After missing most of 2025-26 with a long-term injury and surgery, Sabonis returns to Sacramento’s training camp with a changed outlook: prioritize health, enjoy playing, and ignore outside noise about trades.
He played through the issue early in the season — through about 17 additional games after the injury occurred in game two — and now prioritizes playing without pain and enjoying the game.
Sacramento went 22–60 last season, and Sabonis sees roster changes (including the No. 7 pick Darius Acuff Jr.) as adding size, creators, and improving team flow.
He rejects trade speculation on social media, saying he stays in direct contact with the organization and his agent and is focused on his own mental peace.
# Overview
# Injury and recovery timeline
The injury occurred in game two of the 2025-26 season. Sabonis tried to continue playing and pushed through roughly 17 more games before electing for surgery. He described it as his first long-term injury and his first surgery, and that it brought a lot of emotions. He spent six weeks on crutches during recovery. He returned to on-court activity in the first week of July and was fully cleared in August.
# Mental and practical perspective
He acknowledged second-guessing his decision to try to play through the injury, saying maybe he should have had surgery immediately rather than attempting to play the extra games. That reflection appears to feed into a conservative approach now: stay healthy and avoid pain during play.
# Team context and roster changes
Sacramento finished 22–60 last season, its worst record since Sabonis joined the franchise. The team has reshaped parts of the roster this offseason, adding size and wings and selecting Darius Acuff Jr. with the No. 7 pick. Sabonis said the additions could address holes the Kings had and give the club more length and size than he's seen since arriving in Sacramento.
He also thinks more creators and high-IQ players will make his offensive role easier: better ball movement and spacing should simplify his decisions and improve team flow.
# Trade talk and external noise
There has been public speculation about Sabonis' long-term future in Sacramento, including stories about possible trades and whether the Kings will pursue an extension. Sabonis dismissed most of the outside chatter as fabricated. He said he stays in direct contact with team president Scott Perry and his agent, avoids social media, and focuses on family and basketball.
# Season outlook
Sabonis' short-term, stated priorities are straightforward: be healthy, play without pain, enjoy being on the court, and help a reshaped roster find a better identity. He arrives at training camp cleared medically and with a guarded, pragmatic mindset about both his health and any conversations about his future with the Kings.
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