De'Aaron Fox

Official Release

&nbsp;Third player in franchise history with three or more POTW awards

Sacramento Kings guard De’Aaron Fox has been named the Western Conference Player of the Week after leading the Kings to a perfect 3-0 record for games played between November 14 and November 20, the NBA announced today. Fox averaged 25.0 points, (60.0 FG%, 41.7 3PT%, 88.9 FT%), 3.7 rebounds and 8.0 assists throughout the week.Fox earns the honor of Western Conference Player of the Week for the third time in his career and the first time during the 2022-23 season. He is the third player in franchise history to earn three or more Player of the Week awards, only trailing Chris Webber (7) and DeMarcus Cousins (5).The Kings currently hold a six-game winning streak for the first time since the 2004-05 season. Throughout the undefeated stretch, Fox has amassed averages of 24.0 points (57.7 FG%, 40.0 3PT%, 81.5 FT%), 4.0 rebounds, 8.7 assists, 1.7 steals and 31.7 minutes per game. In total, the former Kentucky Wildcat made 56 field goals, tied for seventh in the Association and fourth among all guards, and scored 147 points which ranked 12th in the NBA during every player’s last six games.In Sunday’s victory vs. the Detroit Pistons, Fox tallied 33 points, shooting 11-of-18 from the field, marking his fifth 30-point game this season and making him the seventh player in franchise history with five or more 30-point outings through the team’s first 15 games. Additionally, he tallied seven assists, four rebounds and shot a perfect 9-of-9 from the free throw line.The six-year guard is currently averaging 25.4 points (55.8 FG%, 38.2 3PT%, 84.5 FT%), 4.8 rebounds, 6.4 assists, 1.1 steals and 32.2 minutes per game while starting 14 games for the Kings this season.

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De'Aaron Fox Named Western Conference Player of the Week

Alex Kramers

There’s nothing quite like watching De’Aaron Fox with the basketball in his hands, weaving, spinning and slicing through defenses, accelerating with such a quick burst that his opposition can only guess which way he’ll go.

It’s been long established that few players, if any, can keep pace when No. 5 lowers his head and races the length of the court, and even fewer can stay in front of him when he unleashes an inside-out dribble or hesitation crossover and glides in for a lefty layup or zips a pass to a cutting teammate.

With no shortage of moves in his bag, the 6-foot-3 guard was one of only nine qualified players in the league to rank in the top 20 in both points (23.2 per game) and assists (5.6); the other eight were all named All-Stars. Sacramento’s primary scoring option and best distributor, Fox finished with at least 30 points and five assists 11 times in 59 appearances, the 14th-most in the league.

For most players, averages north of 23 points and five assists would constitute a career year; even among the game’s best, typically only All-NBA mainstays reach those thresholds with regularity. But while he was still near the top of the leaderboards, Fox’s season-long numbers dipped in comparison to the high precedents he established the year prior, when he set career-bests with 25.2 points, 7.2 assists and a 20.7 PER.

After a slower than usual start, however, the speedy guard, fully recovered from a lingering ankle injury that sidelined him for eight games, found his rhythm alongside a new pick-and-roll partner.&nbsp;

Since Feb. 9, the first night Domantas Sabonis put on a Kings jersey, Fox averaged 28.9 points – an eight-point uptick from his first 44 outings – on 58.4 percent true shooting (.503/.360/.767 splits), and dished out 6.8 assists in 15 games. His streak of 10 consecutive outings with at least 20 points on 50-percent or better from the field tied Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo for the longest by any player this season.

In their 13-game run together, the Fox-to-Sabonis connection resulted in 23 made baskets, which put the two-man combo on pace for 145 assists over the course of a full season. That would’ve been the fifth-most prolific partnership among all duos in the league, per PBPstats.com, and stands to only improve with more familiarity and repetition.

A closer look at Fox’s monthly splits demonstrates an almost perfect upward trend in effectiveness and efficiency as the year progressed.

A closer look at his shot distribution shows the strides he made as a scorer and shooter that helped bump up that efficiency.

