Fox explains why he didn’t sign a new Kings deal and reveals what it took to do it originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Earlier this week, it was reported that De’Aaron Fox had turned down a three-year contract extension from Kings to pursue a more lucrative deal in the next NBA season.
But there are other reasons besides money why the Star Point Guard is playing the waiting game.
It’s about winning.
“First of all, I’m not in a rush,” Fox told The Athletic’s Sam Amick and Anthony Slater. “For two, I want to be sure where we are because people have seen the competition – for example, the turnover of a team can happen in a month, two or six months. I mean, if we were fighting for a championship, [it might be different]. Like, of course, [the Boston Celtics’] Jayson [Tatum] just won a championship or [the Miami Heat’s] Bam [Adebayo]who has been to the finals twice.
‘I only use people from my class [who have signed extensions]. They’ve already been through that a bit, done that. So yes, they have that certainty [having done] That. For me, we will of course continue to build.”
After being drafted by Sacramento No. 5 overall in the 2017 NBA Draft, Fox endured five straight seasons of losing and instability.
That changed during the 2022-23 season when the Kings hired Mike Brown as coach, drafted Keegan Murray, added key players like Kevin Huerter and Malik Monk and paired Fox and Domantas Sabonis for a full season.
A 16-season playoff drought was ended and history was made. But that success could not be sustained during the 2023-2024 season, and despite eliminating the Golden State Warriors in the first Play-In game, the New Orleans Pelicans snatched away their hopes of consecutive playoff appearances.
The goal now is not to reach the play-offs, but to win once they get there. Sustainable long-term success.
“I would love to be here my whole career, be on one team, be in one city, my whole career,” Fox told Amick and Slater. “It’s not unheard of, but it doesn’t happen often, so to be in that category would certainly be great. That’s a great thing. You can obviously build your life, your family, your whole career all at once. That’s the dream from everyone. No one wants to just bounce around teams.
But I want to make sure we’re in that position to compete at a high level for a long time and not just fight for a playoff spot. It is clear that we must continue the way the West is doing. to get better as players and as a team, as an organization. And I mean, I’m not saying I’m not staying or I’m staying. But I would like to be here, and I want to make sure we compete at a high level.”
Fox is coming off the best statistical season of his career and is making noticeable strides on the defensive end of the floor.
But he has never been a player who values personal accolades as much as team success. The Kings followed a frustrating trend last season as they defeated playoff-contending teams but collapsed against lottery-bound teams. It made all the difference that they finished No. 9 in the Western Conference instead of No. 6.
Sacramento’s acquisition of six-time NBA All-Star DeMar DeRozan should help solve that problem, and the team knows it.
“I feel like the next two years are big,” Sabonis told Amick and Slater. “We all know we are good. My biggest thing last year was our mentality. Beat the top teams and lost to the lower seeds the next day. [That] put us in a Play-In situation. Now that DeMar is here, he’s a vet, and he’s not going to let it happen. He’s going to call the boys.”
With the Kings entering the 2024-2025 NBA season with a new look and new goals, there is also new incentive to keep their star point guard long-term.
And next week it all starts.
“We don’t want our peak season to be two years ago and just make the playoffs,” Fox told Amick and Slater. “We want to build on that and just keep trying to change this culture. I think it’s already changed, but you want to build a championship culture, and you have to be able to do those things before you even get to the top. … I definitely feel like we have the talent for that.” [contend]. But now it’s: ‘Can we execute that plan?’
Download and follow the Deuce & Mo Podcast
