After eight years in Sacramento, De’Aaron Fox traded his franchise-cornerstone status for a crucial veteran role in San Antonio, fueling a championship pursuit alongside superstar Victor Wembanyama.
De'Aaron Fox spent nearly eight years trying to win with the Sacramento Kings and made the playoffs once; one full season with the San Antonio Spurs, and he's headed to the NBA Finals.
Fox isn't the star of the show, like he was in Sacramento, but the nine-year veteran has become a crucial part of San Antonio's postseason run. He is averaging 16.4 points, four rebounds and 5.9 assists across 16 playoff games.
The grass was greener on the other side for Fox, but he doesn't regret his tenure with the Kings. He spent nearly eight seasons with the organization and helped break a 16-year playoff drought in 2022.
"I wouldn't change anything that happened in my career," Fox said after the Spurs' Game 7 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder. "I wouldn't change anything. I love being in (Sacramento). Obviously, I was there for almost eight years. I had fun while I was there. I wanted to win. Now I'm here."
Sacramento traded its franchise cornerstone to San Antonio in a three-team trade on Feb. 2, 2024. Fox returned to Texas, where he played high school basketball at Cypress Lakes.
While he was the No. 1 option with the Kings, it became a different story with the Spurs. Victor Wembanyama is the team's superstar, and Fox has to share the ball with young guards, like Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper.
However, that change in dynamic didn't affect him. Fox said all he cares about is winning a championship, meaning he gladly accepted a lesser role if it led to winning, and it did.
"When people talked about, you know, when I got here, you know, me taking a lesser role, this and that, I'll do whatever it takes to win," Fox said. "Absolutely. That's all I cared about was trying to win a championship."
Fox missed Games 1 and 2 of the Western Conference Finals against Oklahoma City. The Spurs missed the 28-year-old's stable on-ball presence, as Castle struggled with ball security.
In the time he missed, Fox observed the coverage the Thunder employed throughout the series. His two-game analysis paid dividends, as Fox said he felt like he didn't have to do much when he returned.
Fox averaged 11.2 points in the series, but San Antonio needed his veteran presence on the court. He minimized turnovers, barring four in his Game 3 return, and averaged 6.2 assists.
When the Spurs needed a timely shot, Fox made them. Game 7 was the best display of his experience, benefiting the Spurs.
He scored 15 points, dished out five assists and recorded three steals. Fox extended San Antonio's lead whenever Oklahoma City cut into the deficit.
Now, he's heading to his first NBA finals despite not leading the show. A change of scenery led to Fox's most accomplished postseason, but he looks back on his time in Sacramento fondly.
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