NBA All-Star

Official Release

-- Joins Domantas Sabonis to become the first pair of Kings teammates to be named NBA All-Stars in the same season since 2003-04 --

Today, the NBA announced that Sacramento Kings guard De’Aaron Fox has been selected by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver as a 2023 Western Conference All-Star reserve. The honor marks the first in Fox’s career. Fox and Domantas Sabonis are the first set of Kings teammates to be chosen to play in the All-Star Game in the same season since Peja Stojakovic and Brad Miller were named All-Stars in 2003-04.

In his sixth season, Fox has amassed averages of 24.2 points (50.4 FG%, 78.9 FT%), 4.3 rebounds, 6.3 assists, 1.1 steals and 33.7 minutes per game in 49 games (49 starts). This season, Fox is one of four players in the NBA averaging at least 24.0 points, 6.0 assists and 1.0 steals while shooting 50.0% or better from the field. He is also one of eight players to currently rank in the Top 20 in scoring (20th) and assists per game (18th).&nbsp;

Fox has scored 30+ points in 15 games and 20+ points in 33 games this season, including 30 points and 10 assists in four outings, which is tied for fifth in the NBA. He scored 37 points at Orlando on Nov. 5 and at Utah on Jan. 3 while also hitting the game-winning shot in each of those contests. Fox is one of four players with multiple game-winners in 2022-23.

Fox has been one of the league’s top players in the clutch, leading the league in total clutch points (128), scoring average (4.9) and field goals made (51) on 59.3% shooting over 26 qualified appearances. In the fourth quarter overall, Fox has posted 362 points, the fourth-highest total in the NBA, and is one of two players this year with 20 points in the final period of play in multiple outings. He is also one of two players this season to rank in the Top 5 in total clutch and fourth quarter points. Among franchise leaders, Fox ranks 15th in points (7,335), eighth in assists (2,313), including second in the Sacramento era, eighth in 3-point field goals made (439) and 12th in steals (484).

The Kings&nbsp;franchise has now had 25 players selected to represent the team in the annual All-Star Game, including eight during the Sacramento era.

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De'Aaron Fox Named 2023 Western Conference NBA All-Star

Today, the NBA named Sacramento Kings center-forward Domantas Sabonis as a 2023 Western Conference All-Star reserve. The honor marks the third All-Star nomination of Sabonis' career and his first with Sacramento.

A seven-year veteran, Sabonis is averaging 18.8 points (61.5 FG%, 36.8 3pt%, 74.6 FT%), 12.3 rebounds, 7.1 assists and 34.5 minutes per game in 48 games (48 starts). Among league leaders, he ranks first in rebounds (592), rebounds per game and double-doubles (39), ninth in assists (339), 10th in field goal percentage and 13th in assist average. Sabonis is the only player this season accruing 18.0 points, 12.0 rebounds and 7.0 assists per contest and just one of two players in the top 10 in rebounds, assists, double-doubles and field goal percentage.

Along with his league-leading 39 double-doubles, Sabonis recorded a double-double in 23 consecutive games from Dec. 4-Jan. 23, the longest such streak this season on his way to his first All-Star appearance since the 2020-21 season. The 11th overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, he has notched six triple-doubles (3rd) this season, tying the Kings single season record in the Sacramento era. Sabonis is also fourth in the NBA in offensive rating (120.2) and win shares (7.7) as well as fifth in offensive win shares (5.6).

Sabonis was selected as the Western Conference Player of the Week for games played&nbsp;between January 9 and January 15 after he averaged 18.5 points (51.9 FG%, 76.0 FT%), 14.3 rebounds and 10.3 assists in four games. In a victory over Houston on Jan. 13, he totaled 19 points, 15 rebounds, a career-high 16 assists, two steals and a pair of blocks. Since 1973-74, Sabonis is just the second player in&nbsp;NBA history&nbsp;with 15 points, 15 rebounds, 15 assists and a pair of steals and blocks in a game,&nbsp;joining&nbsp;Larry Bird with the honor.

Sabonis is now the 24th&nbsp;player in franchise history to represent the team in the annual All-Star game and the seventh during the Sacramento era.

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Domantas Sabonis Named 2023 Western Conference NBA All-Star

Shahbaz Khan

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NBA All-Star Voting is Now Open!

Kings Rocket Department

The NBA announced today that it has selected Sacramento Kings guard Buddy Hield to participate in the 2020 MTN Dew 3-Point Contest as part of All-Star Saturday Night festivities in Chicago. Hield becomes only the third player in franchise history to compete in multiple 3-Point Contests (2019, 2020), joining Kings Assistant General Manager Peja Stojakovic (2002, 2003, 2004) and Mitch Richmond (1992, 1994).

