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Portland Trail Blazers: Top 10 NBA Draft picks in franchise history

By Raymond Simms

Jan 29, 2017; Portland, OR, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) shoots a pair of free throws during the second half in a game against the Golden State Warriors at the Moda Center. The Warriors won 113-111. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 29, 2017; Portland, OR, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) shoots a pair of free throws during the second half in a game against the Golden State Warriors at the Moda Center. The Warriors won 113-111. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports /
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4. Arvydas Sabonis (C) – No. 24 pick in 1986 NBA Draft

Career stats (with the Blazers, 1995-01, 2002-03):  470 GP, 12.0 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 2.1 APG, 0.8 SPG, 50.0 FG%, 32.8 3P%, 78.6 FT% 

Arvydas Sabonis was selected in the 1986 NBA Draft, but did not come to America until the mid-90s. He turned out to be well worth the wait.

Sabonis opted to spend the first nine seasons following his selection to play overseas. He began his professional career with Zalgiris Kaunas in his native Lithuania. He then moved on to two Spanish sides in CB Valladolid and Real Madrid.

Along the way, he racked up accolades. He won three consecutive Soviet championships, two Spanish titles, and a Euroleague championship. Sabonis also collected three league MVPs and three championship MVPs.

Finally, in 1995, he arrived in Portland at age 30. Despite his advanced age, he had an amazing rookie campaign. Sabonis averaged 14.1 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks per game on 54.5 percent shooting. He was named to the All-Rookie First Team and finished second in Rookie of the Year and Sixth Man of the Year voting.

Sabonis would move into the starting center role the following season. He hit his NBA career-high averages in points (16.0) and rebounds per game (10.0) during the 1997-98 season.

He became a key player, and one of the few drafted Blazers, on the back-to-back Western Conference Finals teams in 1999 and 2000. Sabonis averaged 11.9 points, 7.8 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game over those two seasons.

Sabonis retired from the NBA following the 2000-01 season. However, he returned in 2002-03 for one more season. Arvydas Sabonis was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2011.

Arvydas Sabonis is a world basketball legend, putting up big numbers and winning awards across Europe and in America. Even on the backend of his career, Sabonis was able to play a major part in Portland being a contender at the turn of the millennium.

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