An elite, savvy finisher around the basket, Fox converted 65 percent of his shots at the rim, a slight regression from his prior season (69 percent), but a rate that still placed him in the 84th percentile at his position, per Cleaning the Glass. Among all point guards with at least 200 attempts within four feet, only two – Luka Doncic and Ja Morant – were more accurate.

Fox continued to draw fouls at a staggering degree, too, finishing in the 90th percentile in attempts, and knocked down a career-best 75 percent of his six trips to the foul line per game.

But as defenses schemed to contain his speed in the half court and deny him avenues to the cup, Fox incorporated a larger volume of mid-range shots to keep opponents on their heels. Hunting for his sweet spots on the floor, he’d dribble inward toward the congestion in the paint, create separation by burying one foot into the ground and then step back to rise and release a soft fall-away jumper before his defender had a chance to contest.

More than half of Fox’s field-goal attempts came from inside the 3-point arc but outside of the restricted area, per CTG, an increase of eight percent from last year and 12 percent from two seasons ago. Fox not only took a higher share of shots from the middle of the floor than most floor generals, but he made substantially more of them, too. His 46-percent conversion rate placed in the 82nd percentile, within striking distance of Steph Curry (86th) and Trae Young (88th).

Fox’s proficiency from more areas on the floor is evident in his isolation scoring. While his frequency of one-on-one opportunities was virtually unchanged from last season (11 percent), his points per possession climbed from 0.87 (52nd percentile) to 1.06 (86th); of the 61 players with at least 100 possessions, only six ranked ahead of him in PPP, according to NBA.com.

The Kings were 1.9 points better per 100 possessions when Fox was on the floor, a net differential that ranked in the 64th percentile among all players, per CTG. That’s a development that deserves attention, as Sacramento was roughly two points&nbsp;worse&nbsp;with Fox on the court in each of the previous two seasons.

That positive rating was driven by how much he contributed offensively, as the Kings scored 6.6 more points per 100 with Fox in the lineup (91st percentile), plus shot better from the field, drew more whistles and committed fewer turnovers.

But despite his terrific block and steal rates, Sacramento simultaneously gave up 4.8 more points per 100 when he was in the game compared to when he sat. Fox has repeatedly committed to becoming a better, more locked-in and more well-rounded defender, and more minutes alongside Davion Mitchell, already an elite, versatile stopper, may also have a positive effect.&nbsp;

A consistent 3-pointer remains the only other major blemish in Fox’s repertoire. While he’s had extended stretches of excellent outside shooting, he’s hovered toward the bottom in accuracy relative to his position in each of the last three seasons. In his last 16 games of the 2021-22 season, however, he fired 3.8 pull-up triples per night and made 40 percent of them.

What’s clear is that the 24-year-old star is far from a finished product, and neither makes excuses nor runs from acknowledging his shortcomings.

“I wouldn’t say I had a good season,” Fox said. “I think I had a good stretch before I got hurt, but that’s pretty much all it is. Before those, I guess last [16] games, I don't feel like I played even close to my ability.”

As he builds chemistry with Sabonis – an exceptional screener, crafty passer and elite finisher at the rim – Fox will benefit from even better scoring opportunities in pick-and-roll settings and through off-ball movement. With Sacramento expected to prioritize adding more outside shooting in the offseason, he may also find more open space to penetrate the paint.

After taking another step forward in his production – and if his strong second half was a preview of what’s to come – a leap into both the All-Star and playoffs conversations could arrive in his sixth season.

“I want to be a winner at the end of the day,” Fox said. “That's how I go into every game, into every season, trying to win every single game that I step my foot on the court [...] It's definitely hard to do in the NBA and it's hard to try to turn a team and a franchise around, but it's something that I'm willing to put the work in to change.”

