Already without star guard Zach LaVine (hand) for the remainder of the regular season, the Sacramento Kings will be without another key player the rest of the way.
ESPN’s Shams Charania was first to report the news that center Domantas Sabonis underwent season-ending knee surgery on Wednesday to repair the torn meniscus in his left knee.
Sabonis, 29, has played in just 19 of Sacramento’s 66 games thus far after appearing in 70 games or more during his first three full seasons in Northern California.
The three-time All-Star initially suffered the injury on November 16th in San Antonio, appearing in eight more games from January 16th through February 4th before being sidelined due to back and knee injuries.
Sacramento Kings star Domantas Sabonis underwent season-ending surgery on Wednesday morning to repair the torn meniscus in his left knee, sources tell ESPN. Sabonis rehabbed the meniscus tear during the season and tried to play through the injury before having surgery now. pic.twitter.com/1Y1g2eqg9L
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 18, 2026
Beyond the immediate impact of losing Sabonis, his season-ending injury only adds another layer of uncertainty to an organization already staring down a pivotal offseason.
Sabonis has been the engine of the Sacramento Kings for much of his tenure — a nightly double-double threat, a facilitator from the high post, and one of the few consistent presences on a roster that has struggled to find traction all season.
League sources indicated that teams — most notably the Toronto Raptors — checked in on Sabonis’ availability, even if talks never gained serious momentum. Still, the inclusion of an All-NBA caliber big man in deadline chatter spoke volumes about where the franchise currently stands.
Now, with the Kings owning the worst record in the NBA, Sabonis’ future figures to be one of the biggest storylines of the summer.
First-year general manager Scott Perry will be tasked with evaluating every avenue as Sacramento explores a potential roster overhaul. Whether Sabonis remains a cornerstone or becomes the franchise’s most valuable trade chip is a question that won’t be answered until the offseason arrives.
Until then, the Kings will lean on rookie duo Maxime Raynaud and Dylan Cardwell at the center spot, although Cardwell (sprained ankle) will also be sidelined until mid-March at the earliest.
When is the next Sacramento Kings game?
The Sacramento Kings will return from the All-Star break on Thursday, February 19th, and face the Orlando Magic at Golden 1 Center.
Last season, Orlando swept the season series vs. Sacramento (2-0).
Be sure to catch all of the Sacramento Kings vs. Orlando Magic action right here on Sactown Sports 1140 AM, with pregame coverage beginning at 5:30 PM PT on Game Night before a 7:00 pm PT tip-off from downtown Sacramento.
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Upcoming Sacramento Kings schedule for the 2025-26 season
Thursday, February 19th vs. Orlando Magic – 7:00 PM PT
Saturday, February 21st @ San Antonio Spurs – 5:00 PM PT
Monday, February 23rd @ Memphis Grizzlies – 5:00 PM PT
Wednesday, February 25th – @ Houston Rockets – 5:00 PM PT
Thursday, February 26th @ Dallas Mavericks – 5:30 PM PT
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