NFL
By: Mark T. Wilson
The Sacramento Kings have a stud in their starting lineup and it’s not De’Aaron Fox. Domantas Sabonis is a poor man’s Nikola Jokic. Not a slight against Sabonis but more a slight at the Kings. What makes Jokic such a great player is that the offense of the Denver Nuggets runs through their MVP Center. The Kings have the same player in their Center and yet, they refuse to take advantage of his full arsenal.
On the year, Sabonis is averaging 18.9 points, 12.3 rebounds, and 7.2 assists. Not a far distance from what Jokic is doing but Jokic does have an advantage. Sabonis doesn’t get the amount of touches that Jokic does. He’s attempting just 12.5 shots per game while Jokic aviaries 19.0.
The Kings are playing great ball but if you’re looking for a mirror image of the defending NBA champs, they reside in Sacramento. An explosive PG in Fox much like Jamal Murray. A shooting and defensive SF in Keegan Murray muck like Michael Porter Jr. A solid stretch 4 in Harrison Barnes much the same as Aaron Gordon. The SG position is held down by sharpshooting Kevin Huerter the same as Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.
Jokic has the players around him to initiate an offense. The reason why he averages 9.4 assists per game. Sabonis should be up there as well but his teammates have nights where shots are not falling. Then you take into account that Fox is playing the season with a chip on his shoulder to prove he belongs in the conversation with the top-scoring guards.
What Are The Sacramento Kings Doing With Domantas Sabonis
Fox is averaging 30.1 points per game while attempting 22.1 shots. It’s time for him to dial it back just a bit and share the wealth. Yes, he can score at will but with a player like Sabonis on the blocks, he’s not easy to defend for the opposition. Take advantage. The Sacramento Kings won’t win a title until they learn this.
Team-ball wins titles. The Nuggets proved that point last season the same way the Golden State Warriors have done through the course of their dynasty run. It was about getting everyone to buy into the Steve Kerr approach. The Sacramento Kings are right on the cusp of greatness but until they figure out how to use Sabonis like the Nuggets do with Jokic, they will always play the background.
While Fox is becoming a household name, Domantas Sabonis keeps quiet, does his work, and vanishes. But it’s time that everyone takes a closer look at his game and what he had done since his days with the Indiana Pacers and Oklahoma City Thunder to what he’s doing now with the Sacramento Kings and give him his respect. Jokic is not a look-at-me-now type of player, and neither is Sabonis.
But to not give this man the proper respect he deserves for helping to bring the Sacramento Kings to the forefront of the NBA is absurd. He has the numbers to back up the claim as one of the best big men in the NBA. But as long as there is Joel Embiid, Anthony Davis, and Jokic doing the same thing, there will be those who look the other way when it comes to Sabonis.
