NBA rumors: Kings’ Domantas Sabonis didn’t have right thumb surgery

Domantas Sabonis played with a right thumb fracture for the last four months of the Kings' 2022-23 NBA season, and now there are conflicting reports about whether or not he underwent surgery.

Shortly after Lithuanian national team head coach Kazys Maksvytis said Sabonis had surgery to repair the avulsion fracture (h/t BasketNews), several Sacramento media members reported, citing sources, that the Kings' All-Star center didn't undergo a procedure.

KCRA's Michelle Dapper, Fox40's Sean Cunningham, The Sacramento Bee's Jason Anderson and ESPN 1320's James Ham all confirmed Sabonis hasn't had surgery for the injury.

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League sources confirm Domas did not have surgery on his thumb. He has been following a strict rehab protocol and was unable to play for the Lithuanian national team this summer @kcranews
— Michelle Dapper (@KCRAdapper) July 12, 2023

A league source tells The Sacramento Bee Kings center Domantas Sabonis did not have surgery on his thumb, confirming the news from @James_HamNBA. Sabonis has been following strict rehab protocol and was not able to play for the Lithuanian national team this summer.
— Jason Anderson (@JandersonSacBee) July 12, 2023

Initial report from earlier where the Lithuanian head coach was quoted saying Sabonis had surgery on his thumb. League sources say the Kings All-Star has not. https://t.co/5kgSE2EFnL
— Sean Cunningham (@SeanCunningham) July 12, 2023

Per BasketNews, Maksvytis made the claim about Sabonis' surgery during a press conference this week regarding Lithuania's FIBA Basketball World Cup roster.

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"The main reasons behind Domantas' availability this summer was his contract and health," Maksvytis said in a press conference. "He tried to recover without the surgery, but it didn't work, and he lost time. After the surgery, everything takes longer."

"He apologized for not coming and promised to be available next summer."

Sabonis was supposed to play with Lithuania at this summer's FIBA World Cup, but Maksvytis knew that the star center's injury could get in the way.

Earlier this month, Sabonis signed a multiyear contract extension that will keep him in Sacramento for the next five seasons. The Kings renegotiated the contract of his original deal, and ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported, citing sources, that Sabonis took less money to prioritize the Kings' roster.

Sabonis averaged 19.1 points on 61.5-percent shooting, along with a league-leading 12.3 rebounds and a career and team-best 7.3 assists in 79 games last season. He was an All-NBA Third Team selection and double-double leader. Even after sustaining the injury in late December, he fought through the pain and remained consistent, averaging 19.9 points on 61.7-percent shooting, adding 12.3 rebounds and 7.6 assists in 35.3 minutes.