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Putting historical context on Domantas Sabonis' hot start to the 2024-25 season

By Mat Issa

Oct 29, 2024; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Sacramento Kings forward Domantas Sabonis (11) reacts to being called for a foul against the Utah Jazz during the third quarter at Delta Center. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-Imagn Images
Oct 29, 2024; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Sacramento Kings forward Domantas Sabonis (11) reacts to being called for a foul against the Utah Jazz during the third quarter at Delta Center. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-Imagn Images / Rob Gray-Imagn Images
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After back-to-back seasons of finishing top 10 in MVP voting, many figured that it would be difficult for Domantas Sabonis to top his recent run of play. And while Sabonis likely isn't a serious contender for the 2024-25 MVP award, he is off to a historically strong start.

Sabonis does something that has never been done before

To start the season, Sabonis is averaging 24.3 PPG, 11.0 RPG, and 5.5 APG on 75.8% true shooting. According to Stathead, Sabonis is the first player in NBA history to ever post at least 24 PPG, 11 RPG, and 5 APG on 75% true shooting through the first four games of the season since...well, ever.

In fact, only four players in NBA history have ever had a four-game span like that. Sabonis has done it five other times, excluding this. Three-time MVP Nikola Jokic has done it 14 (!!) times. Two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo has done it once. And one-time MVP Charles Barkley has done it once (kind of crazy that The Chuckster was able to put together that type of efficiency in the 1990s).

Back to strong starts to the season, we changed the filter to include players who were only shooting at/over 70% true shooting. In that query, there were only three starts to a season that fit the 24/11/5 criteria we outlined: Sabonis (this year), Jokic (2020-21), and Barkley (1986-87).

Do you notice an interesting trend taking place? Sabonis' numbers have only ever been emulated by MVP-caliber players. Now, remember, box score numbers are far from the entire story. As we said in the opening, Sabonis is far from an inner-circle MVP contender (he still may not be the best player on his own team!).

With that said, his strong start to the season is undeniable. And if Sabonis keeps it up, denying him an All-Star berth this year will be a tall task, and excluding his Kings from the playoffs will be nearly impossible.

The Kings will play their next game on Friday, November 1, against the Atlanta Hawks. Last season, Sabonis averaged 19.5 PPG, 15.5 RPG, and 6.5 APG on 62.1% true shooting. Let's see if he can keep up his legendary start.

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