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While the Sacramento Kings are enjoying a quiet offseason, one of their key players is making an impact away from the teams locker room.
Ten years after making it in the NBA, veteran forward Domantas Sabonis returned to Gonzaga, where it all started for him.
Sabonis nodded to his Gonzaga legacy and made the largest donation ever by a former Bulldogs basketball player to support the school's men's and women's programs.
Sabonis, along with his wife, Shashana, made what Gonzaga described as a "transformative and significant" gift.
To honor his huge charitable step, the college is also renaming the basketball program's strength and conditioning facility.
The facility inside the Volkar Center for Athletic Achievement will be known as the Sabonis Family Strength & Conditioning Center from now on.
However, the university did not disclose the exact amount the NBA superstar donated towards the development of his college team.
Sabonis returned to Spokane for Thursday's dedication ceremony.
Gonzaga coaches, current players, former teammates, and his family all gathered to celebrate the donation.
"I'm incredibly grateful for the important role Gonzaga has played in my life and the opportunities the University has given me," Sabonis said.
"My time here helped shape who I am, not only as a basketball player but as a person." I love this place to death.
I want all the athletes that come through here to succeed.
-Domantas Sabonis made a large donation to his alma mater, Gonzaga, on Thursday pic.twitter.com/aXy1nxpSjJ Kevin John (@heykevinjohn) July 10, 2026 According to the three-time NBA All-Star, the gift notes his family's belief in Gonzaga's commitment to developing student-athletes both on and off the court.
"We hope that every student who walks into this facility is reminded that with hard work and dedication, you can achieve your dreams," Sabonis said.
"Gonzaga will always be home to us, so we're proud to help invest in the next generation of Bulldogs." Additionally, the ceremony featured Gonzaga coach Mark Few, members of the current team, and former players, including Kevin Pangos.
Sabonis also shared a moment with current forward Braden Huff, who battled a knee injury similar to the one Sabonis suffered last season.
Few said Sabonis' work ethic and team-first mentality made him the ideal player to be honored in such a way.
"Domantas earned the respect of everyone in our program through his relentless work ethic, toughness and unwavering commitment to his teammates," Few said.
"He truly embodies what it means to be a Zag." Sabonis played two seasons at Gonzaga from 2014-16.
He helped the Bulldogs reach the Elite Eight in 2015 and the Sweet 16 in 2016.
He also earned consensus second-team All-America honors as a sophomore after averaging 17.6 points and 11.8 rebounds per game while finishing his college career as Gonzaga's all-time leader in field-goal percentage at .632.
The No.
11 overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft has since become a three-time NBA All-Star and three-time NBA rebounding champion.
Earlier this year, Gonzaga retired his No.
11 jersey at the McCarthey Athletic Center.
The donation also comes after Sabonis announced he has been medically cleared to return to the court following the torn meniscus that ended his 2025-26 NBA season.
For Sabonis, the motivation behind the gift was simple, as he love this place to death" and want all the athletes that come through here to succeed." Join the Community! Don't miss out on our ROUNDTABLE community and the latest news! It's completely free to join, simply by clicking the yellow button at the top of the homepage.
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