Report: De’Aaron Fox interested in return to USA basketball
Sep 11, 2023, 10:58 AM | Updated: 11:03 am
(Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
(Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
On the heels of the United State’s disappointing showing at the 2023 FIBA World Cup, several household names from around the NBA are reportedly looking to form a super team for the 2024 Olympics.
After the USA men’s team dropped Sunday morning’s Bronze Medal game to Canada, The Athletic‘s Shams Charania reported that two-time Olympic gold medalist and all-time NBA leading scorer LeBron James is ready to commit to Team USA for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France.
According to Charania’s report, James–who will be seeking his third gold medal and fourth medal overall during his four trips to the Olympics– is already recruiting star players for next summer’s action, including Sacramento Kings guard De’Aaron Fox.
Sources: LeBron James wants to represent Team USA at 2024 Paris Olympics and is spearheading group of future Hall of Famers – including Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant – prepared to commit.
Full details with @joevardon at @TheAthletic: https://t.co/r2XGO3E2TO
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) September 11, 2023
James has spoken to Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Anthony Davis, Jayson Tatum, and Draymond Green, and they are all prepared to commit as well.
Separately, Phoenix’s Devin Booker, Portland’s Damian Lillard, Sacramento’s De’Aaron Fox and Dallas’ Kyrie Irving also have serious interest in committing, league sources said.
The news of James, Durant, Curry, and others joining forces for a redemption run wouldn’t be too surprising considering all of the ongoing criticism of USA basketball, but Fox’s interest does raise some eyebrows.
Whether or not Fox, an All-Star and All-NBA guard coming off of a career year in 2022-23, deserves a spot on the 2024 Olympic team is a whole different discussion. Fox’s play style and athleticism would make him an ideal fit for an older USA roster that could reportedly include the likes of James, Curry, Durant, Green, and Lillard.
Looking back at De’Aaron Fox’s Past with USA Basketball
Fox’s speedy, high-scoring style could make him an ideal candidate for the backup point guard spot, but it’s the guard’s reported interest in donning the red, white, and blue that comes as a surprise following the guard’s withdrawal from consideration for the 2019 FIBA World Cup roster.
After being named to the USA Select Team in 2019, Fox was called up to the main roster as several players dropped out due to injury or personal reasons.
Fox withdrew from the team as USA prepared to open up its tune-up slate of games in Mumbai, India, citing that he was preparing for the upcoming season.
“That’s for me to know,” Fox told TMZ Sports when asked why he left the team in August 2019.
(Getty Images)
Upon his sudden departure from consideration for the 2019 FIBA World Cup roster, NBA insider Marc Stein reported that USA basketball officials were left “stunned” by Fox’s departure.
Although Fox’s exit might have ruffled some feathers at the time, USA Basketball communications director Craig Miller told The Sacramento Bee that he understood Fox’s decision to withdraw.
“Given De’Aaron was added into consideration for the World Cup team after originally being part of the USA Select Team in Las Vegas, USA Basketball understands De’Aaron’s decision,” Miller said in 2019.
After finishing seventh in 2019 and fourth in 2023 in FIBA World Cup play, the USA needs to make a statement during the 2024 Olympics.
As Fox’s career ascends to superstardom, the speedy guard appears to be preparing to return to USA Basketball as James begins his recruiting process for the future Hall of Fame forward’s final Olympics run.
Could Fox set aside his prior differences with USA Basketball and become the first Sacramento Kings player to bring home a Gold Medal since DeMarcus Cousins won the gold in 2016?
More on Sacramento Kings guard De’Aaron Fox
De’Aaron Fox, the first-ever Clutch Player of the Year winner, ended the 2022-23 season as the NBA’s leader in clutch points (194), field goals made (72), field goal percentage (53%), paint points (88), and usage rate (43%).
Scoring in the fourth was seemingly effortless for Fox, who finished just four points shy of Kyrie Irving (551) for the most points scored in the fourth quarter this season.
Fox–who was also a first-time All-Star in 2022-23–finished the season with averages of 25.0 points, 4.2 rebounds (career-high), 6.1 assists, and 1.1 steals per game while shooting 51 percent from the field and 32 percent from three-point range.
Fox put on a show in his postseason debut during Game 1 back on April 15th, scoring 38 points on 13-of-27 shooting and four-of-eight from three-point range during a 126-123 win at Golden 1 Center.
The 38-point performance was the second-highest scoring playoff debut in NBA history, only trailing Luka Doncic’s 42-point debut back in 2020.
During the seven-game series with Golden State, Fox averaged 27.4 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 7.7 assists per game while shooting 42 percent from the field and 33 percent from beyond the three-point line.
Sacramento Kings 2023-24 Preseason Schedule
- Sunday, October 8th – Sacramento Kings @ Toronto Raptors – 5 PM PST (Preseason Opener)
- Wednesday, October 11th – Sacramento Kings @ Los Angeles Lakers – 7 PM PST (in Anaheim, CA)
- Sunday, October 15th – Sacramento Kings vs. Golden State Warriors – 7 PM PST
- Wednesday, October 18th – Sacramento Kings @ Golden State Warriors – 7 PM PST
- Thursday, October 19th – Sacramento Kings vs. Utah Jazz – 7 PM PST
Sacramento Kings 2023-24 Regular Season Schedule
- Tuesday, October 24th – NBA regular season begins
- Wednesday, October 25th – Sacramento Kings @ Utah Jazz – 6 PM (Season Opener)
- Friday, October 27th – Sacramento Kings vs. Golden State Warriors – 7 PM (Home Opener)
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