A year ago, Domantas Sabonis was viewed as an integral part of the Sacramento Kings' roster. So far this season, he has only played 11 out of 32 games, and that mentality has definitely changed as a result. Trading him is now an inevitable part of the Kings' genesis into a rebuilt franchise.
The Kings brought Sabonis on board as part of the trade that sent Tyrese Haliburton to the Indiana Pacers. When Sacramento had De'Aaron Fox as point guard with Mike Brown as head coach, the structure of the roster almost made sense. They even made the playoffs.
Now, Brown is finding greater success as the head coach of the New York Knicks, while Fox is proving his doubters so very, very wrong on the San Antonio Spurs. Sabonis, on the other hand, is having a rough season to say the least. And it's not just about injuries.
A less durable version of Domantas Sabonis
Without question, Sabonis used to be one of the most durable players in the league. He was rarely injured or out for any reason. He was, for all intents and purposes, the Kings' iron man. That has definitely changed in the 2025-2026 season.
So far, Sabonis has only played 11 games out of 32, meaning he has missed 66% of the season to date. Domantas has been in the league since 2016 and is bearing down on 30. It could simply be a result of him getting older. Injuries become more frequent and harder to recover from with age.
While his absences have caused problems for the Kings, they haven't been as big as you might expect. Sacramento has only won seven games this season, and Sabonis was on the court for two of them. That means the Kings picked up five out of their seven victories without him.
The truth about Domantas Sabonis on the Kings
Rookie Maxime Raynaud has stepped in as the starting center and done an incredible job. While he's not quite up to the career numbers of someone like Sabonis, he's well on his way. He has scored in double digits in eight out of his last 11 games and has picked up four double-doubles.
It's become rather apparent that Raynaud is the replacement for Sabonis when he is no longer a King, either by trade or his contract expiring. When Sabonis had Brown coaching him and Fox as his point guard, he was more consistent and more productive. But he also wasn't much of a defender.
Between Raynaud, Dylan Cardwell, and Precious Achiuwa, they can score, clean the glass, and lock down the rim. Once they find a rhythm as a team, it could be good news for the Kings. It just means that Sabonis's time in Sacramento has passed, though how it ends is still to be determined.