In his fourth season, the Bahamas native is averaging a team-high 20.3 points (.427 FG%, .376 3pt%, .824 FT%), 5.0 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 33.5 minutes per game through 50 games (44 starts). Hield currently ranks third in the NBA in three-point field goals made (186), trailing only James Harden and Damian Lillard.

Throughout his Kings career, Hield has made at least five three-point field goals in 44 games, the most in franchise history. The Oklahoma product has produced 17 games during the 2019-20 season with five or more three-point field goals made, ranking second in the NBA. He is one of four players this season to hit at least 11 three-point field goals in a game and one of seven players that have scored at least 10 three-point field goals in a game. His 11 three-point field goals made on Nov. 25 vs. Boston stands alone as the Kings single-game franchise record.

Joining Hield in the MTN Dew 3-Point Contest are Davis Bertans (Washington Wizards), Devonte’ Graham (Charlotte Hornets), Joe Harris (Brooklyn Nets), Zach LaVine (Chicago Bulls), Damian Lillard (Portland Trail Blazers), Duncan Robinson (Miami Heat) and Trae Young (Atlanta Hawks).

Sacramento has been proudly represented by a rich history of competitors and champions in the All-Star marquee event. Kings players that have competed include Hield, Stojakovic, Richmond, Jim Les (1992) and Danny Ainge (1991).

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Buddy Hield to Participate in 2020 3-Point Contest at All-Star Saturday Night

Alex Kramers

2019 Kings All-Star presented by Nor Cal Honda Dealers

The phrase “future All-Star candidate” gets thrown around loosely in NBA circles – ascribed to dozens of young prospects brimming with upside – but with the surprising Sacramento Kings sitting squarely in the tightly-packed Western Conference Playoff picture, the time has come to officially recognize the thriving backcourt duo that has largely been responsible for the unexpected surge.

What up-and-comers De’Aaron Fox and Buddy Hield – in their second and third seasons, respectively – may lack in NBA pedigree, they make up for in stellar production that measures up to their closest peers. And with the team’s over-.500 record no longer a deterrent, the reasons to keep either player on the outside of the All-Star bubble have dwindled.

Of course, cracking the guard rotation in the loaded West is no small feat, considering the impressive résumés of the competition. Among the near-locks to make the cut are three recent MVP winners – Stephen Curry (Warriors), James Harden (Rockets) and Russell Westbrook (Thunder) – as well as perennial staples from postseason contenders such as Damian Lillard (Trail Blazers) and DeMar DeRozan (Spurs).

But with a handful of roster spots still up for grabs, Nos. 5 and 24 have made resounding cases to join Mitch Richmond, Chris Webber, DeMarcus Cousins, Peja Stojakovic, Brad Miller and Vlade Divac as All-Stars in the Sacramento era.

Anyone who’s tuned in to a Kings game this season – or simply caught a five-second highlight on social media – doesn’t need advanced metrics to explain how Fox has been the revitalizing catalyst for Sacramento’s high-powered offense and remarkable turnaround.

But if the eye test isn’t enough, No. 5, not surprisingly, places in the upper-echelon in average speed (4.48), according to NBA.com, routinely creating fastbreak opportunities after skying for defensive rebounds or even finding ways to score in transition following made baskets; overall, Fox ranks second in points off turnovers (203) and third in fastbreak points (199).

That blazing quickness, combined with an improved jump shot and the reins to command the offensive, have allowed the Kentucky product – who didn’t make the initial roster of the 2017 Rising Stars game – to make a tremendous leap in his sophomore campaign.

Just how vital has the 6-foot-3 guard been to Sacramento’s success? When he’s been on the floor, the team has outscored opponents by 59 points in 1,388 minutes; when he’s taken a breather, Sacramento has been outscored by a staggering 92 points in 729 minutes, according to NBA.com. Fox’s 7.7 net on-off court rating – which measures the team’s point differential per 100 possessions with and without him in the lineup – puts him in the close company of Westbrook (8.8) and Harden (4.1).

Among all qualified West point guards, Fox joins Curry and Harden as the only players to rank in the top-10 in points (17.9 per game), assists (7.3), steals (1.8), field goal percentage (47.1) and three-point accuracy (37.6 percent) at the position. His assist-to-turnover ratio is also the fifth-highest among regulars with a usage rate over 20.

Across the League, Fox is one of seven players who is currently averaging over 17 points and seven assists per game, per basketball-reference.com, and at age 21, is seven years younger than any other guard on the list. In Kings annals, “Swipa” is on pace to become the first player to accomplish the feat since Kenny Smith did so 30 years ago.

On Nov. 11, 2018, Fox became the youngest player in League history to notch a triple-double with at least 30 points (31), 15 assists and 10 rebounds, a stat line matched by just eight players in the last decade. His nine double-doubles in 2018-19 are also the fourth-most among West guards.

