[EuroBasket] Sabonis dismisses summer trade rumors: “It’s all made up…regrets about how he handled his injury”

The Sacramento Kings have tipped off their preparations for the 2026–27 NBA Regular Season.

During preseason media day on Monday, Domantas Sabonis quickly shut down any lingering questions about his health. After an injury-shortened year restricting him to just 19 games, the three-time All-Star center looked ready to move forward.

“I’m 100%. Feeling good, feeling great,” the Lithuanian forward-center stressed.

Playing through pain has always been a trademark. However, a severe knee issue forced him to face his first extended period on the sidelines.

“Definitely tough,” he confessed. “Definitely a lot of emotions. It happened in game two of the season, actually. Tried to push through the next 17 games.”

Sitting out changed how he views the game.

“We’re NBA players. This is awesome. You gotta enjoy every moment. And this is everything we worked for,” explained 30-year-old Sabonis. “Just to go out there and have joy.”

Overcoming regrets, trade rumors

Sabonis admitted he has some regrets about how he handled his injury. In hindsight, trying to play through structural damage slowed down his overall timeline. “Maybe I should have got the surgery straight away,” he mentioned.

The offseason also brought constant trade talk. He ignored the rumors, relying on direct communication with his team and management to stay grounded.

“I can’t control any of it. The injury helped. I was just focused on getting healthy. A lot of things are being said out there, but I have a great relationship with Scott [Perry]. I have great agents. I know everything that’s going on. And I’m excited I’m here,” he said.

“Easy. It’s all made up,” he added, replying to a question about dealing with distractions. “It’s all out there. I don’t know where you guys get most of it from. I’m there with Scott, with my agent, so I’m not on social media as much.”

source: https://www.eurohoops.net/en/nba-news/2014672/domantas-sabonis-talks-trade-rumors-recovery-sacramento-kings-nba/

BigOlPass | LAL

34 | 4 hours ago

Craziest thing here is that Sabonis is only 30

SloshaPacana

3 | 4 hours ago

I thought he was younger, i still remember his awful rookie year for OKC in Westbrook’s MVP season where he was forced to sit in the corner while Westbrook did his thing

But then again that was 10 years ago

Dabithebeast

1 | 2 hours ago

I always think this guy is like 34

Michipotz | DEN

27 | 4 hours ago

I actually like Sabonis, a no nonsense guy

penis_showing_game | SAC

5 | 4 hours ago

Same. Also I think he’s a really good complimentary player to help with Acuff’s development.

Kings aren’t competing for a championship in the next couple seasons anyway, and I think he brings more value being paired up with Acuff than trading him for a heavily protected first or a couple seconds.

Remarkable_Tea878

4 | 3 hours ago

Facts, people gotta realize, the best way to help these high caliber potential rookies is to not just let them rot and die out on the court, but give them a system to learn and lean to help them accelerate their strengths and accentuates their weaknesses, both on and off the court.

Agile_Variety_632 | NOP

1 | 3 hours ago

One good thing about the new lottery changes this season is hopefully we get to see more of developing teams keeping these decent veteran players that help with rookies acclimating to the NBA and gathering wins to avoid bottom 3. Arguably could be a better outcome than just shipping them for picks, leaving the rookies to fend for themselves, and developing bad habits in the long run.

ObeseKenyan | DEN

3 | 4 hours ago

How can you add “regrets about he handled his injury” in the quote when he never actually said that lol. You probably should have ended the quote after it’s all made up. Then added that after

OmegaLxgend [OP] | SAC

9 | 4 hours ago

I was supposed to break the quotes into two but forgot to when posting the title. Heres where it says that tho “Sabonis admitted he has some regrets about how he handled his injury. In hindsight, trying to play through structural damage slowed down his overall timeline. “Maybe I should have got the surgery straight away,” he mentioned.”

DJSTANKDADDY2 | SAC

12 | 4 hours ago

I believe him. Dude was very involved with our young bigs for most of the season, until he got the surgery and it seemed like they told him to just focus on himself and no need to travel with the team. Every trade rumor I saw involving him seemed to be a salary dump or even taking back bad money in exchange, I’d much rather have him easing the transition for a rookie PG.

JasonWaterfaII | DET

2 | 3 hours ago

The primary trade scenario came from Duren’s camp pushing a Sacramento sign and trade as leverage in the negotiations and the media/podcasts running with a Duren for Sabonis swap. I never saw anything saying Sacramento was driving that trade idea.

EuphoricFlatworm2803

9 | 4 hours ago

If sabonis wasn’t a Sacramento king he wouldn’t get so much slander. He was breaking all star, praised in Indiana. He got better in sac, yet most think he is a bum despite of his contract.

IndignantHoot | SAC

4 | 3 hours ago

That’s because the main thing most people outside of Sacramento know about him is that he played poorly in the playoffs against the Warriors.

He’s not a good defender, but he’s still one of the best offensive centers and rebounders in the league.

grudgepacker | MIL

1 | 4 hours ago

If healthy again, Sabonis could still be effective in the right scheme and playing next to a proven rim protector, it’s just tough to build around his limitations but lord knows he’s always put up plus counting stats

Barracuda374 | MIA

1 | 3 hours ago

Translation: my trade market was in the dirt

Valuable-Average-865

5 | 4 hours ago

tldr: no team in their right mind will trade for me

concretecowboiiiii | DET

5 | 4 hours ago

Contract is kinda high but I’d rather have him than duren I reckon

gundam1983 | SAC

2 | 4 hours ago

You’re like the only Pistons fan that thinks that lol. Most seem to think that Duren is a bum and the only worse bum is Sabonis.

Ok-Effort1192 | DET

0 | 4 hours ago

Yeah, youre sure to be the first to know of the validity of it before happens.

Maleficent-King-799

0 | 4 hours ago

Wasn’t he almost traded at the trade deadline? I thought he was almost ready to come back last year

Ok_Chest_1203 | DEN

1 | 4 hours ago

15-67 season incoming🥶🥶

BoujeeAdam | LAL

2 | 4 hours ago

I see a team like the magic or the Raptors should get him

grudgepacker | MIL

1 | 4 hours ago

Neither have enough cap flexibility tho without giving up more important pieces; put differently, the problem has always been less Sabonis and primarily the fact his salary takes up 28% of the cap

Spirited-Lock-9616

3 | 4 hours ago

The rumors aren’t really about him, it’s that the Kings have basically no movable salary outside his contract and almost no picks, so his name is the only one that makes a trade machine work in July. Same thing’ll happen next summer unless the roster actually changes shape.