Kings’ Player Power Rankings Week 14: The Rise of Sabonis

Team Record (24 – 18) 7th in the West, 3rd t in the Pacific Division

We’ve reached the approximate halfway point of the season. It’s been a month since we last took stock of our players’ performance, and it’s astounding how much can change in just a month. As of December 11th, the Kings held a 12-8 record, placing them sixth in the west and second in the division. However, since then, they’ve slipped to seventh in the West and third in the division with a current record of 24-18. This means they’ve had a near-even split of wins and losses, going 12-10 over the past month or so. Overall, the team’s net rating for the season stands at .6, a decrease from last year’s 2.6.

Before the Kings managed to rebound and secure a victory against the under-strength Atlanta Hawks, they were caught in a four-game losing streak. The last three losses, against the Pacers, Suns, and Bucks, were by a combined margin of just eight points. Despite these close contests, the team unfortunately suffered a disappointing and one-sided defeat against the Sixers. Many factors may have contributed to the recent struggles – lack of effort, inadequate rim protection, inconsistent shooting, and more. But in my view, De’Aaron Fox’s underperformance is the major reason. Fox, who has consistently been the top-ranked player in this column, has not been his usual self since the start of 2024. His monthly average currently stands at 21.7 points, 4.5 assists, and 3.5 rebounds, but with a shooting percentage of just 41.7%.

Contrastingly, Domas Sabonis has been performing exceptionally well during the same period, averaging 21.6 points, 14.2 rebounds, and 9.1 assists, with an impressive shooting percentage of 65.6%! I might be giving away a potential shift in the player rankings, but as things stand now, Sabonis is undoubtedly the best player on the team.

1. Domantas Sabonis: As previously mentioned, Sabonis has been on a tear lately, but in truth, he’s been dominating the entire season. Domas leads the NBA in rebounds for the year, ranks seventh in assists, and is tied for first in triple-doubles. His performance should undeniably earn him another All-Star spot, but we’re all too aware of how often our star player gets overlooked by the national media.
2. De’Aaron Fox: Slipping to the second spot for the first time is Fox. Despite a noticeable dip in his stats, I am confident that he will reclaim the top position by the end of the season. Whether it’s an injury he’s battling, personal matters, or a mid-season slump, I fully anticipate Fox to bounce back stronger after the All-Star break, particularly if roster upgrades arrive before the trade deadline.
3. Keegan Murray: Another ascending in this week’s ranking is Keegan. Though Monk had previously nudged him out of the third spot, let’s be clear that this isn’t due to any perceived drop in Monk’s performance – he’s been largely exceptional recently. However, Keegan has solidified his position as the team’s third pillar, proving himself as undoubtedly the strongest two-way player on the squad and showcasing All-Star potential. In his last 10 games, he’s averaged nearly 19 points, 6.4 rebounds, a steal, and almost a block per match with a 54% shooting rate, and 41% from beyond the arc.
4. Malik Monk: Were the Kings performing just a tad better, the buzz surrounding Monk as 6th man of the year would be deafening. This month, Monk is posting an average of 16.5 points and 6.3 assists. If the Kings return to their winning form, he’s a strong contender to finish among the top three in the vote.
5. Kevin Huerter: Since the most recent addition of Pels Oppenheimer, Kevin Huerter has been averaging 13.7 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 2.9 assists per game over his last seven matches. It might be tempting fate to declare K-Von’s comeback, but it seems like he’s truly back!
6. Trey Lyles: There’s a significant gap from the top five players to the rest of the group. By default, Trey emerges victorious as our most robust and dependable forward, second only to Keegan. His stats may not be flashy, but even when his shots aren’t landing, which is often the case, he manages to influence the game and assert his presence in other ways.
7. Harrison Barnes: My favorite tweet of the night came from my guy, Jrue, shedding light on the current state of Harrison Barnes.
   

   Harrison Barnes this season if you ignore games 2-41:

   32.5 PPG
   58.3% FG
   52.9% 3FG
   100% FT

   putting the league on notice 💯

   pic.twitter.com/FEl1a0Gkpb

   — J r u e (@thatl0calguy) January 23, 2024

   To put it plainly, Harry has not been his usual self, but it’s hard to blame him entirely when he seldom has plays designed for him. Yet, he often lacks the initiative to fight through screens, aggressively rebound, generate opportunities for teammates, or step up as the vocal veteran presence that this team desperately requires.

8. Sasha Vezenkov:  I considered having Sasha ahead of Barnes, Sasha destroys Barnes in nearly every per 36 min statistic. I’m not saying he’s a better player but I am saying that he’s deserving of a longer leash.
9. JaVale McGee: Is JaVale better than Alex Len? No. However, JaVale has played more overall minutes this year and logged more run as of late. Len brings a heck of a lot more consistency to the game but JaVale often injects a spark with his alley-oop connections with Monk and his highlight-reel-worthy shot blocks.
10. Keon Ellis: Keon is outperforming Davion this season, and I suspect the only reason Davion is still in the rotation is to showcase him ahead of the trade deadline. It may sound blunt, but there seems to be no other logical explanation for why Davion is getting more playtime than Keon.