Sacramento Kings center Domantas Sabinis thinks his team’s 16-year playoff drought will end soon. The sixth-year NBA player expects the Kings to qualify for the postseason. However, the question is when?
When asked by NBA.com if making the playoffs is a realistic goal, Sanidis said, “Of course.” Sacramento has never qualified since finishing 44-38 (.537) and eighth overall in the Western Conference in 2005-06.
The Kings have the longest active playoff drought of the four major American professional sports.
According to some NBA betting sites, the Kings have low 10 odds to win the championship in 2023. Despite the low title odds, few sportsbooks would bet against Domantas Sabonis making the playoffs.
“Every team has that mentality at the beginning of training camp to get that special feeling at the end of the year,” the two-time All-Star continued. “As long as we work for it, good things can happen to us.”
“Competing is the key,” Domantas Sabonis said of the competitive nature of the Western Conference and the Kings’ playoff chances. We have many talents and many weapons. We have to share the ball.
Domantas Sabinis thinks the Kings will soon end their 16-year playoff drought.
Sabinis continued: “If we continue this activity, we will have a hard time maintaining it.” “There’s a lot of movement off the ball. There are a lot of one-on-ones and a lot of great defenders in this league. But if we can work together as a team and get better shots, we will be stronger.
In February, the Indiana Pacers traded Sabinis, Justin Holiday, Jeremy Lamb, and a 2023 second-round draft pick to the Kings for Tyrese Haliburton, Buddy Hield, and Tristan Thompson.
Last season, the Kings went 30-52 (.366) and finished 12th overall in the conference. After a 6-11 start, the organization fired head coach Luke Walton on November 22, 2021.
They were then replaced by interim head coach Alvin Gentry. However, Gentry was fired at the end of the season. On May 9, the front office hired Golden State Warriors assistant coach Mike Brown as the team’s next head coach.
In the 2022 NBA draft, the team selected Keegan Murray fourth overall out of Iowa. If the Kings are going to make the playoffs with Domantas Sabinis, at least they have a little more firepower now.
Over the winter, the Kings traded Holiday, Maurice Harkless, and a 2024 first-round draft pick to the Atlanta Hawks for Kevin Huerter. Needless to say, Harkless is now with the Rockets.
Malik Monk then signed a two-year, $19.42 million contract with the Kings. And Kent Bazemore signed a one-year, $2.91 million contract. In addition, the team has signed deals with KZ Okpala, Sam Merrill, Matthew Dellavedova and Chima Moneke.
Few Kings fans agree with Domantas Sabinis. The 2022-23 season could end a 16-year playoff drought. Last Friday, MLB’s Seattle Mariners ended a 21-year playoff drought.
