Fan voting for the all-star game is a joke.
How are Russell Westbrook and Austin Reaves in the top 10 in all-star voting? That’s no joke, but a serious question.
Oh yeah, they play for the Lakers in the big metropolis known as Los Angeles with countless millions of people.
Domantas Sabonis and De’Aaron Fox, meanwhile, play in that little village known as Sacramento in the northern part of California. So sad, so bad. There just aren’t as many voters in Sacramento.
ALL-STAR DROUGHT
The last Kings’ All-Star was DeMarcus Cousins from 2015-2017, ending an 11-year All-Star drought that went back to Brad Miller and Peja Stojakovic in 2004.
Sabonis and Fox are both playing at an All-Star level and are the reason the Kings are fifth in the West as of Thursday.
Sacramento native, ESPN and Kings TV analyst and former King Matt Barnes says it’s time that people realize there are some talented guys in Sactown.
"How come we don't see [Domantas] Sabonis / [De'Aaron] Fox even mentioned… Sacramento has been in the gutter for a long time but they got some talented guys out there."
—Matt Barnes on the 1st returns of the NBA All-Star votes.
(via @ESPNNBA)pic.twitter.com/bWEJyQiheH
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPointsApp) January 5, 2023
Sabonis, a two-time All-Star when he was in Indiana, is having his best season ever, averaging 18.7 points (62% FG, 42% 3PT, 74% FT), 12.4 rebounds and 6.7 assists per game. Those numbers are all better than his career averages of 14.7 points (54% FG, 33% 3PT, 73% FT), 9.5 rebounds and 3.8 assists per contest.
On Wednesday, Sabonis tied Cousins for the Kings’ record of 15 consecutive double-doubles. He also tied two-time reigning MVP Nikola Jokic for the most 20/10/5 games this season.
Not only did Sabonis get his 15th consecutive double-double, he just got his 14th game w/ 20+ PTS, 10+ REB & 5+ AST…
Most 20+ PT, 10+ REB, 5+ AST games this season:
D. SABONIS – 14
N. Jokic – 14
G. Antetokounmpo – 13
L. Doncic – 12
J. Embiid – 9 pic.twitter.com/QIVbd2WwuR— Nick Avila (@NickVanExelent) January 5, 2023
Oh, and did I mention Sabonis has played the last five games with a broken right thumb?
"He literally has a broken thumb… He goes out there and fights, rebounds, he still went out there and it shows his toughness. He wants to win." – De'Aaron Fox on Domantas Sabonis
— Frankie Cartoscelli (@FCartoscelli3) December 29, 2022
There’s a reason they call Sabonis “The Ox”. He is a beast.
FOX AND THE OX
Fox is enjoying his best season with averages of 23.9 points (50% FG, 34% 3PT, 80% FT), 4.6 rebounds and 5.9 assists per game. He is especially good in the clutch when the game is on the line. Following a two-point win over the Jazz Tuesday night, Will Z. Stats posted these incredible stats:
After tonight, De'Aaron Fox has Clutch shooting splits of 62.5/44.4/83.3%
He leads the league with 35 Clutch FGs on 56 attempts. His 62.5% is absurdly high for the volume.
Oh, and he was 5-of-5 in Clutch time tonight BTW@ESPN1320 @DLoAndKC
— Will Z. Stats (@will_zimmerle) January 4, 2023
Fox ended the Utah game with 37 points, 22 of them coming in the fourth quarter when he literally took over the game.
The fourth quarter is Fox’s time.
Domantas Sabonis on De'Aaron Fox's clutch scoring: "At the end of the game, I always tell him it's your show… whether you want me in it, don't want me in it… he's been unstoppable and he's making the right read every time."
— Brenden Nunes (@BrendenNunesNBA) December 31, 2022
Fox makes a statement here with some force.
https://twitter.com/SacramentoKings/status/1610492407350726656?s=20&t=Wc0VlUN5cixOoAZwGUMAKA
https://twitter.com/SacramentoKings/status/1610510180726501378?s=20&t=Wc0VlUN5cixOoAZwGUMAKA
Here’s that game winner against Utah from Mr. 4th Quarter.
DE'AARON FOX.
CLUTCH.#NBAAllStar pic.twitter.com/pzlX8sfVvj
— Sacramento Kings (@SacramentoKings) January 4, 2023
If you haven’t already caught the drift, Fox and Sabonis are a match made in heaven.
They have tremendous chemistry on the court and they’re not too bad in front of the camera either.
https://twitter.com/SacramentoKings/status/1608553944015581184?s=20&t=Wc0VlUN5cixOoAZwGUMAKA
PEOPLE ARE STILL TALKING ABOUT THE TRADE
“I can’t believe the Kings traded Tyrese Haliburton.”
It’s hard to believe that people are still critical of the Kings for making the Haliburton-Sabonis trade.
https://twitter.com/CLopez63/status/1605993408207630338?s=20&t=8newcQpsUDuyHFmuz5vlrA
WIN-WIN
The fact of the matter is both the Kings and the Pacers were winners. Haliburton has been incredible in Indiana. Sabonis has been just as incredible in Sacramento while also helping to unlock Fox’s tremendous talent.
Maybe Sabonis, Fox and Haliburton will all be All-Stars this February.
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