West Notes: Kings, Domantas Sabonis, Suns, Mark Williams, Warriors

Kings

The Kings’ preseason took an unsettling turn when star big man Domantas Sabonis exited Wednesday’s loss to the Clippers with a right hamstring issue. He left midway through the third quarter and didn’t return, as relayed by Jason Anderson of The Sacramento Bee.

Head coach Doug Christie said there’s no official update yet, but the team hopes it’s minor.

“Listen, your star player goes down, you never want to see that,” Christie said. “Hopefully it’s nothing. We have some time before the first game, but those are the things you just don’t want to see.”

With Keegan Murray already out following thumb surgery, Sacramento suddenly looks thin up front just a week before the season opener.

Suns

Phoenix believes center Mark Williams will be ready for opening night, according to John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports 98.7 FM. Williams didn’t play in the preseason but has been participating in 5-on-5 work and full scrimmages.

As for Jalen Green, his hamstring injury isn’t expected to keep him out long. Gambadoro reports that Green could miss only two or three games, barring a setback, before making his Suns debut.

Warriors

The Warriors remain basketball’s biggest business.

Sportico’s annual franchise valuations list pegs Golden State at $11.33 billion, a massive 24% jump from last year’s $9.14 billion figure. The only sports franchise worth more worldwide? The Dallas Cowboys, at $12.8 billion.

The Warriors led the NBA in estimated revenue at $833 million, pulling in over $5 million per game in ticket sales and another $2.5 million from luxury suites. They also boast the league’s richest jersey patch deal ($45 million with Rakuten) and fully own their arena.

The Lakers climbed to No. 2 on the list at $10 billion, just ahead of the Knicks at $9.85 billion. Every NBA team saw a valuation boost, with the average franchise now worth $5.51 billion — up 20% from last year.

Memphis ranks last at $4 billion but actually led the league in growth percentage, up 31% from 2024. The Pelicans, Timberwolves and Pacers followed closely behind.

Among notable deals, Mark Walter’s pending purchase of the Lakers is valued at $10 billion, while Tom Dundon’s agreement for the Trail Blazers is worth $4.25 billion. The Celtics’ sale to William Chisholm sits around $6.5 billion.

All told, the NBA’s global push and massive new media rights deal are fueling a business boom. And the Warriors remain the gold standard on and off the floor.