Domantas Sabonis Bio
Domantas Sabonis is a Lithuanian-American professional basketball player for the Sacramento Kings of the National Basketball Association and the Lithuanian national team. Born on May 3, 1996, in Portland, Oregon, he is the son of Hall of Famer Arvydas Sabonis. A three-time NBA All-Star and three-time NBA rebounding leader, he has built a reputation as one of the league’s most versatile big men, known for his passing, rebounding, and physical interior play.
Standing 6 feet 10 inches tall and weighing approximately 240 pounds, Sabonis combines old-school footwork with modern skill, often operating as a playmaking hub from the high post. Drafted 11th overall in 2016, he has developed into a central figure for the Sacramento Kings and a national icon for Lithuanian basketball.
Early Life and Background
Domantas Sabonis was born on May 3, 1996, in Portland, Oregon, while his father, Hall of Famer Arvydas Sabonis, was playing for the Portland Trail Blazers. His mother is Ingrida Mikelionytė, who was named the first Miss Lithuania in 1988. He grew up in a deeply athletic household alongside two older brothers, Žygis and Tautvydas, and a younger sister, Aušrinė.
When Domantas was eight years old, his father retired from professional basketball and the family relocated from Portland to Málaga, Spain. The move immersed the young Sabonis in European basketball culture and shaped his early development. His father once noted that Domantas stood out among his children due to his stubbornness and his left-handedness, traits that would later define his competitive style on the court.
Living in Spain provided Domantas Sabonis with early access to high-level training and competition. The Spanish basketball system, known for its emphasis on fundamentals and tactical awareness, helped lay the groundwork for his future as a professional player.
Path to Basketball
Domantas Sabonis began his competitive basketball journey in the Spanish system, joining the youth setup of Unicaja Málaga. He made his senior debut for Unicaja on September 5, 2012, at just 16 years of age, facing Cibona Zagreb. He was later loaned to Clínicas Rincón for the 2012-13 season before returning to Málaga for the 2013-14 campaign, where he debuted in the Liga ACB on October 13, 2013, becoming the youngest Unicaja player to appear in Spain’s top flight.
During his time with Unicaja, Sabonis balanced club play with international youth tournaments. He represented Lithuania at multiple FIBA youth championships, including the 2012 FIBA U-16 European Championship and the 2013 and 2014 FIBA U-18 European Championships. In 2014, he was invited to join the senior Lithuanian national team’s preliminary roster. He debuted for the senior side in July 2015 against Australia and later helped Lithuania win a silver medal at EuroBasket 2015.
To preserve his NCAA eligibility, Sabonis declined a professional contract offer from Unicaja and committed to Gonzaga University ahead of the 2014-15 season. This decision set the stage for his transition to American college basketball and, ultimately, the NBA.
Domantas Sabonis Career
Early Career (2012-2014)
Domantas Sabonis’s earliest professional experience came with Unicaja Málaga, where he developed under one of Europe’s most respected basketball programs. Despite his youth, he earned minutes in both domestic and continental competitions, including a EuroLeague debut against Olympiacos Piraeus in October 2013. His standout ACB performance came on May 3, 2014, when he scored 13 points on perfect shooting.
Sabonis gained further recognition through his international youth play, finishing as a top candidate for the FIBA Europe Young Men’s Player of the Year Award in both 2014 and 2015. By the time he departed Spain, he had established himself as one of the most promising young big men in European basketball.
Gonzaga Bulldogs Breakthrough (2014-2016)
Domantas Sabonis joined the Gonzaga Bulldogs for the 2014-15 season and immediately contributed as a freshman. He averaged 9.7 points and 7.1 rebounds while shooting an impressive 66.8 percent from the field. Gonzaga won the West Coast Conference Tournament title, and Sabonis helped lead the team to the NCAA Tournament’s Elite Eight, where he was named to the South Regional All-Tournament team.
In his sophomore season, Sabonis elevated his game significantly, earning First-Team All-WCC honors and a spot on the CBS College Basketball All-America Third Team. He posted numerous career highs, including a 36-point, 16-rebound performance in December 2015, and nearly averaged a double-double for the season. He finished as a finalist for the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award and was widely regarded as one of the most efficient post-up players in college basketball.
Oklahoma City Thunder Debut (2016-2017)
Domantas Sabonis was selected 11th overall by the Orlando Magic in the 2016 NBA Draft and was immediately traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder on draft night as part of a deal that sent Serge Ibaka to Orlando. He signed his rookie contract in August 2016 and opened the season as a starter at power forward.
Sabonis appeared in 81 games during his rookie campaign, starting 66 of them, and posted season highs of 20 points and 13 rebounds. He was named to the World Team for the 2017 Rising Stars Challenge during All-Star Weekend. Following the trade-deadline acquisition of Taj Gibson, Sabonis shifted to a bench role, but his rookie season confirmed his readiness for the NBA level.
Indiana Pacers Era (2017-2022)
On July 6, 2017, Domantas Sabonis was traded, along with Victor Oladipo, to the Indiana Pacers in exchange for Paul George. He debuted with a 16-point, seven-rebound performance and quickly established himself as a reliable contributor. By January 2018, he was recording career highs, and in April 2018, he scored 30 points against the Charlotte Hornets.
