This all-star snub was very expensive.
Kings forward Domantas Sabonis missed out on a $1.3 million bonus because he wasn’t named to the Western Conference All-Star team. According to ESPN’s Bobby Marks.
Sabonis averaged 19.9 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists per game, a near triple-double, but was not named to the Western Conference’s 12-man roster.
The 12 players selected ahead of him are starters Nikola Jokic, LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Luka Doncic, and reserves Devin Booker, Stephen Curry, Anthony Davis and Anthony. Edwards, Paul George, Kawhi Leonard, and Karl-Anthony Towns. .
This is obviously a strong roster that includes former MVPs and top players in the league, but that doesn’t mean it’s going to be easy for Sabonis.
Sabonis, 27, has been named to the All-Star team three times in the past four years, including last year’s team.
In fact, his stats this year with the 27-19 Kings are better than last season, when he averaged 19.1 points, 12.3 rebounds and 7.3 assists.
He leads the NBA with 13 boards per game.
At least Sabonis can rest easy knowing he signed a five-season, $217 million extension last July.
The former Gonzaga star developed into one of the league’s best big men and helped turn the Kings into a contender in the Western Conference.
Sabonis averaged 19.3 points, 12.6 rebounds and 7.3 assists over two years with the Kings, after spending one year with the Thunder and four-plus years with the Pacers.
The Kings earned the No. 3 seed last year and are tied with the Suns for fifth-best record in the Western Conference.
Last season, Sacramento hosted the Warriors in Game 7 of the first round, but lost 120-110 to the defending champions as Stephen Curry scored 50 points.
The Kings held a 2-0 lead in the series, but a 126-125 loss in Game 4 proved decisive.
