Playoffs 2000:Sabonis' parents watch him play for first time

Sabonis' parents watch him play for first time
Associated Press

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Portland Trail Blazers center Arvydas Sabonis has played in 361 NBA games, including 30 in the playoffs, but the Lithuanian player's parents had never come to see him play.

Their got their first up-close look at their son in an NBA uniform Sunday, when Sabonis scored 13 points and had 14 rebounds in Portland's 94-75 rout of the Utah Jazz in Game 1 of their second-round playoff series.

"My parents got to see where I work," Sabonis said. "I'm just happy, you know. To have my parents watching a game that I'm playing is good."

Andrius and Milda Sabonis are on their first visit to the United States. They plan to stay through the playoffs, and after the Blazers are done, the entire family -- including Sabonis, his wife Ingrida and their four children -- will return to Lithuania.

"In Lithuania, the U.S. is a very popular country," Sabonis said. "Everybody dreams of being in the States. My father, too. If I were playing in Italy, I don't know if he'd come. But it's the United States, so he probably said, 'OK, it's the States, I need to go."'

Since Sabonis began playing professionally at 16, and has won three Olympic medals, including a gold. Neither of Sabonis' parents speaks English, but through an interpreter, Milda Sabonis said an NBA title is one of the few accomplishments missing from her son's career.

None of the Blazers knew that Sabonis' parents were coming.

"Guys act differently when their parents are around," Portland coach Mike Dunleavy said. "Some guys are great with it. Some guys aren't as good with it at times. But veteran players usually are even-keeled. With Arvydas, he always plays it pretty close to the vest."