Domantas Sabonis Dishes on OKC Thunder Homecourt Advantage, Chet Holmgren's Growth
The Oklahoma City Thunder have clinched Homecourt advantage in the first round of the Western Conference Playoffs and Domantas Sabonis knows firsthand what a boost that is.
In 2010, Oklahoma City became known as Loud City as the Thunderous cheers shook the foundation of a cramped arena giving a college-like atmosphere to professional sports, the only environment Oklahomans have ever known.
That Loud City moniker has never gone away, the blue-collar people in this mid-America fly-over state who have no idea how to be a wine and cheese crowd and have never lost their charm in a land of corporate sponsors and snooty millionaires sitting courtside.
As the Oklahoma City Thunder rattled off one of the most successful postseason stretches in basketball with countless Hall of Famers donning Bricktown Blue, the fans have been credited for each series win alongside the All-Time greats who got it done on the hardwood.
It is impossible to tell the history of this already tale-rich franchise without Domantas Sabonis. The current Kings star big man began his career in Oklahoma City as the Thunder selected the Gonzaga product with pick no. 11 in the 2016 NBA Draft.
As Kevin Durant darts for Golden State just weeks later, Sabonis played alongside Russell Westbrook during one of the most historic seasons the NBA has ever seen as Westbrook drags the Thunder to the postseason en route to an MVP award while averaging a triple-double.
That season, the Thunder were ousted in five games against the Houston Rockets but the echoing of the crowd throughout games three and four during his rookie campaign is something Sabonis will never forget.
"[The Thunder's Homecourt advantage] is big. Everyone was color coordinated, everybody was here early, it definitely was something I will never forget," Sabonis told Inside the Thunder before the Kings' 112-105 loss to the Thunder on Tuesday.
The lasting impact it had on Sabonis, who played six total playoff minutes and zero in the Paycom Center during his OKC tenure is a testament to how rambunctious the Thunder faithful can be come playoff time. 18,203 screaming fans all draped in the same shirts with a roof reflecting sound onto the court and leaving everyone in attendance scrambling for ibuprofen afterward.
Sabonis also praised Chet Holmgren prior to their final meeting in the regular season as the Kings' big man has seen firsthand how his fellow Gonzaga product has improved throughout his first season in the NBA.
"He is getting better and better every game. He has a high IQ, he is knocking down shots, taking on more responsibility and you can see his confidence growing," The 27-year-old veteran told Inside the Thunder about the Thunder's rookie big man.
Holmgren certainly made adjustments in this matchup after Sabonis logged two triple-doubles in their three meeting back sandwiched between an 18-point and 16-rebound night, the Kings' big man was held to just eight points on seven shots Tuesday against his rookie counterpart.
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