Injury Update on Domantas Sabonis
In a significant setback for the Sacramento Kings, center Domantas Sabonis has been diagnosed with a meniscus tear in his left knee, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. The team will reassess his condition in about three to four weeks. This injury forced Sabonis to miss Wednesday’s game against Oklahoma City, which the Kings lost, classified as merely left knee soreness at the time.
Sabonis’s Challenging Season
Sabonis’s current injury comes on the heels of a challenging start to the season, where he had already missed the season opener due to a hamstring strain experienced during the preseason. He also dealt with a rib injury that sidelined him for two games earlier this month. Now, Sabonis is set to miss at least the next ten games, contributing to the team’s struggles as they sit at a disappointing 3-12 record.
Impact on the Team
The Kings have relied heavily on Sabonis since acquiring him in February 2022, trading away promising guard Tyrese Haliburton to bring him on board as part of a desperate attempt to rejuvenate a franchise that has not seen playoff action in 16 years. His efforts helped the Kings achieve a playoff appearance last season, where they reached the third seed, largely due to his synergy with guard De’Aaron Fox under coach Mike Brown, who has since been dismissed.
Contract and Future Outlook
Despite his impressive performance in previous seasons—where he appeared in 79, 82, and 70 games over the last three years—Sabonis now finds himself as the highest-paid player on the team, with three years and $146.8 million remaining on his contract. Unfortunately, the team’s fortunes have taken a downturn, resulting in a troubling stretch of seven consecutive losses, each by a margin exceeding ten points and raising questions about the direction of the franchise.
