Sacramento Kings set to be absent from NBA All-Star festivities for first time in 15 years
The Sacramento Kings may not have any players representing the franchise at the NBA’s annual All-Star festivities this coming weekend in San Francisco, effectively shut out of the midseason showcase for the first time in more than a decade.
A late change remains possible by way of injury or unforeseen absence. Otherwise, the Kings won’t have a player in any of the Rising Stars game, 3-point contest, dunk contest, skills challenge or NBA All-Star Game for the first time since 2009.
Center Domantas Sabonis is the team’s most notable omission after NBA Commissioner Adam Silver on Monday selected Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving to replace Irving’s injured teammate Anthony Davis.
Sabonis leads the NBA in total rebounding (716), offensive rebounds (199), defensive rebounds (517) and double-doubles (47). The three-time former All-Star is third in the NBA with eight triple-doubles and is averaging a career-best 20.4 points per game on the season.
Sacramento is one of 11 teams to not have an All-Star this season. But barring a last-minute replacement for injury or another reason, the Kings will be the only team to not get a nod in any form in the weekend’s main festivities.
The Philadelphia 76ers (Jared McCain, a Sacramento native) and Charlotte Hornets (Brandon Miller) each had a selection to the Rising Stars game, a showcase reserved for rookies and second-year players, but both players suffered season-ending injuries.
The remaining 27 NBA teams will have at least one player in at least one of the weekend’s five main events.
There were two teams without any player participating in All-Star festivities last year, three in 2023, two in 2022 and four in 2021.
The Kings’ NBA roster may go unrepresented, but the organization won’t be shut out of the weekend entirely. Isaac Jones and Skal Labissiere were selected to play in the NBA G League Up Next Game on Sunday afternoon at San Francisco’s Moscone Center. Labissiere plays for the G League’s Stockton Kings, and Jones has split his time between Stockton and Sacramento on a two-way contract.
The Kings have had just three players named All Stars over the past decade: Sabonis, Fox and DeMarcus Cousins. Cousins made it three times (2015-2017) and was in the Rising Stars game in 2011 and 2012.
Who might have competed?
Sabonis wasn’t Sacramento’s only potential candidate for this weekend’s festivities.
Newcomer Zach LaVine won the dunk contest in 2015 and 2016. He also appeared in three 3-point contests, in 2020, 2021 and 2022. His 42.6% shooting clip from 3-point range ranks 15th in the NBA, though he’s struggled since joining Sacramento in the De’Aaron Fox trade. LaVine made just 5-of-26 (19%) through his first four games with his new team.
Malik Monk has said he would like to participate in a 3-point contest or dunk contest, but wasn’t extended an invite to either this year. Monk is having a down shooting season by his standards, making 32.4% from distance — down from 35% and 35.9% from the previous two years, respectively. Monk’s highlight reel includes an array of in-game dunks while appointing himself the Kings’ unofficial judge of his teammate’s dunks.
Guard Keon Ellis is better known for his defense, but ranks sixth in the NBA in 3-point percentage at 44% on 5.4 attempts per game and could have been a candidate for the 3-point contest.
Kings’ All-Star weekend participants since 2009:
2024: Keegan Murray (Rising Stars)
2023: Sabonis (All Star), Fox (All Star), Kevin Huerter (3-point contest), Murray (Rising Stars)
2022: Tyrese Haliburton (Rising Stars), Davion Mitchell (Rising Stars)
2021: Haliburton (Rising Stars)
2020: Buddy Hield (3-point contest, winner), Fox (skills challenge)
2019: Fox (Rising Stars), Bogdan Bogdanovic (Rising Stars), Hield (3-point contest)
2018: Hield (skills challenge)
2017: Cousins (All Star, skills challenge)
2016: Cousins (All Star, skills challenge)
2015: Cousins (All Star)
2014: Ben McLemore (dunk contest)
2013: Isaiah Thomas (Rising Stars)
2012: Cousins (Rising Stars)
2011: Cousins (Rising Stars)
2010: Tyreke Evans (Rising Stars)
2009: None.
This story was originally published February 11, 2025 at 6:09 PM.
