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{{Short description|Lithuanian basketball player and executive (born 1964)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox basketball biography
| name = Arvydas Sabonis
| image = Arvydas Sabonis.jpg
| image_size = Lithuania
| caption = Sabonis with the [[Portland Trail Blazers]] in 1996 
| height_ft = 7
| height_in = 3
| weight_lb = 292
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1964|12|19|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Kaunas]], [[Lithuania]] <!-- Do not change to Soviet Union. The subject of Lithuania's incorporation into the USSR is controversial, and there is currently no consensus on Wikipedia whether to include people from the Baltic states as Soviet-born or not. According to the official NBA website he is from Lithuania, not Lithuanian SSR or Soviet Union: https://www.nba.com/stats/player/717/career -->
| draft_year = 1986
| draft_round = 1
| draft_pick = 24
| draft_team = [[Portland Trail Blazers]]
| career_start = 1981
| career_end = 2004
| career_position = [[Center (basketball)|Center]]
| career_number = 11
| years1 = 1981–1989
| team1 = [[BC Žalgiris|Žalgiris]]
| years2 = 1989–1992
| team2 = [[CB Valladolid|Fórum Valladolid]]
| years3 = 1992–1995
| team3 = [[Real Madrid Baloncesto|Real Madrid]]
| years4 = {{nbay|1995|start}}–{{nbay|2000|end}}
| team4 = [[Portland Trail Blazers]]
| years5 = 2001–2002
| team5 = Žalgiris
| years6 = {{nbay|2002|full=y}}
| team6 = Portland Trail Blazers
| years7 = 2003–2004
| team7 = Žalgiris
| highlights = 
* [[FIBA Intercontinental Cup|FIBA Club World Cup]] champion ([[1986 Club World Cup (basketball)|1986]])
* [[FIBA European League]] champion ([[1994–95 FIBA European League|1995]])
* 3× [[USSR Premier Basketball League|USSR League]] champion (1985–1987)
* 2× [[Liga ACB|ACB League]] champion ([[1992–93 ACB season|1993]], [[1993–94 ACB season|1994]])
* [[Lithuanian Basketball League|LKL]] champion (2004)
* [[Spanish Basketball King's Cup|Spanish Cup]] winner (1993)
* [[FIBA's 50 Greatest Players (1991)]]
* [[50 Greatest EuroLeague Contributors]] (2008)
* 6× [[Euroscar Player of the Year]] (1984, 1985, 1988, 1995, 1997, 1999)
* 2× [[Mr. Europa|Mr. Europa Player of the Year]] (1985, 1997)
* 4× [[Lithuanian Sportsman of the Year]] (1984–1986, 1996)
* [[EuroBasket MVP]] ([[EuroBasket 1985|1985]])
* 2× [[FIBA European League Player of the Year]] (1993, 1995)
* [[EuroLeague Final Four MVP|FIBA European League Final Four MVP]] (1995)
* [[EuroLeague Group Stage MVP]] (2004)
* [[EuroLeague Top 16 Stage MVP]] (2004)
* [[All-EuroLeague]] First Team (2004)
* 2× [[ACB Finals Most Valuable Player Award|Spanish League Finals MVP]] (1993, 1994)
* 2× [[ACB Most Valuable Player Award|Spanish League MVP]] (1994, [[1994–95 ACB season|1995]])
* 2× [[Liga ACB Stars Match|Spanish All-Star Game]] MVP (1991, 1992)
* [[LKL All-Star Game|LKL All-Star]] (2004)
* 2× [[EuroLeague Finals Top Scorer]] (1986, 1995)
* [[NBA All-Rookie First Team]] ({{nbay|1995|end}})
* No. 11 [[BC Žalgiris#Retired numbers|retired by Žalgiris Kaunas]]
* [[FIBA European League]] Rebounding Leader (1993)
* [[EuroLeague]] Rebounding Leader (2004)
* [[EuroLeague]] Blocks Leader (2004)
* [[EuroLeague]] PIR Leader (2004)
| stats_league = NBA
| stat1label = [[Point (basketball)|Points]]
| stat1value = 5,629 (12.0 ppg)
| stat2label = [[Rebound (basketball)|Rebounds]]
| stat2value = 3,436 (7.3 rpg)
| stat3label = [[Assist (basketball)|Assists]]
| stat3value = 964 (2.1 apg)
| HOF_player = arvydas-sabonis
| FIBA_HOF_player = Arvydas-Sabonis
| medal_templates = {{MedalSport | Men's [[basketball]]}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Basketball at the Summer Olympics|Olympic Games]]}}
{{MedalCountry|{{bk|URS}}}}
{{MedalGold|[[1988 Summer Olympics|1988 Seoul]]|[[Basketball at the 1988 Summer Olympics – Men's tournament|Team]]}}
{{MedalCountry|{{bk|LTU}}}}
{{MedalBronze|[[1992 Summer Olympics|1992 Barcelona]]|[[Basketball at the 1992 Summer Olympics – Men's tournament|Team]]}}
{{MedalBronze|[[1996 Summer Olympics|1996 Atlanta]]|[[Basketball at the 1996 Summer Olympics – Men's tournament|Team]]}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[FIBA World Championship|World Cup]]}}
{{MedalCountry|{{bk|URS}}}}
{{MedalGold| [[1982 FIBA World Championship|Colombia 1982]] | }}
{{MedalSilver| [[1986 FIBA World Championship|Spain 1986]] | }}
{{MedalCompetition|[[EuroBasket]]}}
{{MedalCountry|{{bk|URS}}}}
{{MedalBronze| [[EuroBasket 1983|1983 France]] | }}
{{MedalGold| [[EuroBasket 1985|1985 West Germany]] | }}
{{MedalBronze| [[EuroBasket 1989|1989 Yugoslavia]] | }}
{{MedalCountry|{{bk|LTU}}}}
{{MedalSilver| [[EuroBasket 1995|1995 Greece]] | }}
{{MedalCompetition|[[FIBA Europe Under-16 Championship|European Championship for Cadets]]}}
{{MedalCountry|{{bk|URS}}}}
{{MedalGold|[[1981 FIBA Europe Under-16 Championship|1981 Greece]]|[[Soviet Union national under-17 basketball team|Under-18]]}}
}}

