Sacramento Kings stars De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis were both named to 3rd Team All NBA, as announced today on TNT.
De’Aaron Fox enjoyed a breakout season, averaging 25.0 points, 6.1 assists, and 4.2 rebounds per game while shooting a career high 51.2% from the field and 32.4% from three. Fox also played noticeably better defense throughout much of the season, and became one of the league’s best late-game players, earning the NBA’s inaugural Clutch Player of the Year award. Fox was also named to the NBA All-Star team for the first time in his career.
Domantas Sabonis also had an incredible season, and was the key cog to the Kings offense throughout the season. Despite playing most of the year with an avulsion fracture in his thumb, Sabonis still averaged a league-leading 12.3 rebounds per game, along with 19.1 points per game (second highest of his career) and a career-high 7.1 assists per game. Sabonis was also selected to the All-Star team, his third appearance.
This honor wraps up an award season full of Sacramento Kings accolades. Aside from the All-Star appearances and the previously-mentioned Clutch Player of the Year award for Fox, Kings Coach Mike Brown won Coach of the Year, Kings GM Monte McNair won Executive of the Year, and Keegan Murray was named to the All-Rookie team.
Congratulations to Fox and Sabonis for their well-deserved recognition!
Disappointed that they put Curry and Mitchell ahead of Fox. I don’t know what the hell else he needs to do besides become a default choice for NBA writers who are barely paying attention.
And Curry only played in 68% of the regular season games.
Players that the NBA promotes will always do better in these stupid contests.
Kings have been on national television (aka promoted by the NBA) maybe 20 times in the last 15 years?
Third team seems a bit low. Not interested enough to look up who first and second teams were.
It seems like it might be low for Fox, but it seems right for Domas. I wouldn’t put him above Embiid or Jokic.
Happy for Fox and Sabonis, even though I feel at least one of them should’ve been on the 2nd team.
Pretty crazy that two of the guys on the 1st team missed the playoffs.
I thought the same thing. You can be good enough for 1st team, but not get your squad into the playoffs?
The smooth pivot of Kings fans from
“it’s an individual award, Kings player [X] shouldn’t be penalized from having a bad team around him!”
to
“how does a player get that award if his team isn’t even the playoffs?”
is Olajuwonesque.
Good footwork works for any position and can easily get you from one to another. Now if we can only dream shake away the taste of the Maloof Family…
Huh? Who have Kings fans argued deserved individual awards over the past 15 years? DMC as an all-star maybe? I really can’t think of any other snubs during the ugly streak.
Barkley also feels that way, especially with De’Aaron.
Anyways, big congratulations to our Fox and Ox
Luka and SGA had great years statistically but it didn’t translate well into team success. I also think Ja is being punished for his off-court decisions. I think his absence is a serious oversight.
Who would you instead snub in order to add Morant?
Listen it’s tough. And actually uncomfortable to do. But lillard I think. Sga at first team I also would problematize
Morant is actually more popular in the press because of his dumb ass antics. Reality is he is not the first team point guard.
The fact that Memphis isn’t particularly worse when he sits is pretty much all that you need to know about him. He’s good, but massively overrated.
Definitely overrated. All the hype they provided made it difficult to actually deal with his BS.
Are you trolling or being serious? The discourse demonized and mocked him. He didn’t win any fans. The guy was suspended for it. This in a country where normally gun rights are exalted. Though maybe there’s something to do with who had the gun and where.
Do you know why California has had some of the toughest gun laws in the country for the past half-century? Because of the sainted Ronald Reagan.
When the pretend cowboy was governor of California, there was a group of people who determined, and rightly so, that their lives were at risk, and began carrying weapons.
Reagan couldn’t pass strict gun laws quickly enough to take rights away from American citizens. Can you believe it?
The group was the Black Panther Party. Now you believe it.
This excuses nothing Ja Warrant has done, he’s a Grade A moron. One-in-three he’s dead by thirty.
The Black Panther Party history, I am familiar with – the protests on the footsteps of capitol is a lost chapter in American gun rights stoy – again a history where the moralizing discourses (who is a responsible owner, who is reckless, who hunts, who wantonly kills etc) is deeply racialized. Also, CA gun laws can only be described as ‘tight’ if open-carry is the standard. Tight gun laws are to be found in the UK, for example, or Switzerland where in spite of high ownership rates – there are strict and regularly enforced laws monitoring access, storage and use.
