The NBA will announce the All-Star reserves later today, and there’s a lot of speculation on whether or not De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis will make the team. Tuesday’s TNT Crew posted their All-Star Reserves the other day and all of them left Sabonis off the team while only a couple put Fox on. Looking around the rest of the media landscape, I’ve seen more lists leave both Fox and Sabonis off than I’ve seen with both of them on. Given that both Fox and Sabonis are having better years than they did last season when they both made it, how is this possible?
For their part, I don’t particularly think either Fox or Sabonis care all that much (Fox has in fact come out and said exactly that), and this is more just an argument for fans like me who like to see their team and their guys get recognition on a national stage. I also think the NBA needs to increase the amount of spots in the game from 12 to 15. It’s been 12 since the 70s when there were half as many teams in the league. The talent level in the NBA has never been greater, and a bigger roster would add representation from around the league.
For this year though, that’s not the case, and the Western Conference is absolutely stacked. This has also been a rare year in which there haven’t really been any major injuries to stars. Guys like Kawhi Leonard, Anthony Davis, Paul George, Kevin Durant and Devin Booker, who have missed games before due to injury, have all been healthy. There’s gonna be some major snubs in this conference, simply because there isn’t enough room (and arguably some Western snubs will have better resumés than guys that do make it in the East, but what are you gonna do).
But enough about everyone else; We’re here to make the argument for De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis.
Fox made his first All-Star game last season as an injury replacement. This season he’s been even better, averaging career-highs in points (27.2) and 3P% (.380). He’s improved his defensive effort and impact and the Kings are once again looking like a playoff team in a tough Western Conference. The biggest argument Fox has against him is that he’s fallen off quite a bit in January (just 22.5 points a game on 43.4% from the field) after a blistering start to the season. But if Fox misses the All-Star game, he’ll be the first player in NBA history to average 27+ points and 5+ assists to miss the game when not injured or on a below .500 team.
Domantas Sabonis has the strongest case to be named an All-Star in my mind, although I’ve seen him left off more lists than Fox has been. Sabonis has been Sacramento’s most consistent player, and I fully believe that if Nikola Jokic wasn’t doing what he’s been doing there’d be more people in awe of what Sabonis does on a nightly basis. Sabonis is averaging 19.9 points a game on 61.6% from the field (the best FG% in the league for anyone averaging 19 or more a game). He’s leading the league in rebounds per game at 13, career-high. He’s also 7th in the league in assists per game at 8, also a career-high. He’s second in the league in Triple-Doubles at 13, behind 14 for Jokic, and has recorded 29 double-doubles in a row. The only players in NBA history to average 19 points, 12 rebounds and 7 assists (stats that are 1 fewer than what Sabonis is actually averaging) are Wilt Chamberlain (2x), Nikola Jokic (2x), Sabonis last year, and Oscar Robertson. I’m not sure how this is even a discussion.
I know it doesn’t really mean much in the grand scheme of things if one or both of these guys don’t make the All-Star team (and they’d both probably rather enjoy a nice break), but both are more than deserving. After 16 years of futility, it’s nice to have not just one, but two stars who can play at this level and are worthy of this conversation. We are watching two of the best Sacramento Kings of all time right now. Let’s take a moment to appreciate what we have while we have it.
I think they are both borderline. Minny might only get 1. Kings should probably get 1, but maybe both end up there due to injury replacements.
One of them is getting snubbed and maybe both. I’d go Sabonis over Fox because Fox has been aggressively average for 6 weeks now. I don’t know if he’s hurt or what but he was awful last night. Even an average game from him and the Kings win.
Sabonis will get hunted in the postseason again but he’s incredible in the regular season. Durability is a skill and he does that better than anyone.
You can make the case for fox not making it after cooling off recently for sure.
Domas not making it would be shocking to me with the numbers and consistency he plays with night in and night out. For all the love the joker gets(deservedly so), Domas isn’t thaaat far off. A legitimate mvp candidate. We’d be a lottery team without what he brings to the table.
