Domantas Sabonis is nearing a return for the Sacramento Kings. The timing couldn’t be better. Without Sabonis, the Kings have struggled of late, and they are in the midst of a battle for playoff seeding in the blood bath that is the Western Conference. The Kings announced Sunday that their star center is close to coming back. This recent Sabonis injury update is vital. The Kings will need to make a late-season run to ensure their position in the 2025 NBA playoffs, and they can’t do it without Sabonis.
Positive Kings’ Injury Update Comes At Perfect Moment
Recent Sabonis Injury Update Provides Optimism for Kings
Finally, some good news for Kings fans. The team announced that Sabonis “has made significant progress in the return to play process after missing three games with a moderate right ankle sprain. Sabonis was a full participant in practice today and will be listed as questionable for tomorrow’s game versus the Boston Celtics.”
Sabonis has been out for nine of the Kings’ last 11 games with various injuries. The team has not fared well without their best player. The Kings went just 3-6 in those games and are in danger of completely falling out of the 2025 NBA playoff picture. They currently are the ninth seed in the West, up a game and a half on the Phoenix Suns and Dallas Mavericks. Any more slippage in the standings and the Kings could miss the play-in tournament completely, so getting back Sabonis is crucial.
Sabonis is the Kings’ Backbone
Since joining the Kings, Sabonis has been one of the most underrated stars in the NBA. This season is he averaging 19.2 points, 6.2 assists, and a career-high 13.9 rebounds, he is also shooting an incredible 42.5% from three. Not only is Sabonis a scoring threat down low and from three, but he is also the backbone of the Kings’ offense. Everything flows through him.
Sabonis might not get the credit he deserves, either. He didn’t make the All-Star team this season despite being one of the most impactful players in the league. Currently, he is fifth in player-impact estimate. Sabonis ranks top ten in effective field goal percentage and true shooting percentage, all while leading the league in rebounds per game. The Kings are getting back one of the best players in the league, which they will need to hold onto playoff positioning.
Other Kings Injury News
Although the Sabonis injury update is great news, the Kings have other injury concerns popping up. It seems like an illness may be going around the locker room. Which is not ideal for a playoff push. Right now, Devin Carter and Malik Monk are both listed as day-to-day with an illness. Monk has taken over as the point guard for the Kings since they traded De’Aaron Fox.
The Kings will need both Sabonis and Monk over the next few games. Their upcoming schedule is quite daunting, with their next two games against the Celtics and Thunder, the two favorites to win the NBA Finals. The Kings will need to turn things around for ideal playoff positioning, and Sabonis’ return gives them a decent chance.
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