'''Arvydas Romas Sabonis''' ({{IPA|lt|ˈaːrviːdaːs ˈsaːboːnʲɪs}}; born 19 December 1964) is a Lithuanian former professional [[basketball]] player and businessman.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Old College Try: The complicated recruiting sagas of Arvydas Sabonis and his son Domantas |url=http://www.si.com/longform/sabonis/index.html |access-date=3 November 2023 |website=Sports Illustrated Longform |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Staff |first=The Ringer |date=11 October 2017 |title=Our Favorite Passers in NBA History |url=https://www.theringer.com/nba/2017/10/11/16456620/favorite-passers-nba-history |access-date=3 November 2023 |website=The Ringer |language=en}}</ref> Sabonis won the [[Euroscar]] six times and the [[Mr. Europa Award]] twice. He played in a variety of leagues, including the [[Liga ACB|Spanish ACB League]], and spent seven seasons in the [[National Basketball Association]] (NBA). Playing the [[center (basketball)|center]] position, Sabonis won a gold medal at the [[Basketball at the 1988 Summer Olympics – Men's tournament|1988 Summer Olympics]], in [[South Korea]], for the [[Soviet Union national basketball team|Soviet Union]], and later earned bronze medals at the [[Basketball at the 1992 Summer Olympics – Men's tournament|1992 Olympic Games]] and [[Basketball at the 1996 Summer Olympics – Men's tournament|1996 Olympic Games]] representing [[Lithuania men's national basketball team|Lithuania]]. He retired from professional basketball in 2005. Sabonis was selected by the [[Portland Trail Blazers]] in the first round of the [[1986 NBA draft]], but he did not play his first NBA game until 1995, at the age of 30. 
 
On 20 August 2010, Sabonis was inducted into the [[FIBA Hall of Fame]] in recognition of his great play in international competition.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.halloffame.fiba.com/pages/eng/hof/news/p/newsid/42798/arti.html |title=FIBA announces 2010 Hall of Fame Class |publisher=[[FIBA]] |date=20 August 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101019073536/http://www.halloffame.fiba.com/pages/eng/hof/news/p/newsid/42798/arti.html |archive-date=19 October 2010 }}</ref> On 4 April 2011, Sabonis was named to the [[Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame]],<ref name=hall>{{cite web |url=http://www.nba.com/2011/news/04/04/naismith-hall-of-fame/index.html?ls=iref:nbahpt2 |title=Rodman, Mullin, Winter named to Naismith Hall of Fame |publisher=[[National Basketball Association|NBA]] |date=4 April 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110407105209/http://www.nba.com/2011/news/04/04/naismith-hall-of-fame/index.html?ls=iref%3Anbahpt2 |archive-date=7 April 2011 }}</ref> and he was inducted on 12 August 2011. On 24 October 2011, Sabonis was voted as the next President of the [[Lithuanian Basketball Federation]], replacing [[Vladas Garastas]], who had led the LBF since 1991. He resigned from the position on 2 October 2013, but he came back to it on 10 October 2013.

His son, [[Domantas Sabonis]], plays for the NBA's [[Sacramento Kings]] {{as of|2025|lc=y}}.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pacers trade Domantas Sabonis to Kings in 6-player deal |url=https://www.nba.com/news/pacers-agree-to-trade-domantas-sabonis-to-kings |access-date=28 December 2022 |website=NBA.com |language=en}}</ref>

==Early life and career==
Born in [[Kaunas]], in the [[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.<ref name="NBAbio">{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/playerfile/arvydas_sabonis/bio.html|title=Arvydas Sabonis Bio|work=NBA.com|access-date=27 February 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090617063005/http://www.nba.com/playerfile/arvydas_sabonis/bio.html|archive-date=17 June 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Sabonis was excused from mandatory service to the [[Soviet Army]], by enrolling at the [[Vytautas Magnus University Agriculture Academy|Lithuanian University of Agriculture]], in his hometown.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://library.la84.org/SportsLibrary/JSH/JSH1990/JSH1701/jsh1701e.pdf|title=Perestroika and Lithuanian Basketball|website=la84.org}}</ref>

==Professional career==
===Žalgiris===
Sabonis made his professional [[sports club|club]] debut in 1981, with one of the oldest basketball teams in Lithuania, [[BC Žalgiris|Žalgiris]], in his hometown of [[Kaunas]]. With the club, he won three consecutive [[USSR Premier Basketball League|Soviet Premier League]] titles, and the [[1986 FIBA Club World Cup]] (FIBA Intercontinental Cup).

