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The first set of returns for the 2023 Western Conference All-Star fan votes came in. And to no surprise, there are zero players representing the Sacramento Kings <\/a>and plenty of players not worthy of receiving votes at all.<\/p>\n By definition, \u201cAn all-star game is an exhibition game that purports to showcase the best players (the \u201cstars\u201d) of a sports league.\u201d<\/p>\n With the current voting format, the All-Star game is now simply the All-Popular game. The teams with the largest fan bases \u2014 whether they are true fans or casual bandwagoners \u2014 always have the most players in the hunt to earn the title of All-Star even if those players don\u2019t deserve it. <\/p>\n Teams like the Sacramento Kings, no matter how well they play or how their players perform, are constantly underrepresented on the voting lists. The most glaring example of this is that neither Domantas Sabonis nor De\u2019Aaron Fox are even in the top 10 for the respective position lists.<\/p>\n Let\u2019s take a quick look at a couple undeserving players compared to the Kings star duo.<\/p>\n In a perfect world, a mediocre player on a bad team wouldn\u2019t receive any sort of recognition. But this is the reality of the NBA and franchises like the Los Angeles Lakers<\/a>. During the years when the team was successful, they\u2019ve accumulated a massive toxic fanbase that ruins the image of their true fans. These fans overvalue the players on the roster and use their large numbers to take spots away from deserving players.<\/p>\n The most glaring example of this is currently is guard Austin Reaves. Not to say Reaves is a bad player, he\u2019s just not deserving of the status All-Star. This season, Reaves is a bench, role player on the 12th seed in the West. He currently averages 10.8 points, 3.1 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game. If he were on the Kings, he would average the seventh most points per game on the team. His only quality trait is effort.<\/p>\n Mediocre…<\/p>\n On the flip side, Fox is currently the starting point guard on the fifth seed in the West. He is averaging just under 24 points, 4.6 rebounds and 5.9 assists per game. He is also arguably the league\u2019s best closer this year.<\/p>\n After tonight, De’Aaron Fox has Clutch shooting splits of 62.5\/44.4\/83.3% <\/p>\n He leads the league with 35 Clutch FGs on 56 attempts. His 62.5% is absurdly high for the volume.<\/p>\n Oh, and he was 5-of-5 in Clutch time tonight BTW@ESPN1320<\/a> @DLoAndKC<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Will Z. Stats (@will_zimmerle) January 4, 2023<\/a>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n Now in his sixth year in the league, Fox has yet be named to the All-Star team even once despite having some stellar numbers. However, it was at least fair since the Kings played abysmally for the entirety of his career. But this year, the Kings are a legitimate playoff contender and are competing at a very high level. No more excuses for him not to at least be in the top-10 of votes amongst guards. But that\u2019s life when you play for the Kings.<\/p>\nDe\u2019Aaron Fox vs. Austin Reaves<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Domantas Sabonis vs. Kevon Looney<\/strong><\/h2>\n