The past two seasons, the Sacramento Kings have had the most star power they have had in years behind the impressive duo of De'Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis, and both players continue to take their games to the next level. Despite neither getting the All-Star nod this season, they continue to prove they are two of the best players across the league.
Sabonis is amid a historical season, averaging 20.1 points, 13.6 rebounds, and 8.4 assists per game while leading the league in triple-doubles, double-doubles, and rebounds. Sabonis has also put up a historic double-double streak of 48 games and counting, just five away from tying Kevin Love's record of 53.
Despite his exceptional success this season, Sabonis continues to receive hate from the media. In The Ringer's latest episode of The Bill Simmons Podcast, "The Worst NBA Contracts Draft With Joe House and Big Wos," Sabonis' impressive play gets discredited, again. Wosny Lambre of The Ringer threw in Sabonis as part of their "worst NBA contracts draft:"
"Just cause I have to, Sabonis. You all are not gonna get me to buy this thing. I'm never gonna buy this thing. The T-rex arms at center, I'm never gonna buy it. I get it, he's a focal point of what they're doing on offense, he doesn't always embarrass himself on defense, he plays hard, and he's a positive guy, but he has four years, $186 [million] left after this year. Over $200 million when you're counting this year... Come on now, for a 6'8" center who doesn't shoot threes... I'm not buying this Sabonis thing."
While this is just shameful criticism, it is not even factually accurate. Sabonis, 27, is 6'10" with the 23rd-largest contract in the league. As a proven star who shows up to play every night, Sabonis unquestionably deserves a top-23 contract, and most teams in the league would likely give him the same money.
Sabonis does have a relatively short wingspan for his size, but saying he has "T-rex arms" is distasteful and does not tell the whole story. Even with his "T-rex arms," Sabonis is on pace to lead the league in rebounds for the second consecutive season.
When Bill Simmons credits Sabonis for dominating Anthony Davis and the Los Angeles Lakers in Wednesday's win, Lambre repeatedly responds, "Okay, do it in the postseason." Sabonis has received playoff criticism since his performance in Sacramento's first-round exit last season, where he averaged 16.4 points, 11.0 rebounds, and 4.7 assists through seven games, shooting 49.5% from the field and playing through injuries.
Sabonis constantly receives unfair criticism from the media, never getting the proper credit he deserves. A good playoff run from Sabonis and the Kings could change the narratives, but until then, they will continue to get disrespected.
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