Kings’ Domantas Sabonis talks DeMar DeRozan, playoff hopes and more in B/R interview | News, results, highlights, statistics and rumors

One of the most unstoppable things in the NBA is the selfless collaboration of stars to set opposing defenses on fire.

Domantas Sabonis says: There will be plenty of that for the Sacramento Kings next season after adding DeMar DeRozan to a lineup that already included him and De’Aaron Fox.

“The reason me and Fox work together is because there are no egos,” Sabonis told Bleacher Report. “We both just want to win, he lets me rock and I let him rock. DeMar is even more of the same. We just play against each other. If they want to put the best defender on DeMar instead of Fox.” Evening, great. And vice versa. We’re all here for the right reasons and at points in our careers where we just want to win.

This attitude is anything but surprising, as an NBA insider explains Chris Haynes reported in July that Fox played “a critical role” in recruiting DeRozan to the Kings this offseason and was “excited about working together on the court.”

Sacramento ultimately acquired DeRozan from the Chicago Bulls via a sign-and-trade, agreeing to a three-year, $74 million contract. It was a huge move from a team looking to take the next step in the loaded Western Conference, as the six-time All-Star and three-time All-NBA selection with 63 playoff games to his name was a veteran leader and a postseason proven prospect Presence is his CV.

Despite being 35 years old, DeRozan was still excellent with Chicago last season, averaging 24.0 points, 5.3 assists, 4.3 rebounds and 1.1 steals while shooting 48 percent from the field.

He was also a finalist for the 2023-24 NBA Clutch Player of the Year award, won by Stephen Curry, highlighting his ability to lead a team in the most important moments. Considering the Kings will have many of these important moments in a tough Western Conference, they will need someone to turn to for baskets and leadership.

“He will bring the presence and IQ of a vet,” Sabonis said of his new teammate. “I worked with him for a few weeks this summer and learned a lot from him. He was at the highest level and played with everyone. Just trying out his brain really opened my eyes. I can’t.” Wait and see what will happen during the year and how my other teammates will benefit from it.

The collapse of opposing defenses with DeRozan also means Sabonis looks better in the post and Fox looks better on the perimeter. This is particularly good news for the latter after establishing himself as one of the better guards in the league.

The 2022-23 All-Star was arguably even better last season, averaging 26.6 points, 5.6 assists, 4.6 rebounds and a league-best 2.0 steals per game, trailing 36 .9 percent shots from distance. His three-point shooting took a major leap after hitting just 29.7 percent in the 2021-22 season and 32.4 percent in his All-Star campaign.

All that star power, plus the return of key players like Keegan Murray and a healthy Malik Monk, means expectations are even higher in Sacramento after the team went 46-36 last season and settled for a play-in tournament berth.

How will Sacramento meet these expectations?

“Our mentality,” Sabonis said. “Come out and take every game seriously. We felt that last year when we beat the best teams and lost to some of the worst teams in the table. That put us in a situation where we had to play the play-in game. That.” By having a veteran like DeMar and other guys and realizing what we did wrong last year, that’s the main thing: our mental focus.

Even with improved mental focus, the next step in the Western Conference won’t be easy.

Finally, the Dallas Mavericks, Oklahoma City Thunder, Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves, Phoenix Suns, Los Angeles Lakers, LA Clippers, Golden State Warriors, Memphis Grizzlies, San Antonio Spurs and New Orleans Pelicans are all eyeing potentially deep playoff runs so many places to walk around.

But joining this group is a welcome change for the Kings, who are not far removed from a worrisome stretch.

The franchise missed the playoffs in 16 consecutive seasons from 2006–07 to 2021–22, notably moving to Sabonis in this 16th year. Although this move sent Tyrese Haliburton to the Indiana Pacers, it’s easy to view it as a win-win trade in hindsight given the overall success both teams have had.

Sabonis helped Sacramento break that playoff streak in the 2022-23 season when the team lost a seven-game back-and-forth thriller to Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors in the first round, but this time the goal goes even further further.

“We all have to bring our A-game,” Sabonis said. “There are a lot of expectations this year, especially after the end of the playoff series. The fans want a lot, and they deserve each other to make those extra sacrifices. When the season comes to an end you realize, ‘Damn, I could have done this, this and that.’ There’s no time to look back.

The Kings may not have time to look back on the court this upcoming season, but fans hoping to look back on the 2023-24 season before the opening game on Oct. 24 can do just that with the release of the Netflix series on Wednesday From 5.

The 10-part series offers a behind-the-scenes look at last season through Sabonis, LeBron James, Jimmy Butler, Jayson Tatum and Anthony Edwards, capturing what it means to go through a full NBA season on and off the court.

“Once you get a call from Netflix, it’s an honor to be part of this group of players,” Sabonis said of the opportunity to work with the show. “I thought it would be great to get the word out about Sacramento and the organization and literally give people a glimpse into what’s going on because it’s definitely a great organization.”

A large part of the show is not just about basketball, but also takes a look at family life, which was important to the Kings star.

“It’s really cool, especially for the fans,” he said. “I’m a fan of other sports around the world, and when you can really see other people’s lives and how they work, it’s super interesting. You can also learn from them. Just letting people into our home on our days off. “What we do on the road and all that stuff will be really cool for people to see and for fans to know how much effort and sacrifice we make that you don’t see.”

This behind-the-scenes sacrifice has helped Sabonis become a star in his own right, beyond the headline-grabbing Fox and DeRozan.

The three-time All-Star and two-time All-NBA selection can score deep, extend his offensive game beyond the arc (37.9 percent last season) and solidify interior defense. He finished 10th in Defensive Player of the Year voting last season, which is all the more impressive considering he is one of the league’s best big-man facilitators, averaging 19.4 points and 8. Scored 2 assists per game.

But one part of his game that stands out most is the way he controls the boards, having led the league in rebounding each of the last two seasons.

“It just happens,” Sabonis said of the NBA rebounding win. “It all depends on the season, how many minutes you play, how many games you play, whether you are good at defense so teams make more mistakes. The more games you win, the more rebounds you get. If you lose, there are no rebounds because the ball goes through the net. These are things you can’t control.

If things go according to plan for the Kings this season, there won’t be much to lose.

That means more rebounds and another chance for Sabonis to further establish himself as one of the better players in the game.