Domantas Sabonis To Miss Several Weeks Due To Knee Injury

Just when you thought that the Sacramento Kings' season couldn’t get any worse, it did. The team announced that forward Domantas Sabonis has suffered a partially torn meniscus in his left knee that will keep him on the sidelines for at least three to four weeks. For a team that sits at 3–13 and has the second-worst record in the Western Conference, this might be a sign that changes are needed. 

Currently riding a seven-game losing streak, all by double figures, the Kings aren’t just losing, they are getting embarrassed consistently. Now, without their All-Star, do-everything big man, who is averaging a double-double with 17.2 points and 12.3 rebounds for at least the next ten games, the question is, who steps up to help one of the worst rebounding teams in the league in his absence? 

Maybe this is a blessing in disguise for the Kings and their fans. While they have a talented trio of All-Star-worthy players in Sabonis, Zach LaVine, and DeMar DeRozan, they haven’t really amounted to much. After their magical 2022–23 playoff run, the team has regressed in each of the past two seasons. Ranking 28th in the league offensively, 27th defensively, and 28th in net rating, the numbers tell the truth: the team is closer to being a bottom-feeder than one worthy of a playoff spot. 

Even if the team can manage to scratch together a couple of victories while Sabonis is on the mend, at best, with a lot of luck, they would be a play-in team. This would mean they either play a relatively meaningless additional game or, should they be extremely fortunate, they would advance to be swept by one of the top-tier teams in the West. Ideally, they would be better off positioning themselves for a shot at one of the top prospects in a loaded 2026 draft. With Sabonis out and the season spiraling, maybe it’s time to embrace the tank, sell off their veteran talent for assets, and start fresh.  

Each of Sabonis, LaVine, and DeRozan comes with a certain amount of value, especially to title-contending teams. With two consecutive years of falling short and a disastrous start to this season, sometimes it is best to rip off the bandage, admit the plan failed, and rebuild around young pieces. Losing Sabonis for a month might just be the wake-up call the Kings need to stop clinging to false hopes and start rebuilding for the future.