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Domantas Sabonis 2019 Player Outlook
5 years agoIndiana Pacers forward/center Domantas Sabonis was one of the best bench performers in the league last season, averaging 14.1 points, 9.3 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game, to shatter his previous career highs in all categories. He was a very efficient shooter, nailing 59 percent of his field-goal attempts and shooting 71.5 percent at the line. Sabonis was even a 60 percent shooter before the All-Star break. 2019-20 will likely be another year of improvement for the big Lithuanian, as Thaddeus Young's departure has opened up the starting role at power forward. Sabonis had only five starts last season. Despite coming off the bench, Sabonis was one of 23 players in the league to pick up at least 30 double-doubles. As a starter, and with more minutes -- Sabonis averaged 24.8 minutes in 2018-19 -- the Portland-born center could easily add another 15 double-doubles to his name, which would make him one of the best double-double machines in the league. Only nine players had at least 45 double-doubles last season. Besides the potential starting role at power forward, Sabonis is also looking at plenty of minutes at center, with Myles Turner lacking proper backup. The situation in Indiana really is perfect for him to produce a big year.
