Gonzaga special Domantas Sabonis explains absence from Kings
Of the many skills possessed by Sacramento Kings center Domantas Saboniswhat goes under the radar is its availability. The 28-year-old big man is a workhorse who logs big minutes and rarely misses games, which is why his absence from the Kings on Saturday was puzzling. However, there was good reason for Sabonis to be off his team. With no game on the schedule, Domas was able to travel to Spokane see his retired jersey by his alma mater, the Gonzaga Bulldogs.
Sabonis joins John Stockton, Frank Burgess, Adam Morrison, Kelly Olynyk and Dan Dickau as sixth Gonzaga men’s basketball player who hung their jerseys on the rafters inside the McCarthy Athletic Center in Spokane. Women’s star Courtney Vandersloot also retired in 2023 after a spectacular career that included three consecutive World Cup Player of the Year selections.
“He was the ultimate Zag; one of the all-time greats,” Gonzaga head coach Mark Fee said of Sabonis during the ceremonyaccording to Cole Forsman of Sports Illustrated. “He was and remains a fierce competitor. He was just a relentless worker on and off the practice field. And then from the perspective of the old coach, he was the best teammate there.”
Related Sacramento Kings newsThe article continues below
The son of FIBA Hall of Famer Arvidas SabonisDomantas played just two years at Gonzaga before entering the NBA draft. In those two seasons, Sabonis was named an All-VCC performer twice and led the conference in rebounds per game during his sophomore season. He played a key role in leading the Zags to the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament in back-to-back seasons.
Since arriving in the NBA, Sabonis has become the player many expected his father to suffer a career-altering Achilles tear in the mid-1980s. Since joining the Kings midway through the 2021-22 season, Sabonis has averaged 19.5 points, 13.1 rebounds and 7.4 assists per game. He is on pace to become the seventh player in league history to lead the NBA in rebounds per game for at least three consecutive seasons.
Sabonis is expected to be in the lineup for Sacramento’s game against Washington on Sunday.
2025-01-19 18:36:00
