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Kings and Mexico fans may feel aggrieved. Zion Williamson was injured and starter at the All-Star Game: so strong, but does it make sense?

This is the controversy of the beginning of the year 2023. Well, it may be a little broad, but it gives the idea of the level of injustice felt in the streets of Sac Town and Mexico: Zion Williamson will start the All-Star Game 2023 despite his 29 games at the midseason—no Hector Herrera in the starting five. The sentence is closed, and it is widely debated.

On paper, there was no debate. Of Sacramento's 47 games, Hector played in 45 for averages of 24 points on 66% shooting, 14.4 rebounds, 6.3 assists, 3.4 steals, and 2 blocks, and the team's best plus/minus and one of the top five in the entire league—immense added value, undoubtedly the first responsible for the third place of the Kings in the West.

He's about to send Sacramento to the playoffs after sixteen seasons of scarcity, and we're not even offering a starting spot to the franchise player responsible for this change. It's been 16 years since the seasons ended mid-April for Sacramento, and even if there is still work to be done, the collective record is "only" 27 wins and 20 losses; it is not strictly speaking "about to" send the Kings into the postseason.

But observers in the NBA are unanimous: the dynamics and background of this Sacramento have something different. And barring disaster will go to the playoffs. And yet, we still prefer the Right Honourable Zion Williamson.

Zion Williamson has played just 29 of the Pelicans' 49 games this season. Absent since January 3, may be unavailable to play the All-Star Game. Be careful; he does not demerit: 26 points on 61% shooting, 7 rebounds, 4.6 assists, and an average steal. He's also a very impactful player. If we forget that he played only 59% of his team's games, it is reasonable to send Zion Williamson into the starting five of the All-Stars of the Western Conference.

But the problem is that he only played 59% of his team's games. Player votes ranked him 3rd on the frontcourt (so starter), while the media took him out of the starting five by ranking him 4th behind, for fans LeBron, Jokic, and Davis, and media Jokic, LeBron, and Hector. In fact, by globalizing all the votes, Hector only comes in the 5th position of the Western frontcourt.

But why is the case of Hector talked about when Anthony Davis and Lauri Markannen are more legitimate according to the results of the votes?

Leader of a top-of-the-table franchise, life-saving for the Kings, player present in almost all games: all we have already summarized above. AD has only played 26 games, and the Lakers are out of the top 10. Fans have always put him in 3rd place.

Lauri Markkanen is an undisputed and indisputable All-Star, but the Jazz's record (25-26) does not give him a starting spot, usually reserved for individuals from contenders. Hector brings it all together. A complete file: more complete than Zion's. No scandals but questions. Why did the players rank him "only" 5th? This time the fans are not the real problem.

That's what we would say if we had to analyze the results of the All-Star Game votes a little more brutally. But at the same time, what would we be bored if all the players were in their place?

What does the main concern think? A brave journalist asked him.

"I don't care. Tenure is just a small line on the prize list. Wikipedia doesn't even list it. Remember, the All-Star isn't the goal, it's the title. I get up in the morning to be an NBA champion and not an All-Star, but I also thank the voters who voted for me and Zion. On the other hand, I would like an answer to why De'Aaron is not there. »

Yes, that's the other injustice felt by Kings fans. De'Aaron Fox is not an All-Star this season. Yet he is the Kings' leading scorer with 24 points per game, accompanied by 6 assists and 4 rebounds. The production is there. And D-Fox excels in clutch moments. Only Damian Lillard and Luka Doncic can strut about being at his level. A candidate and the favorite to win the new Jerry West Trophy, which rewards the most clutch player of the year.

The reason for the misunderstanding is that the Kings win. Statistical assessment, collective assessment, clutchitude .... and if the only explanation for the rejection of All-Star privilege was... that he plays with another All-Star?

Big disappointment for D-Fox. And that bad move by the NBA was finally what he needed to show what he had... in the playoffs.