Lithuanians in the NBA

[RagaZ]

When was the last time a Lithuanian did anything in the NBA?

It's weird that such a basketball crazy country cant produce decent NBA players.

[Velocirap31]

Val. He's a great player. Casey just loves his small ball lineup too much, which clearly didn't work out.

[RoseCity07]

One of the best players ever, Sabonis. He destroyed David Robinson before blowing out his knees. With no knees he guarded Shaq better than any other center in Shaq's prime.

[outbreak]

who cares about past players, the guys a 7"1 who can shoot threes, handles it well and is very mobile.

[JohnnySic]

Porzingis is Latvian, not Lithuanian.

[FatComputerNerd]

Big Z best ever!!!

[robert de niro]

you know nothing

[Rocketswin2013]

Is this a reaction to the Latvian Porzingis?


Even if it is, D-MO is the league's best post player. That's all.

[ralph_i_el]

I think Lithuania has less people than the average American state.

[avonbarksdale]

knicks liked bargnani so much they wanted another one

[PejaNowitzki]

When was the last time a Lithuanian did anything in the NBA?

It's weird that such a basketball crazy country cant produce decent NBA players.


LOL, you talk like every year 20 Lithuanians wind up in the NBA. There have been 10 Lithuanians that have played in the NBA, among those was EuroGOAT Arvydas Sabonis :bowdown: :bowdown: :bowdown: , Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Sarunas Marciulionis.

[ArbitraryWater]

Sabonis was literally on pace to become the greatest basketball player ever until those knees did him dirty..seriously

[SamuraiSWISH]

Sabonis was literally on pace to become the greatest basketball player ever until those knees did him dirty..seriously
That's not hyperbole or EXTREME over exaggeration

[ArbitraryWater]

That's not hyperbole or EXTREME over exaggeration

Sabonis was simply on pace to become the greatest human being to ever touch a basketball

[Rooster]

One of the best players ever, Sabonis. He destroyed David Robinson before blowing out his knees. With no knees he guarded Shaq better than any other center in Shaq's prime.

:facepalm When did Sabas ever destroyed the Admiral:rolleyes:

[SamuraiSWISH]

Sabonis was simply on pace to become the greatest human being to ever touch a basketball
Lithuanians don't even believe that

[knickballer]

Remember Lithuania has a population of a little under 3 million.. They had a few notable players in the past like Kleiza(good role player for Denver), Jasikevious or w/e(was a bust in the NBA but apparently the Euroleague goat), Sagnalia then of course Valincious and Motejunas.

[Fowl]

Wasn't Big Z an allstar at some point?

[Straight_Ballin]

Sabonis was simply on pace to become the greatest human being to ever touch a basketball

On pace to be 2nd greatest. No one is ever touching Jordan.

[SexSymbol]

Marčiulionis was a good player in the NBA, averaged 19 and 17 b2b on great efficiency before getting injured.
Sabonis is probably a top 3 player ever worldwide, still was a great player in the NBA after two achilles surgeries with a foot made of metal.
Big Z was an all-star
Valančiūnas and Motiejūnas are both good players on the rise, Val is getting done dirty by the idiot coach, and motiejūnas is the best post player in the nba.

[Euroleague]

Marčiulionis was a good player in the NBA, averaged 19 and 17 b2b on great efficiency before getting injured.
Sabonis is probably a top 3 player ever worldwide, still was a great player in the NBA after two achilles surgeries with a foot made of metal.
Big Z was an all-star
Valančiūnas and Motiejūnas are both good players on the rise, Val is getting done dirty by the idiot coach, and motiejūnas is the best post player in the nba.

https://media2.giphy.com/media/rdwHF3WAtdd3G/200.gif

[LAZERUSS]

One of the best players ever, Sabonis. He destroyed David Robinson before blowing out his knees. With no knees he guarded Shaq better than any other center in Shaq's prime.

Ah the myth of Sabonis continues to grow some 30 years later.

Sorry to tell you, but that NEVER happened.

In the '86 WC Robinson had 20 points, 7 rebounds, 4 blocks against Sabonis and Sabonis in the same game had 16 points, 13 rebounds and 4 blocks.

In the '88 Olympics Robinson had 19 points, 12 rebounds, 2 steals and 2 blocks vs Sabonis who had 13 points, 13 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal and one block.


And by the time the two met in the NBA, Robinson was brutalizing him.

http://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/h2h_finder.cgi?request=1&p1=robinda01&p2=sabonar01


I do believe that a healthy Sabonis had the potential to be among the top-15,, maybe even the top-10 all-time centers, though.

[Jasi]

---> my username, a Top 10 European player ever, technique and IQ off the charts, but too slow for the NBA. I think that sums up the whole thing.

