For many years, the Sacramento Kings were bereft of top-level talent in the NBA.
They had a great team in the early 2000s with Chris Webber, Peja Stojakovic, and Mike Bibby that almost won the World Series in 2002, but since that team broke up, they’ve been a laughing stock.
But that all came to an end this season when they finished third in the Western Conference and made the playoffs for the first time since 2006.
The Kings made it happen thanks to All-Star seasons from guard De’Aaron Fox and big man Domantas Sabonis, and both were rewarded on Wednesday with spots on the All-NBA Third Team.
2022-23 Kia All-NBA Third Team:
^ D’Aaron Fox, Sacramento Kings
^ LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers
^ Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers
^ Julius Randel, New York Knicks
^ Domantas Sabonis, Sacramento Kings pic.twitter.com/HLhSlCzszN– NBA Communications (NBAPR) May 10, 2023
Fox has been a top rookie for several seasons, but this was his best year to date, as he averaged 25.0 points a game and scored a career-high 51.2 percent from the field in the regular season.
He was also named the NBA Most Valuable Player, and although the Kings lost in the first round of the playoffs to the Golden State Warriors, he demonstrated his clutch abilities several times in that series.
Sabonis was acquired in a big deal last season that sent guards Buddy Hield and Tyrese Haliburton, and in the end it was the trade that turned Sacramento around.
By averaging 19.1 points, 12.3 rebounds, and 7.3 assists a game while hitting 61.5 percent of his shots in the regular season, he earned his third trip to the All-Star Game.
For the first time in a long time, the Kings already have a bright future and are a team that deserves legitimate respect.
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