Christmas Day is big on the NBA calendar. As if the five games featuring several of the biggest names in the sport weren't enough, it also marks the beginning of All-Star voting.
Now, you couldn't blame Kings fans if they weren't aware. Sacramento hasn't had an All-Star not named DeMarcus Cousins since 2003-04, when Brad Miller and Peja Stojakovic made it.
But given the Kings' early season success -- they're currently 18-15, right in the thick of the Western Conference playoff race -- their fans are likely to be more engaged this time around. Could this be the year Sacramento gets some additional recognition?
I hate to burst your bubble, but don't get your hopes up.
On the surface, you could make the case for either Buddy Hield or De'Aaron Fox to make the West team as a reserve guard. Hield has taken the next step in his game, and is averaging 20.4 points per contest on 47.9 percent shooting from the field and 44.0 percent from 3-point range. Fox, meanwhile, appears well on his way to becoming one of the top two-way floor generals in the league, as he's averaging 7.5 assists and 1.6 steals to go with his 18.1 points per game.
They both face extremely long odds to make the All-Star team, though, and that's really not due to any fault of their own.
Let me put it this way: Mike Conley Jr. has spent his entire career in the Western Conference. He's never made an All-Star team.
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Hield and Fox very well could develop into better players than Conley in the future, but they're not right now, and they play the same position when it comes to All-Star voting.
Here are some additional names the Kings' starting backcourt must compete with to make their first All-Star game: Stephen Curry, Russell Westbrook, James Harden, Damian Lillard, Donovan Mitchell, Chris Paul, Klay Thompson, DeMar DeRozan, C.J. McCollum, Jrue Holiday and Jamal Murray, among others.
[RELATED: Kings firmly in race, even as they dig out of big holes]
The West has been loaded at guard for the last decade, and that doesn't appear to be changing anytime soon.
The All-Star rosters are composed of five starters (three frontcourt, two guards), and seven reserves. Of those seven reserves, expect no more than four will be guards.
Fans don't get a say in the reserves -- they're voted on by the coaches -- so voting for the starters is your sole method to be heard.
So if you want to see either Hield or Fox in the 2019 NBA All-Star Game in Charlotte, you'd better get to clicking. Because if they're not voted in as starters, they're not getting in at all this season.
