Domantas Sabonis: DeMar DeRozan ‘makes it so much harder’ for teams to guard Kings

Domantas Sabonis: DeMar DeRozan ‘makes it so much harder’ for teams to guard Kings

In hopes of keeping up with the rest of the very competitive Western Conference, the Sacramento Kings made a splash this offseason by acquiring veteran wing DeMar DeRozan in a three-team sign-and-trade.

In a media appearance while hosting a basketball camp in Rocklin, Calif., earlier this week, Kings big man Domantas Sabonis spoke about how DeRozan changes the complexion of the Kings offense.

“I think it’s going to be good for us. It’s going to make us think differently on the court,” he said, according to Matt George of ABC10. “We’re used to playing one style, but [Demar DeRozan] does something at a Hall of Fame level that we’re going to have to play around. It’s gonna to make it so much harder for teams to guard us. We can basically score from every area (on the court) now.

“I think he makes my life way easier. I just got to keep doing my job–having him on the court is going to give me a lot more options. Same thing for him.”

Domantas Sabonis talks about how DeMar DeRozan changes/improves the Kings offense.

"It's going to make it so much harder for teams to guard us." pic.twitter.com/gx8cXGuwzX

— Matt George (@MattGeorgeSAC) August 25, 2024

More Domantas Sabonis talking about his new Kings teammate DeMar DeRozan.

Sabonis shuts down any concern about DeRozan's age, and talks about how much easier DeMar makes his job on the court. pic.twitter.com/ABloSEClCn

— Matt George (@MattGeorgeSAC) August 25, 2024

DeRozan is coming off one of the best seasons of his career. The 35-year-old averaged 24.0 points, 4.3 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 1.1 steals per game, leading the NBA in minutes played during his age-34 season. He shot 48.0 percent from the floor and 33.3 percent from 3-point range.

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The Kings last year ranked No. 15 in mid-range frequency and 3rd in 3-point frequency, according to Cleaning The Glass. So the Kings have the requisite spacing–including Malik Monk, Kevin Huerter and Keegan Murray–needed to mitigate DeRozan and Sabonis operating in similar areas of the floor.

I think both can develop a keen two-man game together. After all, Sabonis is a premier DHO hub, which is where DeRozan can excel to open up a 2-on-1 advantage.

Sacramento was also in the bottom-third in free-throw rate; DeRozan doesn’t excel at getting to the rim, but he’s excellent at drawing fouls within 10-15 feet, which could make the Kings’ fringe top-10 offense even more potent.

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