It didn't really come as a shock to anyone that the Sacramento Kings aren't sending anyone to the 2026 NBA All-Star Game. This has been a tough season with a few bright patches. That being said, there are a few names on the team who could have an All-Star appearance or two in their futures.
There's no shortage of former All-Stars on the Kings' current rosters. Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, Domantas Sabonis, and Russell Westbrook have all been on an All-Star team on more than a few occasions during their combined careers. Unfortunately, none of them got the call this year,
Not surprisingly, it was Westbrook who did the best in the voting with 10 player votes and 111,110 fan votes. He has had an incredible season, one filled with amazing performances and seemingly endless history being made. It's nice to see that his work is still appreciated, even on some level.
The only other Kings to get a significant number of votes were DeRozan and LaVine. Had Zach been able to maintain the shooting pace he had early in the season, an All-Star slot would have been inevitable. The same might be true of Sabonis had he not spent most of the season injured.
Several Kings could be future All-Stars in a couple of seasons
But these are the veterans and former All-Stars. Sacramento has a solid rookie class that could generate some All-Stars in a couple of seasons. One of them, Maxime Raynaud, actually received three player votes and almost 8,300 votes from fans. It's a good start for a standout rookie.
Raynaud has had a solid campaign through the first half of 2025-2026, one good enough to earn him a regular place on the Kia Rookie Ladder. In addition to Maxime, Dylan Cardwell has been picking up steam, with performances and energy the entire league is paying attention to.
It's also worth noting that Nique Clifford has the potential to find himself in a similar position. He's gotten off to a quieter start than Raynaud or Cardwell, but his gameplay is there. If he continues to grow, there's the potential for an All-Star appearance in his future, as well.
Look, none of these guys are going to make the All-Star Game 21 times the way LeBron James has. That doesn't mean that they won't pick up a couple of appearances in their careers. Honestly, the energy Cardwell brings to the game might just be what All-Star needs for fans to care again.