SACRAMENTO — Sacramento Kings center Domantas Sabonis viewed last Wednesday’s fight against the Indiana Pacers as “just another game on the schedule.” The two-time All-Star big man went from a developing perimeter forward to a talented blue blessing interior big man during five seasons with the Pacers before the team traded him to the Kings in February. He’s grown greatly both as a player and as a person with the Blues and Golds and is now one of the brightest prospects in the NBA.
Wednesday night in Sacramento was Sabonis’ first game since the Indiana trade. He was a key figure for an 11-9 Kings team, but they went on a three-game losing streak coming into play with the Pacers. That was Sabonis’ focus earlier this week to finish this series. It was just that he would try against his former team.
The night before the game, Sabonis spent time with some Pacers players and staff to catch up. He went to dinner with TJ McConnell and Chris Duarte, and McConnell shared that they were able to meet Sabonis’ son, who was born just over a month after the trade. McConnell and Sabonis are close and over dinner they chatted about McConnell’s love of wine now that Sabonis lives closer to the Napa Valley.
“I came close to seeing what it would cost to buy that house from him,” McConnell joked.
But the next day it was all business. Sabonis had to prepare for a game against his old side and his side desperately needed a win.
He described some of what he sees in the redesigned Pacers earlier in the day before the emotional game began. “They play a lot faster…they shoot the ball, run. Fast, fast-paced team. I have a feeling it’s going to be a fun game today,” explained Sabonis. Indiana currently leads the NBA in pace, so his assessment was spot on.
He also shared that although he did everything he could for the game, he was excited to see his former teammates. Or at least the few that are left — only seven of Pacers 17’s current players overlapped with Sabonis last season.
There were a few pre-game talks with some Pacers staff, but when the game started the Lithuanian Big Man was dialed in. He had seven points, six rebounds and four assists in the first quarter and was close to a double-double at halftime. He finished the game with 11 points, ten rebounds and seven assists while his team won with 23 points. It was a typical Sabonis performance, playing with his body and changing the geometry of the game on offense.
“It was fun… it was fun seeing a lot of familiar faces,” he said after the game. At the end of the game, there were more handshakes and hugs on the midcourt than on a typical NBA night.
Sabonis was with Indiana for four and a half seasons and was an All-Star in 2019 and 2020. He helped the Pacers reach the playoffs three times, although the team never had postseason success in that span.
During this time, the bloodthirsty big man grew up. He transformed his body and became one of the best rebounders in the NBA. His skills of setting screens and making passes were advanced. His defense improved. He was imperfect but he was still a great player for blue and gold and he was their best player for almost two years.
But the team has struggled during its recent campaigns, and it was best for Indiana to move on and change direction. So they sent Sabonis and two others to Sacramento for Tyrese Haliburton, Buddy Hield and Tristan Thompson.
Sabonis remembers where he was when trade collapsed. “We were traveling in Atlanta when it happened,” he said. “The organization makes decisions, it’s part of the NBA these days. It’s totally fine, I understand it’s part of the business. I’m glad both sides are doing well.”
The exchange worked well for both teams, as he alluded. They are both above 0.500 by December 3rd, surprising many. Sabonis and Haliburton are redesigning their new franchises post-deal. It was a win-win situation.
“We’re doing great here… Tyrese is playing great. He’s playing great, he’s playing at an all-star level. Looks like they’re having a lot of fun. It worked out for both sides,” Sabonis told the trade.
In the Kings, Sabonis shares the spot with one of the NBA’s fastest players, De’Aaron Fox. Fox’s speed with the ball pairs exceptionally well with Sabonis’ ability to set screens, roll to the hoop and find his open teammates. The Kings have a net rating of +3.84 when both players are on the floor.
The Pacers, on the other hand, were great with Haliburton. The 22-year-old guard easily leads the NBA in assists, and his score has taken a big leap this season. He’s certainly on the All-Star talk, and he’s already been named Eastern Conference Player of the Week once. Sabonis noted that Haliburton was a big part of the Kings’ scouting report against the Pacers, and the Kings did a solid job slowing down their old player.
With the Pacers now being led by a guard rather than a big one, their style has changed dramatically. Sabonis described it well. “They have a lot of guards, the boys run fast. Myles [Turner] is now with the five and also somehow plays a different role. He doesn’t shoot as many three-pointers as he used to. He rolls,” Sabonis said of the new-look Pacers. “I’m just happy for all of them. They’re all doing great, they’re having a great season.”
Since the trade took place, members of both franchises have shared a similar message — something along the lines of “You have to give up talent in order to gain talent.” Both organizations have improved their immediate alignment since the deal went under, Sabonis and Haliburton have both been excellent matches to their new teams. It’s a rare NBA trade that’s clearly a win-win deal so soon after it’s struck.
But Sabonis remembers what Indiana did for his career and how they helped grow him into a player talented enough to be considered fair value in a deal with Haliburton.
“I’m here because of [the Pacers]. That’s when my career really took off and exploded,” said Sabonis. “They gave me a chance [2017] trade… we went out there, we took advantage of it. I kind of put them back on the map… A big part of my NBA career is there.”
Sacramento Kings center Domantas Sabonis addresses the media on November 30, 2022 (Credit: AllPacers)
Now Sabonis has played his first game against the Pacers in the new look. Some of the matchup’s emotions have evaporated. But the big man still hasn’t played in Indiana since his away trade – he missed a chance to play in Indianapolis last season with a knee injury. His return will be a moving day for the big man, though he wasn’t sure what the exact date of the Indiana game is.
It’s February 3, 2023. And he’s ready for it. “Later in the season when I leave [to Indiana]”I have a feeling it’s going to be different,” Sabonis said of the game against the Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. “There’s a lot of faces, people in the arena, friendships I’ve made there over the past six years. I’m definitely looking forward to it.”
This game, much like Haliburton’s first game in Sacramento, will have some fanfare. The crowd will be big when the big man is welcomed back to Indiana and a pre-game tribute video could be played on the jumbotron. Sabonis has meant a lot to the Pacers franchise and will come back with open arms.
Meanwhile, however, the big man is impressed by the revamped Pacers from afar. And on Wednesday he crushed the team he’s so impressed with.
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