Domantas Sabonis ☆ Follow

Starts 3 of 3 games · 2nd on SAC in minutes · Core role

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Every situation, with four seasons of history →

• Podcast Locked On Kings · 3 points · 4 h ago
  • Domantas Sabonis came in leading the NBA at 18.5 rebounds per game. He got into foul trouble and finished with 15 points and 15 rebounds on 6-of-8 shooting, plus 3 assists, 2 steals, 4 turnovers and 5 fouls in a little under 35 minutes. at 25:44
  • Domantas Sabonis was called for a couple of moving screens. The host ties this to the new points of emphasis and notes that moving screens count as turnovers. at 26:10
  • Memphis won the offensive-rebound battle, 18-16 by the host's hedged count ("I think"). Late offensive boards were killers because Sabonis was alone against two or three Grizzlies crashing the glass. at 16:05

  “Zack LaVine GOT ANGRY, but it still wasn't enough to get the Kings over the hump for their first win” · listen ↗

• Podcast Domantas Sabonis (quoted), via Gil's Arena · Quote · 43 h ago around the league

  After the season-opening loss, Domantas Sabonis asked for the ball more so he can swing it. He said the Kings took a lot of one-pass and pick-and-roll shots without passing.

  “Sixers Erase A MASSIVE 29-Point Deficit, SGA Ends His Streak & Jaylen Brown Calls CAP On Tatum!_1 Part 2” at 1:05:06 · listen ↗

• Podcast Domantas Sabonis (reported), via The Mismatch · Relayed report · Oct 23 around the league

  Hosts paraphrase Domantas Sabonis saying postgame that the team needs to move the ball. Their own view is that Sabonis set screens but rarely got the ball, despite being an excellent passer.

  “The Return of Loves and Loathes. Plus: A Historic Thursday Night.” at 38:14 · listen ↗

• Podcast The Athletic NBA Daily host · Analysis · Oct 23 around the league

  Host's take is that Draymond told Acuff to pass in a preseason game and that Acuff was overpassing and not getting to his spots. The host wants him to call his own number while keeping Sabonis and Murray involved, and predicts he'll be okay.

  “The Thunder Are Inevitable + Philly Trusts the Process” at 29:38 · listen ↗

• X Law Murray (@LawMurrayTheNU) · Report · Oct 21

  Kings are starting Darius Acuff Jr, Zach LaVine, Keegan Murray, De’Andre Hunter, Domantas Sabonis tonight at LA

  original post ↗

  also reported by James Ham, Locked On Kings

• Podcast Locked On NBA · Opinion · Oct 19 around the league

  Hayes calls Kings rookie Darius Acuff very interesting and says Sabonis is good when he's healthy.

  “Ranking ALL 30 NBA Teams! Our Official 2026-27 Tier List” at 3:37 · listen ↗

• Podcast Locked On Kings · 15 points · Oct 24
  • Domantas Sabonis had a triple-double against the Blazers: 27 points, 19 rebounds, 10 assists. It was his 69th career triple-double. at 27:20
  • On Friday the Kings ran the ball through Domantas Sabonis and got everyone involved. The host credits that for their 120 points. at 6:22
  • A clip of Domantas Sabonis talking about his pairing with Acuff went viral on Friday. It came from his Thursday media session, and the host says it spread in a negative way. at 2:20
  • Sabonis, Acuff, Doug Christie (reported): On Thursday the team did film study. The talking points that came out of it were about zero-pass and one-pass shot attempts, and the host says Sabonis, Acuff and Doug Christie all raised them. at 4:21
  • In the opener the Kings took bad early-clock shots, including mid-range jumpers with 17 seconds on the clock, and did not run the offense through Sabonis. When they did, he played well and had eight assists. at 4:49
  • The host says there is no rift or jealousy between Domantas Sabonis and Acuff, and that Sabonis was not throwing a teammate under the bus. at 6:46
  • Domantas Sabonis (reported): The host spoke briefly with Domantas Sabonis before the game. In the host's paraphrase, Sabonis was caught off guard by the controversy, said he meant nothing negative and it was not a dig at Acuff, and said he would talk to the rookie to make sure he was okay. at 8:13
  • The host argues the best path this season is the Acuff-Sabonis pairing: let Acuff shoot a lot, but with many of those shots coming out of sets built around Domantas Sabonis. at 10:47
  • Domantas Sabonis (quoted): Postgame, Domantas Sabonis called Acuff a very smart, high-IQ point guard and said his own job is to get Acuff open and make life easier for him. at 16:06
  • Domantas Sabonis (quoted): Domantas Sabonis said the Blazers' 10-0 third-quarter run put the Kings in a tough spot, and that the team had small, controllable defensive lapses throughout. at 15:45
  • Darius Acuff Jr. (quoted): Acuff called Domantas Sabonis an All-Star, All-NBA player and said it is a blessing to see how much he can create for others and for himself. at 21:02
  • Hedged by the host: Domantas Sabonis is "probably" leading the league in rebounding and is averaging nine assists a game. The host calls it a small sample. at 7:51
  • Domantas Sabonis missed much of last season with injuries and had surgery, which the host says was the first of his career. After first saying 23, the host settles on 19 games played (see contradictions). at 18:07
  • The host says Domantas Sabonis has limitations: you would want him shooting more threes, and he is not a natural rim protector. at 17:34
  • Domantas Sabonis went to the bench against the Blazers, Acuff started passing all over the court. It did not produce many assists, but the host says it showed his court vision. at 18:27

