The Sacramento Kings have had a nightmare start to their 2025-26 NBA season. Matters went from bad to worse on Thursday morning as starting center Domantas Sabonis is expected to be sidelined for a significant chunk of time.
According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, Sabonis “has suffered a partially torn meniscus in his left knee and will be re-evaluated in 3-to-4 weeks.”
Having already missed Wednesday night’s action in Oklahoma City, three weeks will have him sidelined for a minimum of nine games. Keep in mind that this is the re-evaluation window, not his expected return date.
Sacramento Kings star center Domantas Sabonis has suffered a partially torn meniscus in his left knee and will be re-evaluated in 3-to-4 weeks, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/HBcFQSuw7o
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) November 20, 2025
Sabonis often returns from injuries sooner than expected, known for playing through anything that bothers him. The timing aligns with Keegan Murray’s season debut, scheduled for the day Sabonis reports.
So, the Kings’ head coach Doug Christie is gaining one irreplaceable starting player only to simultaneously lose another. Reserve big man Drew Eubanks can’t replicate the playmaking that Sabonis brings — to be fair, no backup center would be expected to do so.
Sacramento will have a heavier reliance on its perimeter creators of Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, Dennis Schroder, and others.
Looking to halt their losing streak at seven Thursday night in Memphis, Sabonis will be on the sideline.
More Sacramento Kings coverage on Sactown Sports
With the Sacramento Kings entering what may be the early stages of a rebuild, many fans are wondering whether this would be the first rebuild of the Sacramento era.
It would not.
It’s understandable that fans and media alike would have forgotten the first one. It was so swift and successful, it didn’t feel like a rebuild at all. And given the circumstances, it was downright miraculous that the team pulled it off.
Geoff Petrie had been hired to be the General Manager of the Sacramento Kings in 1994, and along with Coach Garry St. Jean, guided them to 39 wins in each of his first two seasons, including a playoff trip in ’96. But by the time the 98-’99 season came around, the Kings had slipped back to also-ran status.
Read More:
Reflecting on the Sacramento Kings’ successful rebuild. Could we see it again?
Upcoming Sacramento Kings schedule for the 2025-26 season
Thursday, November 20th – @ Memphis Grizzlies – 5:00 PM PT
Saturday, November 22nd – @ Denver Nuggets – 7:00 PM PT
Monday, November 24th – vs. Minnesota Timberwolves – 7:00 PM PT
Wednesday, November 26th – vs. Phoenix Suns – 7:00 PM PT
Friday, November 28th – @ Utah Jazz – 6:30 PM PT
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