The Sacramento Kings face a significant void in the frontcourt following Domantas Sabonis’ knee injury, leaving them at a disadvantage early in the 2025-26 NBA season.
As November draws to a close, the Kings have released the latest injury update on their star center.
Latest Update on Domantas Sabonis’ Recovery
After playing in 11 of the Kings’ first 14 contests, Sabonis has been on the sidelines since Nov. 16.
Sabonis played 36 minutes in the team’s 123-110 loss to the San Antonio Spurs, finishing with 17 points, 13 rebounds, and five assists. However, that ended up being his most recent appearance as he suffered a partial meniscus tear in his left knee. He will have a reevaluation after three to four weeks, per NBA insider Shams Charania.
The three-week mark of Sabonis’ injury is two weeks away, and the timeline could extend to three weeks from now. That could mean up to seven more games missed for the big man.
Head coach Doug Christie gave his thoughts on the news of Sabonis’ injury, via NBC-Sports Sacramento. He acknowledged the loss the team will feel in the frontcourt, knowing how the star center plays a crucial role in helping the offense flourish with his inside scoring, rebounding, and playmaking talents.
“Not happy. I feel for him, obviously. We need the big fella, but it’s the nature of what we do, and we know that when we sign up. So, it’s unfortunate. We love him and hope that he gets well,” Christie said on Nov. 20.
Sabonis dealt with minor injuries earlier in the season that caused him to miss three games. He had a hamstring strain and a rib issue that sidelined him for the season opener against Phoenix on Oct. 22 and two contests against Golden State on Nov. 5 and Oklahoma City on Nov. 7.
Sabonis is in his 10th NBA season. He has stood out as one of the league’s best rebounding and playmaking big men, helping the Kings reach the playoffs in 2023 and ending a 17-year drought. He earned one All-Star selection and was named to the All-NBA third team twice, in 2023 and 2024.
Before the injury, Sabonis was averaging 17.2 points, 12.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.2 steals per game. He was shooting 51% from the field, including 20% from beyond the arc, and 72.5% from the free-throw line.
What’s Next for the Kings?
The Kings will await Sabonis’ return from his meniscus injury sometime around late December or early January at the latest. In the meantime, they will look to hold their ground in a difficult Western Conference.
Sacramento has a 5-13 record on the season, holding the 12th spot in the Western Conference standings. They are even with the Los Angeles Clippers while trailing the Utah Jazz by 0.5 games and the Memphis Grizzlies by one game.
The Kings will handle their remaining games in the NBA Cup group stage this week. They host the Suns on Nov. 26 at 10 p.m. ET and then go on the road to face the Jazz on Nov. 28 at 9:30 p.m. ET.
