Domantas Sabonis

Domantas Sabonis: biography

Domantas Sabonis is a Lithuanian professional basketball player who currently plays for the Sacramento Kings of the National Basketball Association (NBA).

Childhood and youth

Domantas Sabonis was born in Portland, Oregon, USA, on May 3, 1996, to parents Arvydas Sabonis and Ingrida Mikelionyte. His father, Arvydas Sabonis, is a former professional basketball player and a Basketball Hall of Famer, while his mother is a former Olympic heptathlete.

Growing up, Sabonis spent a lot of time around basketball. He would often accompany his father to practice and games and developed a love for the sport at a young age. Sabonis also played soccer and tennis growing up, but basketball was always his true passion.

Sabonis attended Jesuit High School in Portland, where he played basketball for the school's team. In his junior year, he averaged 14.3 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game and helped lead the team to a state championship. In his senior year, Sabonis improved his stats to 24.4 points, 10.4 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game and was named the Oregon Class 6A Player of the Year.

After graduating from high school, Sabonis committed to playing college basketball for Gonzaga University. He played for Gonzaga for two seasons, where he was a dominant force on the court. In his sophomore year, Sabonis averaged 17.6 points, 11.8 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game and was named the West Coast Conference Player of the Year.

Overall, Sabonis had a childhood and youth that was heavily influenced by basketball, and he has since become a successful professional basketball player in the NBA, following in his father's footsteps.

Basketball career

After a successful college career at Gonzaga University, Domantas Sabonis was selected 11th overall by the Orlando Magic in the 2016 NBA draft. However, he was soon traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder along with Victor Oladipo and Ersan Ilyasova in exchange for Serge Ibaka.

In his rookie season with the Thunder, Sabonis played in all 81 games and started in 66 of them. He averaged 5.9 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.0 assists per game, showing promise as a versatile and skilled big man. He also participated in the 2017 Rising Stars Challenge during NBA All-Star Weekend.

In September 2017, Sabonis was traded to the Indiana Pacers along with Victor Oladipo in exchange for Paul George. In his first season with the Pacers, Sabonis emerged as a key contributor off the bench, averaging 11.6 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game. He was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team and finished second in the Rookie of the Year voting behind Ben Simmons.

In the following seasons, Sabonis continued to improve his game and became one of the top players on the Pacers' roster. He was selected to his first NBA All-Star Game in 2020, averaging 18.5 points, 12.4 rebounds, and 5.0 assists per game that season. He was also named to the All-NBA Third Team in 2021, becoming the first Pacers player to earn All-NBA honors since Paul George in 2018.

Sabonis is known for his versatile skillset, which includes rebounding, passing, and scoring from the post and beyond the arc. He has become one of the league's most skilled big men and a valuable asset for the Pacers. In the 2020-21 season, he led the league in total double-doubles with 56 and became the first player in NBA history to record at least 20 points, 20 rebounds, and 10 assists in a game since the league began tracking assists in 1977-78.

On February 8, 2022, the Indiana Pacers decided to rebuild and traded Domantas Sabonis, along with Justin Holiday, Jeremy Lamb, and a 2023 second-round pick, to the Sacramento Kings. In return, the Pacers received Tyrese Haliburton, Buddy Hield, and Tristan Thompson. The very next day, Sabonis made his debut for the Kings and helped them secure a 132-119 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves. He delivered an impressive performance, scoring 22 points, grabbing 14 rebounds, and dishing out five assists in 32 minutes of play. However, on March 9, Sabonis received a one-game suspension without pay for making contact with a game official.

In February 2023, Domantas Sabonis was named as a reserve for the Western Conference in the NBA All-Star game, marking his third All-Star selection. His selection also marked a significant achievement for the Sacramento Kings, as Sabonis became the first Kings player to be named an All-Star since DeMarcus Cousins in 2016.

Overall, Sabonis has established himself as one of the top players in the NBA and has a bright future ahead of him.

Personal life

Sabonis has been married to Shashana Rosen since 2021. Their first child was born in March, 2022 and they are expecting their second child in summer 2023.

In his free time, Sabonis enjoys playing video games and spending time with his family and friends. He also enjoys listening to music, particularly hip-hop and R&B.

Overall, Sabonis is known for being a family-oriented person who is proud of his Lithuanian heritage and has a passion for basketball both on and off the court.

Achievements and accomplishments

• Oregon Class 6A Player of the Year (2014)
• West Coast Conference Player of the Year (2016)
• Helped Gonzaga University reach the Elite Eight in the NCAA tournament (2015, 2016)
• Represented Lithuania in international competitions, including the FIBA Basketball World Cup and the Olympic Games
• NCAA consensus second-team All-American (2016)
• NBA All-Rookie Second Team (2018)
• NBA All-Star (2020)
• All-NBA Third Team (2021)
• Led the league in total double-doubles in the 2020-21 season (56)
• Became the first player in NBA history to record at least 20 points, 20 rebounds, and 10 assists in a game since the league began tracking assists in 1977-78 (2021)