On Monday, we noted that former Portland Trail Blazers center Arvydas Sabonis is making a return to Portland in August as part of a tour to celebrate his Hall of Fame induction.
Here's a press release with the full details courtesy of the Blazers.
The Portland Trail Blazers will honor former Portland center and basketball legend Arvydas Sabonis on Thursday, August 18, following his 2011 induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
Sabonis, who played for the Trail Blazers for seven seasons (1995-2001, 2002-03), is known globally as one of the greatest centers to ever play the game. He will be inducted into the Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass., Aug. 11-13, before returning to the Rose City.
"Arvydas Sabonis truly epitomizes what being a Trail Blazer is all about and we're deeply honored to have him represent our team and city in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame," said Trail Blazers President Larry Miller. "Despite coming to Portland later in his career, he shrugged off injuries and played with incredible flair to become one of the most revered and beloved Trail Blazers of all time. We're very excited that our franchise and our fans will finally have the opportunity to show our appreciation and publicly thank 'Sabas' for his incredible contributions to the game."
The team will honor Sabonis and reunite him with fans in a public celebration at Pioneer Courthouse Square on Thursday, Aug. 18, at approximately 1 p.m., where Sabonis will be added to the Trail Blazers Hall of Fame banner displayed in the Rose Garden. Sabonis will be honored following the "Noon Tunes Summer Concert Series", a free concert series hosted by Pioneer Courthouse Square that showcases regional and local musical talent. The Freewill band will perform Thursday.
Later on Thursday, Aug. 18, the Trail Blazers will host a reception for Sabonis at 6 p.m., on the Club Level of the Rose Garden featuring a Q&A session with Sabonis and other Trail Blazers personalities. Tickets are $50, with proceeds benefiting the make it better foundation. Fans can visit trailblazers.com/sabonis to purchase tickets....
At 7'3", Sabonis will be the tallest player ever enshrined into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
-- Ben Golliver | benjamin.golliver@gmail.com | Twitter