Again, I think the moralizing discourse is problematic. He’s 23, the NBA voters denied him All-NBA (arguably because of his off-court behavior). That decision cost him over 40 million dollars. In some sense, it’s not completely unreasonable to understand that afterwards he goes out with his buddies, puts on his favorite jam and plays with a gun – the American symbol for independent masculinity. Nothing he did was illegal or immoral. I can imagine he was made to feel small by his employer, so the guy acted big – He’s not a hero from a novel. He’s a pro basketball player.
Ja is not underrated when you factor in the last two seasons he has missed a lot of games and Grizzlies are just as good without him and T Jones running the team .
Does anyone know what this now means from a contract point for Sabonis. Now that he has made a All-NBA team, does he qualify for a super-max deal come summer of 2024?
I think so? From https://www.nbcsports.com/washington/wizards/explained-what-nba-supermax-contract-and-how-does-it-work:
There is the hangup. Kings didn’t draft Sabonis or get him on his rookie contract. So my guess is, NO.
Ah, I missed that part.
Yeah, I read in The Athletic that they can’t offer him a supermax contract.
I’m not super worried. Either next year is as awesome as we all expect and Domas wants to stay or, you know, not, and then it’s a different story.
Just need to make that first one happen
Max vs. SuperMax:
Max Contracts:
if a player were to earn All-NBA honors, win the MVP or Defensive Player of the Year Award and fall into the 0-6 year range, they are eligible for a 30 percent max contract extension. This only stands true if that player is outside of their rookie contract, so the max extension would begin in their fifth year, which is known as the Rose Rule.
The SuperMax comes into play if the player re-signs with their rookie contract team (OKC Thunder for Domas). SuperMax would be 35% I believe.
Sabonis just finished his 6th NBA season. He can still get the Max which, as you can see above is a substantial increase from his current pay. 30% of the cap is projected to be around $42M/season.
Dang Vivek! You’re on a roll!… look at all this great stuff that has happened since you got involved.
I’m still not giving the arrogant schmuk a ????????
I heard that he’s lobbying behind the scenes for instating an owner of the league award
I’d rather give him the “Getting out of the way and let his GM cook” award.
Fifty is already filming the campaign video…..Go….go….go Show-tay….
This is such a lazy take. If you’re going to shit on Ranadive for his mistakes, and there are many, then simply dismissing his hiring of McNair, and all of the good that’s come from it? Dishonest and disingenuous.
And now you’ve put me in a position where I’m defending a fucking billionaire. Gonna go take a gasoline bath to see if it comes off.
Nobody ever puts you in any position. You are a result of your own problems.
Is it dishonest to say that Vivek ruined this team?
The one that just won the Pacific Division, grabbed the third seed, and almost won fifty games? Of course you can say it.
If you don’t mind appearing the fool.
All true.
How many teams were absurdly bad for at least 14 of the last 17 years before a singular winning season?
Only the Kangz. Ruined by Vivek and resurrected by Monte….who Vivek has not messed up yet……
All the individual player awards, the COTY, EOTY. All these led to the team award of being the Pacific Division champs in a division where all teams made the playoffs. I’ll take all that over being the yearly Summer League Champs. A pretty high bar has been set.
the simpsons has the sum total of human social cultural life ready in GIF form. A good friend of mine from Manc more or less developed his literacy for american culture via the simpsons. Seasons 4-6 – masterful television.
not too shabby
What All-NBA designation means to me:
Coach Brown and his staff, along with GM McNair found a way to get the Kings talent to shine. Building on the strengths of these two stars and putting them in the top level of the League. Only 15 players make these All-NBA teams. Pretty darn impressive.
That bodes well for the seasons ahead. It gives me hope that the talent on the roster now, and the new additions, will continue to grow and excel.
Congratulations Domas and De’Aaron
Any lip readers here? What are they saying?
Light the beam? Nice beef? …?
3rd team is perfectly fine recognition for these first timers. These guys were generally thought of as in the 35-50 range at the beginning of the season, so that is an exponential leap. Next up, ascend upward at least slightly, get your team into the mid-50 win category and 2nd or even 1st team could await.
Congrats, gentlemen. A well earned and deserved honor.
These are regular season honors and as you point out – well deserved new accolades for Fox and The Ox.
