The Sacramento Kings’ prominent center, Domantas Sabonis, is slated to be absent from the inaugural game of the season this Wednesday against the Phoenix Suns. This absence is due to a Grade 1 hamstring strain sustained during a warm-up match with the Los Angeles Clippers, as communicated by the team this past Saturday. Sabonis’ condition will be reassessed in the coming week, potentially keeping him off the court for the initial games against both the Suns and the Utah Jazz.
The earliest potential return for Sabonis could be in the game scheduled for October 26 against the Los Angeles Lakers.
Sabonis will not be the sole starting player unavailable for Sacramento’s tip-off to the 2025-26 season. Kings’ forward Keegan Murray underwent a surgical procedure following an MRI that indicated a tear in the ulnar collateral ligament of his left thumb, sidelining him for a period estimated to be between four and six weeks.
Given the unavailability of Sabonis and Murray, Sacramento will need to explore different frontcourt combinations to determine the optimal starting lineup for the opening night. Two potential candidates to fill their roles in the starting lineup are Dario Šarić and Drew Eubanks, both recent additions to the team’s roster this year. Another alternative could be Isaac Jones, who has experience at both the four and five positions.
Sacramento heads into the season with an anticipated win count of 34.5, according to FanDuel’s projections, which ranks among the lowest in the Western Conference. The Kings are currently positioned with the seventh-highest likelihood (2/1) of participating in the Play-In Tournament.
