This All-Star snub was extremely costly.
Kings forward Domantas Sabonis missed out on a $1.3 million bonus for failing to make the Western Conference All-Star team, according to ESPN’s Bobby Marks.
Sabonis is nearly averaging a triple-double with 19.9 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists per game, but that did not earn him a spot among the 12 Western Conference selections.
The 12 players selected ahead of him were starters Nikola Jokic, LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Luka Doncic, and reserves Devin Booker, Steph Curry, Anthony Davis, Anthony Edwards, Paul George, Kawhi Leonard and Karl-Anthony Towns.
That obviously is a strong list of players including former MVPs and some of the league’s top players, but that doesn’t make it any easier for Sabonis.
Sabonis, 27, had made three All-Star teams in the last four years, including last year’s squad.
His stats are actually better this year for the 27-19 Kings than they were last season, when he averaged 19.1 points, 12.3 rebounds and 7.3 assists.
He leads the NBA with his 13 boards per game.
Sabonis can at least rest easy knowing he signed a $217 million extension last July that spans five seasons.
The former Gonzaga star has blossomed into one of the league’s best big men and helped transform the Kings into a solid Western Conference contender.
Sabonis has averaged 19.3 points, 12.6 rebounds and 7.3 assists over two-plus seasons with the Kings, after spending one year with the Thunder and four-plus seasons with the Pacers.
The Kings are tied with the Suns for the fifth-best record in the Western Conference after grabbing the No. 3 seed last year.
Sacramento hosted Game 7 in the first round against the Warriors last season, but fell to the defending champions, 120-110, as Steph Curry scored 50 points.
The Kings held a 2-0 series lead but a 126-125 loss in Game 4 proved pivotal.