  “Despite loss, Darius Acuff Jr. and Domantas Sabonis quiet the CHEMISTRY ISSUE chatter” · listen ↗

• Podcast Locked On Kings · 16 points · Oct 23
  • James Ham: In the opener against the Clippers, Domantas Sabonis had 18 rebounds and 8 assists. The host says he looked fully back to his previous self. at 1:26
  • James Ham: Domantas Sabonis took only five shots in 34 minutes and made all five. The team as a whole shot 42.4% from the field. at 3:02
  • James Ham: The host says the Kings were 'lit up' by the Clippers in the opener. He calls Sabonis and Zach LaVine bright spots. at 2:47
  • James Ham: The host says Sabonis appeared to have shaken off the knee injury that limited him to 19 games last season. at 1:56
  • James Ham: Sabonis picked up offensive fouls for screen setting in both preseason games he played, including five personal fouls in 10 minutes in the first one. The host says screen setting is a point of emphasis this season and that Sabonis has cleaned it up. at 2:07
  • Domantas Sabonis (reported): Sabonis told reporters that he has talked with officials about how he sets screens. He doesn't feel it was all that fair compared with how others push on screens. at 2:31
  • James Ham: The host says Sabonis has averaged 18.9 points per game during his time in Sacramento on about 12 shots per game. at 3:37
  • James Ham: Host opinion: this year's Kings need Sabonis taking at least 12, and probably 14-15, shots almost every night. He later says he wants 12-15 shots per game. at 7:33
  • Domantas Sabonis (quoted): Sabonis, speaking at practice, said Ben Simmons had a successful surgery and would have been a big part of the group this year. He said the team has to move on as quickly as possible. at 6:20
  • Domantas Sabonis (quoted): Asked how he gets more shots, Sabonis pointed to watching film with coaches and players to find 'the open advantage.' The host says the Kings did a lot of film study that day. at 6:47
  • Domantas Sabonis (quoted): Sabonis said he works on his three-point shot every year and will shoot it if he is open. at 9:36
  • Domantas Sabonis (quoted): On whether shot volume is up to him or to the team, Sabonis said it's 'a bit of both,' that as a big he has to get open and get the ball, and 'I wish I knew.' He said he tried to be aggressive in the opener. at 9:59
  • James Ham: Host speculation, based on preseason and the opener: Sabonis might not be comfortable taking perimeter shots this season. The host says he wasn't all that comfortable last season either. at 8:50
  • Domantas Sabonis (reported): The host relays Sabonis as saying last season's knee injury happened in game two of the regular season and that he tried to play through it. at 9:08
  • Darius Acuff Jr. (quoted): Acuff said his chemistry with Sabonis is great and that he would like to get Sabonis more touches. at 19:31
  • James Ham: Host analysis: Acuff and Sabonis could become a dynamic duo. Acuff needs to use the pocket pass to Sabonis rolling downhill, and Sabonis' repeated screens clear space for Acuff. at 18:33

  “Can the Kings create MORE OPPORTUNITIES for Domantas Sabonis on the offensive end?” · listen ↗