===Valladolid===
In 1989, Sabonis left Žalgiris, and signed with the Spanish [[Liga ACB]] club [[CB Valladolid|Fórum Valladolid]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Blazers Lose Sabonis to Spain Again |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-06-05-sp-835-story.html |website=Los Angeles Times |access-date=4 May 2021 |date=4 June 1990}}</ref> During the 1991–92 season, Sabonis helped the team to reach the semifinals at the [[1991–92 FIBA Korać Cup|Korać Cup]].

===Real Madrid===
In 1992, after playing with Fórum Valladolid for three seasons, Sabonis joined the Spanish club [[Real Madrid Baloncesto|Real Madrid]], and with them, he won two [[Liga ACB|Spanish League]] titles, and a [[EuroLeague|FIBA European League]] (EuroLeague) title, in [[1995 EuroLeague Final Four|1994–95]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Prisiminimai apie A. Sabonio fenomeną ispaną privertė atsiprašyti P. Gasolio|url=http://www.delfi.lt/krepsinis/herojai/prisiminimai-apie-a-sabonio-fenomena-ispana-priverte-atsiprasyti-p-gasolio.d?id=74504396|website=Krepsinis.lt|access-date=28 April 2017}}</ref> With Real Madrid, during the [[1994–95 ACB season|1994–95 Spanish League season]], he averaged 22.9 points, 12.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.6 steals, and 2.3 blocked shots, in 42 games played.<ref>[http://www.acb.com/jugador/temporada-a-temporada/id/20200678/tipo_id/1/competicion_id/1/fase_id/0#cuerpo ARVYDAS SABONISDorsal:Posición: PívotAltura: 2,22 m {{in lang|es}}.]</ref> While in the [[1994–95 FIBA European League|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.<ref>[http://www.fibaeurope.com/cid_KNce8jInH7Qj1EsyH5rjn2.compID_,Uz02qBnJiADOq5VntEf53.roundID_2566.season_1995.teamID_1020.playerID_7324.html ARVYDAS SABONIS REAL MADRID TEKA AVERAGE.]</ref> While a member of Real, Sabonis was twice voted the [[FIBA European League Player of the Year]], in 1993 and 1995, and he was also voted the [[EuroLeague Final Four MVP|FIBA European League Final Four MVP]], in 1995.

===Portland Trail Blazers===
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]].<ref name="NBAbio"/> As of 2025, Sabonis would be the last player to be selected in multiple [[NBA draft]]s, since the process of players entering multiple draft years would be abolished after the 1980s.<ref>{{cite book|last=Bradley|first=Robert D.|title=The Basketball Draft Fact Book: A History of Professional Basketball's College Drafts|year=2013|publisher=Scarecrow Press|isbn=9780810890695}}, pg. 454</ref> Sabonis was not allowed to play in the US by the Soviet authorities, despite [[LSU Tigers basketball|LSU Tigers]] head coach [[Dale Brown (basketball)|Dale Brown]]'s plans to have Sabonis studying and playing at [[Louisiana State University]], thus keeping him in an [[amateur sports|amateur]] status. However, he did go to [[Portland, Oregon|Portland]], to rehabilitate his injury with the Blazers medical staff, in 1988, while also practicing with the team.<ref name=si>{{cite web|url=https://www.si.com/longform/sabonis/|title=The Old College Try: The complicated recruiting sagas of Arvydas Sabonis and his son Domantas|website=Sports Illustrated Longform}}</ref>

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 [[Disabled parking permit|handicapped parking spot]], based on the X-ray alone."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/6867508/arvydas-sabonis-long-strange-trip |title=Arvydas Sabonis' Long, Strange Trip |first=Jonathan |last=Abrams |work=[[Grantland|Grantland,com]] |date=16 August 2011 |access-date=28 November 2011}}</ref> Nevertheless, the Blazers signed Sabonis. He had a successful rookie campaign, averaging 14.5 points, on 55% shooting, and 8.1 rebounds per game while playing less than 24 minutes per game.<ref name="NBAbio"/> Sabonis was selected to the [[NBA All-Rookie Team|All-Rookie First Team]] and was runner-up in both [[NBA Rookie of the Year Award|Rookie of the Year]] and [[NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award|Sixth Man of the Year]] voting.<ref name="NBAbio"/> His postseason averages went up to 23.6 points and 10.2 rebounds per game.<ref name="NBAbio"/> In the first playoff series of his NBA career, Portland lost to Utah in five games. Sabonis averaged 16.0 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game in 1997–98, all career-highs.

