Who is backing up Domantas Sabonis at center for the Sacramento Kings this season is a hot topic of conversation. But in the final 2025-2026 preseason game, Drew Eubanks stepped up and showed the coaching staff that he might just be the man for the job with a strong performance.
Sabonis is, without question, one of the top centers in the league. While he leaves a lot to be desired on defense, he's a consistent double-double threat who does well on assists and playmaking. He's the top star on the Kings' roster, particularly after the departure of De'Aaron Fox last season.
During the Kings' third preseason game against the Los Angeles Clippers, Sabonis sustained a grade 1 strain in his hamstring. The injury will likely keep him on the sidelines for a couple of weeks, depending on how his recovery goes. He will hopefully be back much sooner than that.
That means the Kings need a new starting center. Current options include Dario Saric, Maxime Raynaud, Dylan Cardwell, and Drew Eubanks. While they have been playing well, both Raynaud and Cardwell are rookies, and Saric should come off the deep bench in any capacity.
That leaves Drew Eubanks
Eubanks had a solid preseason, which included three blocks in game one. He was a solid role player in each game, coming off the bench to fill any spot as needed. The fourth preseason game offered him a unique opportunity to cover for Sabonis at starting center while the All-Star is injured.
To his credit, Eubanks delivered, playing a big part in the Kings' victory over the Lakers.
He scored ten points while picking up five rebounds, four assists, one steal, and two blocks. He's not going to be the double-double machine Sabonis is, but Eubanks remains an offensive threat and a reasonably strong defensive presence. That's what the Kings need when Sabonis is on the bench.
Both Cardwell and Raynaud had solid, if not borderline remarkable, preseasons, but they definitely have more work to do to be starters. At the same time, either player can be counted on to back up either the center or forward position with the full confidence of the coaching staff.
Saric remains a reliable bencher who can put in a few minutes each game. That being said, he's certainly not someone who could be a permanent backup to Sabonis. As it stands right now, Eubanks has the strongest case to be made in that regard.