Domantas Sabonis, Lithuania fall one win short of 2024 Olympics

During the 2023-24 NBA season, the Sacramento Kings lost to the New Orleans Pelicans in all six head-to-head matchups.

Even in the offseason, the Pelicans are still finding ways to sting members of the Kings.

New Orleans guard Jose Alvarado’s Puerto Rico squad defeated Domantas Sabonis and the Lithuanian men’s national team by a final of 79-68 in Sunday’s FIBA World Olympic Qualifying final.

With the loss, Sabonis and Lithuania have been eliminated from Olympic contention as Puerto Rico will advance to play in this month’s 2024 Olympic games in Paris, France.

During the losing effort, Sabonis added 10 points, nine rebounds, and two blocked shots in his last performance of the summer as the three-time All-Star heads into the offseason and eyes the start of the 2024-25 season.

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More on Domantas Sabonis

It was a memorable 2023-24 season for Sabonis, who secured his second-straight All-NBA Third Team honor.

Over 82 games, Sabonis averaged 19.4 points, 13.7 rebounds (1st in NBA), and 8.2 assists (6th in NBA) per game on 59 percent shooting from the field. The 27-year-old led the league in double-doubles (77) and triple-doubles (26) and clinched his second-straight rebounding title.

Along with leading the league in rebounds, rebounds per game, double-doubles, and triple-doubles, Sabonis’ 673 assists (a career-high) placed him fourth in the NBA, only behind Tyrese Haliburton, Luka Doncic, and Jokic.

Sabonis also finished fourth in win shares (12.6), with only Nikola Jokic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexader, and Giannis Antetokounmpo ahead of him.

Posting 19-13-8 is a rare feat for NBA players. Sabonis’ 2023-24 season made him just the second player in league history to post those numbers or better, joining Wilt Chamberlain (1967-68) as the only other person to do so.

Since being acquired by Sacramento in 2022, Sabonis has been a force for the Kings, averaging 19.2 points, 12.9 rebounds, and 7.6 assists over 176 games. Sabonis has already jumped into the top ten on the Sacramento era (1985-present) rebounding leaderboard, coming in at tenth with 2,278 rebounds.

When is the next Sacramento Kings off-season date of interest?

The 2024 California Classic will continue on Tuesday night as the Kings face the Charlotte Hornets at Golden 1 Center.

Sactown Sports 1140 will have all of your Sacramento Kings coverage for the California Classic, Summer League, free agency, and much more!

Sacramento Kings 2024 Summer Schedule

California Classic | Golden 1 Center | Sacramento, CA

• Tuesday, July 9th – vs. Charlotte Hornets – 7:00 PM PDT

California Classic | Chase Center | San Francisco, CA

• Wednesday, July 10th – vs. Golden State Warriors – 7:00 PM PDT

NBA 2K25 Summer League | Thomas & Mack Center/Cox Pavilion | Las Vegas, NV

• Friday, July 12th – @ Memphis Grizzlies – 3:00 PM PDT (NBA TV)
• Monday, July 15th – vs. Utah Jazz – 7:00 PM PDT (ESPNU)
• Wednesday, July 17th – @ New York Knicks – 12:30 PM PDT (NBA TV)
• Thursday, July 18th – vs. Washington Wizards – 4:00 PM PDT (ESPN)
• Final game TBD

NBA Offseason Schedule

• Saturday, July 6th – Free Agents can officially sign contracts
• July 12-22nd – Las Vegas Summer League
• July 27-August 11th – 2024 Olympic Games
• Friday, September 27th – NBA training camps begin

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