Kings’ Domantas Sabonis named 2023 NBA All-Star; De’Aaron Fox snubbed

Kings’ Sabonis named to 2023 All-Star team; Fox snubbed originally appeared on NBC Sports Bayarea

The Kings are sending just one NBA All-Star to Salt Lake City despite having the third-best record in the Western Conference.

Sacramento center Domantas Sabonis was named an All-Star reserve Thursday, but De’Aaron Fox was snubbed from the roster.

The other Western Conference reserves are Damian Lillard, Ja Morant, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Lauri Markkanen, Paul George and Jaren Jackson Jr.

Sabonis and the reserves join starters Steph Curry, Luka Dončić, LeBron James, Zion Williamson and Nikola Jokić as Western Conference All-Stars.

Fox, the No. 5 overall pick of the 2017 NBA Draft, who is playing the best basketball of his career in his sixth season, was seeking his first All-Star nod.

Fox is averaging 24.3 points and 6.1 assists per game while shooting a career-high 50.6 percent from the field. He has been playing at an All-Star level all season but especially in clutch time, where he leads the league in total points (119), field-goals made (48), field-goals attempted (80) and field-goal percentage (60.0).

Sabonis is an All-Star for the third time in his career, the first two appearances in an Indiana Pacers uniform. Sabonis leads the NBA in rebounding (12.3 per game) and double-doubles (39) this season.

Sabonis and Fox have propelled the Kings to a 29-21 record through 50 games, behind only the Denver Nuggets and Memphis Grizzlies in the Western Conference.

The last player to represent the Kings at the All-Star Game was DeMarcus Cousins, who was named to three straight annual showcases from 2014 to 2016.

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The 2023 NBA All-Star Game is set for Feb. 19 at Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City. All-Star starters Giannis Antetokounmpo and LeBron James, voted team captains for the All-Star Game, will decide the two teams in a draft moments before the start of the game.