Domantas Sabonis is looking forward to the Kings having a full training camp to improve chemistry among himself, DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine and coach Doug Christie leading up to the 2025-26 NBA season.
“I think it’s going to help,” Sabonis told reporters Wednesday at his second annual youth basketball camp in Rocklin. “You know, [LaVine] in halfway through the season, also a new coach — not the system the coach might want to play, [and] players learning it.
“I know Doug’s working hard on the new system and how he wants to play us. He’s going to translate it through training camp. And so far, all summer, we’ve been getting little bits and pieces of that new offense. Hopefully, when training camp comes, we’re just ready to go.”
LaVine was acquired at the 2025 NBA trade deadline in the blockbuster deal that sent longtime Sacramento icon De’Aaron Fox to the San Antonio Spurs, and Christie is in his first offseason of officially being the Kings’ coach after serving as the interim following Mike Brown’s firing in late December.
DeRozan, too, is entering his second season with the franchise.
Sacramento has a well-rounded roster, but it’s clear the key players themselves never fully adjusted to the new-look offense upon LaVine’s arrival, as reflected by the Kings’ 40-42 record in 2024-25.
Though the two-time NBA All-Star did average 22.4 points, 3.8 assists and 3.2 rebounds over his first 32 games with Sacramento. But in that span, the Kings still won a mere 14 games and finished the whirlwind of a campaign by being eliminated by the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA play-in tournament.
Sabonis is well aware of the untapped potential his team has centered around himself, DeRozan and LaVine. The three-time All-Star even told reporters that he and some teammates already have been practicing together before training camp starts on Sept. 29.
“Of course,” Sabonis said about working out with his Kings teammates. “I’m flying down … tonight, after the camp, to LA. We’re going to meet up with some guys, you know, and just get some work in.”
Sabonis added that he will not be participating in any international hoops for his native country of Lithuania. He is strictly focused on bringing the Kings back to the NBA playoffs.
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