During Sabonis's first stint in Portland, the Blazers always made the playoffs (part of a 21-year streak); between 1998 and 1999, the Oregon franchise changed large parts of its roster in order to compete for the NBA Championship (after six consecutive first round losses) with center Sabonis the only player remaining in the starting five. [[Kenny Anderson (basketball)|Kenny Anderson]] and [[Isaiah Rider]] were traded for [[Damon Stoudamire]] and [[Steve Smith (basketball)|Steve Smith]]. In both those years, the Blazers reached the Western Conference Finals. In 1999, they were swept by the eventual champions, the [[San Antonio Spurs]], while, the next year, the team (starting Sabonis, Smith, Stoudamire, [[Rasheed Wallace]], and recently added [[Scottie Pippen]]) lost to the [[Los Angeles Lakers]] (at the beginning of the team's three-peat), in seven games.

The question that frequently surrounds Sabonis's NBA career revolves around how good he could have been had he played in the NBA during his prime.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/news/story?page=Euro-Sabonis|first=Ian|last=Whittell|date=2 May 2008|access-date=27 February 2010|title=Best of the Euroleague and NBA: Arvydas Sabonis|work=ESPN.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Blazers Top 40: No. 20 Arvydas Sabonis|first=Jason|last=Quick|publisher=OregonLive.com|date=27 February 2010|access-date=27 February 2010|url=http://blog.oregonlive.com/behindblazersbeat/2010/02/blazers_top_40_no_20_arvydas_s.html}}</ref> Sabonis was already 30 when he joined the Blazers, by which time he had already won multiple gold medals, suffered through numerous injuries, and had lost much of his mobility and athleticism. In [[Bill Simmons]]'s "Book of Basketball", Sabonis the international player is idealized, while Sabonis the Blazer is described as "lumbering up and down the court in what looked to be concrete Nikes" and ranking "just behind [[Artis Gilmore]] on the Moving Like a Mummy Scale."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.blazersedge.com/2009/11/17/1157838/the-bill-simmons-typo-that|title=The Bill Simmons Typo That Insulted an Entire City|website=blazersedge.com|date=17 November 2009}}</ref> In [[ESPN]]'s David Thorpe's view, Sabonis would be the best passing big man in NBA history, and possibly a top-four center overall, had he played his entire career there.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://espn.go.com/sportsnation/chat/_/id/25422/25422|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100220192720/http://espn.go.com/sportsnation/chat/_/id/25422/25422|url-status=dead|archive-date=20 February 2010|title=Chat with David Thorpe|website=go.com}}</ref> In [[Clyde Drexler]]'s view, if Sabonis had been able to spend his prime in Portland, next to the plethora of other Trail Blazers' All-Stars (Drexler, [[Terry Porter]], [[Buck Williams]], [[Steve Johnson (basketball)|Steve Johnson]], [[Kevin Duckworth]], and [[Clifford Robinson (basketball, born 1966)|Clifford Robinson]]),<ref>[https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/POR/all_star.html Portland Trail Blazers All-Star Game Selections]</ref> the Trail Blazers would "have had four, five or six titles. Guaranteed. He was that good. He could pass, shoot three pointers, had a great post game, and dominated the paint."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://espn.go.com/sportsnation/chat/_/id/24592|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100412052815/http://espn.go.com/sportsnation/chat/_/id/24592|url-status=dead|archive-date=12 April 2010|title=Chat with Clyde Drexler|website=go.com}}</ref> Despite his height and weight, he was "a magician in the post who played the game with a style I've never seen from a big man. He was a point guard in a center's body. And, just to be fair to Arvydas, he was better than most point guards are at distributing the ball." His age and injuries made him appear as a "big guy who looked like he couldn't make it up the court, but the same guy who made the defense look foolish with a pass that whizzed by their ear. It just goes to show you how smarts and court savvy will always age better than a guy with no brains and all athletic ability".<ref name="Lyslo">{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/blazers/special_features/Portland_will_miss_Arvydas_Sab-84264-41.html|title=Portland Will Miss Arvydas Sabonis|first=Erik|last=Lyslo|website=[[NBA.com]]|access-date=27 February 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100629104800/http://www.nba.com/blazers/special_features/Portland_will_miss_Arvydas_Sab-84264-41.html|archive-date=29 June 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref>

On 6 April 2001, Sabonis scored a season-high 32 points while making 11 of 12 field goal attempts during a 122–91 win over the [[Golden State Warriors]].<ref>[https://www.espn.com/nba/2001/20010406/recap/porgsw.html Kemp distraction aside, Blazers storm Warriors]</ref> After the [[2000–2001 NBA season]], Sabonis refused to sign an extension with the Trail Blazers and retired from the NBA. In his own words, he "was tired mentally and physically." Instead, he returned to Europe, where he signed a one-year deal, at a nominal salary, with [[BC Žalgiris|Žalgiris Kaunas]], expecting to join the team for the most important games of the season down the stretch. However, he ended up missing that season in its entirety, resting and recovering from injuries. Sabonis rejoined the Trail Blazers for one final season, in 2002–2003.<ref>{{cite journal|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-23218439.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105194559/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-23218439.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=5 November 2012|title=BOREDOM BRINGS SABONIS BACK TO BLAZERS|date=1 October 2002|website=highbeam.com}}</ref>

