Former Gonzaga standout has 54 double-doubles in a row following win over the Philadelphia 76ers
A historical 2023-24 campaign for Sacramento Kings forward Domantas Sabonis continued Monday when he recorded his 54th-consecutive double-double with 11 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists in a 108-96 win over the Philadelphia 76ers.
Sabonis’ 54-straight games with a double-double is the longest streak since the NBA/ABA merger in 1976-77. No current NBA player was alive the last time someone had a double-double streak longer than Sabonis, who matched Kevin Love’s run of 53 in a row during the 2010-11 season in the Kings’ win over the Magic on Saturday.
Only four players in NBA/ABA history have a longer streak than Sabonis: Wilt Chamberlain, Elvin Hayes, Elgin Baylor and Walt Bellamy. Chamberlain had seven different streaks with 70 or more double-doubles consecutively in his career and holds the all-time record with 81 straight in the 1966-67 season. Sabonis can’t reach that mark, but he can get to 65 in a row (which would be the ninth-most all-time) if he plays in the final 11 games of the regular season.
The former Gonzaga men’s basketball standout also leads the NBA with 25 triple-doubles, with his latest coming against the Toronto Raptors last week when he had 13 points, 17 rebounds and 10 assists in a 123-89 win. Sabonis won’t be able to reach Russell Westbrook’s record of 42 triple-doubles set in the 2016-17 season, though the Kings star can still max out at 36 triple-doubles, which would be the fourth-most all-time.
While Sabonis is on a course toward history, the Kings are looking to lock in their position for the playoffs down the stretch. With the win Monday, Sacramento (42-29) is tied with the Dallas Mavericks for the No. 6 spot in the Western Conference standings and a half-game above the Phoenix Suns for eighth in the standings.
Seven of the Kings’ remaining 11 games are at home, however, they’ll face eight opponents with a .500 or better record and have two key games on the second of a back-to-back stretch.
If the Kings are to make back-to-back playoff appearances, they’ll need more big nights from Sabonis.
