fbpx
Mar. 29, 7:00 PM
DAL @ SAC
Mar. 31, 6:00 PM
UTH @ SAC
Apr. 02, 7:00 PM
LAC @ SAC
Apr. 04, 4:30 PM
SAC @ NYK
Apr. 05, 4:30 PM
SAC @ BOS
Apr. 07, 4:30 PM
SAC @ BKN
Apr. 09, 5:00 PM
SAC @ OKC
Apr. 11, 7:00 PM
NOH @ SAC
Apr. 12, 7:30 PM
PHO @ SAC
Apr. 14, 12:30 PM
POR @ SAC

NBA Draft 2016 Scouting Profile: Domantas Sabonis

Sabonis is a smart, multi-talented big man with the developing skill set to be a solid stretch-four. He'll have to learn to play against stronger, faster opponents on a nightly basis, but he offers an NBA team a tough competitor who made serious improvements over the past year.
By | 0 Comments | Mar 6, 2019

NBA Position: PF

General Information: 20-year-old sophomore, played at Gonzaga. From Portland, Oregon.

Measurables: 6'10.5", 238 lbs. 6'10.5" wingspan.

2015-16 Season Statistics: 17.6 PPG, 11.8 RPG, 1.6 APG, 0.8 SPG, 0.6 BPG, 2.9 TOPG (38 games played, 31.9 minutes per contest) -€” 61.1% FG, 76.9% FT, 35.7% 3P

Summary:

Sabonis is a smart, multi-talented big man with the developing skill set to be a solid stretch-four. He'll have to learn to play against stronger, faster opponents on a nightly basis, but he offers an NBA team a tough competitor who made serious improvements over the past year.

Offensive Breakdown:

Sabonis has a number of good post moves in the paint, including a killer lefty hooker and some nice up-and-unders. He's naturally a lefty and is too left-dominant, but he's developed a significant low-post game over the past two years in a Gonzaga program that demands consistency in the low-post. DraftExpress says Syngery ranked Sabonis third in the country in post efficiency and seventh in post scoring last season. He had good size and strength for a collegiate athlete, and should (needs to) continue to bulk up. His limitations are his lack of explosiveness; he plays completely below the rim, and will have to figure out more moves and rely less on outmuscling when he's already in the paint.

Sabonis is also a good passer, with good vision and great hands. His 11.3% assist rate climbed towards the end of the year as he adapted to more and more attention thrown his way on offense. He played well within Gonzaga's system, sometimes a bit out of control but m making the right move most of the time. He's a smart, team-oriented player with a solid foundation of offensive skills and instincts.

Defensive Breakdown

While Sabonis always plays tough, his defense is limited by his less-than-great physical tools. He's got average height for a NBA big, less-than-ideal length, and minimal explosiveness. I'd be less worried about these tools if he's able to fill out, but he's not going to be a rim protector (0.6 blocks per game and a terrible 2.6% block rate), and will not be able to handle most NBA centers.

Intangibles:

If you assume that his jumpshot continues to develop, I think Sabonis will a great role playing big, and one who is smart enough to develop into a starter in the right situation. I believe he has a higher floor than Marquese Chriss or Henry Ellenson (both lack his basketball IQ and low-post toughness), but he also has a lower ceiling and higher physical limitations.

In case you aren't aware, that last name is not a coincidence. Domantas is the son of Arvydas Sabonis, one of the most decorated foreign players in the sports' history. Domantas doesn't have his fathers' sheer glacial size, but it does lend evidence that he can add some bulk; many of his defensive issues could be solved if he can get big enough to stay with most power forwards.

Fit with Sacramento:

I could envision Sabonis playing a mini-Vlade Davic role in an offense; while Sabonis' passing skills are nowhere near Vlade in his prime, he's got great hands and reads the defense well from the post. If his jumpshot continues to develop, I think Sabonis will offer a very versatile forward who can play multiple roles on both ends of the court.

As always, check out the DraftExpress breakdowns.

Patreon Membership
* indicates required


To prevent spam, our system flags comments that include too many hyperlinks. If you would like to share a comment with multiple links, make sure you email [email protected] for it to be approved.

0 Comments

Badge Legend

Patreon Supporter Patreon Supporter   Registered On Day 1 Registered On Day 1   Published Post Published Post  Published Post Nostradumbass
Comment Up Votes 200 Up Votes   Comment Up Votes 500 Up Votes    1,000 Up Votes    3,000+ Up Votes

Comments 50 Comments   Comments 100 Comments    250 Comments    500 Comments    1000+ Comments