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De’Aaron Fox Seeks to Build on Strong Finish

Immediately after Sacramento’s 132-119 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves, Kings point guard De’Aaron Fox spotted then newly acquired big man Domantas Sabonis and wrapped his arms around him in a heartfelt embrace.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The emotion was palpable for everyone in the arena and watching on TV, but especially for Fox, who, in his five years in Sacramento, appeared to have the running mate he needed to help him end the franchise’s historic playoff draught.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Sabonis finished that game with 22 points, 14 rebounds and five assists while Fox added 27 points and eight boards in the duo’s first outing following the blockbuster trade at the deadline.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Fox gushed about his new teammate to the media afterwards, likening Sabonis’ strength to that of an Ox, immediately sparking a new nickname for the dynamic duo.&nbsp;

The Fox and the Ox followed that performance up with another 13-point win – this time over the Washington Wizards – that saw Sabonis record a near triple-double with 16 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists and Fox put up 26 points and four dimes.&nbsp;&nbsp;

It was just the sixth time this past season that the Kings won back-to-back games, and the team appeared to finally have the foundation to build something special in Sacramento.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Unfortunately, the duo was only able to log 11 more games together before injuries marred both their seasons, thus sinking Sacramento’s hopes of snapping its playoff drought.&nbsp;&nbsp;

But it was clear in the just 13 games total they played together, that both players benefitted from the ability to play off the other. In the 11 games following the wins over Washington and Minnesota, Fox put up some of his best numbers of the season, averaging 28.1 points on 52% shooting to go with 6.8 assists.&nbsp;

“Obviously, a guy like that, he takes a lot of pressure off of you because he’s such a dynamic roller, a guy that can post up,” Fox told the media in his end-of-season press conference. “I’ve always talked about how I’m seeing the best defenders every night. But we talked about how he screens, the way he passes. He opens up a lot more opportunity.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“I think I score pretty well off the dribble, but just being able to just have him out there and guys that know how to play and move, something we obviously need to do more of, but it just opens up and gives a wider range of opportunities to make plays and to score.”&nbsp;

Sabonis was a walking double-double before he arrived in Sacramento and continued that trend in a Kings jersey. He put up 17.4 points, 12.8 rebounds and nearly six assists per game in his 13 outings with Fox.&nbsp;

And while their seasons were cut short, both players understand the magnitude of their pairing heading into next year.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“I love playing with him. Those [13] games were great. We didn’t get as much as we wanted to play together but we’re going to have a long offseason, see if we can get together and get some workouts in, have training camp. I’m just excited for next year. We’re going to go through the whole, normal process — not getting traded in the middle of the season. So, I’m excited for that.”

This offseason will be pivotal for the development of Fox and Sabonis as the foundation of Sacramento’s future, but even more so for a team that added six new players at the last year’s trade deadline.&nbsp;

Fox and Sabonis are the foundation, but two players can’t do it alone. They’ll need continued support from Harrison Barnes and new additions Donte DiVincenzo and Trey Lyles, who both proved to be valuable over the second half of the season, as well as ever-improving rookie Davion Mitchell and up-and-coming role players Damian Jones and Chimezie Metu.&nbsp;&nbsp;

It’s difficult to build that chemistry in-season though, so Fox has already started brainstorming ways to get the team together this summer so they can hit the ground running come October.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“Probably half the NBA spends the offseason in LA. I think a guys will make their way there — just to try to get some weeks in together, working out,” Fox said. “Just being around each other, I think that’s what builds chemistry. That’s already [something] we’ve talked about from GMs down and players just trying to be around each other this summer. So those things are definitely in the works.”&nbsp;

Sabonis, who has been a member of four playoff teams during his six-year NBA career, echoed the same sentiment as Fox when it comes to putting in the work to build chemistry on the court.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

“It still takes time to play off one another and we had six new players out there playing with everybody. That’s why I’m excited for the summer,” Sabonis said. “We’re going to get together as a group and try and build on things early before training camp even starts, and I think that’s going to help a lot.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“The more we play with one another, the more we get a feel for each other. We have a lot of time out there and everybody has that fire and passion that wants to play, so that’s half of the job done. So, we just have to make it work together.”&nbsp;

The Kings will undoubtedly be a different team when they step on the court for the 2022-23 season simply based off the fact they’ll have a full Training Camp to set offensive and defensive principles. &nbsp;

But it’s clear this team will only go as far as Fox and Sabonis take them. That starts with the team’s two best players developing chemistry and building a bond that brings out the best in one another on the court.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“He already had the role of leader on this team but he kind of stepped up and had the ball more in his hands,” Sabonis said. “I was out there to help him get open and attract more attention and he just took advantage of it.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“He was great at making shots, anytime we needed a bucket he was there to do it. Pushing the pace, talking on defense — he really showed a side I didn’t know he had and that makes me really excited for next year.”&nbsp;

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Fox and Sabonis Eager to Build Chemistry in First Offseason Together

Jonathan Bradley

De’Aaron Fox became just the second player in Sacramento Kings history to record 14-straight games of 20-plus points after his 32-point outing against the Nuggets on Wednesday.  

