Kings' Mike Brown: De'Aaron Fox, Domantas Sabonis' All-Star Snub a Glaring Wrongdoing

Sacramento Kings stars De'Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis missing out on the 2024 NBA All-Star Game does not sit well with head coach Mike Brown.

Brown told Andscape's Marc J. Spears:

"It's clear to anyone who watches the NBA and Kings basketball that De'Aaron and Domantas should have been selected for this year's All-Star game. They are playing at an unbelievably elite level, Domantas establishing historic numbers with his double-doubles and De'Aaron setting a new career mark for 3-point field goals. Every year, there are deserving players left off the team but, to me, this is truly a glaring wrongdoing."

The All-Star Game starters had already been announced, but the NBA announced Thursday the reserves for the Eastern and Western Conferences.

The Western Conference reserves include Los Angeles Clippers stars Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, Minnesota Timberwolves standouts Anthony Edwards and Karl-Anthony Towns, Los Angeles Lakers veteran Anthony Davis, Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker and Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry.

Brown previously made his case for Fox and Sabonis to be named All-Stars while speaking with reporters on Wednesday:

"We feel our top two players, Sabonis and Foxy, are just as good as anybody. They're the main part of the engine that makes this thing go. I think as time goes on, the league is starting to feel it and see it, but we have to continue doing our part at a high level. That doesn't mean just in the regular season. We've got to do it in the playoffs too."

Both Fox and Sabonis were selected for the All-Star Game last season, and considering they're both in the midst of career years in 2023-24, they probably should have been selected this time around.

Fox is averaging 27.2 points, 4.1 rebounds and 5.5 assists in 40 games while shooting 46.7 percent from the floor and 38.0 percent from deep. His 27.2 points per game ranks ninth in the NBA.

Sabonis, meanwhile, is averaging 19.9 points, 13.0 rebounds and 8.0 assists in 46 games while shooting 61.6 percent from the floor and 45.1 percent from deep. He ranks first in the league in rebounds per game and his field goal percentage ranks seventh in the league

Thanks in part to Fox and Sabonis, the Kings are fifth in the Western Conference with a 27-19 record, six games back of the first-place Timberwolves.

While Brown was disappointed that his players were snubbed, Fox said earlier this week that he didn't care whether he was named an All-Star.

"I don't really care about being an All-Star, plus Indiana's cold," Fox said.

The 2024 All-Star Game is set for Feb. 18 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indiana.