"Domas is a better playmaker than Jokic" - Kings HC Mike Brown makes bold claim about 3x All-Star Center
Domantas Sabonis has emerged as one of the most versatile players in the game. He's a savvy playmaker, more than the average big man, and he's another creator on the floor for the Sacramento Kings.
Sabonis currently ranks third in touches per game, and he's currently averaging 6.2 assists per game. Notably, that's actually his lowest number in the past three seasons.
According to his coach, Mike Brown, Sabonis' skills have everything to do with his court vision and how quickly he gets rid of the ball. In fact, he thinks that makes him a better passer than Nikola Jokic:
"I'm not saying Domas is better than Jokic or anything like that," Brown told ESPN, adding, "but, to me, that's why Domas is a better playmaker than Jokic."
Jokic is currently averaging 10.2 assists per game, the second-most in the league behind Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young. Sabonis knows he still has a long way to go, and this is the reason he studies Jokic's game closely.
"I watch Jokic as much as I can," Sabonis said, adding, "just to see how he's doing things, how their guys are moving."
Domantas Sabonis reflects on his father's NBA career
Sabonis comes from an NBA lineage; he's the son of Arvydas Sabonis. The older Sabonis had a legendary career overseas, and while he was well past his prime and struggled with injuries during his brief stint in the NBA, his impact was still notorious.
Domantas will go down with better overall numbers than his father, yet he knows he's not close to his level of play:
"I just feel bad because I'm nothing like him," Domantas said, adding, "He's at a whole different level, so it's not the same. You know how some legends never die? Well, it's hard. I'm just another basketball player. He's a legend. I still have time, but I don't know, I feel like there's a big difference there."
Arvydas is considered to be one of the biggest 'what ifs' in NBA history, and some claim he set the blueprint for the modern big man. Unfortunately, the league didn't get to watch him in his prime.
His son, Domantas, is a perennial All-Star candidate, so the fact that he still doesn't feel even close to his father speaks volumes about how utterly dominant and talented Arvydas was.