2016 NBA Draft Prospects: Breaking Down Pro Future of Domantas Sabonis

Arguably the country’s top mid-major prospect, Domantas Sabonis strengthened his pitch to the NBA during his second year at Gonzaga. 

He’ll enter the draft with a diverse resume that includes pro experience overseas, Hall of Fame genes (he’s the son of NBA luminary Arvydas Sabonis) and volume college production. Sabonis is coming off a breakout year, and despite the lack of NBA-caliber front lines he faced, he put on a show for scouts in the NCAA tournament against Utah’s Jakob Poeltl, the projected top center in June’s field. 

“Just confidence-wise, I’ve been a lot better, and trusting more in myself, trying out new things, and just knowing that coaches trust me more this year, and I have a bigger role to help my team, that’s helped me a lot,” he told USA Today’s Lindsay H. Jones. 

Sabonis has his well-documented flaws, but over the course of his sophomore season, they became easier to overlook. 

Relevant Stats

Sabonis’ remarkable efficiency stands out more than anything else from the numbers. He shot 66.8 percent as a freshman and 61.1 percent this past year. He also raised his scoring average to 17.6 points per game (up from 9.7), which he got on just 10.9 field-goal attempts. 

According to Sports-Reference.com, he also grabs 20.7 percent of the available rebounds when he’s on the floor, which ranks first among prospects who are expected to generate first-round interest. 

Between his new and improved free-throw stroke (76.9 percent) and the five threes he hit, Sabonis may even be developing some shooting potential. 

On the downside, he averaged less than one block and one steal again. In 74 career games, he’s totaled just 43 blocks and 39 steals. 

Strengths

At 6’11”, 240 pounds, Sabonis possesses enough size and mobility to play both power forward and center. 

Rebounding will be his signature strength upon entering the league. He pulled down 14.8 boards per 40 minutes, showing textbook technique, a nose for the ball and a live motor inside. Loose balls seem to always find Sabonis, who boxes out, anticipates misses and scraps.

Despite lacking explosiveness, he’s terrific around the …

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