Former Gonzaga star Domantas Sabonis ready for first NBA All-Star Game in Kings' uniform: 'This one means the most'
The Sacramento Kings are on pace to end a 16-year playoff drought, and in Sunday’s NBA All-Star Game, the franchise will be represented by multiple players for the first time since 2004.
Former Gonzaga star Domantas Sabonis is one of two Kings who will participate in the annual showcase, marking his third career All-Star selection and his first in Sacramento.
“I feel like this is the one that means the most out of all three, just because it’s in a Kings uniform,” Sabonis told The Athletic’s Sam Amick in an exclusive interview.
Sabonis is averaging 18.8 points, a league-leading 12.3 rebounds and a career-high 6.9 assists per game while leading the Kings to a 32-25 record and the No. 3 spot in the Western Conference.
The 6-foot-11 center has maintained his production while playing with an injured right thumb he fractured in December. He missed one game due to the injury, a loss to the Nuggets on Dec. 27, but since then his scoring and assist averages have risen.
Sabonis came to Sacramento in a six-player midseason trade last year with the Indiana Pacers that centered around the swap of him for guard Tyrese Haliburton, a first-time All-Star this season.
The Kings initially received negative feedback regarding the deal, but lately it’s been discussed as a win for both teams.
“A lot of stuff was said when the trade happened,” Sabonis said. “(Kings general manager) Monty (McNair) and (assistant general manager) Wes (Wilcox) trusted me to come here and start changing the franchise around.”
Sabonis has done exactly that, propelling a team from the bottom of the NBA to legitimate playoff contention.
“We’re the third seed, so obviously the goal is to keep that or even go higher,” Sabonis said. “And by doing that at such a high level, with the West being so stacked and how strong it is, I just think it’s great for the city, for the Kings organization.”
The Kings have the fourth-highest remaining strength of schedule in the NBA behind the Philadelphia 76ers, Los Angeles Clippers and Atlanta Hawks. Sacramento’s first game after All-Star weekend is at home on Thursday against the Portland Trail Blazers.
Sabonis is the second Gonzaga alum to appear in the All-Star Game, with the first being John Stockton, who played 10 times in the event.
The only other Zag to take part in this weekend’s festivities was Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard, who played in the Jordan Rising Stars tournament on Saturday.
The All-Star Game tips off on Sunday at 4:30 p.m. PST.