After establishing himself as one of the most clutch players in the League as a rookie, the Louisiana native has picked up right where he left off, connecting on 50 percent from the field with the game on the line (last five minutes with the score within five points), while pacing the Kings in points (53) and assists (11) in crunch time, via NBA.com.

Perhaps most importantly, the Sacramento draftee has lead the team to a 15-9 record in such situations, good for the second-best mark in the West, behind only the top-seeded Nuggets’ Jamal Murray.

Not bad for a player who started his 100th career NBA game this month.

Hield’s promising All-Star bid lies in his nearly-unmatched efficiency and enhanced all-around contributions as a rebounder and playmaker. While ardent NBA fans are certainly aware of the Bahama native’s ascent, the All-Star Game would serve as a coming-out party for those who continue to undervalue his place among the game’s top-tier shooting guards.

Developing into one of the most effective scorers with the ball in his hands, among the 18 guards averaging over 20 points per game this season, Hield ranks in the top-five in field-goal percentage (third), three-point shooting (second), true-shooting percentage (third) and free-throw accuracy (fifth).

Even more impressive is the fact that the 26-year-old is one of four players at his position to tally over 800 points, 200 rebounds and 100 triples – along with All-Stars Harden, Lillard and Bradley Beal (Wizards) – while his 22 games with at least 20 points and three made triples puts him behind just Harden (34) and Curry (25), per basketball-reference.com.

Hield has twice hit the 30-point plateau over the last month, pouring in a career-high 37 points against the Thunder on Dec. 19, 2018, and drilling a career-best eight three-pointers en route to 32 points in a back-and-forth contest against the defending champions on Jan. 5.

With No. 24 on the court, Sacramento’s high-scoring offense has been 2.6 points per 100 possessions better – 108.1 points compared to 105.5 when he’s been on the bench, according to NBA.com. Further validating his value to the team, the Oklahoma product ranks sixth in offensive real plus-minus among West guards (1.42), while contributing the sixth-most wins at the position (2.39), per ESPN.com.

Even if Hield doesn’t earn an All-Star Game invite, the Kings guard will almost surely still book a ticket to Charlotte, N.C. next month. After barely missing the cut for the Three-Point Contest last season – despite spectacular numbers that made him one of the most qualified candidates – “Buddy Buckets” is unlikely to be snubbed again after taking his long-range shooting to another level.

This year, Hield’s three-point shot chart is greener than a field of fresh-cut grass. No matter if he’s pulling up from the top of the key (44 percent) or spotting up in the right corner (56.3), No. 24 is scorching nets across the country by shooting nearly 10 points above the League average from virtually every spot on the floor.

Not only does Hield currently rank third in total three-pointers made (143), but among 53 players who’ve attempted at least 200 shots from behind the arc, a mere two have been more accurate. Over his last 15 games, he has drained 61-of-129 tries (47.3 percent), almost four percentage points ahead of the next-closest high-volume shooter.

The Sacramento standout has routinely made defenses pay for their mistakes by knocking down 50.8 percent of his League-leading 197 wide-open looks (no defender within six feet, per NBA.com) – ahead of sharpshooters Curry (50.0) , Lillard (46.4) and Utah’s Kyle Kover (42.6).

Similarly, in catch-and-shoot opportunities – which have accounted for a third of his long-distance field goals – Hield is hitting at a 47.4 percent clip, fourth-best among players with at least 100 tries. More confident than ever in his outside stroke, he has fired away with zero hesitation when given even the slightest amount of room by his defender, and has created space with nifty step-back jumpers.

In five January games, Hield has nailed 33-of-62 from downtown (53.2 percent), carrying scorching-hot momentum to the big stage if he becomes the fourth Kings player – the first since Peja Stojakovic in 2003-04 – selected to participate in the All-Star Saturday Night signature event.

“If it doesn’t happen now, it will happen sometime in my career,” Hield said last year. “You go there to win, right? I’m not going there to lose.”

Help send Fox and Hield to the All-Star Game by visiting Kings.com/vote through Monday, Jan. 21 at 8:59 p.m. PT.

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The All-Star Case for Fox & Hield

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Today, the National Basketball Association announced Cleveland will host the 2022 NBA All-Star Game. The following statement from Sacramento Kings President of Business Operations John Rinehart addresses Sacramento’s bid:

“Our inaugural bid to host an All-Star Game showcased that our city can compete to host world-class events and is truly a community on the rise. While the NBA recognizes that the city and the fans would provide a unique and exciting experience, combined with our efforts to introduce innovative partnerships with Airbnb and luxury cruise ships, the city does not yet have the inventory of hotel rooms that meet the NBA specifications to host this event. While it is a disappointing result, we are excited about the future and a bright path ahead for Kings basketball.

