy Yao be better than?

Kareem
Shaq
Hakeem
Russell
Wilt
D-Rob
Ewing
I might be exaggerating a bit. I think a healthy Yao would have been better than Ewing and D-Rob depending on playoff success and titles.

[andremiller07]

[QUOTE=Marlo_Stanfield]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fdlB8tX75Mc
7`3 MONSTER shooting threes with a flick of his wrist:biggums: :biggums:
top 5 GOAt potential and i

[Sakkreth]

All around beast, shadow of prime Sabonis vs MJ's Bulls:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3I6dKuQ4wc8

[DCL]

the freak mutant that was known as arvydas sabonis would had been a bad ass player in any era.

[BoutPractice]

Put Bill Walton and Larry Bird in a mixer and you have prime Sabonis. He's the sort of player you could very easily build a championship team around.

[secund2nun]

,,

[SexSymbol]

I still see Sabonis shooting from time to time in his basketball academy.
Flawless consistency and range.
He'd probably have the GOAT career if he came into the league at this day and age.
Top 7 if he was healthy and could come to USA in his early days.
He's a monster, universally accepted as the best player from Europe in our continent

[Nastradamus]

Lol, people really love some Sabonis here.

[hawksdogsbraves]

Lol, people really love some Sabonis here.

And none of them have seen anything more than youtube highlight mixes of him either, it's just a big circlejerk :oldlol:

[Milbuck]

I still see Sabonis shooting from time to time in his basketball academy.
Flawless consistency and range.
He'd probably have the GOAT career if he came into the league at this day and age.
Top 7 if he was healthy and could come to USA in his early days.
He's a monster, universally accepted as the best player from Europe in our continent
I don't disagree at all, but how much better do you consider him than Prime Dirk?

[SexSymbol]

I don't disagree at all, but how much better do you consider him than Prime Dirk?
I should be more clear about this, Dirk is usually considered the best European to play in the NBA, but that's pretty much it. Sabonis is the king of European basketball in general by the majority.

I'd say peak dirk is 70% percent of peak Sabonis.
Sabas had the same percent of Dirk's shooting ability, while being much taller, much stronger, much better passer (and Dirk's very good there)

It may be bias talking, as I'm a proud lithuanian too, but it seems like most experts and coaches from back in europe's USSR days agree with me

[SexSymbol]

Ok. I'll try this.

What do you think about Donatas Motiejunas as a player?
His ego is what's holding him back, he definitely has the athleticism and the shooting ability to be a starting power forward for some of the teams in the NBA.
Not only ego, but McHale's uselesness as a head coach too.

[SexSymbol]

Hm. Yeah McHale should have played him against Portland for sure.But what do you mean by his ego? He's lazy like Shaq? That type of ego?
He didn't play for Lithuania's NT as it wasn't sure whether he would make it or not. Next year, when he had his validations, he wasn't very good in Eurobasket 13.
Besides, while still playing in Europe, when it was obvious he'd go to the NBA, there's a video where Asseco Prokom's coach, also a lithuanian, Tomas Pacesas is shouting to Donatas, I'll try to translate it "You think you're somewhat of a ****ing star, the ****ing ball always slips out of your hands" and Donatas wasn't even looking at him.
Also, remember his comments when he came into the league, where somebody mentioned dwight, which was considered the best center, by default, in the league at the time, and he basically said that yeah, dwight can outmuscle him, but can he catch me?
Even McHale went "easy there, young fella" sitting right next to him in the press conference.
He tends to think of himself as a some kind of a star, but he hasn't proven it, THOUGH he definitely has the talent to be one.

[SexSymbol]

:lol I like it. But yeah he should slow down. Get used to the NBA ranged 3, and gain some weight. He's actually pretty good defensively though he doesn't block shots. He's the opposite of Jones in that regard. He knows where to place his body and how to use his length. Nice post moves. Just fouls a TON. He's like Steven Adams in that regard too. The difference is Adams has a coach that actually plays him in the playoffs. :facepalm
Well what do you expect of him, you learn how to defend without fouling by playing the game and considering that NBA is a little softer in the post than European basketball, he uses stuff he was teached back here to defend in NBA, and that just doesn't work
The effort and the talent is there, he just needs a better coach and I definitely think, that McHale doesn't play him just because he's european.
I might have sounded like Euroleague, the poster, here, but it seems like that to me. I may be wrong tho, who knows

[pastis]

I should be more clear about this, Dirk is usually considered the best European to play in the NBA, but that's pretty much it. Sabonis is the king of European basketball in general by the majority.

I'd say peak dirk is 70% percent of peak Sabonis.
Sabas had the same percent of Dirk's shooting ability, while being much taller, much stronger, much better passer (and Dirk's very good there)

It may be bias talking, as I'm a proud lithuanian too, but it seems like most experts and coaches from back in europe's USSR days agree with me


good joke dude. hahahah. hahaha.
sabonis? putting nice numbers? look at dirks numbers at 36!
from the highlights ive seen here in this thread there is noting even close to peak dirk. sabonis 3s? not contested! wow! he is a slightly better yao ming, thats it.

[Marlo_Stanfield]

McHale is infamous for doing things that don't make any sense. DMO is easily our best froncourt player off the bench other than Asik and didn't get time....Just ... :facepalm I think his growth as a player has been stunted by McHale's inconsistency with minutes. He was just so enamoured with the thought of Casspi at the PF position. Did it all year.
yet you cant see how McFail has stunted lins grotwh right??
fuqing joke