The Sacramento Kings, currently ranked 8th in the Western Conference with a record of 30-23 in the 2023-24 season, are on the verge of entering the all-star break. After years of average performance, the Kings have experienced a turnaround since last season. Following their playoff appearance in 2022-23, the team is determined to advance beyond the first round this year.
To achieve this goal, Sacramento relies heavily on the skills of their exceptional power forward, Domantas Sabonis. Acquired in a significant trade during the 2021-22 season, Sabonis has proven to be a valuable asset for the Kings. With his remarkable rebounding abilities and a playing style reminiscent of Denver’s Nikola Jokic, Sabonis consistently contributes to the team’s success. Each night, he fills the stat sheet and demonstrates his unwavering commitment to victory. If Sabonis continues to excel in the second half of the season, he may etch his name in NBA history.
Since the announcement of the All-Star selections, Sabonis has displayed outstanding performance statistics:
– Points per game: 22.0
– Rebounds per game: 14.6
– Assists per game: 10.7
– Field goal percentage: 66.7%
Despite these impressive numbers, Sabonis was not included in the All-Star game, leading many to argue that he was unjustly overlooked. While it is difficult to dispute this claim, it is important to note that the league also considers the team’s success when making selections. As a result, two players from the Minnesota Timberwolves and two from the LA Clippers were chosen, as their teams currently rank higher than the Kings, who sit in 8th place in the Western Conference. Despite this setback, Sabonis’s exceptional performance throughout the season positions him to potentially make history by its end.
Last season, Sabonis participated in his third All-Star game and delivered an impressive performance for the Kings. He averaged 19.1 points, 12.3 rebounds, and 7.3 assists per game, arguably the best season of his career until the ongoing 2023-24 season. In the first 53 games of this season, Sabonis has improved his numbers further, averaging 20.2 points, 13.2 rebounds, and 8.2 assists per game. At 27 years old, he is statistically having a superior season compared to the previous year. Despite not being selected as an All-Star, Sabonis’s exceptional season showcases his potential to achieve remarkable feats.
Through 53 games, Sabonis has achieved an impressive 49 double-doubles, accounting for approximately 92 percent of the games he has played in the 2023-24 season. With 29 games remaining, Sabonis has the opportunity to make NBA history. The current record for the most double-doubles in a season stands at 72, achieved by Hakeem Olajuwon in 1992-93. If Sabonis maintains his double-double efficiency, he could surpass Olajuwon’s record this season. To tie the record, he needs 23 more double-doubles, and to break it, he requires 24 double-doubles in the next 29 games. Will Sabonis accomplish this remarkable feat?
According to the Source sportslens.com