[LAZERUSS]

Off-topic, but interesting none-the-less...

With this supposed globalization of the NBA...how come we haven't seen more MJ's, Magic's, Shaq's, Durant's, as well Kareem's, Dr. J's, and Wilt's?

[Euroleague]

Off-topic, but interesting none-the-less...

With this supposed globalization of the NBA...how come we haven't seen more MJ's, Magic's, Shaq's, Durant's, as well Kareem's, Dr. J's, and Wilt's?

How come we have not seen any, not even a single one in the NBA coming from the USA?

GTFO CREEP

[RonSwanson]

who cares about past players, the guys a 7"1 who can shoot threes, handles it well and is very mobile.

Biggest misconception I see going around. This dude moves like he wears cinderblocks as shoes. Slow as shit

[PejaNowitzki]

Biggest misconception I see going around. This dude moves like he wears cinderblocks as shoes. Slow as shit


Who are we even talking about, because if its Porzingis, he is Latvian, not Lithuanian.

[RonSwanson]

Who are we even talking about, because if its Porzingis, he is Latvian, not Lithuanian.



Porzingis. He's slow as shit

[Rooster]

Off-topic, but interesting none-the-less...

With this supposed globalization of the NBA...how come we haven't seen more MJ's, Magic's, Shaq's, Durant's, as well Kareem's, Dr. J's, and Wilt's?

Most Euros are too soft and too unathletic to be elite in the pros. They produced quality players but few franchise type level of players.

[LAZERUSS]

How come we have not seen any, not even a single one in the NBA coming from the USA?

GTFO CREEP

BUT, at least the US produced THEM. Where are all these greats that the rest of the world should be supplying the NBA with? Again, where are their MJ's, Shaq's, Magic's, and Kareem's?

[Euroleague]

BUT, at least the US produced THEM. Where are all these greats that the rest of the world should be supplying the NBA with? Again, where are their MJ's, Shaq's, Magic's, and Kareem's?


The US did not produce them. Africa did. You racist POS.

[Borat_Sagdyev]

Wasn't Big Z an allstar at some point?

It was. twice.


Most Euros are too soft and too unathletic to be elite in the pros. They produced quality players but few franchise type level of players.
soft and unathletic Marciulionis
https://youtu.be/bEm5WE8kITk?t=1m37s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yeqe_Lh_bBU

[Straight_Ballin]

The US did not produce them. Africa did. You racist POS.

They were born in the US, played under US coaches all their life, went to US schools.... Get it right.

[Borat_Sagdyev]

All Lithuanians in NBA
http://oi57.tinypic.com/2wr40sz.jpg



Ah the myth of Sabonis continues to grow some 30 years later.

Sorry to tell you, but that NEVER happened.

In the '86 WC Robinson had 20 points, 7 rebounds, 4 blocks against Sabonis and Sabonis in the same game had 16 points, 13 rebounds and 4 blocks.

In the '88 Olympics Robinson had 19 points, 12 rebounds, 2 steals and 2 blocks vs Sabonis who had 13 points, 13 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal and one block.


Sabonis vs Robinson before injuries
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=06usV6451ik
Sabonis vs Robinson after injuries :pimp:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PWAD7jwoqG4

[LAZERUSS]

All Lithuanians in NBA
http://oi57.tinypic.com/2wr40sz.jpg


Sabonis vs Robinson before injuries
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=06usV6451ik
Sabonis vs Robinson after injuries :pimp:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PWAD7jwoqG4

A college Robinson, at around 228 lbs, outscored your boy Sabonis in '86.

He again outplayed him in '88.

And how about a near-peak Robinson in the '92 Olympics?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7aPvNA0tPWY

I quit watching after about 15 minutes...when Sabonis had shot 1-9 from the floor. It was downright pitiful.

Look, a prime Sabonis would have been a Top-15 all-time NBA center. I hesitate to put him in the Top-10, though.

In any case, a peak Robinson would have had no problems with a peak Sabonis.

As it was, a peak Robinson was routinely destroying a past-his-prime Sabonis.

[Borat_Sagdyev]

A college Robinson, at around 228 lbs, outscored your boy Sabonis in '86.

He again outplayed him in '88.

And how about a near-peak Robinson in the '92 Olympics?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7aPvNA0tPWY

I quit watching after about 15 minutes...when Sabonis had shot 1-9 from the floor. It was downright pitiful.

Look, a prime Sabonis would have been a Top-15 all-time NBA center. I hesitate to put him in the Top-10, though.

In any case, a peak Robinson would have had no problems with a peak Sabonis.

As it was, a peak Robinson was routinely destroying a past-his-prime Sabonis.
OK, You're Right :cheers:

[Lebron23]

Zydrunas Ilgauskas