Kings Urged to Find Center Upgrade Over Domantas Sabonis by NBA Pundit

As the NBA regular season has finally started to roll around, many notable names around the league have begun to dish out some early predictions and possibilities for what may unfold throughout this exciting year. However, this one specifically comes to the dismay of Sacramento Kings fans.

On Tuesday, The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor had some criticism surrounding the Kings’ All-NBA big, via The Mismatch Podcast. He predicted that Sacramento would come to find that Sabonis does not have what it takes to be a starting center on a championship team, noting his struggles as a defender and outside shooter from a season ago:

This season will prove the Kings need to upgrade over Domantas Sabonis to seriously contend for a title.

I love what Sacramento is building. But Sabonis is a limited defender and he has lots to prove as a shooter. Finding a frontcourt partner or an upgrade will be the next step.… pic.twitter.com/LHfcHUiqOu
— Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnorNBA) October 24, 2023

“The Kings and their fans are gonna realize this season with Domantas Sabonis as their starting center, they can’t contend for a championship. Sabonis, he’s not good enough defensively. He hasn’t proven that he can space the floor on offense. His passing and screening fill a very, very vital role on that team. His post ups fill a vital role, but in no way do I feel like he is a special playmaker or a special post presence."

O’Connor continues to develop a potential resolution for the lack of defensive prowess with Sabonis, proposing an addition of a frontcourt mate that brings both an interior presence that can

“I just think with Sabonis, he needs help in that frontcourt. A guy who can protect the rim and space the floor, which is very hard to find, or he, himself, needs to become the guy that can space the floor. But, ultimately, I haven’t seen enough to feel like that’s going to end up happening, and I think the result will end up being the same as last year where he’s exposed in the playoffs."

While blunt, O’Connor does make some telling points. Without any true defensive anchor to hold down the paint, it places a lot more responsibility onto Sabonis to fill that role, even as an offensively focused player. As we saw during the first-round series against the Golden State Warriors last season, that can become an issue very quickly.

However, it does seem a bit premature to write off the Kings’ chances at a title before the season even tips off. Sabonis remains one of the best offensive big men in basketball, and he now has another year established under HC Mike Brown.

Brown did manage to lead the Kings to be the best offensive unit in the NBA last season, but let’s not forget his track record. Before coming to Sacramento, he was the defensive-focused assistant for championship teams like the Warriors and San Antonio Spurs. Foreseeing a step up in Sabonis’s two-way ability (as well as everyone else on the roster) after spending a whole season and summer under Brown’s system seems extremely likely.

The defensive concerns have merit, as the Kings were ranked as the sixth-worst team in terms of defensive rating in the 2022-23 season, but it is a brand new year in Sacramento. Locked in with another 82 games of the young, productive core we saw have immense success only a few months ago, there is still room for growth with this talented roster.

Follow Inside The Kings on Facebook and X.

Subscribe on YouTube for breaking Kings news videos and live-stream podcasts!