Domantas Sabonis on Kings trade rumors: ‘It’s all made up’

Kings center Domantas Sabonis heard all the trade rumors. It’s safe to say he didn’t spend much time believing them.

Sabonis was mentioned regularly in speculation after a difficult season in which a knee injury limited him to 19 games. Sabonis said this week that he’s back to “100%” and told Johnny Askounis of Eurohoops that ignoring the trade chatter wasn’t particularly difficult.

“Easy. It’s all made up,” Sabonis said. “I don’t know where you guys get most of it from. I’m there with Scott [Perry], with my agent, so I’m not on social media as much.”

Well, that certainly simplifies things. Whether every rumor was actually invented is another matter. But Sabonis remains in Sacramento, and his immediate concern is getting back on the court.

There’s plenty riding on the season elsewhere, too. Coach Doug Christie has a team option for 2027-28 and could essentially be coaching for an extension. Jason Anderson of The Sacramento Bee reports that competitiveness and the culture Christie establishes could matter more in that evaluation than the Kings’ final record.

After last season, healthy and competitive would be a pretty good place to start.