The accolade puts Fox in the company of Kings great Chris Webber, who rattled off 14 or more 20-plus point games twice during his time in Sacramento, and is an indication of just how well the fifth-year guard has been playing over the last month.  

So well, in fact, that his February may have been the best month of his career.  

Fox finished the month averaging 27 points, 4.4 rebounds and 6.1 assists per game while shooting 50.6% from the field and 35% from 3-point range. That includes a 33-point, nine-assist outing against the Chicago Bulls and a two-game span against the Nuggets and Thunder where he logged 10 assists in both matchups.  

This is all after kicking off the month by hitting a season-high four threes en route to 29 points, six assists and seven rebounds against the Timberwolves.

For comparison, Fox has connected on over 50% from the field in a month just three other times during his career, one of which was a five-game span in April during the 2018-2019 season. He also shot 40% from deep during February that season, but only averaged 16.6 points that month. 

Fox, however, is no stranger to putting up big numbers in February. Looking at his splits over his career -- and this season in particular -- it’s clear the former Kentucky Wildcat only gets better as the season progresses, but he’s at his absolute best after January.

Fox will need to maintain his stellar play throughout March and April if the Kings want to vie for a spot in the play-in tournament.  

Either way, the Kings know once Spring rolls around, Fox is a guy they can undoubtedly count on.  

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De’Aaron Fox just had one of the best months of his career

nbaplatformservices

Fox Finishes Strong in Timberwolves Contest | Kings vs Timberwolves 02.03.20

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Hannah Taheri

As the Kings took off to Mumbai, India to make history by taking part in the first ever NBA India Games, Fox shared his thoughts and experiences exclusively with The Undefeated.

See what the Sactown speedster has been up to since the team touched down in India below:

Sept. 30 – ‘Through a long trip like this, it can only help us grow:”

The night before the team took off for Mumbai on Drake’s private plane, “Air Drake,” which he graciously lent the team, Fox shared his emotions going into one of his first International trips. “I am excited to see a different culture,” he said.

“I hope everyone can just enjoy being around each other on this trip. Learn new things together. We’re going out there to play basketball games and discover who we are as a team."

The team was in the air for almost the entirety of the first of the month. But, flying on Air Drake is much different than flying coach, as one can imagine.

“Flying on Drake’s plane, man, it was dope. It was 20 hours, but…even when we were staying up I didn’t feel like I was tired or like struggling to stay up because it felt like you was sitting in your living room.”

After arriving to the country, the Kings paid a visit to one of the Seven Wonders of the World, the Taj Mahal. De’Aaron mentioned that seeing the famous Marble Mausoleum was one of the things her was most looking forward to about the trip.

“I think being [at the Taj Mahal] in person, it’s simply amazing. I know it means the world to Vivek [Ranadive]. For him to bring his organization here, I know he’s definitely having a blast.”

After a busy few days, the guys took a much needed day of rest ahead of their first game on Friday morning. Aside from relaxing and playing foosball with one another at the Four Seasons Hotel in Mumbai, they also enjoyed some additional sightseeing as a group.

“You know how we talk about Southern hospitality? It’s different over here. The hospitality that they show is simply amazing, and people from the streets to the hotel — I mean everybody — everybody’s going to say hello.”

Oct. 4 – “Making Basketball History”

On Friday morning, it was finally time for India’s first ever NBA match-up to take place. Though the squad fell one point short of a victory in an exhilarating game against the Pacers, Fox shared, “The atmosphere was great…I think both teams had a hell of a performance.”

Despite the loss, the guys are still eager to celebrate their historic game at a Bollywood-themed party thrown by Kings Chairman and Governor Vivek Ranadive. Above all else, No. 5. seems to be most excited to rock his new traditional Indian party attire.

