Fox and Sabonis named to All NBA third team

I am REALLY happy for Fox, what a wild ride that young man has been in the past 14 months. From discussed as a trade piece and not living up to his potential, never making the playoffs or having any stability in his career to now this! A wife, a kid, a great coach, an All Star running mate, an All Star appearance, playoff newcomer, All NBA selection. Man. Hats off to that dude!
 
Shai had a monster season.

If he was healthy for 10 more games or so the Thunder could have made the play-in. I think he was clearly a notch ahead of Donovan Mitchell though there's an argument that Steph should have been first team over him, though Steph played even fewer games and wouldn't meet the new threshold for postseason awards at only 56 games played.

Also hard to make the argument that he put up stats on a bad team when the Thunder were better than the Mavs and Luka was named first team and Dallas had a worse record while Doncic was a bit less efficient offensively as well.
 
I see Ja Morant is the one left out in favor of Fox.

I suppose that might stir some hot takes in national media. Especially since Ja is no longer eligible for the Supermax as a result of missing the team.

I figured he was first or second team because of his name, numbers coupled with Memphis season… I always forget SGA.

Honestly, their numbers are very close across the board. Ja has higher usage rate and has a much more friendly whistle than Fox. I always thought the only reason Ja pulled ahead of Fox after his rookie season was because Ja gets a whistle in the paint most of the time. Fox does not most of the time.

Plus Fox missed 12 less games, beat up one less kid, and had one less gun in a strip club instagram story.
 
I always thought the only reason Ja pulled ahead of Fox after his rookie season was because Ja gets a whistle in the paint most of the time. Fox does not most of the time..

You thought right.

To be real, much of what separates the top 10-30 players in the league are things such as a favorable whistle and being allowed to get away with moves that others get called for.

IMO, DeAaron Fox and Steph Curry are the two guards that don’t get near as many calls as they should considering how often they are hacked and hammered.

Many KINGS fans will agree with the former, obviously, but the latter also receives a lot of contact that goes uncalled. I’ve seen it for a decade. Foul calls the likes of LBJ and Harden get with much more frequency.
 
I see Ja Morant is the one left out in favor of Fox.

I suppose that might stir some hot takes in national media. Especially since Ja is no longer eligible for the Supermax as a result of missing the team.

I figured he was first or second team because of his name, numbers coupled with Memphis season… I always forget SGA.

Honestly, their numbers are very close across the board. Ja has higher usage rate and has a much more friendly whistle than Fox. I always thought the only reason Ja pulled ahead of Fox after his rookie season was because Ja gets a whistle in the paint most of the time. Fox does not most of the time.

Plus Fox missed 12 less games, beat up one less kid, and had one less gun in a strip club instagram story.

Ja was on pace for an MVP season through January and he just couldn't hold it together. He only played 19 out of a possible 32 games after that due to injuries and suspension and wasn't even All-Star worthy when he did play. Just a bizarre season for him. That guy is at some kind of career crossroads. He's either going to be an all-time great or a cautionary tale for the next big phenom.
 
I assumed Domas was a lock for third team all-NBA behind Embiid and Jokic, but awesome to see Fox make it as well. Very deserving.

And while we all wish they won game 7, this was an amazing season. Hopefully it's just the start.

Yeah, the only worry I had was voters somehow justifying AD with like 1000 less minutes and 20 less games played while being equal statistically and on the worse regular season team.

I mean, what an absolute home-run call from Monte though. Everyone in the world called him an idiot for the Hali-Sabonis swap and dude binks an All-NBA player that helps the other franchise player become All-NBA as well. I'm not sure what other major swing like that he could do, but another massive win like this would put us in title contention.
 
hard to justify Fox over any of the top 4 guards

I don’t find it hard to justify Fox over 3 of the 4, with the lone exception being Curry who is head and shoulders above all guards. I see many reasons to justify him equally or even more than the other 3.

You’re spot on about Domas, though. No chance he could above Embiid or Jokic.
 

