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Golden State Warriors contribute to rival’s place as ‘most overrated NBA player’

By Peter O'Keefe

SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 26: Domantas Sabonis #10 of the Sacramento Kings is guarded by Kevon Looney #5 of the Golden State Warriors during Game Five of the Western Conference First Round Playoffs at Golden 1 Center on April 26, 2023 in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 26: Domantas Sabonis #10 of the Sacramento Kings is guarded by Kevon Looney #5 of the Golden State Warriors during Game Five of the Western Conference First Round Playoffs at Golden 1 Center on April 26, 2023 in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /
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Sacramento Kings’ big man Domantas Sabonis has been labelled the ‘NBA’s most overrated player’, having come off a postseason where the Golden State Warriors provided the blueprint on how to nullify the Lithuanian.

Sabonis had an excellent regular season in a surging Sacramento side, averaging 19.1 points, leading the league in rebounding at 12.3 per game, and adding 7.3 assists for the third-seed in the Western Conference.

Seen as arguably the most pivotal piece to the Kings’ playoff chances, Sabonis largely struggled to maintain the same impact against unheralded Warrior starting center Kevon Looney.

Bleacher Report has ranked Domantas Sabonis as the NBA’s most overrated player after a disappointing playoff series against the Golden State Warriors.

A recent article by Bleacher Report’s Grant Hughes has listed the top five most overrated NBA players, with Sabonis ranked at the top above Golden State foe Dillon Brooks, Pelicans’ big Jonas Valanciunas, two-time Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard, and Chicago Bulls’ veteran DeMar DeRozan.

"“For a Kings team that is now concerned with succeeding in the playoffs, those limitations are meaningful. If he can’t shore up his specific and obviously exploitable weaknesses, Sabonis will struggle to be a factor in the postseason games Sacramento wants to win”, Hughes wrote. “The Warriors provided the book on how to marginalize Sabonis, and future playoff opponents will have read it carefully.”"

Golden State Warriors’ duo Kevon Looney and Draymond Green limited the impact of Domantas Sabonis in their first-round playoff series. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
Golden State Warriors’ duo Kevon Looney and Draymond Green limited the impact of Domantas Sabonis in their first-round playoff series. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

While Sabonis’ numbers dropped to 16.4 points, 11 rebounds and 4.7 assists during the Warriors-Kings matchup, it was Looney’s sheer impact that stunned many as Golden State escaped with a 4-3 series win.

The 27-year-old averaged 5.3 offensive rebounds as part of over 15 boards per game, with Looney also adding 4.3 assists himself. The three-time NBA champion was a +5.1 in plus-minus throughout the series, while Sabonis was a -7.0.

Golden State completely shut down Sabonis’ offensive output, paying little respect to his jumpshot as his efficiency dropped from 61.5% during the regular season to under 50% over the seven-game series.

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The perspective on Sabonis shifted incredibly in the aftermath, and the pressure on the 7’1″ big man will only intensify on the back of signing a new five-year, $217 million contract with the Kings earlier this month.

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