Playoffs are where reputations are amplified – Just my (hot) take:
Looking at next season (!)-
I think De’Aaron would be more likely to advance to 1st or 2nd Team, given his recent playoff success and Domas making All-NBA next season is less assured given his less stellar run against the Warriors. Playoff Anthony Davis would likely get more of a nod over Domas as we wait for these same evaluations at the end of next season (a long ways away). Neither would challenge Embiid or Jokic for the top spot at the 5, IMO.
Agreed. Sabonis has less competition at his position when it comes to all-star status, but Fox is the guy that can take a game over and thereby elevate himself into 1st or 2nd all NBA status.
It will be interesting to see how these two are viewed when the pre-season player rankings start to come out.
Thank you for the healthy, unbiased take. The amount of complaining over who got first team ahead of these two is odd. For one, who cares and secondly seniority matters in this league. Younger players have to keep earning their spot in the hierarchy of the elite players.
The constant Sacramento Kings fan inferiority complex gets old. The Duds got all the calls because their media darlings. Fox and Ox didn’t get first team over such and such because we don’t get nationally televised games. KM doesn’t get the respect he should because he’s playing in a small market. The list goes on.
Congratulations to moving on to the WCF, Coach Malone! I’ll be rooting for you to beat the Fakers/Duds.
Great seeing Malone move on and be the one to beat the Lakers or the Dubs.
I hate watched that entire series. It was vomit vs. projectile vomit. In the end, I could not stand the duds- way too much entitlement and mockery. Go to sleep little prancer. oh and Klank- Mr. Game 6- 3 for 19 or something.
Nuggets over fakers. I hope in 4.
An aside_ first Kings prediction for off season-
rather keep Barnes….strong SF with decent size is rare now in the league…(you see how Moody being attacked by James)
Agree on Sasha. He will help. Right now I am 60 40 on Barnes not being a King next year. Sasha will help more than Barnes. If we could get someone who would help on a sign and trade I think that would be the best thing for everyone involved. I would really like to get Naz Reid in free agency. I believe he could start at power forward and place Murray at small forward where he belongs. Start Vezenkov if he deserves it at power forward. Two good power forwards. I read some where the Kings could trade Holmes plus our 24 pick for Zach Collins. He would be our backup center. Just some things to start things off not set in cement. If Vezenkov backs up at power forward then Lyles can play small forward or visa versa.
Would love Naz Reid as a backup center. Another dream free agent would be Cameron Johnson as a starting PF. Can shoot lights out and plays defense. Veznekov as the backup SF behind Murray.(or they compete who starts) Hopefully, those players are attainable without breaking the bank… Monte, work your magic…..
I like your idea also. If can’t get Collins then let Reid play backup center and go after Johnson. I still believe Reid could play next to Sabonis as a stretch 4 and rebounder. He is a tough cookie.
Naz Reid next to Sabonis would be filthy for sure! My only concern is if either can defend the 4 spot adequately.
Has an 8th seed ever gotten to the Conference Finals in the playoffs? Man, the Heat are on a crazy run.
Knicks 1999
It sucks that the Fakers won…….Fxck LA…..
But I also don’t want the Dubs to win………
The Warriors got used up all their energy against us……….it sucks that Curry played that well agains us in Game 7, otherwise it probably be us facing the Fakers now……….
I dislike both teams but didn’t want the duds to continue on. It may start the breakup of that dynasty giving the Kings to room to rule NorCal. Other than Lebron, I have no dislike for any of the Lakers. Reaves is a guy you can root for in an “Aw Shucks” way. That said I hope Denver destroys them. Need my second favorite Celtics to come out ready for war tomorrow.
The NBA needed the Warriors to lose to the Lakers.. Thus. We all signed up for this. RIP Warriors with their billion dollar roster I’m excited to watch Poole be the new cash suck for the new and improved Warriors.
I dislike both the Lakers and Warriors. Whoever won I’d be rooting for the other team in the WCF to beat them, and I’m super happy and glad that it will be Denver because I’m going to be rooting for Michael Malone hard.
Good fking riddance Karen Skank Wankers. And fuck you Draymond Green. Let’s go Nuggets, send Fakers fishing pls
The Kings should have played the Lakers in this series…. Just sayin.
Wish it was the Kings as well but that fantasy is not a reality. Reality is the Warriors earned the opportunity to play the next round and they earned the bounce out of the playoffs.
