After 16 consecutive, grueling weeks of battling amongst the trees and hunting down rebounds through both heavy traffic and fierce competition, the reward for Domantas Sabonis’ consistency arrived in the most ironic of ways: a spot all alone, atop NBA history’s post-merger double-double leaderboard. One rebound shy of taking the crown for himself midway through the third quarter, the Sacramento Kings star disguises his intentions flawlessly, using a perfectly-timed crash of the glass to corral his teammate’s blocked layup on the way to an uncontested putback finish. The second-chance bucket propelled Sabonis to consecutive double-double No. 54. The unintentional sidequest both sat him atop the record books since the 1976-77 NBA-ABA merger and fittingly, earned him a standing ovation shortly thereafter. Unsatisfied, Sabonis also used the platform to become just the Association’s fifth-ever player to accrue at least 25 triple-doubles in a single season, recording 11 points, 13 rebounds, and 10 assists during the win over the Philadelphia 76ers on March 25, 2024. Sabonis sustained the streak for seven more games, parlaying that versatility into career-highs in rebounds and assists per game, and an All-NBA Third Team nod. · Mar 26, 2024