Kings Sabonis And Lavine Season-Ending Surgeries Reshape Draft Odds

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The Sacramento Kings are now without Domantas Sabonis and Zach LaVine for the rest of the season, after both players had season-ending surgery that deepens the team’s push towards the top odds in the 2026 NBA draft lottery.

The franchise already holds the league’s worst record at 12-44, and a 14-game losing streak has placed Sacramento in a strong position for a 14.0 per cent chance at the No. 1 pick, which is shared by the three teams with the poorest records.

Sabonis underwent an operation on a torn meniscus in the left knee, while LaVine had surgery on a tendon injury in the right hand, according to Shams Charania of ESPN, removing two central players from Sacramento’s rotation during a difficult campaign.

Sabonis, a three-time All-Star, first picked up the knee injury on November 16 and then missed 27 straight games, before returning on January 16 and appearing in only eight of 15 possible fixtures because of left knee injury management and lower back soreness.

LaVine dealt with finger soreness leading into the All-Star break and sat out five of the Kings’ final 10 games before the mid-season pause, further limiting the backcourt options for a team already struggling to string wins together.

Despite the fitness problems, LaVine, 30, has been Sacramento’s leading scorer at 19.2 points per game, while Sabonis, 29, is averaging 15.8 points and a team-high 11.4 rebounds, underlining how much production the Kings lose with both players now sidelined.

The key numbers from Sacramento’s season and from both players’ contributions are set out below, highlighting why the injuries are significant for on-court performance but also important in shaping the franchise’s draft position for 2026.

Confirmation of the surgeries was shared on social media, further underlining the scale of Sacramento’s injury problems as the organisation leans into a long-term approach centred on draft capital and rebuilding potential.

With both stars ruled out, the Kings’ immediate prospects suffer, yet the combination of their current record, recent losing streak and the league’s lottery structure leaves Sacramento strongly positioned for a top selection in the 2026 NBA draft, which could shape the next phase of the team’s rebuild.