Did Domantas Sabonis play in Europe?

Domantas Sabonis is a Lithuanian-American professional basketball player, currently playing for the Sacramento Kings in the NBA. Born on May 3, 1996, Domantas is the son of Hall of Fame basketball player Arvydas Sabonis.

Throughout his career, Sabonis has been part of three monumental trades. Initially selected with the 11th overall pick by the Orlando Magic in the 2016 NBA Draft, Sabonis was traded on the draft day to the Oklahoma City Thunder in exchange for Victor Oladipo.

In 2017, Sabonis was part of another significant trade, joining the Indiana Pacers in exchange for Paul George. Later, his journey continued with a trade to the Sacramento Kings in 2022.

Domantas Sabonis is celebrated for his unique skills as one of the best ball-handling centers, excelling in dribbling and passing. He is also great at rebounding, and has become a double-double machine in the NBA.

Sabonis' stellar contributions were further recognized with a historic four-year contract extension worth $186 million by the Kings, making it the most lucrative contract in Lithuania's sports history.

Did Domantas Sabonis play in Europe?

Prior to NCAA and NBA basketball, Domantas Sabonis played in Europe. Though born and initially raised in Portland, Sabonis experienced a significant shift in his early teenage years as his family relocated to Malaga.

Under the guidance of his Hall of Fame father, Arvydas Sabonis, who swiftly recognized his son's prodigious basketball talent, Sabonis quickly became a child prodigy on the court. His basketball journey in Malaga began at a youth center, as he eventually progressed to playing for Clinicas Rincón, a U-18 Unicaja Malaga farm team where young talents showcase their skills.

Throughout the 2012-13 season, Domantas Sabonis demonstrated promise, averaging 4.9 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 0.5 assists in 17.9 minutes per game. He also made notable appearances in the 2012/13 Adidas Next Generation Tournament, where he displayed his skills at center position with an average of 10.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 1.0 steals per game in little over 23 minutes per game over four matches.

In the 2013-14 season, Sabonis made the leap to the Malaga senior team, making 19 appearances with three starts. As a 17-year-old, he mostly came off the bench, yet he showed promise and battled against Europe's elite players, gaining invaluable experience. Despite limited opportunities, Sabonis played a pivotal role in one game against Euroleague side La Bruixa d'Or Manresa, where he contributed 13 points, 2 rebounds, and 1 assist in just 17 minutes of action, highlighting his burgeoning talent.

However, in a crucial decision for his development, Sabonis declined a three-year, $630,000 contract offer from Unicaja Malaga in 2014, opting instead to pursue his basketball journey in the NCAA. This pivotal chapter in Malaga laid the groundwork for Sabonis's future success on the global basketball stage.

What is Domantas Sabonis average?

In the 2022-23 season, Sabonis averaged 19.1 points, 12.3 rebounds (league-high), and 7.1 assists per game. These terrific stats solidified his status as one of the best bigs in the league.

Domantas Sabonis College

Domantas Sabonis played NCAA Division I basketball for Gonzaga University. He played two seasons for the Zags from 2014 to 2016.

Sabonis decided to join Gonzaga for the 2014/15 season, and he made an immediate impact. In his debut game for the Zags, he stuffed the stats sheet with 14 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, a steal and a block. Following an outstanding freshman season with Gonzaga, Sabonis earned well-deserved recognition, securing a spot on the All-WCC Second Team and further solidifying his status as a rising star by being named to the WCC All-Freshman Team.

During March Madness, he led Gonzaga to the round of Sweet 16 where they lost to eventual champions Duke Blue Devils.

Sabonis decided to return for his sophomore season at Gonzaga for the 2015/16 season, as he began the season with a career-high performance of 26 points. During the entire 2015/16 season, he continued to set new career highs in points and rebounds, further solidifying his status as a dominant force on the court.

His terrific performances earned him numerous accolades, including AP Honorable Mention All-American, NCAA All-Tournament Midwest Region selection, CoSIDA Second Team Academic All-American, and First-team All-WCC.

After his sophomore season, Sabonis decided to declare for the 2016 NBA Draft. Prior to the draft, he signed with Wasserman Media Group for representation. His impactful two seasons at Gonzaga showcased not only his basketball prowess but also his academic achievements, receiving CoSIDA Academic All-American honors.

In retrospect, Sabonis left Gonzaga as the program's all-time leader in career field goal percentage at .632. In two college seasons, Sabonis averaged 13.5 points, 9.4 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game.