Despite being snubbed of the All-Star Game, Domantas Sabonis is one of the frontrunners for this season's MVP

Domantas Sabonis was one of several players that were left out of the All-Star team for this year's event. The controversy was even extended to De'Aaron Fox, his Sacramento Kings' teammate, who's also been an All-Star before and was another big snubb. Both players have been performing at a consistent level and placed the Kings among the Western Conference top 5.

A particularly glaring snub was seen in the case of Sabonis, where the standout center's impressive statistics, averaging 19.9 points, 13 rebounds and 8 assists per game, along with an impressive 61.9% shooting efficiency from the field, were not enough to secure him a spot.

Sabonis currently leads the league in rebounds and double-doubles, ranking second in triple-doubles as well, making his absence from the All-Star game one of the most significant disappointments in recent history.

Despite being left off the Western Conference All-Star team, Sabonis has been recognized as a top five candidate for the 2023-24 NBA MVP award by Basketball Reference, with a 2.7% chance of winning the prestigious award.

The current undisputed frontrunner for MVP is Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets, but with Joel Embiid's possible ineligibility due to injury, Sabonis could emerge as a legitimate contender for the coveted title.

The puzzling nature of Sabonis being a top-five MVP candidate while sitting out the All-Star break can be attributed to the voting process, where 30 NBA coaches determine the alternates for the event.

Kings fans can find solace in the impressive performance of their team, which posted a 29-19 record after a road win over the Chicago Bulls. As Sacramento continues its winning streak, Sabonis has a chance to further enhance his MVP candidacy and prove that his All-Star exclusion was simply an oversight.