Sabonis signed a four-year, $77 million contract extension in October 2019 and was named to his first NBA All-Star Game in January 2020, becoming only the second Lithuanian selected for the event. He became the first Lithuanian in NBA history to record a triple-double on January 21, 2020, and finished the season averaging 18.5 points, 12.4 rebounds, and 5.0 assists per game before missing the Orlando bubble due to plantar fasciitis.
In 2020-21, Sabonis earned All-Star honors as an injury replacement and won the Skills Challenge during All-Star Weekend. He set a Pacers franchise record with nine triple-doubles in a single season and posted a career-high 42 points on January 9, 2022, marking the highest NBA scoring performance ever by a Lithuanian player. He was named Lithuanian Basketball Player of the Year each year from 2018 through 2022.
Sacramento Kings Era (2022-Present)
On February 8, 2022, Domantas Sabonis was traded to the Sacramento Kings in a blockbuster deal for Tyrese Haliburton, Buddy Hield, and Tristan Thompson. He debuted the next day with 22 points, 14 rebounds, and five assists. In his first full season with Sacramento in 2022-23, Sabonis averaged 12.3 rebounds per game to lead the league, earned his first All-NBA selection, and helped the Kings break a 16-year playoff drought as the third seed in the West.
In July 2023, Sabonis signed a five-year, $217 million contract extension, the most lucrative contract in Lithuanian sports history. He continued to post triple-doubles at a historic pace, tying Michael Jordan for 19th place on the all-time list during the 2023-24 season. That year, he set a Sacramento franchise record with 61 consecutive double-doubles and joined an elite group of players with 25 or more triple-doubles in a single season.
In June 2024, the Kings retired their previous restriction on jersey number 11 so Sabonis could wear it in honor of his father, Arvydas. He continued producing at an elite level in 2024-25 and was named Lithuanian Basketball Player of the Year for a fifth time in January 2025.
Driving Style and Strengths
Domantas Sabonis is recognized for his high basketball IQ, exceptional passing vision, and relentless rebounding. He excels as a hub in the high post, frequently delivering precise passes to cutters and shooters. His physical interior presence, combined with consistent footwork and touch around the rim, makes him a matchup problem for traditional big men.
Notable Events and Milestones
Sabonis became the first Lithuanian to record an NBA triple-double, the first player in NBA history to post a triple-double without a missed field goal, turnover, or foul, and the sixth player since the ABA-NBA merger to record 60 or more double-doubles for three consecutive seasons. He also broke the Sacramento Kings’ franchise record for consecutive double-doubles and joined Oscar Robertson as the only players to record at least 15 points, 15 rebounds, and 15 assists in a game for the franchise.
Domantas Sabonis Career Wins
Domantas Sabonis has accumulated an impressive collection of individual awards and accolades across European, collegiate, and NBA competition. He is a three-time NBA All-Star, a two-time All-NBA Third Team selection, and a three-time NBA rebounding leader. He has also been named Lithuanian Basketball Player of the Year five consecutive times from 2018 through 2022 and again in 2025.
NBA Highlights
During his NBA career, Sabonis has earned All-Star selections in 2020, 2021, and 2023, along with All-NBA Third Team honors in 2023 and 2024. He has led the league in rebounding three times and has been a triple-double machine, ranking among the all-time leaders in the category.
Other Wins and Performances
Domantas Sabonis won a silver medal with Lithuania at EuroBasket 2015 and was part of the Lithuanian Olympic team at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. He also captured multiple FIBA youth tournament distinctions, including tournament rebounding leader honors at the 2015 FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship.
Domantas Sabonis Family
Family Background and Basketball Lineage
Domantas Sabonis comes from one of basketball’s most storied families. His father, Arvydas Sabonis, is a Basketball Hall of Fame inductee and one of the greatest European players of all time. His mother, Ingrida Mikelionytė, was the first Miss Lithuania in 1988. His older brothers Žygis and Tautvydas and his younger sister Aušrinė all grew up immersed in the sport.
Personal Life
Domantas Sabonis married Shashana Rosen on August 15, 2021, in Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, France. The couple has three children: a son named Tiger, born in March 2022; a daughter named Eleven Rose, born in July 2023; and a son named Tauras Levi, born in June 2025. The family observes Shabbat and maintains a kosher household. In November 2024, Domantas and Shashana launched a wine brand called Ones by Sabonis.
2025 Season Performance
Domantas Sabonis opened the 2025-26 NBA season with the Sacramento Kings. He missed the October 22, 2025, season opener against the Phoenix Suns due to injury but returned on October 24 to post 12 points and 12 rebounds, including a game-winning put-back with 6.4 seconds left in a 105-104 victory over the Utah Jazz. He continued his strong play with a 34-point, 11-rebound performance on November 14 against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
His momentum was interrupted on November 19, 2025, when Sabonis was diagnosed with a partially torn meniscus and ruled out for at least three to four weeks. Despite the setback, his early-season production reflected his continued status as one of the league’s elite rebounders and playmaking big men.
Looking ahead, Sabonis remains central to the Kings’ aspirations of returning to the playoffs. His combination of rebounding, passing, and veteran leadership continues to anchor Sacramento’s offensive system, and his health will be a key factor in determining the team’s postseason outlook.