Domantas Sabonis diagnosed with a left knee meniscus tear! Follow-up check expected in 3-4 weeks: a further blow to the Kings

On November 21st Beijing time, as reported by well-known journalist Shams, Sacramento Kings center Domantas Sabonis was diagnosed with a partial tear in his left knee meniscus and is scheduled for a re-examination in 3 to 4 weeks. Sabonis had earlier missed the away game defeat against the Thunder due to left knee discomfort stated by the team. Subsequent examinations verified the meniscus tear. This means he will be sidelined at least until late December, worsening the already difficult situation for the Kings, who currently hold a 3-12 record early in the season.

Sabonis has been plagued by injuries throughout the first month of this season. During the preseason, he missed the season opener due to a hamstring strain, and earlier this month, he sat out two games because of rib discomfort. Now, faced with this meniscus tear, he is expected to miss at least the next 10 games.

In February 2022, the Kings acquired Sabonis in a trade that sent Haliburton away. For a Kings team eager to accelerate their rebuild and break a 16-year playoff drought, this deal was undoubtedly a gamble. Sabonis indeed helped the team achieve that goal. In 2023, during Mike Brown’s first season as head coach, Sabonis teamed up with Fox as core players, leading the Kings to a strong run that culminated in a third-place finish in the Western Conference and a playoff berth.

Throughout his time with the Kings, Sabonis has maintained an impressive attendance record, playing 79, 82, and 70 games over the past three seasons respectively, serving as a stable cornerstone of the roster. However, after that lone playoff appearance, the Kings’ situation deteriorated rapidly. First, Mike Brown was dismissed, then Fox was traded. Now, Sabonis is the highest-paid player on the team—with three years left on his contract worth $146.8 million—and the Kings have become one of the most disappointing teams in the league this season. Currently, the Kings are on a seven-game losing streak, with each loss by double-digit margins.