Really like the fact that Sabonis is getting some love in the poll! Didn't expect it to be honest.
Off topic but put him on my All-Time best passers at their position list:
C - Arvydas
Check out this top 10 (mind you, the majority of his games in Europe aren't recorded on video)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEYnLxrs4W8Not all plays are equally impressive (for instance, at #9 he flies by prime Shaq, but the dunk is nothing special). There are plenty of gems though. I mean, check out that pass at #8! He grabs the ball Dr.J style and he throws a full-court pass over 2 retreating defenders for an easy basket in transition!
Check out the play at #5 where he dunks the ball with his back to the basket (similar play at #7 as well). The defenders are right next to him, yet they can't react quick enough. [dang], he was fast prior to the injuries! You want more proof of his early days athleticism? Check out the plays at #4 and #3 (especially #3)! He annihilates David Robinson, one of the strongest big men in the history of basketball! Sabonis just flies over him and throws him to the ground. Robinson seems like he got hit by a truck! I mean, this is ridiculous!
Anyway, just check out the whole video, cause I ended up mentioning pretty much all the plays!
Listen to Nate McMillan at the start of the following video:
''I didn't see him when he was young, but I've heard, you know, about when he was a young guy and he could take off from the free throw line''! He's 7'3'' and he was taking off from the free throw line for crying out loud!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PHAdHgRHAo4Check out the play right after the McMillan part is over. That pass has Larry Bird written all over it!
Check the pass at 3:38! I've never ever seen anybody making a pass like this! I've seen Larry making a similar pass, but not a no look, behind his back pass like this!
Another Larry Bird type of pass here.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uv1qpF2AEgcI'm telling you guys, Sabonis was the real deal! The stuff he did with the ball in his hands are unparalleled for a 7-footer! The guy was truly a 7'3'' Larry legend!