Top 3 Kings Likely To Be Named To All-Star Team
It's January in 2016 and NBA fans are just weeks away from experiencing the All-Star weekend hosted by Toronto. The fan voting is wide open and the latest poll has some Kings players in position to make the cut for the Western Conference team.
Here are the three most likely All-Star game candidates playing for the Sacramento Kings:
3. Rudy Gay
Gay, 29, is in his second full season in Sacramento. He's the team's second leading scorer with 17.8 points per game. Some may think he has had a slow start this year, especially while DeMarcus Cousins was injured, but he has a career high in rebounds per game with 6.8 and has been scoring more as of late. After scoring 21.1 points per game last season, Gay could very well catch fire and gain some recognition.
Even though he can score, the depth in front of him in the West will hurt his chances. Also, he's never been selected to an All-Star game in his career, so it's not likely this will be the year.
2. DeMarcus Cousins
Cousins has been the backbone of the Kings this season. He is the face of the team on a national scale as well as a local one. His performances dictate the fate of the Kings - if he does well, the Kings do well. He is averaging 25.1 points, 10.9 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game, easily putting himself as one of the best big men in the league, let alone the Western Conference.
There is a catch.
After making the All-Star team last year with similar stats, he is only ninth in fan voting for Western Conference forwards. Even though he still has a shot at making the team from coach picks later on, the fact remains: the fans don't think he deserves a spot. He'll need to have more huge games like he has done lately in order for him to gain some steam in the rankings. He's behind Zaza Pachulia for crying out loud.
1. Rajon Rondo
It's no surprise Rondo is ranked sixth in the Western guard vote right now. He leads the league in assists (11.6 per game), is second in triple-doubles (4) and rebounds per game among point guards (6.5). He is a four-time All-Star from 2010-2013 when he played for the Boston Celtics and is one of the premier swiss army knives in the NBA.
Rondo was somewhat of a wild card of a free agent after his bitter partings with the Celtics and the Dallas Mavericks last season, but the Kings appear to have helped rejuvenate his career so far in Sacramento. If his play continues and the Kings find some consistency in their winning, he has a great chance of representing Sacramento at the All-Star Game.
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To vote for these players and other Sacramento Kings you think deserve a spot on the West team, click here.