WATCH: Indiana Pacers play tribute video for former center and All-Star Domantas Sabonis
The Indiana Pacers traded Domantas Sabonis to the Sacramento Kings nearly a full year ago. It was February 9, 2022 when the deal went down and both franchises dramatically changed directions.
359 days later, Sabonis is finally back in Indianapolis to play in the arena where he grew from a bench big to a multi-time All-Star. Sabonis spent five seasons with Indiana, but tonight he will play in Gainbridge Fieldhouse as a Pacers opponent for the first time since February 6, 2017. Back then, he was a rookie with the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Now, he is a multi-time All-Star — in fact, he and the key player he was dealt for, Tyrese Haliburton, were both announced as All-Stars yesterday. It is a fitting time for Sabonis to play in Indianapolis again, where he played in hundreds of games for the Pacers and was a two-time All-Star.
"Feels good to come back, see a lot of familiar faces that I built a lot of relationships with," Sabonis said before the game. He noted that it was ironic to be in Indianapolis when he found out that we would be an All-Star for the third time.
"I'm just happy I get to play basketball and see a lot of close friends, family friends," he added. He noted that he passed by a few of his old apartments the day before the game.
Sabonis was with the Pacers during their last playoff win in 2018. He helped guide the team to three playoff appearances and one play-in tournament berth. He averaged 16.3 points and 10.5 rebounds per game for the franchise.
Sabonis missed the Kings' first return to Indianapolis after the trade with an injury. He wasn't sure what it was going to be like to see a tribute video on his behalf.
"I don't know, we'll see," Sabonis said of what he was expecting emotionally during the tribute. You can watch the video below.
Sabonis and former teammate Myles Turner exchanged a handshake and hug at center court just before the game's opening tip. Sabonis meant a lot to the Pacers franchise.
"As a teammate, he was like a vet for me and a lot of the younger guys. He was a good guy," Pacers young big man Isaiah Jackson said of Sabonis. He noted that the now-Kings center was a great teammate off the court and often invited him to dinners. "Any advice we needed about the game, he was there for us."
That said, Jackson knew the task at hand. The Pacers have lost 11 of their last 12 games and need a win badly, even in an emotional game. "We're going to try to get this win tonight and ruin his little parade," Jackson shared.
The Pacers and Kings battled earlier in the season, and Haliburton saw his tribute video in Sacramento. The two teams will be linked for years after swapping All-Stars. Now, though, some of the emotions will wear off as both players have played their first game in their old city.
- Why a contract extension made sense for the Indiana Pacers and Myles Turner. CLICK HERE.
- Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton named a 2023 NBA All-Star. CLICK HERE.
- Report: Indiana Pacers were 'finalist' for Rui Hachimura before Los Angeles Lakers trade. CLICK HERE.
- Indiana Pacers rookies Bennedict Mathurin and Andrew Nembhard were named to the NBA Rising Stars team. CLICK HERE.
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