Domantas Sabonis battles through injury, Nikola Jokic, to get big win

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The beam was lit. Golden 1 Center had emptied out of the record-breaking 17,985 rabid fans that were treated to an incredible come-from-behind victory over the Denver Nuggets by their Sacramento Kings. 

Following the media sessions in the press conference room with Malik Monk, De’Aaron Fox and associate head coach Jordi Fernandez, who is filling in for Mike Brown, we began the trek to the Kings’ locker room. 

The long walk through the bowels of the Kings’ arena is a familiar one, but on Wednesday, as we approached the locker room, two giant figures appeared. Walking side-by-side, behind additional family members, were father and son Sabonis.

Arvydas Sabonis has been in town for a few weeks for the holidays. It’s a family tradition for Domantas’ parents to join him in his current NBA city through the Christmas holiday and New Years. This year may be a little more special. Domantas and his wife Shashana welcomed their first child in March, so the grandparents have been in Sacramento for the baby's first Christmas. 

The visit hasn’t been for the faint of heart. Domas has taken an absolute beating over the last few weeks, from getting hit in the face repeatedly, to a violent flagrant foul last week against the Lakers, to his current situation with an avulsion fracture to the ulnar collateral ligament in his right thumb. 

Arvydas is no stranger to the world of NBA injuries. The Hall of Fame big man spent decades playing the sport, including seven years with the Portland Trail Blazers. He knows the grind and toll the game takes on a player.

At 7-foot-3, Arvydas towered over his son as they made their way to a bank of elevators that leads to the team’s practice facility. An hour or more later, after receiving treatment for his ailing hand, the younger Sabonis reappeared in the locker room to speak to a small group of reporters.

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