He won the [[Euroscar]] twice while playing with the Blazers. He also became a fan favorite,<ref name="Lyslo"/> and had a warm welcome back when he visited Portland in 2011, en route to being enshrined into the [[Naismith Hall of Fame]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/blazers/sabonis/_summer_day_with_sabonis_2011_08_18.html|title=A Summer Day With Sabonis|website=nba.com|access-date=30 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161009093638/http://www.nba.com/blazers/sabonis/_summer_day_with_sabonis_2011_08_18.html|archive-date=9 October 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Back to Žalgiris===
Sabonis went back to [[BC Žalgiris|Žalgiris]] to play his final season, in 2003–04. He led the team to the Top 16 stage of the [[2003–04 Euroleague|EuroLeague that year]], and was named both the [[EuroLeague Player Of the Year, Group Stage MVP, and Top 16 Stage MVP#EuroLeague Group Stage MVP award winners (2001–2004)|Group Stage MVP]] and the [[EuroLeague Player Of the Year, Group Stage MVP, and Top 16 Stage MVP#EuroLeague Top 16 Stage MVP award winners (2002–2004)|Top 16 Stage MVP]]. He also became the team's president.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.euroleague.net/history/50-years/the-archive/i/26224/1609/item|title=50 Greatest contributors list: Arvydas Sabonis|access-date=27 February 2010|publisher=euroleague.net|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100127141633/http://www.euroleague.net/history/50-years/the-archive/i/26224/1609/item|archive-date=27 January 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref> Sabonis would officially retire from playing professional basketball, in 2005.

==National team career==
===Soviet national team===
[[Image:Basketball at the 1988 Summer Olympics - URS vs. USA.JPEG|thumb|right|200px|Sabonis, a member of the [[Soviet Union national basketball team|Soviet Union national team]], taking on [[David Robinson (basketball)|David Robinson]] and [[Danny Manning]], during the semifinal clash with [[United States men's national basketball team|Team USA]], at the [[Basketball at the 1988 Summer Olympics – Men's tournament|1988 Olympics]]. The Soviets scored an 82–76 win, with Sabonis contributing 13 points and 13 rebounds.]]
In 1982, Sabonis was one of the players in the senior [[Soviet Union national basketball team|Soviet Union national team]] that toured the United States, playing against various [[college basketball]] teams.<ref name=si/>

Despite being recommended to rest, instead of playing in the [[Basketball at the 1988 Summer Olympics – Men's tournament|1988 Summer Olympics]], the Soviets allowed Sabonis to remain a part of their national team.<ref name=si/> Sabonis led the [[Soviet Union national basketball team|Soviet Union]] to a gold medal, with a win against the [[1988 United States men's Olympic basketball team|1988 edition]] of the [[United States national basketball team|United States national team]], that featured future NBA All-Stars [[David Robinson (basketball)|David Robinson]], [[Mitch Richmond]], and [[Danny Manning]]<ref name="NBAbio"/> in the semifinals. This was the last American Olympic team that was not composed of active [[NBA]] players. The team later beat [[Yugoslavia national basketball team|Yugoslavia]] in the finals.<ref name="NBAbio"/>

In his career with the senior Soviet national team, Sabonis also played at the following major tournaments: the [[1982 FIBA World Championship]] (gold medal), the [[1983 EuroBasket]] (bronze medal), the [[1985 EuroBasket]] (gold medal), the [[1986 FIBA World Championship]] (silver medal), and the [[1989 EuroBasket]] (bronze medal).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://archive.fiba.com/pages/eng/fa/p/rpp//q/arvydas%20sabonis/pid//_//players.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120710051320/http://archive.fiba.com/pages/eng/fa/p/rpp/q/Arvydas%20Sabonis/pid/_/players.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=10 July 2012|title=Arvydas-Romas SABONIS.|website=fiba.com}}</ref> He was named to the [[EuroBasket All-Tournament Team]] in 1983 and 1985, and he was named the [[EuroBasket MVP]] in 1985.

The 1985–1988 stretch of a heavy playing schedule, and lack of rest, took a significant toll on Sabonis's future health and durability. Various leg injuries were not given much time to heal, due to the [[Cold War]] climate that surrounded international competition, as well as the intense rivalry of the [[BC Žalgiris|Žalgiris Kaunas]] versus [[PBC CSKA Moscow|CSKA Moscow]] games in the [[USSR Premier Basketball League|USSR Premier League]]. In a 2011 interview, Sabonis expressed an opinion, that overuse by the coaches of the Soviet national program, was a major contributing factor to his first Achilles' tendon injury, back in 1986.<ref name=Winn>[https://web.archive.org/web/20121104182811/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1189174/1/index.htm Lithuania Calling] Also {{cite magazine |last=Winn |first=Luke |date=15 August 2011 |title=Lithuania Calling |magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]] |volume=115 |issue=6 |pages=52–56}}</ref> Another key moment for his future health, took place in 1988, when Sabonis had a surgical Achilles procedure performed in Portland, but was rushed back on the floor with the USSR Olympic team, before a full recovery. The decision to include a limping Sabonis, on the USSR roster for the 1988 Olympic Games, was protested at the time by the Portland medical staff, and was later heavily criticized.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/08/30/sports/sabonis-is-named-to-soviet-team.html?pagewanted=2|title=Sabonis Is Named To Soviet Team|first=Esther B. Fein and Special To the New York|last=Times|newspaper=The New York Times|date=30 August 1988}}</ref> While the Soviets cleared him to play [[professional sports|professionally]] in 1989, when his Soviet national teammate, [[Šarūnas Marčiulionis]], went to North America, Sabonis postponed his travel, over feeling that he was not physically ready for the NBA.<ref name=si/> Eventually, Sabonis would develop chronic knee, ankle and groin issues, that substantially limited his mobility and explosiveness, by the mid-1990s.