Love seeing this too. Solidly 11th and 12th in votes, no "they just snuck in". No issue with their ranking either; hard to justify Fox over any of the top 4 guards and Domas obviously isn't getting over Jokic and Embiid
It is interesting that Domas got a fair amount to second team votes. I would have thought whoever didn’t vote joker first team would have automatically voted embid second (and vice versa)
 
It is interesting that Domas got a fair amount to second team votes. I would have thought whoever didn’t vote joker first team would have automatically voted embid second (and vice versa)
Perhaps some strategic voting for partisans of one or the other of Jokic or Embiid
 
As a resident Fox hater for all these years I have to remain consistent and say he should have been at worst 2nd team and got in over Luka/SGA based on carrying his team to the playoffs. Also Butler while he's god mode in the playoffs was fairly average by All-NBA standards during the regular season and Fox was way better. I don't think any of those guards actually had a better regular season and none of them came even close to a #3 seed in a deeper conference.
 
As a resident Fox hater for all these years I have to remain consistent and say he should have been at worst 2nd team and got in over Luka/SGA based on carrying his team to the playoffs. Also Butler while he's god mode in the playoffs was fairly average by All-NBA standards during the regular season and Fox was way better. I don't think any of those guards actually had a better regular season and none of them came even close to a #3 seed in a deeper conference.
In due time, my friend, in due time. This season we had to break the ice, so to speak, with national media and no longer being a laughingstock of a franchise. We did that in spades. We cultivated “light the beam” supporters far and wide and pushed the Warriors to the limit while garnering national attention left and right. Our accolades this year, for this franchise, is an absolute mega win and I hope that it’s the season that turns this boat around permanently. Respect is earned and this season we took the first step towards relevance. If we continue to perform like this for seasons to come, the respect from others (fans and league alike) shall rise accordingly too.

I daresay next season is even more important than this one. We absolutely must take that next step forward or we risk falling back into the “It’s just the Kings of old, as usual” narrative.
 
Here let me see if I can do it.
3rd seed because other teams were hurt or resting. Many wins were against teams resting stars.
No trade at the deadline. Just a bunch of streaky, no D, shooters.
First round exit. Only won one game once the dubs woke up.
Definitly average at best.
 
Yeah, the only worry I had was voters somehow justifying AD with like 1000 less minutes and 20 less games played while being equal statistically and on the worse regular season team.

I mean, what an absolute home-run call from Monte though. Everyone in the world called him an idiot for the Hali-Sabonis swap and dude binks an All-NBA player that helps the other franchise player become All-NBA as well. I'm not sure what other major swing like that he could do, but another massive win like this would put us in title contention.


Just your usual middle manager type stuff.
 
Congrats to Fox and Ox!!!

Now we have our proven #1 and #2, but we really need another #2B or #3 star to really challenge for a title.

My hope is that Keegan can develop into that 20+ pts per game scorer and all around player that the Kings need to put us into title contention for years to come. We need him to reach at least a Michael Porter Jr. level of production.

I think the trajectory is there, but he needs the usage to develop that killer instinct and dawg in him to reach that potential. No more Mr. Nice guy for Keegan, we need him to become that #2B or #3 in the next couple of years!!!
 
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Congrats to Fox and Ox!!!

Now we have our proven #1 and #2, but we really need another #2B or #3 to really challenge for a title.

My hope is that Keegan can develop into that 20+ pts per game scorer and all around player that the Kings need to put us into title contention for years to come. We need him to reach at least a Michael Porter Jr. level of production.

IMO he’s already a better all-around player than MPJ. The only difference offensively is volume of shots. But Keegan is a better passer, rebounder, and defender.

MPJ is statistically the better shooter, specifically from 3 point range (but only minimally), but still has never hit 200+ threes in a season as Keegan just accomplished as a rookie because the guy is always hurt and has never played more than 62 games in a season.

So from a dependability and health standpoint, Keegan already has him beat there too.

In two years when Keegan is the same age MPJ is now, I’ll be surprised if he’s not the clear cut superior player.
 
IMO he’s already a better all-around player than MPJ. The only difference offensively is volume of shots. But Keegan is a better passer, rebounder, and defender.

MPJ is statistically the better shooter, specifically from 3 point range (but only minimally), but still has never hit 200+ threes in a season as Keegan just accomplished as a rookie because the guy is always hurt and has never played more than 62 games in a season.

So from a dependability and health standpoint, Keegan already has him beat there too.

In two years when Keegan is the same age MPJ is now, I’ll be surprised if he’s not the clear cut superior player.
It's funny how before the injury issues MPJ was seen as the next Durant and he basically projects the same as Keegan.
 
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