Domantas Sabonis Converting to Judaism, Wife Confirms

Sacramento Kings center Domantas Sabonis is converting to Judaism, his wife Shashana Sabonis confirmed in an interview this week. The 26-year-old NBA All-Star has been studying Judaism via Zoom with Rabbi Erez Sherman of Sinai Temple in Los Angeles.

What’s behind Sabonis’s conversion?

Sabonis’s wife, Shashana Rosen Sabonis, grew up in Los Angeles and attended Jewish day schools. She said her husband has embraced Judaism, attending Shabbat dinners weekly and keeping kosher. 'He loves it and really wants to be a part of it,' she told J. The Jewish News of Northern California.

The couple married in 2021 in a Reform Jewish ceremony. They observe Passover and Shabbat, though travel demands make full observance difficult. Sabonis has also sponsored Jewish community events, including a sufganiyot giveaway at a Kings game in December.

How is Sabonis balancing faith and basketball?

Despite his busy NBA schedule, Sabonis prioritizes Jewish studies. After a triple-double against the Houston Rockets, he texted Rabbi Sherman asking to schedule a learning session. 'He’s always asking questions,' Sherman said. 'He keeps kosher and gets kosher chicken when he’s in Vilnius.'

Sabonis led the NBA in rebounds this season (12.3 per game) and averaged 19.1 points. He helped the Kings end a 16-year playoff drought, their longest in NBA history. The Kings face the Golden State Warriors in the first round starting April 15.

What does this mean for Sabonis’s future?

Shashana Sabonis predicts the Kings will win their playoff series in six games. The couple has a one-year-old son, Tiger, and another child on the way. Sabonis’s conversion reflects his deepening connection to Judaism, supported by the Jewish community and his wife’s family.