Sacramento Kings forward-center Domantas Sabonis has been named Western Conference Player of the Week after leading the Kings to a 3-1 record for games played between March 13 and March 19, the NBA announced today. Sabonis posted averages of 22.8 points (59.3 FG%, 83.3 FT%), 16.0 rebounds, 10.0 assists and 1.5 blocks throughout the week on his way to his fifth career Player of the Week.
Sabonis becomes the first player in franchise history to receive three Player of the Week accolades in a single season and the fourth NBA player this season to earn the honor three times or more. He is the first player in franchise history to win in consecutive weeks after he was the player in the Association to average a triple-double last week. This is the second time this season he has averaged at least 20.0 points, 15.0 rebounds and 10.0 assists over a four-game stretch. During the week, Sabonis led the NBA in rebounds per game, total rebounds (64) and assists (40), while also ranking first in double-doubles (4) and triple-doubles (2).
Sabonis totaled 23 points, 17 rebounds and 15 assists vs. Milwaukee on March 13, becoming the 15th player in NBA history and just the second in franchise history with 20 points, 15 boards and 15 assists in a game, joining Oscar Robertson. He followed that up with another triple-double in a win at Chicago on March 15, recording 14 points, 17 rebounds and 10 assists. Sabonis then notched 24 points, 21 rebounds, five assists and a career-high tying four blocks in a victory over Brooklyn on March 16, making him the only player this season with 20 points, 20 boards, five assists and four blocks in a game. The six-year veteran rounded out the week with 30 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds in a win at Washington on March 13.
In his seventh season in the NBA, Sabonis is averaging 19.2 points (61.2 FG%, 35.5 3pt%, 76.8 FT%), 12.5 rebounds, 7.2 assists and 34.7 minutes per game in 68 games (68 starts). He is currently on pace to become the second player in NBA history, along with Wilt Chamberlin (1966-67) to average at least 19.0 points, 12.0 rebounds and 7.0 assists while shooting 60.0% or better from the field. Sabonis leads the NBA in rebounds per game, total rebounds (850) and double-doubles (57) while ranking second in triple-doubles (11), 12th in assists per game, fifth in total assists (487), 10th in field goal percentage, second in win shares (11.0), tied for second in offensive win shares (8.4) and sixth in offensive rating (120.0).