• Podcast Locked On Kings · 5 points · Oct 22
  • Host analysis: Acuff was spectacular when he got downhill in the two-man game with Sabonis and struggled outside the pick-and-roll. The host wants more pick-and-roll and more passes to Sabonis, noting Acuff never hit the rolling big. at 7:31
  • The host says Sabonis needs to shoot more than five times and needed the ball more in this game. at 14:22
  • Per the host, Domantas Sabonis played only twice in preseason and struggled with fouls, repeatedly called for moving screens. The host says he looked more like himself in the opener after a long layoff. at 24:53
  • Host analysis: Sabonis did not have a great defensive game. Brook Lopez big-bodied him a couple of times. at 17:49
  • Host opinion: despite the buzz around Acuff, LaVine and Sabonis are still the team's best two players, at least for now. He says the Kings' success this season starts with them. at 17:07

  “Darius Acuff Jr. STRUGGLES WITH SHOT in season opener, Kings fall to Clippers” · listen ↗

• Podcast Locked On Kings · 2 points · Oct 21
  • James Ham: Host speculation: Nique Clifford may get a look with the second unit again, and the team might need to stagger the minutes of Acuff and Domantas Sabonis. at 8:49
  • James Ham: Host analysis: Domantas Sabonis might be the closest thing the Kings have to Simmons and to a second point guard, apart from the unavailable Malik Monk. at 8:58

  “KINGS QUESTIONS: How much will the Ben Simmons injury impact rookie Darius Acuff Jr.?” · listen ↗

• Podcast Locked On Kings · 2 points · Oct 19
  • Mark Jones says chemistry has been missing in preseason because of injuries. The host adds that Domantas Sabonis and Simmons each played only two preseason games, and he thinks Keegan Murray got to three. at 18:47
  • Mark Jones thinks scoring will be okay. He calls Zach LaVine still the most prolific scorer, and says Acuff showed in the Golden State game he can hit mid-range jumpers coming off handoffs/DHOs from Sabonis. at 20:58

  “SEASON PREVIEW, can the Kings recover from Ben Simmons injury? With play-by-play voice Mark Jones” · listen ↗

• Podcast Gil's Arena · 2 points · Oct 19 partly checked episode
  • A panelist asks whether Domantas Sabonis is playing this year and whether he is healthy. Nobody gives a clear answer. at 49:45
  • A panelist says Domantas Sabonis is the player most likely to get traded. at 1:01:40

  “GIL'S ARENA NBA FANTASY DRAFT WITH $100K ON THE LINE ! Part 1” · listen ↗

• Podcast Hardwood Knocks host · Opinion · Oct 19 around the league

  Dan would want Kings players who matter beyond this season, Acuff, Raynaud, Emanuel Sharp and Clifford, on the floor in close games. He asks how Doug Christie will balance veterans Sabonis, LaVine and Monk against development.

  “1 Big Question For Every NBA Teams In The Western Conference” at 1:04:09 · listen ↗

• Podcast Locked On Kings host · Analysis · Oct 18

  Simmons was slated to start on the front line with Keegan Murray and Domantas Sabonis. The injury removes him from the starting lineup.

  “Ben Simmons tears Achilles, handing Kings a CRUEL BLOW days before start of 2026-27 NBA season” at 3:34 · listen ↗

  also reported by James Ham, Locked On Kings

• Podcast Locked On Kings · 8 points · Oct 17
  • News at 3:40 said Ben Simmons, Domantas Sabonis, Darius Acuff Jr., Precious Achiuwa, De'Andre Hunter and Zach LaVine would all play against the Spurs. at 2:29
  • The listed starters against the Spurs were Acuff, LaVine, Keegan Murray, Ben Simmons and Sabonis. at 2:48
  • Sabonis had knee surgery in February. at 4:24
  • Second-half opening group: Simmons at point guard with Emanuel Sharp, LaVine, Hunter and Sabonis. The host says it looked a little better, with similar results. at 10:41
  • Achiuwa played backup center and also moved to power forward next to Sabonis for a long stretch. The host expects that pairing to be used this season. at 9:59
  • The Simmons-to-Sabonis connection looked strong. Simmons fed Sabonis in the post from the top of the key, which reminded the host of Rick Adelman's double high post. It didn't produce much because Sabonis struggled to score against Wembanyama. at 16:56
  • The host did not see the major spacing problem he expected from playing Sabonis and Simmons, two non-shooters, together. Simmons found open shooters in the corners and pushed the pace with outlet passes. at 18:48
  • Sabonis line: 14 points and 10 rebounds in 29:46, 4-of-9 from the field, 1-of-2 from three, 5-of-10 from the line, 5 turnovers, 4 fouls. The host calls the free throws, assists and turnovers unacceptable. at 27:07

  “STARTERS REVEALED? Kings fall to 0-5 for the preseason, but did we finally see their starting five?” · listen ↗

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