Is Sabonis the Father of the Dream Team?

The April 21 piece on Arvydas Sabonis was a fitting tribute to this 15-year veteran and NBA “rookie.” As to your question, “How good was Sabonis in his prime?” Easy answer. In 1988, at 23, he led the Soviets to a victory over the U.S. Olympic team, overpowering David Robinson in the process. Even more significantly, he led U.S. Olympic basketball officials to the frustrating yet inevitable decision: “From now on, we’re sending the pros!”

MO SCHWARTZ

West Los Angeles