Arvydas Sabonis

A sense of newness could be felt through the air on November 3, 1995, as the freshly-structured Rose Garden Arena housed both the Vancouver Grizzlies’ first-ever NBA game, and the debut of a Lithuanian center known for changing the game overseas. Hence, it couldn’t have been of greater irony that Arvydas Sabonis spent his 25-minute cameo reminding the Portland Trail Blazers of a see-everything, one-of-a-kind passing big that it once rostered during its glory days two decades prior. Keeping eyes on things seemingly unseen from the left block, Sabonis illustrates vision and patience, holding his dribble just patiently enough to vacuum in Vancouver’s double team before unleashing a behind-the-back dime to his teammate for a highlight score. Drafted by Portland in 1986 at No. 24, Sabonis — officially signing after a 10-year courtship — looked the part, even in defeat against the league’s newly-established, highly-motivated expansion team. Planting seeds for what would eventually become an invaluable role in the Blazers’ back-to-back Western Conference Finals appearances, Sabonis offered 10 points, seven rebounds, three assists, and two steals in his arrival.

Rookie Year

Rookie Premiere

Top Shot Debut