“This city is built on basketball and as the ripple effects of Golden 1 Center continue to spur downtown’s growth and evolution – with a renovated convention center, more world-class hotel accommodations to come and a bustling downtown core – we will once again make our case for Sacramento to welcome basketball fans from around the globe to celebrate the NBA’s marquee weekend. 

“Thank you to the steadfast support of our civic leaders – including Mayor Darrell Steinberg, the entire City Council, Congresswoman Doris Matsui, Mike Testa and his staff at Visit Sacramento, and Barry Broome and the team at the Greater Sacramento Economic Council – who worked tirelessly to showcase the fastest growing city in California and all we have to offer.

“Most importantly, I want to thank all of the incredible people of Sacramento. You fought to keep the Kings here and are truly the heartbeat of this city – your passion defines #SacramentoProud.

“We look forward to working with the NBA on a future bid and other spectacular events that highlight what our incredible community has to offer.”

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Statement on 2022 NBA All-Star Bid

sacasingh

Today, the Sacramento Kings unveiled the vision for Sacramento to host the NBA 2022 or 2023 All-Star game and related festivities.

Along with their partners from the City of Sacramento, Visit Sacramento, and the Greater Sacramento Economic Council, as well as support from across the region, community partners, businesses leaders, and the best fans in the NBA, the Sacramento Kings have assembled a comprehensive bid that redefines the All-Star festivities as a transformative global celebration of basketball.

"Golden 1 Center created a spark that ignited Sacramento’s evolution downtown and beyond," said Sacramento Kings Owner and Chairman Vivek Ranadivé. "With a world-class arena that is home to the best fans in the NBA, we are excited to present a bid that reimagines the All-Star event as a global celebration of sport, art, culture, and diversity."

The All-Star celebrations will be held at a downtown campus anchored by Golden 1 Center – the world’s most technologically advanced and sustainable arena, and will span east toward the city’s convention center complex, south on to Capitol Mall, and north to event space at The Railyards, extending to UC Davis, and more.

Beyond traditional All-Star events, the Kings are planning to create a Global Pavilion, an innovative indoor/outdoor facility that will extend from the steps of California’s capitol to the iconic Tower Bridge in order to reflect and showcase the values of the region. The Pavilion will be home to concerts featuring chart-topping musical artists, cultural discussions unique to the region, and an array of global dishes made from locally-sourced ingredients prepared by acclaimed chefs.

"It’s time for Sacramento to take center court and host its first NBA All-Star Game," said Congresswoman Doris Matsui. "With Golden 1 Center anchoring Sacramento’s downtown, I am confident that the experience for All-Star Game fans will be gratifying and memorable. I’m honored to lend my full support and work with local, state, and federal partners to make it a seamless experience."

Enhanced technology experiences and innovative transportation solutions set Sacramento’s bid apart. All-Star guests will be able to move from transportation hubs to accommodations to venues in 30 minutes or less. A network of autonomous vehicles, dedicated All-star transportation lanes, and a personal virtual assistant will work together as part of the vision to create a seamless and frictionless entertainment experience and visit to Sacramento.

A customized multi-mode event and venue app powered by artificial intelligence will remove traditional barriers when traveling, and introduce unmatched customer service for All-Star guests via a personalized virtual concierge called SASCHA (Sacramento All-Star Concierge Host with AI). The app will ensure that guests can check into their accommodations without waiting in line, offer tailored entertainment and dining options, navigate to and from events, have merchandise delivered on-demand, upgrade experiences, connect with friends, and more.

"Sacramento is a shining beacon of creativity, diversity, and opportunity– a perfect setting for basketball’s biggest celebration of sport and community," said Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg. "Together with our partners at the Kings and throughout the community, we are thrilled to present a bid that will show the world that Sacramento is truly a great American city."

The Kings and their partners have identified and secured commitments from nationally renowned hoteliers to submit a bid that meets all of the standard accommodation criteria to host an NBA All-Star game and related festivities that will allow guests to travel to and from events within 30 minutes or less. Through innovative partnerships with Airbnb and small luxury cruise ships, the Kings and their partners have identified additional inventory, to allow guests the ability to choose different types of unique accommodations. This includes up to 1,000 Airbnb lodging options, as well as two to three 300-room small luxury cruise ships – an option that has previously been used at large sporting events such as the Rio Olympics.

The NBA will receive an immersive virtual reality experience showcasing the best the region has to offer from the Sierras to Wine Country to Sacramento’s award-winning farm-to-fork cuisine and entertainment options. An interactive, custom All-Star app loaded on an iPad will accompany the virtual reality tour, highlighting the unique features of the bid, overviews of the venue sites, and video testimonials from Congresswoman Doris Matsui, Mayor Darrell Steinberg, Kings Owner and Chairman Vivek Ranadivé, and Kings Legends Vlade Divac and Peja Stojakovic.

NBA All‑Star