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Personal information
Arvydas Sabonis was born December 19, 1964 Kaunas. Lithuanian basketball player, Olympic and world champion. Since 2011 October 24 President of the Lithuanian Basketball Federation. The height of the Sabonis is 2.20 m. -
Early years
Born in Kaunas, Lithuanian SSR, Soviet Union, Sabonis began playing basketball at age 13. By the time he was 15 years old, he was a member of the Soviet national junior team.
Sabonis was excused from mandatory service to the Soviet Army, by enrolling at the Lithuanian University of Agriculture, in his hometown -
Career
Since 1974 A. Sabonis trained with his first coach Jurijus Fiodorovas at Kaunas Basketball School, which he successfully graduated from in 1982.
He started his career as a professional player in 1981. In Kaunas "Žalgiris". -
Career
1997 elected best European basketball player. 1999 NBA.com visitors voted A. Sabonis the most influential foreigner in the NBA.
Recognized as one of the best European players of all time, he won the Euroscar six times, and the Mr. Europa Award twice. -
Žalgiris
Sabonis made his professional club debut in 1981, with one of the oldest basketball teams in Lithuania, Žalgiris, in his hometown of Kaunas. With the club, he won three consecutive Soviet Premier League titles, and the 1986 FIBA Club World Cup. -
Draft
Sabonis was originally selected by the Atlanta Hawks, with the 77th overall pick, of the 1985 NBA draft. However, the selection was voided, because Sabonis was under 21 at the time of the draft. The following spring, he suffered a devastating Achilles' tendon injury. Nevertheless, he was selected by the Portland Trail Blazers, with the 24th overall pick of the 1986 NBA draft. -
Valladolid
In 1989, Sabonis left Žalgiris, and signed with the Spanish Liga ACB club Fórum Valladolid -
Real Madrid
In 1992, after playing with Valladolid for 3 seasons, Sabonis joined the Spanish club Real Madrid, and with them, he won 2 Spanish League titles, and a FIBA European League title, in 1994–95. With Real Madrid, during the 1994–95 Spanish League season, he averaged 22.9 points, 12.5 rebounds, and 2.3 blocked shots, in 42 games played. While in the 1994–95 FIBA European League season, he averaged 21.8 points, 11.2 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 1.8 steals per game, in 17 games played. -
Portland Trail Blazers
After the 1994–95 European season, Sabonis and Portland contacted one another about a move to the NBA. Before signing Sabonis, Portland's then-general manager, Bob Whitsitt, asked the Blazers team physician to look at Sabonis' X-rays. Illustrating the impact of Sabonis' numerous injuries, Whitsitt recalled in a 2011 interview, that when the doctor reported the results, "He said that Arvydas could qualify for a handicapped parking spot, based on the X-ray alone." -
Achievements in Lithuania
Order of the Grand Duke of Lithuania Gediminas III degree, 1995
Order of the Grand Duke of Lithuania Gediminas I degree, 1996
Honorary Citizen of Kaunas City, 1997 September 11
The highest award of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) is the Olympic Order, 2001.
Elected to the FIBA Hall of Fame in 2010. [2]
Elected to the NBA Hall of Fame in 2011. -
Back to Žalgiris
Sabonis came back to Žalgiris to play his final season, in 2003–04. He led the team to the Top 16 stage of the EuroLeague that year, and was named the Regular Season MVP and the Top 16 MVP. He also became the team's President. Sabonis would officially retire from playing professional basketball, in 2005. -
Family
Arvydas Sabonis' parents are Milda and Andrius Sabonis. Brother Andrius, sister Ilona.
Sabonis is married to Ingrida Mikelionytė, the first Miss Lithuania, a fashion model, and a movie actress. They have a daughter named Aušrinė, and three sons: Žygimantas, Tautvydas, and Domantas. -
Career
2004 May 15 played his last match as a professional player: in the LKL superfinal match against Vilnius "Lietuvos rytas" A. Sabonis scored 14 points, rebounded 13 balls and helped his team to win the LKL final series. He has not been active in sports for a long time. Declared the end of his career as a professional basketball player in December.
2011 October 24 A. Sabonis was elected President of LKF. It has replaced since 1991. Vladas Garastas, who headed the LKF. -
A book about Arvydas Sabonis
In 2015, a book was published: “Arvydas Sabonis. 11 chapters from the largest Lithuanian life ''. This book is another sign of respect for the legendary basketball player. -
In summary
Arvydas Sabonis - Lithuanian basketball player, businessman. 1988 together with the Soviet national team became an Olympic champion, in 1992. and 1996 together with the Lithuanian basketball team won an Olympic bronze. 1995 became the silver winner of the European Men's Basketball Championship. Played for the NBA (1995-2001 and 2001-2003) on the Portland Trail Blazers. He finished his career as a professional basketball player in 2005. 2010 included in the FIBA Hall of Fame.