===Lithuanian national team===
After breakup of the [[Soviet Union]], and the independence of [[Lithuania]], Sabonis then became a member of the senior [[Lithuania men's national basketball team|Lithuanian national team]]. He represented Lithuania at the following major tournaments: the [[Basketball at the 1992 Summer Olympics – Men's tournament|1992 Summer Olympic Games]] (bronze medal), the [[1995 EuroBasket]] (silver medal), the [[Basketball at the 1996 Summer Olympics – Men's tournament|1996 Summer Olympic Games]] (bronze medal), and the [[1999 EuroBasket]]. He was named to the [[EuroBasket All-Tournament Team]] in 1995.

Sabonis was also awarded a silver medal at the [[EuroBasket 2013|2013 EuroBasket]] tournament, due to being the [[Lithuanian Basketball Federation]] (LKF) President.<ref>[http://www.15min.lt/images/photos/616246/big/eurobasket-2013-cempionato-apdovanojimu-ceremonija-523f737940486.jpg Arvydas Sabonis (second from left) with Silver medal] ''(photo)''</ref>

==Career statistics==
{{NBA player statistics legend|leader=y}}

===NBA===

====Regular season====
<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/s/sabonar01.html|title=Arvydas Sabonis Stats - Basketball-Reference.com|website=Basketball-Reference.com}}</ref>
{{NBA player statistics start}}
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|1995}}
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1995–96 Portland Trail Blazers season|Portland]]
| 73 || 21 || 23.8 || '''.545''' || .375 || .757 || 8.1 || 1.8 || '''.9''' || 1.1 || 14.5
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|1996}}
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1996–97 Portland Trail Blazers season|Portland]]
| 69 || 68 || 25.5 || .498 || .371 || .777 || 7.9 || 2.1 || '''.9''' || 1.2 || 13.4
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|1997}}
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1997–98 Portland Trail Blazers season|Portland]]
| 73 || '''73''' || '''32.0''' || .493 || .261 || .798 || '''10.0''' || '''3.0''' || '''.9''' || 1.1 || '''16.0'''
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|1998}}
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1998–99 Portland Trail Blazers season|Portland]]
| style="background:#cfecec;"| 50* || 48 || 27.0 || .485 || .292 || .771 || 7.9 || 2.4 || .7 || '''1.3''' || 12.1
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|1999|trunc=y}}
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1999–2000 Portland Trail Blazers season|Portland]]
| 66 || 61 || 25.6 || .505 || .368 || '''.843''' || 7.8 || 1.8 || .7 || 1.2 || 11.8
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|2000}}
| style="text-align:left;"|[[2000–01 Portland Trail Blazers season|Portland]]
| 61 || 42 || 21.3 || .479 || .067 || .776 || 5.4 || 1.5 || .7 || 1.0 || 10.1
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|2002}}
| style="text-align:left;"|[[2002–03 Portland Trail Blazers season|Portland]]
| '''78''' || 1 || 15.5 || .476 || '''.500''' || .787 || 4.3 || 1.8 || .8 || .6 || 6.1
|- class="sortbottom"
| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"|Career
| 470 || 314 || 24.2 || .500 || .328 || .786 || 7.3 || 2.1 || .8 || 1.1 || 12.0
{{s-end}}

====Playoffs====
{{NBA player statistics start}}
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1996 NBA playoffs|1996]]
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1995–96 Portland Trail Blazers season|Portland]]
| 5 || 5 || '''35.4''' || .432 || '''.556''' || .717 || '''10.2''' || 1.8 || .8 || .6 || '''23.6'''
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1997 NBA playoffs|1997]]
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1996–97 Portland Trail Blazers season|Portland]]
| 4 || 4 || 27.0 || .429 || .250 || .875 || 6.5 || 2.3 || .8 || .8 || 11.3
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1998 NBA playoffs|1998]]
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1997–98 Portland Trail Blazers season|Portland]]
| 4 || 4 || 26.8 || .450 || .500 || .857 || 7.8 || 1.5 || '''1.8''' || .8 || 12.3
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1999 NBA playoffs|1999]]
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1998–99 Portland Trail Blazers season|Portland]]
| 13 || 13 || 30.2 || .398 || .200 || '''.907''' || 8.8 || 2.2 || 1.2 || 1.2 || 10.0
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[2000 NBA playoffs|2000]]
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1999–2000 Portland Trail Blazers season|Portland]]
| '''16''' || '''16''' || 30.8 || .453 || .286 || .796 || 6.7 || 1.9 || .9 || .8 || 11.3
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[2001 NBA playoffs|2001]]
| style="text-align:left;"|[[2000–01 Portland Trail Blazers season|Portland]]
| 3 || 3 || 34.7 || .483 || .000 || .750 || 8.3 || '''2.7''' || .3 || '''2.3''' || 11.3
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[2003 NBA playoffs|2003]]
| style="text-align:left;"|[[2002–03 Portland Trail Blazers season|Portland]]
| 6 || 1 || 14.3 || '''.667''' || {{sort|-|—}} || .800 || 4.0 || .8 || .7 || .7 || 10.0
|- class="sortbottom"
| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"|Career
| 51 || 46 || 28.8 || .452 || .319 || .802 || 7.4 || 1.9 || .9 || .9 || 12.1
{{s-end}}

