Where Kings’ Domantas Sabonis ranks among possible All-Star replacements for Anthony Davis
Sacramento Kings center Domantas Sabonis was not chosen to participate in Sunday’s NBA All-Star Game at Chase Center in San Francisco when starters and reserves were announced in January, but he might be going anyway.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver will choose injury replacements for Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo and Dallas Mavericks forward/center Anthony Davis, one from the Eastern Conference and one from the Western Conference.
Sabonis is one of the top candidates to replace Davis, who suffered a left adductor strain in his Mavericks debut Saturday after the Los Angeles Lakers traded him to Dallas in a blockbuster deal for Luka Doncic.
Davis has been ruled out for Monday’s game against the Kings at American Airlines Center in Dallas. He is reportedly expected to miss multiple weeks, possibly a month or more pending further discussion of treatment options.
All-Star starters were chosen by fans (50%), media (25%) and players (25%). Reserves were chosen by coaches. Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving, Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker, Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant and Los Angeles Clippers guard Normal Powell were also viewed as players who got snubbed in the West.
The current list of All-Stars from the West includes four guards and eight frontcourt players. That could hurt Sabonis’ chances of being selected as a replacement for Davis, but there’s no questioning his qualifications.
Sabonis, 28, was an All-Star selection in 2020, 2021 and 2023. He earned All-NBA Third Team honors in 2023 and 2024.
Sabonis is averaging career highs of 20.5 points and 14.3 rebounds along with 6.2 assists. He is shooting 59.8% from the field and a career-best 45.8% from 3-point range.
Sabonis leads the league rebounding, offensive rebounds (196), defensive rebounds (505), total rebounds (701) and double-doubles (46). He ranks third in win shares (7.8); fourth in 3-point percentage and offensive win shares (5.8); fifth in value over replacement player (3.3); and eighth in player efficiency rating (23.4) and triple-doubles (8).
Many felt Sabonis should have been named an All-Star when the list of reserves was unveiled Jan. 30. Instead, the coaches selected Davis along with the Minnesota Timberwolves’ Anthony Edwards, Los Angeles Clippers’ James Harden, Memphis Grizzlies’ Jaren Jackson Jr., Houston Rockets’ Alperen Sengun, Oklahoma City Thunder’s Jalen Williams and San Antonio Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama.
Brad Botkin of CBS Sports ranked Sabonis as the “biggest omission” when All-Star reserves were announced.
“This is absolute highway robbery,” Botkin wrote in a story published Jan. 31. “Shame on the coaches for not rewarding Sabonis, who leads the league with 42 double-doubles while registering near the top of almost every advanced metric. He’s averaging 21 points per game on 61% shooting and leads the league at just under 15 rebounds per night.
“How rare is that particular combination of statistical marks? The only other player to achieve them in a single season is Wilt Chamberlain. That’s right, a player who is having a season only matched by Wilt freaking Chamberlain isn’t an All-Star. Okay.”
Cole Forsman of Sports Illustrated wrote: “As the NBA’s leader in rebounds and double-doubles, there was no reason for Domantas Sabonis to be denied another all-star honor after he was snubbed while in a similar position last year. And yet, it happened again — despite putting up numbers that only Wilt Chamberlain has reached before.”
Frank Urbina of Hoops Hype called Sabonis a “shocking All-Star omission.” Hoops Hype noted that no player in NBA history has averaged 20.0 points, 12.0 rebounds and 5.0 assists in a season without making the All-Star Game.
Shaquille O’Neal even weighed in, saying of Sabonis “that’s an All-Star right there.”
