Five games into the NBA season and everything is looking as bad for the Sacramento Kings as everyone predicted. Domantas Sabonis remains a bright spot with his double-double streak intact, yet fans seem upset at him for the losses and it doesn't make sense.
Having a center like Sabonis on your team should be viewed as a good thing. He missed the season opener due to a hamstring strain but has played in the four games since. As one would expect from a double-double machine, he's picked up a double-double in every regular season he's played.
At this point, Sabonis is averaging 12.5 points, 13.8 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game. Not everyone can be like Nikola Jokic and average a triple-double per game. Averaging a double-double is damn good, and something fans should be happy about. Yet, the tides in Sactown are turning.
Sabonis isn't getting the love anymore
After the Kings' fourth loss of the season to the rising Chicago Bulls, a lot of Sacramento fans have turned their frustrations on their All-Star center. It's definitely a surprise as the Kings' faithful have long had Sabonis' back. That vibe is really starting to fade away.
Part of the problem seems to be his intermittent defensive play. Sure, Sabonis collects a lot of defensive rebounds but he's also not one lock the paint down or protect the rim. It seems that Sacramento's fans are looking for more from Sabonis, as are the coaching staff and the front office.
At the same time, everyone should be respecting what Domantas brings to the team. When the game against the Bulls was over, the Sabonis had 18 points, 11 rebounds, six assists and one steal. That's a great performance by anyone's standards, and he reliably brings that performance to every game.
Kings are a team, not one man
Domantas Sabonis is not the problem with the Kings. The Kings are the problem with the Kings. They have a new head coach, a new front office, and a few new players. The problem is the roster remains heavy on shoot-first guards and light on both defensive-focused players and playmakers.
On top of that, they leave pretty much the same players on the bench every game. Dylan Cardwell and Maxime Raynaud can't get minutes, but Devin Carter has been on the court for three straight games and done nothing with the time. Make that make any sense.
The reality is that what the Kings are doing right now as a team is not working. You can't single out a player like Sabonis and say he is the source of all of Sacramento's woes, especially when he's actually picking up steam since returning from injury and looking better every game he plays.