A couple of days earlier than the 2025 NBA commerce deadline, the Sacramento Kings despatched long-time level guard De’Aaron Fox to the San Antonio Spurs in a blockbuster three-team deal with the Chicago Bulls that introduced again Zach LaVine. On Friday, Fox performed in Sacramento for the primary time since becoming a member of the Spurs.
Forward of that contest, Fox made some explosive feedback concerning the commerce in an interview with ESPN. Fox mentioned that he “actually did” need to play for the Kings for his whole profession, however that each one modified when the workforce determined to fireplace coach Mike Brown simply after Christmas.
“I used to be like, ‘Yo, I have been right here for happening my eighth 12 months. If Mike will get fired, I will be happening my fifth coach,'” mentioned Fox, who scored a team-high 16 factors however shot 0-for-6 from 3-point vary within the Kings’ 127-109 win. “And I advised them, ‘I am not going to play for one more coach. I will play for one more workforce.'”
Fox, who was drafted No. 5 general within the 2017 draft, had performed for Dave Joerger, Luke Walton, Alvin Gentry and Brown throughout his seven-plus seasons with the Kings. Whereas Fox helped the workforce finish its prolonged playoff drought throughout the 2023 season, his tenure with the membership was affected by dysfunction and mismanagement.
In the end, it was not shocking that Fox wished a change of surroundings, particularly contemplating that he wished Brown to stay as coach and did not respect how the group dealt with the teaching change.
“You hearth the coach, and you do not do an interview?” Fox mentioned. “So, all of the blame was on me. Did it weigh on me? No. I do not give a f—. However the reality y’all are presupposed to be defending your participant and y’all let that occur. … I felt on the time the group did not have my again.”
As soon as Fox determined that he wished a commerce, he advised the Kings that the Spurs have been his most well-liked touchdown spot. In his dialog with ESPN, he pushed again towards the concept that he had an inventory of locations and defined why he wished to manage his future.
“There was no f—ing record,” Fox mentioned. “There was one workforce. I wished to go to San Antonio. So, lots of people are mad at me, saying I handcuffed the workforce by giving them a vacation spot. Nicely, that is my profession. If anyone else is in my place, you’d do the identical factor. It is not my job to assist construct your workforce. I am not about to simply go the place they need me to go. I wished to have a vacation spot.”
Whereas the Spurs are usually not pretty much as good on the court docket because the Kings this season, that’s anticipated to alter within the coming years, assuming that Victor Wembanyama is ready to make a full restoration from his deep vein thrombosis. From an organizational standpoint, the Spurs have been way more steady than the Kings, although Gregg Popovich’s well being state of affairs after his stroke does elevate some questions.
Even with the Spurs’ well being considerations, it is simple to see why Fox wished to return to Texas, the place he performed highschool basketball.
The character of Fox’s interview is basically the one shock with this complete state of affairs. Gamers normally aren’t this candid about what occurred behind the scenes or how they really feel. No matter anybody would possibly take into consideration how Fox dealt with his exit from Sacramento, you definitely know the place he stands.
