De’Aaron Fox named Western Conference Player of the Week

Nov 18, 2024, 12:31 PM | Updated: 12:35 pm

SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 15: De'Aaron Fox #5 of the Sacramento Kings drives to the basket ...

De'Aaron Fox #5 of the Sacramento Kings drives to the basket against Jaden McDaniels #3 of the Minnesota Timberwolves in the fourth quarter during the Emirates NBA Cup game at Golden 1 Center on November 15, 2024 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)

(Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)

BY BRENDEN NUNES

Sactown Sports writer

The Sacramento Kings played five games last week, with Malik Monk, DeMar DeRozan, and Domantas Sabonis unavailable for varying times during that stretch. Recognizing the moment, De’Aaron Fox stepped up, earning his first Western Conference Player of the Week award in the 2024-25 season.

Fox and the Kings were 2-2 in those four games, which included two back-to-back showings. Fox averaged 40.5 points, 7.3 assists, 4.5 rebounds, and two steals on 57.4 percent from the field, 57.1 percent from three, and 81 percent from the free throw line on 10.5 attempts per game.

Fox has now earned Western Conference Player of the Week honors six times in his career, passing DeMarcus Cousins (5) for the second-most Player of the Week awards in franchise history. He led the league in several categories over the past week, including points per game, total points (162), field goals made (58), free throws made (34), total clutch points (21) and clutch field goals made (7).

Sacramento Kings PR (11/18/24)

Coming into the week, his career-high was 44 points, a figure he managed to reach on multiple occasions. He blew that out of the water on Friday against the Minnesota Timberwolves, scoring 60 points and seven assists in an unfortunate overtime loss. Less than 24 hours later, he recorded 49 points and nine assists in a close win over the Utah Jazz.

Sacramento Kings guard De’Aaron Fox and Orlando Magic forward Franz Wagner have been named the NBA Western and Eastern Conference Players of the Week, respectively, for Week 4 of the 2024-25 season (Nov. 11-17). pic.twitter.com/LIkrlSth9Q

— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) November 18, 2024

Victor Wembanyama (37.3 points per game), Nikola Jokic (37.0 ppg), and Giannis Antetokounmpo (36.8 ppg) were the only ones to average more points per game than Fox during the week. That’s two MVPs and a 20-year-old former first-rounder projected to win (at least) one at some point in his career. I’d say that’s some pretty good company.

From here, it’s about maintaining consistency. Sacramento head coach Mike Brown said he thinks De’Aaron Fox is “entering his prime.” With the future status of DeRozan, Sabonis, and Monk remaining in question, the Kings need Fox to remain consistent.

It’s unreasonable to expect him to replicate the 60 or 49-point performance, but 30+ may be necessary. That career high came against Jaden McDaniels and Rudy Gobert. Now, Atlanta’s Dyson Daniels is expected to draw the task of slowing down the reigning Western Conference Player of the Week Monday night in Golden 1 Center.

When will De’Aaron Fox be back in action?

Sacramento will conclude a four-game homestand on Monday night when they face the Atlanta Hawks at Golden 1 Center.

On November 1st, the Kings defeated Atlanta by a final of 123-115 at State Farm Arena behind 31 points from De’Aaron Fox and 27 points from DeMar DeRozan.

Be sure to catch all of the Kings vs. Hawks action right here on Sactown Sports 1140 AM, with pregame coverage starting at 2:00 PM PT on The Drive Guys before action tips off at 7:00 PM PT from downtown Sacramento.

YouTube video