1974-1982 trained under coach Yurijs Fiodorovs at the Kaunas Basketball School.in 1981 He started his professional career in "Žalgiris" Kaunas. For three seasons (1985-1987), he helped win the gold medals of the USSR Basketball Championship.
in 1982 Participated in the USSR national team at the World Basketball Championship, won gold. in 1985 won in 1985 in the European Championship and became the champion of the Universiade in Kobe (Japan).
1984 and 1985 the newspaper "Gazzetta dello Sport" (Italy) named him European basketball player of the year.in 1985 June 18 A. Sabonis was selected by the Atlanta Hawks with the 74th pick in the fourth round of the NBA draft. Selection cancelled, due to too young age.in 1986 with the 24th pick of the first round, A. Sabonis was invited by the Portland Trail Blazers, but due to political reasons, he could not go to the USA.
in 1988 for the Summer Olympic Games, the coach of the USSR basketball team, Aleksandras Gomelskis, invited A. Sabonis to the national team. Despite his recent recovery from injury, the basketball player helped the USSR national team defeat the USA national team in the semifinals of the Olympic tournament (which became the second defeat of the USA since 1936) and win gold in the final. in 1988 elected the best European basketball player for the third time.in 1989 the basketball player could have already left the USSR, but chose not the Portland Trail Blazers, but the Spanish Valladolid Forum team.
in 1992 transferred to Real Madrid. 1993 and 1994 A. Sabonis became the Spanish champion with "Real" in 1995. won the European Club Championship Cup.
1993 and 1995 elected the best European basketball player.in 1995 joined the Portland Trail Blazers, where he played for seven seasons (did not play in the 2001-02 season). in 1997 elected the best European basketball player. in 1999 NBA.com website visitors chose A. Sabonis as the foreigner who had the greatest impact on the NBA.
In 2003, after a 14-year break, he returned to Lithuania and with Kaunas "Žalgiris" became the Lithuanian champion and the most valuable player of the Euroleague season. in 2004 May 15 played the last match of his professional career: in the LKL super final match against Vilnius "Lietuvos rytas" he scored 14 points, rebounded 13 balls and helped his team win the LKL final series. After not actively playing sports for a long time, in 2005 announced in December that he was ending his basketball career.
2011-2021 President of the Lithuanian Basketball Federation
