Stat of the Week: De’Aaron Fox Has Played His Way Into Strong Company

Since the beginning of the 2020-21 season, Sacramento Kings guard De’Aaron Fox has proven that he possesses the ability to become an All-Star in the very near future.

Over Fox’s past two seasons (117 games), the 24-year-old is averaging 24.2 points, 3.7 rebounds, 6.4 assists, and 1.3 steals per game on 47 percent shooting from the field and 31 percent shooting from beyond the three-point arc.

Although Fox hasn’t been named to an All-Star team during his five-year career, the speedy guard is playing his way into the discussion by placing himself among some impressive names in the NBA landscape.

Fox has scored 30 or more points and dished out five or more assists in a single game on 28 occasions since the opening night of the 2020-21 season. Only eight other players have done so more in that period, and there are likely some names that you will recognize on this list:

Since the beginning of the 2020-21 season, De'Aaron Fox has posted 30+ PTS & 5+ AST in a game 28 times.

Only 8 players have done so more during that timespan:

Trae Young
Luka Doncic
Nikola Jokic
Steph Curry
Damian Lillard
LeBron James
Giannis Antetokounmpo
Donovan Mitchell

🦊

— Frankie Cartoscelli (@FCartoscelli3) August 23, 2022

Fox’s numbers align with some of the best players in the league, but of course, winning is what sets these players aside from the Kings’ franchise guard.

If Fox wants to receive the respect and recognition that the players on this list get around the basketball landscape, the young guard will have to will his team to a successful season for the first time in nearly two decades. With two-time All-Star center Domantas Sabonis in the fold for a full season and noted perimeter threats Malik Monk and Kevin Huerter on the roster, Fox has the tools around him to lead this team on a run in 2022-23.

Following Sacramento’s stunning February trade that sent second-year guard Tyrese Haliburton to the Indiana Pacers in return for Sabonis, Fox went on a tear during his final 16 appearances of the regular season:

• 16 games
• 28.9 PTS
• 4.3 REB
• 6.8 AST
• 1.0 STL
• 50% FG
• 38% 3PT
• 38.5 MIN

If Fox and Sabonis can stay on the floor for a majority of Sacramento’s 82 games this season, you have to feel good about the idea of this team making a push for the Western Conference Play-In. It all starts in a little less than a month from now when players and coaches will report to Golden 1 Center for training camp.

We’re almost there, Kings fans.

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