“The pants fit crazy good, so I might buy more of them,” he said. Fox admitted that jet lag caused him to sleep through the NBA Welcome party on Thursday night, but he has no plans to miss this party. “I can’t miss the thing tonight, because I want to wear the suit.”

The following day, the team geared up to play their second and final NBA India game against the Pacers. Indiana went home with the win, but De’Aaron used the loss as a learning opportunity.

“We gave up way too many uncontested layups, way too many uncontested 3’s, so that’s what we pulled away from these first two games,” he reflected.

On the subject of takeaways, the National Sports Club of India’s crowd’s love for Swipa was made especially apparent during this particular game. Fox remarked, “I heard fans chanting, ‘MVP,’ MVP,’ when I was shooting free throws. I appreciate the chants, but I got a lot of work to do to get there.”

And the love was mutual, according to De’Aaron. Fox said goodbye to Mumbai with a special message to those same fans, reminding us all that experiences like these are bigger than basketball.

“Thank you,” he gushed. “I just hope that they enjoyed this and we left them with a great first impression. For those of you that probably never touched a basketball before, especially for the kids, I hope we were able to make it fun enough so that they’d want to play it themselves.”

To read the full diary entries on The Undefeated: Click here.

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De’Aaron Pens Daily Diary from India

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All Things Kings - Nov. 16, 2017

Kyle Ramos

Whether he’s carving up defenses on the hardwood or in front of a camera effortlessly stealing the spotlight, people take notice of De’Aaron Fox.

Fox's magnetic charm has drawn people in as he has continued to advance throughout his basketball career - from five-star high school recruit to breakout college star to now, point guard for the Sacramento Kings.

“When the lights are bright, I love it,” said Fox upon being introduced among his fellow rookies during a press conference at Golden 1 Center.

That much was clear in the way De’Aaron carried himself since he’s been under media attention. The ease of his interactions, ability to navigate conversations ranging from Dragon Ball Z to on-court Xs and Os are likely to have many second-guessing the fact that he’s just 19-years-old.

His laid-back and tranquil personality often shines, but don’t be fooled – he's always one of the most fiery competitors on the court.

The competitiveness stems from the guard’s childhood, where at just four years old, his family left New Orleans to move just outside of Houston, Texas. With Fox’s parents both being former college athletes with tireless work ethics, it’s no doubt that more than just athletic genes were handed down to help form the Lottery selection into the player that he is today.

“The work schedule my Mom had just made me want to work harder,”said Fox to SLAM Magazine.

Fox detailed his mother working the graveyard shifts at work, sometimes logging dozen hour shifts or laboring through the entire night.

“[I’m] just trying to work hard, so she doesn’t have to do that anymore,” Fox continued.

As his skills advanced and people began to take notice, De’Aaron’s father Aaron offered up advice when faced with the potential of his son transferring to a private high school, similar to many other top basketball prospects in history.

“Like I told him - blaze your own path. You don’t have to follow nobody else,” said Aaron Fox.

Blaze would be an appropriate term for De’Aaron’s path, as he quickly rose to become one of the top high school players in the nation with his fiery competitiveness and unmatched speed. With 50-point contests, offensive showcases and jaw-dropping athleticism on display throughout his high school career, Fox worked his way into Lexington as he enrolled at the University of Kentucky.

Led by storied collegiate head coach John Calipari, the Wildcats’ newest recruit had done enough to earn the attention and praise of the longtime sideline caller.

“The heart, you can’t fake that,” said Calipari. “This kid is more than just about himself. He wants other people to feel good. He wants to use his position to help others. This is the kind of guy you want running your team.”

“You want to be about relationships and you want to be about the people, you can’t fake that. It’s gotta be who you are and it’s gotta be in your DNA - and it’s in his.”

Headlining the newest rookies to be selected by Sacramento, De’Aaron hopes to be an instrumental piece to the young core of the Kings.

“The difference between good players and great players - people say work, but - even good players work hard. Great players just kind of have a different mentality,” said Fox. “The way that they put in the work. What they’re thinking about, even when they are not playing. There’s a lot of good players out there. There’s people that are good that don’t even try. Being great - it’s just different.”