Arvydas was a beast and an ultimate competitor. to stop him, a lot of other teams resolved to play dirty not only against him, but against all the team Sabas played on.
First time Sabas taught a lesson to his oponent was in the old Soviets top basketball league. i think it was in 1908 or 1981 (not later). it wa a final 4 format and a center or a PF from Dynamo Moscow played dirty against sabas all game long. It had a dubious purpose - to get sabas out and if Sabas got suspended, his team "Žalgiris" would not cause problems to the powerhouse at that time, CSKA Moscow. At the end of the game, Sabas who was barely 16 years old had enough and punched the guy hard and for real. He was thrown out of the game, suspended for the next one and "Žalgiris" finished 4th.
later on, a funny rule was implemented to the Soviet basketball federation. If a player dunked the ball and touched the rim - it was a technical foul
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Many other underwater games were played too. Because with Sabas "Žalgiris" was winning vregular season at ease, they come up with the final, best of 5 format to determine a champion. First 2 tries "Žalgiris" failed (reffing and just lack of experience from certain players to play against such adversity), but then won 3 championships in a row. I think the last one they won was already after Sabas tore his Achilles tendon for the first time. Even after his first injury he was never the same. needless to say, he tore the same tendon for the second time later.
Even when the Soviets let him to go to the USA in 1988 after gold medal in Seoul (then Sabas had just first injury), Sabas himself refused. because he was not the same player as before in his own eyes and he just couldn't accept his changed condition.
When finally Sabas decided to come to Portland in 1995 it was because of the $$$. NBA contracts got much bigger, and he still was able to sign a contract for 10 mil per year. At that time he was basically a cripple, yet still his giant size, magic hands and basketball savvy made him an important contributor to a good Blazers team. If not that bad last game in LA against Kobe and Shaq, when Blazers had a 15 points lead in the 4th quarter, Sabas could have gotten NBA rings. It's his son turn and try now.
Funny, Sabas always played for the underdog teams (except Real, Madrid), now Domas. At first in Indiana, now with the Kings. BUT, maybe Kings will become NBA darlings, who knows
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Like GSW with Curry and Thompson and others. Let's only hope
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