Fox, Domas explain why the other deserves All-NBA selection

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Domantas Sabonis and De'Aaron Fox both know they are worthy of 2022-23 All-NBA nods and now, they are sharing it with the rest of the NBA. 

Speaking with Stadium's Shams Charania, each of the Kings' All-Stars explained why the other was worthy of an All-NBA selection at the conclusion of this season. 

"Oh just without a doubt, he's been a top-3 center in the league. Without a doubt," Fox answered first to Charania. "Triple-doubles, leading the league in double-doubles, I don't think there have been guys at his position that are playing much better than him."

An efficient scorer, Sabonis expanded his game in his first full season in coach Mike Brown's system, racking up 11 triple-doubles so far this season, second only to Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokić (28) and one more than Dallas Mavericks star Luka Dončić.

Sabonis nearly had his 12th triple-double of the season Saturday, dropping 30 points, nine rebounds and nine assists in a dominant victory over the Washington Wizards.

As Fox alluded to, Sabonis' 57 double-doubles lead the NBA and are four more than Jokić, further strengthening the Kings center's All-NBA chances. 

"I think he's up there with Jokić and Joel Embiid," Fox continued. "I mean they're playing obviously extremely well, but if Domas is out for us for 25 games, we're definitely not in the position we're in.

"So I think that's a huge part of why he should definitely make an All-NBA team."

Once it was Sabonis' turn to speak, he focused his points on Fox's incredible play in the fourth quarter and clutch moments for the Kings, calling his teammate "Mr. Clutch."

"I always tell everyone, 'We're not here where we are without him,' " Sabonis declared. "There's been countless games, every game where he just takes over in the fourth.

"Either we can't manage to do a full game how we want and in the fourth quarter, if the game's tied, he takes over."

Sacramento's center added that when Fox gets in the zone late in games, his confidence rubs off on the rest of the team, and the Kings, as a whole, become more "calm."

"We're down four or something with a minute and a half left, we're like, 'We still got this,' we're going to get a stop, we're going to score for sure and then give the ball to him and he does the rest," Sabonis concluded.

Sabonis' faith in Fox certainly is warranted. 

The 25-year-old leads the NBA in fourth-quarter points scored with 500, is first in clutch points per game at 5.2 and is tied with Steph Curry at fourth for fourth-quarter points per game at 8.1.

Most recently, Fox hit a dagger 3-pointer to sink the Chicago Bulls and explained after the game that he was "confident" the shot would fall. Moments like that are why Fox firmly is atop the NBA's Clutch Player Ladder

RELATED: Sabonis proves worthy of All-NBA nod in Kings' win over Nets

Now that Sacramento is receiving a boost in attention, it is clear that Fox and Sabonis are some of the main cogs in the Kings' resurgent season. 

And considering that some pundits already are calling for Fox to be an All-NBA selection and with Sabonis' "legendary" play, it would make sense to see one of them on an All-NBA team at the season's conclusion.

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