Domantas Sabonis, the NBA basketball athlete from Lithuania, earned over $42 million last season with the Sacramento Kings.
What happened?
The university will rename its strength and conditioning facility to honor a former Bulldog standout and current NBA player who recently pledged a transformative gift.
Why it matters for Domantas Sabonis
Gonzaga ranks third among NCAA Division I schools in combined NBA earnings from NBA players, with Domantas Sabonis as the top earner among former Gonzaga players last season.
The list of active NBA players from Gonzaga has grown substantially during coach Mark Few's 28-year tenure in Spokane.
What comes next?
A dedication ceremony will be held at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday inside the Volkar Center for Athletic Achievement on Gonzaga's campus.
Gonzaga's strength and conditioning room opened its doors in 2018 when the school completed construction on the three-story Volkar Center.
The Volkar Center also includes a state-of-the-art basketball practice court, nutrition and social space, and academic support service for student-athletes.
Other former Gonzaga players who took home at least $12 million last season include Jalen Suggs, Rui Hachimura, and Andrew Nembhard.
Domantas Sabonis's earnings surpass those of his former Gonzaga teammates, with Chet Holmgren set to enter the first year of a five-year, maximum $239 million contract in 2026-27.
The ceremony will honor the former Gonzaga player who made the transformative gift, although the player's name was not disclosed in the university's news release.
Gonzaga had seven other former players who earned over $12 million last season, including Zach Collins, Corey Kispert, and Kelly Olynyk.
The strength and conditioning facility will be renamed to recognize the former player's contribution to the men's basketball program.
The gift marks a significant investment in the continued development, performance, and well-being of Gonzaga basketball student-athletes.
On June 10, College Basketball Report posted that Gonzaga ranks third in combined NBA earnings from NBA players, behind only Kentucky and Duke.
Domantas Sabonis's success in the NBA reflects positively on his alma mater, with his earnings highlighting the university's strong basketball program.
The dedication ceremony will take place on Thursday, with the exact name of the facility to be announced at the event.
Gonzaga's men's and women's basketball players will benefit from the renamed strength and conditioning center, which will continue to support their development and performance.
The university's news release stated that the gift will have a significant impact on the men's basketball program, with the ceremony serving as a celebration of the former player's contribution.
The event will be held at the Volkar Center for Athletic Achievement, which has been the home of Gonzaga's strength and conditioning program since 2018.
The transformative gift will be recognized at the dedication ceremony, with the former player's name to be announced at the event.
Gonzaga's basketball program continues to produce successful NBA players, with Domantas Sabonis leading the way in terms of earnings.
The university's strong basketball program is a testament to the hard work and dedication of its players, coaches, and staff.
The dedication ceremony will serve as a celebration of the former player's contribution to the men's basketball program, with the renamed facility to be announced at the event.