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Domantas Sabonis earns his spot in the Rising Stars game

By Ben Gibson

PORTLAND, OR - JANUARY 18: Domantas Sabonis #11 of the Indiana Pacers in action against the Portland Trail Blazers at Moda Center on January 18, 2018 in Portland, Oregon. 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 Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images)
PORTLAND, OR - JANUARY 18: Domantas Sabonis #11 of the Indiana Pacers in action against the Portland Trail Blazers at Moda Center on January 18, 2018 in Portland, Oregon. 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 Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images) /
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Domantas Sabonis earned himself a spot in All-Star Weekend’s Rising Stars game thanks to his breakout second season with the Indiana Pacers.

Domantas Sabonis is part of the Indiana Pacers’ future thanks to breaking out in his second season in the NBA. After an uninspiring rookie year that made him an afterthought even after starting 66 games, the Lithuanian finds himself at All-Star Weekend again, but this time, he earned it.

No, he isn’t joining Victor Oladipo on the All-Star team, but he is in the Rising Stars game. For those who need a quick refresher, that’s the game for the NBA’s up and coming talent that are rookies and sophomores in the NBA.

As mentioned above, he earned the honor this season. Last year he represented the Oklahoma City Thunder in the game, scoring 10 points and grabbing a rebound. But his selection last year was mostly as a body for the World Team.

His 5.9 points and 3.6 rebounds — as a starter, mind you — hardly said “future double-double machine” that he is now as an occasional starter with the Pacers.

There’s a reason most Pacers fans, even the savvy ones, weren’t salivating over the prospect of Sabonis joining the team via the Paul George trade. Yes, he was playing in Russell Westbrook’s shadow, but that doesn’t excuse shooting 39.9% from the floor. Even when he wasn’t missing 3-pointers, he only made 43.8% of his shots inside the arc.

Sabonis had potential, but is hardly was evident his rookie season.

So yes, this isn’t Sabonis’ first time in the Rising Stars game, but this year he is clearly one of the best players in their first or second season in the NBA. His impact with the Thunder last season was minimal.

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He isn’t the first Pacer to earn the honor, either. Last season Myles Turner took part, scoring 12 points and grabbing 4 rebounds. The then second-year player was 5 of 8 on the night, including a 2 of 4 performance from the 3-point line. Myles missed out on the game his rookie season as an injury caused him to miss most of November and December.

Other current Pacers to play (with Indiana or another team) in the Rising Stars game in recent years include Bojan Bogdanovic and Victor Oladipo.

While he wasn’t as young as some of the other players at 26 years old, he was in his second year in the NBA. The then-Brooklyn Net went 2 of 6 on 3-pointers, scoring 6 points. He also played in the game during his rookie season in 2015, scoring 16 points on 6 of 10 shooting, 3 of 7 from deep.

Oladipo played with the USA against Bojan in 2015, scoring 21 points on 8 of 21 shooting. In the 2014 game, he went 6 of 10 from the field, scoring 13 points.

Next: Physicality is a state of mind for Domantas Sabonis

While Oladipo was tabbed for greatness from early in his career, it’s been one the biggest surprises for the Indiana Pacers this season to see Domantas Sabonis become the player he is today. Playing in the Rising Stars game this year is just another sign Kevin Pritchard made the right move acquiring both players.

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