crandc

Zidane,
Arvydas Sabonis, known as Sabas, was a Lithuanian center. He played for the Soviet national team starting at, I belive, age 15, winning gold in the 1988 Olympics. Later, after the break-up of the Soviet Union, he played for the Lithuanian national team and won 2 Olympic bronze medals in 1992 and 1996.
He was drafted by Portland in the first round in, I believe, 1988 - maybe someone can correct me if I have the wrong year? At that time Sabas was considered the best center in the world. In 1990 and 1992 the Blazers went to the NBA Finals and in 1991 to the Western Conference Finals. Many believe that had Sabas been on the team at that time the Blazers would have won titles all 3 years. Put the world's best center on a team with Clyde, Terry, Buck...
Unfortunately, restrictions on Soviet players going overseas prevented him from joining the team until the mid-90s. By that time he had ruptured both Achilles tendons and his skills had declined. Still, he was one of the top 5 centers in the NBA. Although compared to Mount Hood - big, white and immobile - he had massive size, 7'3", he could pass like a point guard including behind the back passes reminiscent of Magic Johnson, and could shoot from anywhere, including a very high percentage from beyond the 3-point line, and was an excellent foul shooter. I saw Sabas at a game at Golden State where he did not miss a single shot, from the floor or the free throw line.
Conventional wisdom is that were he not injured he would be considered the greatest center to ever play in the NBA, better than Shaquille O'Neal, Hakeem Olajuwon, David Robinson, etc. Because he not only had the big man moves, rebounds and blocks, he also had a guard's passing ability and shooting touch. I mean, how many 3-pointers have you seen Shaq hit?
In the 2003 playoffs, Portland was seeded #6, playing #3 seed Dallas in the first round. The Blazers lost the first 3 games and everyone thought they were through. But they came back to tie the series and force a Game 7. They lost a close Game 7 that they probably would have won had the team not had so many injuries (Derek Anderson and Dale Davis were out, Scottie Pippen and Sabonis had about half a leg between them, Ruben Patterson was playing on a bad ankle). In Game 6 in Portland, the Blazers blew the Mavs out of the building. Late in the game, Sabas dunked the ball and the crowd went crazy because no one had ever seen him actually get off the ground before. This is in the video.
That was Sabas' last game in Portland. He retired and returned home to Lithuania, where he is a national hero, after that season. There is some controversy with some believing he was forced out but I don't want to reopen that can of worms.
Hope this helps.