Sabonis Faces Extended Recovery Period

Sacramento Kings star Domantas Sabonis will be out for approximately four to five more weeks as he recuperates from a partial meniscus tear, according to NBA insider Marc Stein. The All-Star forward has not played since November 16 due to this knee injury and has only participated in 11 of the Kings' first 27 games this season.

Kings' Struggles Without Their Star

Sabonis' absence has compounded the struggles of the Kings, who are currently holding a disappointing 6-21 record and find themselves at the bottom of the Western Conference standings in 13th place. The team has endured a rough start, with a -10.6 net rating, marking it as the second-worst in the league, per NBA.com.

The Kings are taking a cautious approach with Sabonis' recovery, especially considering his previous injury troubles this season, which included a hamstring strain in the preseason and a rib contusion earlier this year. Throughout his time in Sacramento, Sabonis has generally maintained good health, having played at least 70 games in each of the past three seasons.

In the games he has played this season, Sabonis has averaged 17.2 points, 12.3 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game, with shooting splits of 51.0% from the field, 20.0% from beyond the arc, and 72.5% from the free-throw line.

As the team awaits Sabonis' return, players like Drew Eubanks, Maxime Raynaud, and Precious Achiuwa are expected to step up and take on larger roles in the frontcourt.