The Sabas Network: Ink and words and text...

The Sabas Network
http://www.sabasnet.net

Arvydas Sabonis Articles.
Click on one of the following years.

home | pre-nba | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001

Sabonis Looking at Long Haul.

by Steve Brandon | The Oregonian | Jan 24, 1999

Arvydas Sabonis' new three-year contract with the Trail Blazers might not be his last.

"We're going to do another one," said Herb Rudoy, one of his agents. Sabonis will be 36 when his contract expires in 2001.

"Centers can play at a late age," Rudoy said. "Also, look at the low number of centers in college and what they can do. Compared to them, Sabonis will still be very productive."

During the NBA lockout, Sabonis turned down several top European teams, including Real Madrid, Barcelona and Kinder Bologna. And he barely listened to offers from other NBA teams.

"He did not want to go anywhere else, and the Blazers rewarded his loyalty, not only his performance," said Arturo Ortega, of Madrid, who also represents Sabonis.

In Lithuania, where basketball is a major source of national pride, fans are hoping Sabonis will play in one more Olympics.

"Arvydas is and must be very selective about international play, and he needs time to rest during the summers," Ortega said. "He has not made a decision about the 2000 Games in Australia, but I am sure he would be happy to play."

Rudoy was not so sure.

"He has a lot of national pride, and there is a lot of internal pressure on him to play, but I am not sure he will," Rudoy said. "I think that in a way he believes it is time for the younger players, such as (Cleveland Cavaliers center) Zydrunas Ilgauskas, to step up."

Sabonis had agreed to play for his club team, Zalgiris, this year if the NBA season had been canceled. According to reports in Lithuania, Sabonis has pledged that when he is through playing in the NBA, he will finish his career with one final season for Zalgiris.

"That could be," Ortega said. "One of his dreams is to make Zalgiris the Euro League champions. If he had stayed this season, I think they would have won."