My purple tinted glasses wants both to make it still but I think Sabonis is as close to a lock as there is. I think fox will make it if injuries pop up for other players again
Disagree about Sabonis being an MVP. He cannot really put a team on his back. Not even close to
Jokic in the leadership category. Not close. Numbers are not everything. Jokic has all the intangibles Sabonis does not. Sabonis is a great regular season player. But in 4 playoff appearances. He really hasn’t shown up. And people who know the NBA know this. This resonates with MVP voters. Sure, He impacts winning. But if Fox is out with an injury.Sabonis is not the guy leading this team to victory against the best teams in the league. No way. Never has. In 7 seasons.
“mvp candidate” which he should be. Which he was last year in votes. We’re talking about the all star game, not playoffs.
Both should get in. But Kings are not a top 4 team. So it’s hard to put two players in when all the teams ahead of them in the West have 1. They are also only 11-10 in their last 21 games. So while they look like a solid playoff team. They have not actually dominated over the last month and a half. A lot of people leave Sabonis off.. Why? His impact on the game. He does contribute to winning and puts up amazing numbers. But that’s where the comparison with Embiid and Jokic end. They can actually put a team on their back to victory. Sabonis does not have that capacity. Since Sabonis can shoot at distance regularly and can’t rim protect. 2 severe weaknesses that will be exposed in the playoffs.
If the fans knew shit about shit, Domas has AD’s starting spot, and that’s the end of that part of the conversation. Coaches don’t have the excuse, and ignoring Sabonis’ historic production is an assertive fuck you to him, not a passive one, and not a simple “oversight.”
Fox’s numbers are certainly deserving, but he may get discounted over his inconsistent January. I think he’s got some nagging injuries that are factoring into his play, and won’t be salty if he spends the better part of All Star week with his feet up eating Cheetos.
You know what? Cheetos for everyone!
I’d be more surprised if Domas isn’t named one today as opposed to Fox. He just dishes out double and triple doubles like it’s nothing.
Same. Sabonis being left off would be a crime, while Fox would be an insult.
The devil in me wants them both to be left off so they enter post all-star break fully rested with pissed off chips on their shoulders. Let them then steamroll the league while going deep into the playoffs and leaving every NBA pundit who ignored them with egg on their faces.
The Kings need a spark and dismissive all-star absence to their stars might get them going.
Being left off the team would probably be best for the Kings has a whole. Both dudes need a break to rest and recover.
Sabonis doesn’t have that “wow” factor that these pundits look at. He just brings his lunch pale to work everyday and does what he does best. He is the MVP of this team this season.
Problem is you get 3 frontcourt reserves and 1 or 2 wildcards out of:
Kawhi, Davis, George, Markkanen, Towns, Gobert, Chet, Sengun, Zion and Domas
But I agree Domas should be there.
And you can best believe that the fans of the LA Clippers (30-15), Minnesota Timberwolves (33-14, KAT dropped a 62), New Orleans Pelicans (Zion was an All-Star starter last season), Utah Jazz (Markkanen was an All-Star last season) all have strong arguments for All-Star status and, of course, they are valid.
Sengun, Holmgren haven’t been voted in/chosen before and “they’re young” and are most unlikely to get a spot, IMO.
Anthony Davis is a Laker, and that means a lot to a lot of people, mostly in the League office, but that trickles down.
The other “biggest” reason for the high number of candidates is the 65 game accolade requirement. Players are playing instead of coasting to the playoffs. and they have not been resting as we’ve seen in the recent past.
Sabonis deserves it. Fox doesn’t this year because the last month or so he’s really slowed down.
more importantly, I’d rather have Fox just rest because he obviously needs it.
If Fox is not an all star and he misses out on that super max . I think he will demand a trade . I can see him in a Houston jersey.
I don’t believe all-star selections affect super max deals. Its only all-nba, all-defensive team, or MVP that do that. All-star appearances might give him a bonus, if it is structured into his contact, but I don’t know if his deal has that language.
OT: Memphis is selling. I’d call about Smart.
Get Smart
Booker and Davis making it hurt both our guys chances
Fox won’t make it with Curry getting in
Double Snubbed
I think Domas has been better than Towns, but Minny kind of deserves two reps
Rest up Fox and Ox. Come back strong Post-Useless-Party
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