How Drew Eubanks is approaching starting in place of Domantas Sabonis

The NBA preseason provides teams with an opportunity to assess their revamped rosters and begin implementing new strategies on both offense and defense. However, the top priority for most teams is to emerge from this period healthy.

Unfortunately, the Sacramento Kings have faced challenges in this regard, losing two players from positions with uncertain depth. Keegan Murray has a torn UCL in his left thumb, which will keep him sidelined for four to six weeks, affecting his participation in nine to seventeen games.

Additionally, key player Domantas Sabonis has suffered a grade 1 hamstring strain and will be re-evaluated after the regular season games against the Phoenix Suns and Utah Jazz.

Drew Eubanks, who signed a one-year deal with Sacramento during the offseason, is expected to start in place of Sabonis, although Murray’s position is less certain.

“Starting, I don’t see myself, my game really changing too much,” Eubanks said after Tuesday’s practice. “I liked how we played the other night in LA, really just getting the ball, facilitating a little bit more, putting a little bit more pressure on the defense, but mainly playing around Dennis [Schroder], Zach [LaVine], DeMar [DeRozan], being an outlet for them… just keep playing fast and getting guys open.”

The eight-year veteran started the preseason finale against the Lakers, logging 10 points, five rebounds, and four assists in just under 20 minutes.

Stylistically, nobody on head coach Doug Christie’s roster can even attempt to replicate Sabonis as a playmaking hub. It will lead to a heavier reliance on their starting guards to create, with Eubanks enabling them best he can.

DeMar DeRozan, who played three seasons with Eubanks in San Antonio, explained what he can bring to the Kings.

“He’s one of those guys that’s gonna go out there, play extremely hard, gonna compete, get down and dirty if he’s got to,” DeRozan said Monday. “He’s gonna do whatever he needs to get the win.”

It’s a next-man-up mentality while Eubanks (and whoever starts in place of Murray) fills in the gaps where they can. However, they lost 20.6 combined rebounds per game last year between Sabonis and Murray.

Eubanks said his focus will be on taking his own man out of the play by boxing out, as Phoenix’s Mark Williams, for example, allows his teammates to secure the rebounds. Sounds like the perfect job for new signing Russell Westbrook.

The minutes behind Eubanks, which could feature rookies Maxime Raynaud or Dylan Cardwell, might be the bigger concern though.

More Sacramento Kings coverage on Sactown Sports

“It was like nine o’clock the other night before we played, I was on the table in the treatment room, and he walks in, and he didn’t even have to say a word,” Drew Eubanks described the energy of new teammate Russell Westbrook. “You could just feel the energy in the treatment room shift.”

Westbrook joined the Sacramento Kings one day before Friday’s preseason finale, but did not suit up for that game in Los Angeles.

Yet, his well-documented, intense, and relentless demeanor is already making an impact. The status of being a former MVP, nine-time All-NBA and All-Star player, two-time scoring champion, and a member of the NBA’s 7th Anniversary Team makes it easy to understand why Westbrook is one of the most popular players of his generation.

Read More:

Russell Westbrook brings a ‘different energy’ to Sacramento’s locker room

When is the next Sacramento Kings game?

Sacramento will tip off the 2025-26 regular season on Wednesday night when they face Devin Booker and the Suns in Phoenix.

Be sure to catch all of the Kings vs. Suns action right here on Sactown Sports 1140 AM, with pregame coverage beginning at 2:00 PM PT on The Drive Guys before a 7:00 pm PT tip-off from downtown Phoenix.

Upcoming Sacramento Kings schedule for the 2025-26 season

• Wednesday, October 22nd – @ Phoenix Suns – 7 PM PT (Season Opener)
• Friday, October 24th – vs. Utah Jazz – 7 PM PT
• Sunday, October 26th – vs. Los Angeles Lakers – 6 PM PT
• Tuesday, October 28th – @ Oklahoma City Thunder – 5 PM PT
• Wednesday, October 29th – @ Chicago Bulls – 5 PM PT

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