Domantas Sabonis Is “Quietly Quitting” On The Kings Amid Difficult Season

As it stands, the Sacramento Kings (1-10) are in a tough spot right now, and Domantas Sabonis is at the center of it all. After joining the team in 2022, he enjoyed an era of prosperity alongside De’Aaron Fox and Keegan Murray , but the situation has changed drastically over the past couple of years. This season, with the Kings sitting 14th in the West, the mood has been somber in Sacramento, and last night’s loss to the Orlando Magic illustrated just how dire their situation has become. In fact, according to Kevin O’Connor, center Domantas Sabonis is showing signs of quitting on the Kings , despite the limited trade market for his services. “Sad to see Domantas Sabonis quiet quitting on the Kings,” wrote Kevin O’Connor . “0 points on 2 shots last night. He doesn’t want to be there. I just don’t know who’s gonna want him at $45.4M this year and $48.6M next year. Sabonis might be stuck with Sacramento, and Sacramento might be stuck with him.” The Kings are losers of four straight games, but that’s not surprising, considering they are in a rebuilding phase. More concerning is that their supposed leading star has been a complete no-show so far, and the loss to Orlando was especially bad. In 23 minutes, Sabonis went scoreless, finishing with a team-worst -14. While some have chalked it up as a bad shooting game, his reluctance to shoot has validated claims that he’s completely done with this Kings team. At the very least, it suggests that he’s holding back amid mounting frustration. Sabonis, who started his career with the Pacers, was huge for Sacramento during their “light the beam” era with point guard De’Aaron Fox . Just a few years ago, he was seen as a cornerstone of the franchise and a key piece of their future. But now, ever since the trade that sent Fox to the Spurs, Sabonis’ place on the team has fallen under heavy doubt . Over the years, the veteran center has remained loyal to the Kings, providing a steady presence at center with averages of 18.8 points, 13.1 rebounds, 6.9 assists, 0.8 steals, and 0.4 blocks per game on 59.5% shooting from the field. After years of losing, however, Sabonis has seemingly lost his way. This season, when he should be in his prime, Sabonis is averaging just 13.8 points, 13.3 rebounds, and 5.9 assists per game on 66.3% shooting from the field. At this stage of his career, Sabonis surely wants to be in a competitive situation, and the Kings would be better off trading him for a package that includes a pick or a young player. The problem is, no team is willing to take on Sabonis’ $45 million annual salary. At 30, on a max contract, the Kings are likely stuck with Sabonis unless they are willing to lower their asking price. What that means for their deadline goals is unclear, but the Kings don’t have much to lose right now. As one of the worst teams in the NBA, they are obligated to listen to any trade offer, and Sabonis is sure to generate some interest. Until then, both the Kings and Sabonis will have to play on, with the hope that a team will get desperate enough to make an offer down the road.