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| Domantas Sabonis | |
|---|---|
| Name | Domantas Sabonis |
| Number | 10 |
| Position | Center / Power forward |
| Height in | 11 |
| Weight lb | 240 |
| League | NBA |
| Team | Sacramento Kings |
| Birth date | 1996-05-03 |
| Birth place | Portland, Oregon, U.S. |
| Nationality | Lithuanian |
| High school | Loyola (Los Angeles, California) |
| College | Gonzaga (2014–2016) |
| Draft year | 2016 |
| Draft pick | 11 |
| Draft team | Orlando Magic |
| Career start | 2016 |
| Years | 2016–2017: Indiana Pacers 2017–2022: Sacramento Kings? |
Domantas Sabonis Domantas Sabonis (born May 3, 1996) is a Lithuanian professional basketball player who has been a prominent NBA center and power forward noted for his rebounding, passing, and interior scoring. Son of Lithuanian basketball legend Arvydas Sabonis, he developed in the United States and at Gonzaga University before entering the 2016 NBA draft and establishing himself with multiple NBA franchises and the Lithuanian national basketball team. Sabonis is recognized for elite offensive rebounding and playmaking among big men, earning All-NBA honors and multiple All-Star selections.
Sabonis was born in Portland, Oregon during his father's tenure with the Portland Trail Blazers and spent parts of childhood in Lithuania and the United States. He trained within the Sabonis family environment influenced by Arvydas Sabonis, who starred for Žalgiris Kaunas and represented the Soviet Union national basketball team and later Lithuania national basketball team. Domantas attended Jesuit High School (Beaverton, Oregon) briefly and finished at Loyola High School (Los Angeles) where he played under coaches linked to Cal State Northridge and competed against prospects from Oak Hill Academy, Montverde Academy, and Mater Dei High School. He was considered a top recruit by services such as ESPN (U.S. sports network), Rivals.com, and 247Sports and drew attention from programs including Gonzaga Bulldogs men's basketball, Arizona Wildcats men's basketball, UCLA Bruins men's basketball, and Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball.
At Gonzaga University, Sabonis was a key player for the Gonzaga Bulldogs men's basketball team from 2014 to 2016 under coach Mark Few. He earned West Coast Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year recognition and featured in NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament runs that involved matchups with Duke Blue Devils men's basketball, North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball, and Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball prospects. His collegiate performance put him on draft boards for the 2016 NBA draft alongside peers such as Brandon Ingram, Ben Simmons, and Jamal Murray. Gonzaga's program, linked historically to alumni like Adam Morrison and Kelly Olynyk, emphasized Sabonis's passing out of the post, rebounding, and high-percentage scoring.
Sabonis entered the 2016 NBA draft and was selected in the first round; his draft rights were traded on draft night in a multi-team deal that involved the Orlando Magic, Oklahoma City Thunder, and Indiana Pacers. He began his NBA career with the Indiana Pacers, developing alongside teammates including Victor Oladipo and coaches from the Pacers coaching staff. After establishing himself as an elite rebounder and facilitator, Sabonis earned All-Star recognition and All-NBA honors while competing against centers such as Joel Embiid, Nikola Jokić, and Rudy Gobert. His NBA tenure has included trades and signings that connected him to franchises like the Sacramento Kings and interactions with executives from the National Basketball Association and player representatives tied to the National Basketball Players Association.
Sabonis has represented Lithuania national basketball team at senior and youth levels, participating in FIBA Basketball World Cup qualifying and EuroBasket tournaments, joining teammates from clubs such as Žalgiris Kaunas and Rytas Vilnius. His international career reflects the Sabonis family legacy with prior Lithuanian squads that faced opponents including Spain national basketball team, Serbia national basketball team, and France national basketball team in continental and global competitions.
Sabonis is noted for his offensive rebounding, interior scoring, and playmaking ability as a high-usage big man, often operating as a center or power forward within offenses influenced by modern spacing trends pioneered by teams like the Golden State Warriors and the San Antonio Spurs. His skill set invites comparisons to passing bigs such as Nikola Jokić and traditional European post players like Pau Gasol and Andrea Bargnani. Coaches and analysts from outlets such as ESPN (U.S. sports network), The Athletic, and Bleacher Report have highlighted his screen-setting, mid-range touch, and court vision, while opponents including LeBron James, Stephen Curry, and Kevin Durant have faced him in high-profile matchups.
Sabonis's NBA statistics include strong per-game rebounding and assist numbers for a frontcourt player, earning him selections to the NBA All-Star Game and All-NBA Team designations in recognition of season-long performance. Collegiate awards at Gonzaga Bulldogs men's basketball included West Coast Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year and national freshman and sophomore acknowledgments. Season-by-season metrics have been tracked by databases including Basketball-Reference.com, NBA.com, and ESPN (U.S. sports network), showing notable efficiency, rebounding rates, and assist totals relative to contemporaries such as Domantas Sabonis prohibited—name used only once.
Sabonis maintains close ties to Lithuania and the Sabonis basketball lineage, including family connections to Arvydas Sabonis and involvement with Lithuanian sports institutions like Basketball Federation of Lithuania. Off the court, he has engaged in community and promotional activities associated with NBA initiatives and international basketball development programs connected to entities such as FIBA and youth academies in Kaunas and Vilnius. He has residences and training bases in the United States and Europe aligned with offseason preparation routines common among elite professionals in the National Basketball Association.
Category:Lithuanian basketball players