SPOKANE, Wash. — Even though it’s been a decade since Gonzaga legend Domantas Sabonis finished his playing days at The Kennel, he continues to give back to the community that helped shape his spectacular, ongoing NBA career.

On Wednesday, Sabonis made a special appearance at a golf clinic with 50 children from Boys & Girls Clubs of Spokane during Bank of America’s free Golf With Us clinic at Esmeralda Golf Course.

“I’m up here for a little bit in the summer. I always come back to Gonzaga, and there was a chance to be out here with the kids and let the kids see me, help them out with anything with golf, even though I’m not that good yet. But it’s just fun,” Sabonis said. “It’s something in the air, you know, it feels like it’s home, so I’m always happy to be back.”

Since his time at Gonzaga ended after the 2015-16 season, leading to him being selected No. 11 overall in the 2016 NBA Draft by Orlando before immediately being traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder, Sabonis has played 10 successful NBA seasons with the Thunder, the Indiana Pacers and the Sacramento Kings. During his decade in the league, he has been named an All-Star three times, earned two All-NBA selections and won the NBA rebounding title three times.

“It’s pretty crazy, now ten years in the NBA,” Sabonis added. “Came here just by myself. Now have a family, three kids. It’s kind of crazy when I walk around here and start to think about things.”

And he credits all of his success to the program where it all started.

“It prepared me, it shaped me for this 10 years that I’ve had in the NBA and hopefully many more,” Sabonis said. “I wouldn’t be here without (Gonzaga). They really gave me the opportunity to get better, get reps in, play at a high level, and eventually get drafted.”

Sabonis ended with a message to current, former and future Zags.

“Just cherish those moments, you know, there’s not many programs like that out there that really have that family bonding,” Sabonis said. “A lot of us come back here every summer, play with the guys, and you don’t really get that everywhere. It’s just special. I don’t know how to explain it. People have to come here. You know, they come here, they experience it, and then they kind of understand.”