Domantas Sabonis appears as Superstar for Indiana Pacers

The Indiana Pacers have been on the lookout for a superstar, a bona fide franchise cornerstone, from Paul George’s trade to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the summer of 2017 in exchange for Victor Oladipo and Domantas Sabonis.

Turns out Indiana got that cornerstone of the franchise from OKC in that trade, and it wasn’t Oladipo. Just 24 years old and coming off his first All-Star season in 2019-2020, the big 6-foot-11 is gaining the upper hand in ways that not many players have -this season and has gained more perks since his 3rd year in the league.

Sabonis averages 20.4 points, 12.3 rebounds and 5.8 assists per game this season at 55.1% off the field and 37% from three as the Pacers sit 3rd in the East at 11-7. His consistent excellence for the Pacers has helped them get off to a quicker start than many expected under rookie head coach Nate Bjorkgren. Gonzaga’s result is one of five players this season, along with Luka Doncic, Nikola Jokic, Ben Simmons and Julius Randle, to rank in the top 25 in the NBA both in rebounds and assists in all game.

“I think he and Joker are the big men going past the League,” Indiana team player Malcolm Brogdon said after Wednesday’s win over Charlotte. “He’s very versatile, he’s an All-Star.”

The four-year, $ 77 million contract extension, signed before the 2019-2020 season is already looking like a big deal for Indiana since it plays as if it was worth twice that amount.

Sabonis is one of six players from the ABA-NBA union to double in his first 15 straight games to start a season, joining Bill Walton in 1976-1977, Moses Malone in 1981- 1982, Kevin Love in 2011-2012, Giannis Antetokounmpo last season and Jokic this season. That streak came to an end Monday when he had to go in the first quarter in a win over Toronto with a cooked left knee that kept him going until it was a decision during game time against the Wednesday night Hornets.

“Yeah, I don’t like to sit down,” Sabonis said. “I felt bad I couldn’t go back to the last game.”

Not only did Hall of Fame center Arvydas Sabonis’ son follow in and push him through into the starting lineup, but he had his second triple trip of the season, a 22-point effort, 11- rebound, a 10-assist paired with Detlef Schrempf for the most triple double in franchise history.

“When the ball is in his hands, he’s going to make the right play,” Bjorkgren said.

And unlike other superstitions in the league, Sabonis doesn’t have to have the ball in his hands all the time or he needs a high level of practice to be successful. He needed just 10 hits to get his 22 points, hitting nine of those attempts, 2-of-3 from three and 2-for-4 at the free throw line (still is one of his weaknesses is his lack of trips to the stripe).

“I felt like I could play,” Sabonis said. “I would feel worse if I weren’t. ”

Charlotte would have felt a lot better if he had sat down, but Hornets head coach James Borrego is well aware of what the Pacers, their opponent again Friday night, have in the Sabonis.

“He can get in there, he can score, he can pass, he makes it out of the pick and roll, out of the up post and the table. , ”Said Borrego.

Basically, the full pack should not yet have entered the main course of his career and should be talked about as one of the top 15 players in the league, if not better. So yes, Domantas Sabonis is not only a superstar right now but he is still working on his game and getting better at 24 years old.

“His game and his performance night indoors and outdoors speaks for itself,” Brogdon said. “He’s a hell of a player.”