The Sacramento Kings are rarely represented in the NBA All-Star Game, but who on their roster is most likely to eventually qualify for the mid-season classic?
The Sacramento Kings have very little history when it comes to the NBA All-Star Game. If it weren’t for DeMarcus Cousins‘ three appearances in the mid-2010s, Sacramento would be sitting on a 16 year streak without sending a player to the mid-season classic.
There certainly was not anyone deserving on this year’s team, which has been disappointing from the opening tip of the season. But the Kings still have a couple players who have not yet reached their full potential, players who were pegged as “future All-Stars” when they were drafted.
So which player on the Kings roster is most likely to be the next All-Star to represent Sacramento?
Heavy Backcourt Competition
The easy and obvious answer is De’Aaron Fox. He is already the franchise cornerstone and undisputed best and most important player on the team. His scoring and assist numbers have increased each year that he’s been in the league, and he is currently enjoying arguably the best stretch of his young career.
But qualifying for the All-Star Game is not only about a player’s personal performance, but the performance of his peers at his position as well. The Western Conference is absolutely stacked with All-Star caliber guards, so Fox would need a first-half performance that is nothing less than stellar to qualify. He would be competing against the likes of Stephen Curry, James Harden, Russell Westbrook, Luka Doncic, Klay Thompson, Damian Lillard, and Donovan Mitchell. Devin Booker is making his first All-Star appearance this year, and Ja Morant will garner a lot of hype in 2021.
While it seems like an untimely and absurd prediction, the next Kings All-Star could very well be Marvin Bagley.
Why Bagley?
Yes, we’re all down on the guy. We’ve been watching Doncic tear up the league while our guy can’t even get on the court. But some of us are holding out hope. Bagley still has the tools and athleticism to be a star in this league, despite the rocky first two years of his career. He is still incredibly young, with plenty of career ahead of him. It would be foolish to write him off completely, and it was less than two years ago that he was one of the top prizes in a stacked draft class.
If Bagley is somehow able to put together an impressive comeback season in 2020-21, he just might be the next Sacramento Kings All-Star, whether it be next year or the one after that. The front court competition in the West is tough as well, though not nearly as deep as the guards. Bagley would be competing against Anthony Davis, LeBron James, Nikola Jokic, Kawhi Leonard, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Kristaps Porzingis. Between age, load management, and injury history, there could be more open spots for big men rather than guards in the coming seasons.
There is plenty of talent on the Sacramento Kings roster, and it is very likely that one of the players eventually qualifies for an All-Star appearance. We just hope he’s still playing for the Kings when it happens.