===EuroLeague===
{{Euroleague player statistics legend|champion=y|leader=y}}

{{Euroleague player statistics start}}
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1985–86 FIBA EuroLeague|1985–86]]
| style="text-align:left;"|[[BC Žalgiris Kaunas|Žalgiris]]
| 13 || {{sort|-|—}} || {{sort|-|—}} || {{sort|-|—}} || {{sort|-|—}} || {{sort|-|—}} || {{sort|-|—}} || {{sort|-|—}} || {{sort|-|—}} || {{sort|-|—}} || '''24.5''' || {{sort|-|—}}
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1986–87 FIBA EuroLeague|1986–87]]
| style="text-align:left;"|[[BC Žalgiris Kaunas|Žalgiris]]
| 6 || {{sort|-|—}} || {{sort|-|—}} || {{sort|-|—}} || {{sort|-|—}} || {{sort|-|—}} || {{sort|-|—}} || {{sort|-|—}} || {{sort|-|—}} || {{sort|-|—}} || 21.3 || {{sort|-|—}}
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1992–93 FIBA EuroLeague|1992–93]]<ref>[http://www.fibaeurope.com/compID_,Uz02qBnJiADOq5VntEf53.roundID_2564.season_1993.teamID_1020.playerID_7324.html ARVYDAS SABONIS REAL MADRID PPG 16.5 RPG 12.0 APG 1.9]</ref>
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Real Madrid Baloncesto|Real Madrid]]
| '''20''' || {{sort|-|—}} || 30.9 || .543 || .500 || .663 || style="background:#cfecec;"|'''12.0'''* || 1.9 || 1.2 || {{sort|-|—}} || 16.5 || {{sort|-|—}}
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1993–94 FIBA EuroLeague|1993–94]]<ref>[http://www.fibaeurope.com/compID_,Uz02qBnJiADOq5VntEf53.season_1994.roundID_2565.playerID_7324.teamID_1020.html ARVYDAS SABONIS REAL MADRID PPG 17.4 RPG 11.9 APG 2.9]</ref>
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Real Madrid Baloncesto|Real Madrid]]
| 15 || {{sort|-|—}} || '''34.3''' || '''.577''' || .350 || .723 || 11.9 || '''2.9''' || 1.0 || {{sort|-|—}} || 17.4 || {{sort|-|—}}
|-
| style="text-align:left; background:#afe6ba;"|[[1994–95 FIBA EuroLeague|1994–95]]†<ref>[http://www.fibaeurope.com/compID_,Uz02qBnJiADOq5VntEf53.season_1995.roundID_2566.playerID_7324.teamID_1020.html ARVYDAS SABONIS REAL MADRID PPG 21.8 RPG 11.2 APG 2.6]</ref>
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Real Madrid Baloncesto|Real Madrid]]
| 17 || {{sort|-|—}} || 33.8 || .572 || '''.545''' || '''.783''' || 11.2 || 2.6 || '''1.8''' || {{sort|-|—}} || 21.8 || {{sort|-|—}}
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[2003–04 Euroleague|2003–04]]
| style="text-align:left;"|[[BC Žalgiris|Žalgiris]]
| 18 || 14 || 28.3 || .560 || .366 || .696 || style="background:#cfecec;"|10.7* || 2.4 || 1.0 || style="background:#cfecec;"|'''1.6'''* || 16.7 || style="background:#cfecec;"|'''26.3'''*
|- class="sortbottom"
| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"|Career
| 89 || {{sort|-|—}} || 31.6 || .562 || .439 || .716 || 11.4 || 2.4 || 1.3 || 1.6 || 19.2 || {{sort|-|—}}
{{s-end}}

