RealGM

Arvydas Sabonis was an injured wreck when he went to the nba in 1996 but still an effective player. If he had gone straight to the nba at age 22, but in 1996, how good would he and the Portland Trailblazers have been?

How would this change nba history?


Think it would change quite a bit. Reckon they win at least one championship.

If you want to save Sabas from Soviet Union selfish decisions that affected his injuries, you need to have him at 18y old in nba.

SpreeS wrote:If you want to save Sabas from Soviet Union selfish decisions that affected his injuries, you need to have him at 18y old in nba.

I only saw that his euro career started at age 22?

migya wrote:

SpreeS wrote:If you want to save Sabas from Soviet Union selfish decisions that affected his injuries, you need to have him at 18y old in nba.

I only saw that his euro career started at age 22?

Sabas had 18pts per game in 1983 European Championship at 19 years old.

SpreeS wrote:

migya wrote:

SpreeS wrote:If you want to save Sabas from Soviet Union selfish decisions that affected his injuries, you need to have him at 18y old in nba.

I only saw that his euro career started at age 22?

Sabas had 18pts per game in 1983 European Championship at 19 years old.

Makes this hypothetical even better. Portland 1996 onwards with Sabonis from 18 years of age could've been a contender for a decade at least.

Sabonis and Drexler together would've really f***ed up MJs GOAT case that's for sure. Those 2 together would've had some years where they were the best duo in the league.

I see no reason why he couldn't have had a Patrick Ewing type of career (top 30ish guy ever).

Jaivl wrote:I see no reason why he couldn't have had a Patrick Ewing type of career (top 30ish guy ever).

His passing especially would-be been big with all that talent on that team.

Heej wrote:Sabonis and Drexler together would've really f***ed up MJs GOAT case that's for sure. Those 2 together would've had some years where they were the best duo in the league.

In the late 80s early 90s definitely but at the end of the 90s and in the 00s a youngish Sabonis would've flourished.

In 96? So like in his 20s during the 2000s? I would have to think that is enough to push the Blazers over the Lakers in 2000 at minimum. Could have also changed things against the Spurs in 1999. Then maybe the team wouldn’t have imploded in the early 2000s, but that is more butterfly effect theorizing than simply plugging a prime Sabonis on a good team.

In his prime with Drexler would have also led to championships. Not sure how many, but he would have eaten the early 90s Bulls frontcourt alive. Maybe changed things against the Pistons too.

Jaivl wrote:I see no reason why he couldn't have had a Patrick Ewing type of career (top 30ish guy ever).

This is about where I put him.

That would make Portland quite successful. Probably two rings I would think at a minimum.