Kings Linchpin Sets Post-Merger Double-Doubles Record

Domantas Sabonis once again made a positive impact on the court Monday. He took just five shot attempts, but finished with 11 points, 13 rebounds, and 10 assists. His Sacramento Kings were able to defeat the Philadelphia 76ers by the score of 108-96.

Monday’s effort was Sabonis’ 25th triple-double of the season and 57th of his eight-year career. The 27-year-old is currently leading the league in triple-doubles this season.

Sabonis is also atop the list for double-doubles in 2023-24. Monday marked the 54th straight game that he has recorded a double-double. That is the new post-merger record for consecutive double-doubles in a single season.

Kings Linchpin Sets Post-Merger Double-Doubles Record

Sabonis Wasn’t an All-Star?

The last time Domantas Sabonis did not end a game with a double-double was a loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on November 29, 2023. It was a rare game where Sabonis did not fill up the box score finishing with 11 points, five rebounds, and three assists.

Sabonis is averaging 13.7 rebounds per game, which currently leads the NBA. Sitting in second on the leaderboard is Rudy Gobert with 12.9. Sabonis has also averaged 8.3 assists per contest, good for sixth-most in 2023-24.

Also averaging nearly 20 points an outing, Sabonis was arguably the biggest snub for this season’s All-Star Game. The eight-year pro was previously named an All-Star twice with the Indiana Pacers and last season with the Kings.

Who Previously Held the Post-Merger Record?

The NBA merged with the ABA prior to the start of the 1976-77 season.

Since the merger, Kevin Love previously had the record for most consecutive double-doubles in a single season. He had 53 straight in the 2010-11 season while playing for the Minnesota Timberwolves. The streak spanned from November 22, 2010 until March 11, 2011.

Just Another Wilt Chamberlain Record

With 11 games remaining in Sacramento’s regular season, Domantas Sabonis can potentially stretch his consecutive double-doubles streak to 65 games. According to NBA.com, that would be the ninth-longest single-season streak in NBA history when also accounting for the pre-merger days.

To what should be the surprise of no one, Wilt Chamberlain has the all-time record with 81 straight in the 1966-67 season. ‘The Stilt’ also has two seasons where he had 80 straight and two more seasons where he had 79 straight.

The only other players to have more than Sabonis’ potential 65 straight are Walt Bellamy (79 in 1961-62), and Elgin Baylor (70 in 1960-61). Chamberlain had another season where he recorded 66 straight.

Sabonis Wants to Help Kings Avoid the Play-In Tournament

The Kings are in quite a Western Conference playoff battle as we wind down the 2023-24 regular season. The top six seeds in each conference at the end of the regular season get guaranteed playoff spots. Seeds 7-10 will take part in the Play-In Tournament.

The Kings currently sit in the sixth spot in the Western Conference with a 42-29 record. The seventh-seeded Dallas Mavericks have the same record and the eighth-seeded Phoenix Suns are just a half-game behind both of them.

Sacramento is looking for their second straight playoff berth. Last postseason, they lost in seven games in the opening round to the Golden State Warriors. Before last year, the Kings hadn’t reached the postseason since 2006.