Sacramento Kings forward Domantas Sabonis did not undergo surgery on his right thumb, according to James Ham of ESPN 130. The NBA star was diagnosed with an avulsion fracture of the ulnar collateral ligament of the right thumb in December 2022.
Sabonis, 27, will not play for Lithuanian in the 2023 FIBA World Cup.
Sabonis averaged 19.1 points, 12.3 rebounds and 7.3 assists in 2022-23 while shooting 61.5% from the field, 37.3% from beyond the arc and 74.2% from the free-throw line. He made the All-Star team and the All-NBA third team.
Sabonis and the Kings have agreed to a five-year, $217 million renegotiate-and-extend deal, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN. The lefty was entering the final year of a four-year, $74.9 million contract that was set to pay him $19.4 million in 2023-24.
The Kings won 48 games last season and made the playoffs for the first time since 2006. Even though Sacramento lost to the Golden State Warriors in the first round of the 2023 postseason in seven games, the team has a bright future with Sabonis, De’Aaron Fox, Keegan Murray, Malik Monk, Kevin Huerter and Harrison Barnes leading the way.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Domantas Sabonis & Sacramento Kings Updates
The Kings acquired Sabonis from the Indiana Pacers in the Tyrese Haliburton trade. While there was initial criticism for the trade since Haliburton is a star point guard, the move proved to be a successful one with long-term potential for Sacramento.
Sabonis has career averages of 15.1 points, 9.7 rebounds and 4.2 assists with the Oklahoma City Thunder, Pacers and Kings. He’s the son of Hall of Famer Arvydas Sabonis.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Domantas Sabonis & Sacramento Kings Updates
Along with re-signing Barnes and extending Sabonis this summer, the Kings acquired Chris Duarte from the Pacers. Duarte averaged 7.9 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.4 assists last season in 46 games while shooting 36.9% from the floor, 31.6% from 3 and 84.7% from the free-throw line.
The Detroit Pistons were interested in trading for Duarte, an NBA executive told NBA Analysis Network. However, the Kings beat the Pistons to the punch and improved their depth.
Want the latest NBA analysis, breaking news, and insider information? Click Here. Follow NBA Analysis Network on Twitter and Facebook.
