The Sacramento Kings have reportedly locked up the final piece of the core that rose to third in the Western Conference, snapping the NBA’s all-time longest playoff drought at 16 seasons.
Per multiple reports, All-Star forward Domantas Sabonis has agreed to renegotiate and extend his current contract with the Kings. The deal is worth $217 million over the next five seasons and does not include any player or team options, per The Sacramento Bee. The deal was officially announced on July 6.
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reports Sabonis’ salary is rising to $30.6 million next season (a raise of $8.6 million) and a four-year extension that will give Sabonis nearly $200 million more over the life of the contract. Additionally, Sabonis isn’t taking the full money available to him, per ESPN, as he agreed to the deal Saturday and told Kings leadership he desired the franchise’s ability to build a roster over maximizing his earnings.
Updated story with more details and more to come.
Source: Sacramento Kings sign Domantas Sabonis to contract extension worth $217 million https://t.co/lCk3tTC1f3
— Jason Anderson (@JandersonSacBee) July 2, 2023
Sacramento Kings All-NBA C Domantas Sabonis has agreed to a contract renegotiation and extension for a total of $217M over five years — including $195M in new money, his agents Greg Lawrence and Jason Ranne tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/JL9Yic3Zi8
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 2, 2023
Sacramento Kings Sign Domantas Sabonis To Contract Extension
📝⏩ https://t.co/ualMU2paFq pic.twitter.com/YJ289pDM4w
— Sacramento Kings (@SacramentoKings) July 7, 2023
Sabonis is a three-time All-Star and was named to the All-NBA third team this season. He was dealt to the Kings in a trade deadline-day deal in 2022 for rising star guard Tyrese Haliburton. However, that trade has worked out well for both players — and both of them reportedly agreed to extensions this offseason, with Haliburton’s pact taking place early Saturday morning.
Sabonis has been the perfect piece to team with All-Star guard De’Aaron Fox with his playmaking ability as a big man. Last season, Sabonis averaged 19.1 points, 12.3 rebounds and 7.3 assists while piling up Sabonis is averaging 19 points, 12.5 rebounds and 7.3 assists and an NBA-leading 65 triple-doubles in 79 games. The 7-foot-1 Sabonis also shot 61.5% overall and 37.3% on 3-pointers.
He led the league with 65 double-doubles, realizing the vision of his pairing with speedy guard De’Aaron Fox and helping the Kings to a league-high 118.6 offensive rating.
Last season, the Kings snapped the NBA’s longest active playoff drought as they went 48-34 and won their first Pacific Division title since the 2002-03 season. They lost to the Golden State Warriors in the first round of the NBA Playoffs, but their future remains bright with Sabonis, Fox and several other key pieces as a part of their core.