==Personal life==
Sabonis is married to Ingrida Mikelionytė, the first [[Miss Lithuania]], a fashion model, and a movie actress.<ref name="NBAbio"/> They have a daughter named Aušrinė, and three sons: Žygimantas, Tautvydas, and [[Domantas Sabonis|Domantas]] – the last two being born in the cities their father was playing, [[Valladolid]] and Portland. Once Sabonis left the NBA, the family moved to the Spanish coastal city of [[Málaga]].<ref name=si/> Domantas was drafted 11th overall in the [[2016 NBA draft]] and is currently a three-time [[NBA All-Star]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/eye-on-college-basketball/25545148/gonzagas-domantas-sabonis-son-of-hall-of-famer-is-ready-for-nba-draft |title=Gonzaga's Domantas Sabonis, son of Hall of Famer, is ready for NBA Draft |first=Sam |last=Vecenie |work=[[CBSSports.com]] |date=8 April 2016 |access-date=14 April 2016}}</ref> and currently plays for the [[Sacramento Kings]]. Žygimantas,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://kiaenzona.com/mas-basket/el-otro-sabonis-mira-donde-juega-el-mayor-de-los-hijos-del-mitico-zar-18381/ |title=Archived copy |access-date=30 August 2016 |archive-date=11 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230711183157/http://kiaenzona.com/mas-basket/el-otro-sabonis-mira-donde-juega-el-mayor-de-los-hijos-del-mitico-zar-18381/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> and Tautvydas decided to continue their careers in Europe. Both Domantas and Tautvydas played for the Lithuania national team in different levels of competition.

In September 2011, Sabonis suffered a heart attack, while playing basketball in [[Lithuania]]. Doctors said that the heart attack was not life-threatening.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newsday.com/sports/former-nba-star-sabonis-stable-after-heart-attack-1.3207143|title=Former NBA star Sabonis stable after heart attack|website=newsday.com}}</ref>

According to his son, Domantas, Arvydas is a huge fan of the [[Boston Celtics]], his favorite basketball player is [[Larry Bird]] and his favorite color is green.<ref>{{cite web|title="Celtics" peržiūroje dalyvavęs D.Sabonis atskleidė įdomų faktą apie savo tėvą ir žaidimo elementą, kurį nori patobulinti labiausiai|url=http://www.krepsinis.net/naujiena/celtics-perziuroje-dalyvaves-d-sabonis-atskleide-idomu-fakta-apie-savo-teva-ir-zaidimo-elementa-kuri-nori-patobulinti-labiausiai/263145|website=Krepsinis.net|access-date=9 June 2016}}</ref>

In March 2022, following the start of the [[Russian invasion of Ukraine]], Sabonis severely criticized [[Russia]] and demonstrated his support to [[Ukraine]], [[Ukrainians]], [[Alexander Volkov (basketball)|Alexander Volkov]]: "I do not communicate with Russians. I had text chat with A. Volkov, other Ukrainians. They are all out of balance. And the Russians... We will never be able to believe these liars again in our lives. Peace doves, ''bleha''. Peaceful country! Is this peace here? To blow up children and free people? There are no words. I have no desire to communicate with them."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Pakėnas |first1=Rokas |title=Arvydas Sabonis reiškia paramą A.Volkovui ir visai Ukrainai: "Rusija daugiau niekada netikėsime" |url=https://www.15min.lt/24sek/naujiena/lietuva/arvydas-sabonis-reiskia-parama-a-volkovui-ir-visai-ukrainai-rusija-daugiau-niekada-netikesime-875-1652530 |website=[[15min.lt]] |access-date=10 August 2025 |language=lt}}</ref>

==Popular culture==
He appeared on the Lithuanian cover of the video game [[NBA Live 2001]].

Arvydas Sabonis's basketball career and journey to represent his native country Lithuania in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics is highlighted in the documentary film ''[[The Other Dream Team]]''.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Other Dream Team |url=https://www.netflix.com/title/70229271 |website=[[Netflix]] |access-date=19 September 2025}}</ref> The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2012 and was distributed by Lionsgate in the U.S. and Disney internationally.

In 2014, Sabonis appeared in a documentary about him, titled ''Arvydas Sabonis. 11'', which overlook his career since 1981.<ref>{{cite web |title=Arvydas Sabonis. 11 |url=https://epika.lrt.lt/dokumentiniai-filmai,266/arvydas-sabonis-11,771092 |website=LRT Epika |access-date=19 September 2025 |language=lt}}</ref>

In 2023, Sabonis appeared in a movie ''Bilietas'' (''The Ticket''), which overlook basketball club Žalgiris Kaunas in 1979–1989.<ref>{{cite web |title=Bilietas |url=https://go3.lt/movies/bilietas,vod-6134499 |website=Go3 |access-date=19 September 2025 |language=lt}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[List of tallest players in NBA history]]
* [[List of European basketball players in the United States]]

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Arvydas Sabonis}}
*{{basketball stats|nba=717|bbr=s/sabonar01}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20150329075639/http://archive.fiba.com/pages/eng/fa/p/q/arvydas%20sabonis/pid/_/players.html FIBA Archive Profile]
*[http://www.interbasket.net/players/sabonis.htm InterBasket Profile]
*[https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/arvydas-sabonis/ayo/ Euroleague.net Profile]
*[http://www.fibaeurope.com/compID_qMRZdYCZI6EoANOrUf9le2.season_1999.roundID_2267.playerID_7324.teamID_2135.html FIBAEurope.com Profile]
*[http://www.acb.com/jugador/temporada-a-temporada/id/20200678/fase_id/0/competicion_id/1/tipo_id/1#cuerpo Spanish ACB Profile] {{in lang|es}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Sabonis, Arvydas}}
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