Domas changes King’s jersey number in honor of father Arvydas originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
While Kings general manager Monte McNair and Co. is bracing for personnel adjustments this summer, Domantas Sabonis is making his own personal change for the 2024-2025 NBA season.
The Sabonis family legacy will continue next season in Sacramento, as Domantas announced Friday he will move from No. 10 to No. 11 in honor of his Hall of Fame father, Arvydas Sabonis.
No. 11 was retired by Hall of Famer Bob Davies, who played for the Rochester Royals from 1948 to 1955. Davies and Bobby Wanzer formed one of the best defensive duos in the early years of the NBA, leading the Royals to the 1951 NBA Championship.
From Rochester to Cincinnati to Kansas City to now Sacramento as the Kings, six decades later, continue the glory of Davies’ jersey retirement.
But the team noted in the announcement that Davies’ children have given their blessing for Domantas to wear their father’s retired No. 11 jersey.
“My siblings and I are so proud of our father and everything he accomplished during his legendary NBA career,” said Camy Davies Keck, Bob Davies’ daughter. “He had a great influence on our family and on many young, aspiring athletes. He was certainly a man of real character.
“Given the Sabonis family’s special bond with the number 11, we felt it was appropriate to share our father’s number with Domantas and wish him continued success. We are grateful to the Kings organization and fans for their continued support.”
Domantas is grateful to the Davies for allowing him to share number 11 with him and his family.
“The number 11 holds a special place in my and my family’s lives because I wore it throughout my career in honor of my father,” Domantas said. “I am incredibly grateful to the Davies family for sharing number 11 with me and I look forward to building on the legacy of everyone who wore it before me.”
“Bob Davies is a franchise legend and we greatly appreciate his family for their partnership,” said Sacramento Kings General Manager Monte McNair. “This is an exciting next chapter for Domas and his family, and we look forward to seeing number 11 on the field next season.”
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Arvydas was drafted by the Portland Trail Blazers in 1986 after a successful career in Europe. In seven NBA seasons, he averaged 12 points, 7.3 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game. His elite passing and playing skills changed the game for centers around the world. Arvydas was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2011.
And like his father, Domantas’ playmaking skills and unselfishness have taken Sacramento to a new level in the NBA after the team and its passionate fan base spent 16 seasons in the playoffs.
In two full seasons with Sacramento, Domantas averaged 19.3 points on 60.4 percent shooting with 13 rebounds and 7.7 assists in 161 games.
It will be a new, but familiar start for Domantas’ NBA career. And after missing the playoffs in 2023-24, the Kings – like the Sabonis family – welcome new changes next season.
