After helping the Kings to an incredibly successful season, big man Domantas Sabonis will stay in Sacramento. This move will keep him paired with De’Aaron Fox in the future.
Domantas Sabonis Signs Extension
Background
Domantas had arguably one of the best seasons of his career. Making All-NBA Third Team, Sabonis was one of the architects of the best Regular Season offense in the NBA. He helped lead the Kings to the Third Seed in the Western Conference before falling to the Golden State Warriors in seven games.
Domantas established himself as an elite center in the NBA and made a massive jump this season with the Kings. The deal is a 5-year deal worth up to $217 million.
What was the Big Difference?
Playing as the Primary Decision Maker
Domantas played a lot in the high post, meaning he made the decisions in their offense. The Kings ran a lot of dribble hand-offs, and Domantas was responsible for setting up those actions. He led the Kings in assists at 7.3, which ranked 11th in the NBA. Therefore, Domantas added fluidity to the Sacramento offense. Sabonis put guys in the right spot, and his ability to set up hand-offs or back-door passes from the high post made the Kings very hard to guard.
He was Dominant in the Paint
Sabonis dominated the paint this season. He averaged 19.1 points and 12.3 rebounds, allowing him to succeed. Domantas made it difficult to stop him because he set great screens, found good areas to score in the post, and dominated the glass. His success in the paint opened up the offense for the Kings, making them a far more elite basketball team. He was first in rebounds per game, helping him establish himself as one of the best bigs in the game.
His Efficiency
Domantas has been an efficient player, but he took a big step in his efficiency this season. Sabonis shot a career-high 61.5% from the floor this season and 37.3% from three, the second-highest of his career. Coach Mike Brown put Domantas in better situations because of their motion offense, allowing Sabonis to play to his strengths. Sabonis got many points being a role man in pick-and-roll or offensive hand-off options, giving him easy shots in the paint.
His three-point percentage was good this season, helping his overall efficiency. Domantas was terrific in terms of efficiency this season.
What can Domantas Improve?
Lack of an Off-Hand
While Domantas showed excellence this season, the playoffs exposed some glaring holes in his game. The first is his refusal to finish or look to go to his right hand. The Warriors sat on his left hand and refused to let him get into the moves that made him so dominant this season. Domantas would get charges, turn the ball over and shoot a significantly worse percentage. For next season, Sabonis needs that deficiency corrected. Furthermore, he is more than capable because he shows flashes of where he can do it. Brown has to prioritize to help Sabonis produce better in the Playoffs.
He Needs to Shoot Jumpers More
While his percentages are good, Domantas does not shoot a lot of jumpers in the game. He only shoots them when he is wide open, and no one is around him. The Warriors intentionally backed off him to deter his passing ability and make him think more. He has to shoot the jumper in those cases because it will cause the defense to play up. Additionally, his teammates will get better looks because the paint won’t be clogged by the defending center, opening up cuts and threes.
Sabonis has a solid shot, so he needs to trust it more in games and balance when he looks to drive and shoots the jumper. He is young, so he has time to figure it out.
Last Word on Domantas Sabonis
The re-signing of Domantas Sabonis was a superb move from the Kings. He is one of the best bigs in the NBA. Domantas and Fox have a bright future together, and that duo needs to remain intact. This team can contend for an NBA Championship if Sabonis addresses his weaknesses.