Kings didn’t get robbed and they definitely did not earn a win over the Warriors in that round.
I agree but in hind sight I am happy because the Kings this year went way beyond my expectations. Was a great year. I can’t wait for next year.
An outstanding year.
Who are on the 1st and second teams? Warriors players?
OT: The Kings just beat the Warriors! To explain: the Lakers had an easy first round series while the Warriors were pushed to seven games against the Kings, where an epic performance by Curry and two broken digits led to the Kings’ defeat. But that old Warriors team had shot what it had to beat the Kings and didn’t have much left against the Lakers (look at their horrible shooting in that last game).
So while Monk and I were wrong to think that the old Warriors would not have enough left to beat the Kings in a long series, we were right that they could not sustain it.
Kings win!! Just one series too late ????
Saturday blather:
hats off to Darvin Ham – he’s rolling pieces in and out masterfully.
Having a healthy Anthony Davis is, of course, key.
And the Brow v. Joker matchup should be the crux of the series, free throws willing.
It highlights further that Sac needs more than the Ox on the boards. Second chance points was one of the key factors in the Warrior series (and shooting)- the Dubs had Looney on the boards but AD and LBJ still held the paint.
Sasha might be a scorer but who’s gonna body the middle and catch caroms for the Kings?
On the other side of the League – Boston only has a part time big (RW3) or Miami with Bam – the Eastern Ox/Florida Lasagna – and they dominate with defense.
Exciting times!
If we pick up Naz Ried in FA he could play next to Sabonis as tough rebounder. Can also space and shoot the 3. Also drives to the basket and mid range shot. That moves Murray to the 3 where IMO he should be. Reid also can play backup center. Reid also plays good defense. If Vezenkov comes over he can play power forward as starter or backup moving Lyles to the 3 or keep Lyles to the 4 and move Sasha to the 3.
Another one bites the dust…
New Owner Syndrome
Wow. Crazy.
I can imagine that if Philly loses tomorrow, Doc Rivers is probably gone.
I think so too. He’s getting long in the tooth for a coach. Had that one championship in 2008 with the Celtics.
Vivek is gonna love Ishbia. Gets in a spat with Jokic, trades young Cam Johnson and mikal Bridges plus half a decade worth of number 1 picks AND swaps for an oft-injured 34 year old Durant. Loses his starting PG and Center to injuries then fires his popular recent COTY. No one is going to feel secure there. Durant won’t be happy on a losing team and I’m not sure Booker is going to want to waste his prime on a loser.
My hope is that they’re just wasting Jackson’s time, and put him up at the La Quinta, which is Spanish for “next to Denny’s.”
I thought the coach Bud firing was bad but Jesus dude. If anyone thought a team with two healthy superstars, two injured stars and a bunch of scrubs were going to beat the top seeded, well rounded Nuggets then they don’t know shit about basketball. After they made the Durant trade, it was obvious they were gutting all their depth and future for a win now window of two years, and that’s not on the coach, but I guess the guy who thinks it’s a good idea to try to play keep away with Jokic knows something no one else does lol
More accolades like this just underscores that this is the most important off season in a long time. For so many years the off season has been “well, no other direction but up” but now the Kings are good enough to be concerned about backsliding. Giving bags to Jerami Grant or Demar Derozan would be “buying high” and backsliding. Give Vezenkov an ultimatum because the window for this small market team to go all the way is now. Vezenkov and the Kings, while younger than guys like Lebron, Curry, Durant, CP3. etc, are no spring chickens…the time is now or never.
The Draft Combine is coming up and the Kings are in a position to draft upperclassmen who are mentally and physically ready to contribute immediately. From 6-2 combo guard Marcus Sasser to 7-4 center Zach Edey, and forwards like Kris Murray, Toumani Camara (I’ll be lobbying for this guy), Trayce Jackson Davis, Hunter Tyson, and KJ Williams in between, there are opportunities to address needs without getting financially hamstrung.
Check out Grant Nelson of North Dakota.
I like the Kings to select him in the 2nd round.
Man, this guy really needs help.
At the first incident I felt for the guy and I too thought he needed help. But when a guy is given every opportunity to improve but he continues to blow it, I give little sympathy. The dude is dangerous to himself and those around him.
Oh my God, Milwaukee.
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