De'Aaron Fox is Clutch, Draymond Green suspended, Domantas Sabonis questionable

It was a busy night in Kingsland.

It started early in the evening when De’Aaron Fox took home the 2022-23 KIA NBA Clutch Player of the Year award. He received 91 out of 100 first place votes for the inaugural Jerry West Trophy.

Fox led the league in clutch points this season with 194, as well as clutch points per game at 5.0. That is the highest total since LeBron James dropped 197 clutch points during the 2017-18 season.

The 25-year-old point guard finished the season averaging 25 points, 6.1 assists and 4.2 rebounds in 33.4 minutes per game. He shot a career best 51.2 percent from the field, including an impressive 52.9 percent in the clutch.

This might not be the only postseason award for the Kings’ star guard. After earning a spot on the 2022-23 Western Conference All-Star team, he is in the running for an All-NBA nod, be it first, second or third team.

Silver Hammer

Adam Silver was in the Golden 1 Center crowd Monday evening when the Kings found a way to battle through for a 114-106 victory over the Warriors. He also witnessed the crazy scene that unfolded when Draymond Green stomped on the chest and abdomen of Kings center Domantas Sabonis.

Late Tuesday, the league dropped the hammer on Green, suspending the former All-Star forward for Game 3 of the first round series with Sacramento.

While Green’s actions on the court were egregious and his behavior following the play bordered on the absurd, the league added this line into the press release on his suspension, “The suspension was based in part on Green’s history of unsportsmanlike acts.”

RELATED: The stomp heard round the NBA, Green and Sabonis mix it up in Kings win

Already down 2-0 in the series, the Warriors will need someone to step up to fill Green’s role. He’s one of their better rebounders, defenders and playmakers. In addition to missing the game, Green will also lose a game check.

The Stomped

Following the announcement that Green will miss Game 3, the Kings sent out an injury update on Sabonis. The Kings’ All-Star center is officially listed as questionable for Thursday night’s clash after X-rays revealed a sternum contusion.

Sabonis spoke to the media in the locker room a couple of hours after the conclusion of Game 2 and seemed convinced that he would play when the series shifted to Chase Center on Thursday.

“You guys know me, I’ll be ready for Game 3,” Sabonis said. “I’ll do a lot of treatment.”

The 26-year-old big man missed just three games on the season, despite suffering an avulsion fracture in his right thumb on December 23. He played through most of the year with his hand heavily wrapped, finishing the season averaging 19.1 points, 7.3 assists and a league leading 12.3 rebounds in 34.6 minutes per game.

Sabonis also led the NBA in double-doubles with 65. Like Fox, the star center is a candidate for an All-NBA selection after earning his third All-Star selection of his career.

We will likely have more on Sabonis’ availability Wednesday afternoon following practice.