With so much young talent in the NBA, many pundits wonder who the next superstar will be. From scoring star Anthony Edwards to all-around forward Paolo Banchero, the options vary.
After this week, it seems like Sacramento Kings point guard De’Aaron Fox is ready to enter the conversation.
On Friday, Fox scored a career-high 60 points during an overtime loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves. A day later, he followed it up with a 49-point performance against the Utah Jazz. With those two games, Fox joined DeMarcus Cousins as the only Kings player to record 100 points or more in a two-game span. He also joined Kobe Bryant and Wilt Chamberlain as the only players to score at least 109 points in two days.
His scoring outburst was a long time coming
Although Fox always had this talent, he still had to conquer a long journey that dates back to his early years.
Following an impressive year at the University of Kentucky, Fox entered the 2017 NBA draft where he was selected fifth by the Kings. Despite not earning any rookie-related awards, Fox had a decent beginning. In the 73 games he played, he averaged 11.6 points and 4.4 assists.
During the 2018-19 season, he played 81 games while averaging 17.3 points and a career-high 7.3 assists. He had three games with 30-plus points, but his best performance came near the beginning of the season. On Nov. 1, Fox recorded 31 points, 10 rebounds, and 15 assists against the Atlanta Hawks. Not only was it his first and only triple-double, but it made him the only player after LeBron James to have a triple-double before the age of 21.
Fox’s started getting the recognition he deserved
The 2020-21 season was huge for Fox, as he officially became the Kings’ franchise player.
Before the season began, he signed a five-year contract extension worth $163 million. It’s safe to say he held up his end of the bargain, as he averaged 25.2 points and 7.2 assists that year.
Two years later, the point guard has had moments we may never forget. In the 2022-23 campaign, he logged 25.0 points and 6.1 assists per contest. He earned his first All-Star selection while being named to the All-NBA Third Team. He also won the inaugural Clutch Player of the Year award, beating out Jimmy Butler and now teammate DeMar DeRozan.
Along with the help from center Domantas Sabonis, he led Sacramento to the playoffs for the first time since 2006. Though they lost in the first round to the Golden State Warriors, Fox scored an average of 27.4 points.
With Fox’s contract coming to an end in 2026, he is currently eligible for an extension. If he continues to showcase the excellence he’s shown so far, Monte McNair and the Kings’ front office could offer Fox a huge payout.
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