The player most used by Mitch Johnson against the Thunder, De’Aaron Fox accumulated 22 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists on 8 of 15 shots. A very clean match with only one lost ball against the best defense in the NBA, and the former Kings leader explains that he has never been so effective in his entire career. He doesn’t need to overdo it or force it.
“I’m the same player I was for the last five or six years” he assures. “But I think people see it more now, and playing with someone like Vic… I’m having the most effective season of my career. It’s not like I suddenly improved last year. But the players around me — Dylan, Steph, Vic — make the game easier. And I think that’s why I’m being so effective this season and winning games.”
Less insulation
In the figures, this is confirmed and Fox displays increasing stats compared to his career averages with 24 points, 6.3 assists, 3.8 rebounds at 48.6% on shots, 39% on 3-pointers and 84% on free throws. Unlike what he did with the Kings, he’s done playing “hero ball”.
“As we all know, I’m capable of stringing together some completely crazy series, 20-0 runs on my own. But we have a team capable of withstanding the series of other teams, and I think that’s why we are in the position we are in today” he analyzes. “For me, it’s about continuing to choose my moments well, playing with others. Playing with all these guys — Dylan, Steph, Vic — also makes my game a lot easier. I’ve never been more effective in my entire career. They are what make the game much easier for me. Obviously, there are times when I have to create my shot on my own, and we all know that I am perfectly capable of it. But being able to play with support from them makes the game a little easier.”
No need to dribble across the entire court
Tonight was the first time that the Spurs were at full strength, and they even allowed themselves to start Wemby as 6th man. For Fox, the room for improvement is huge, and what changes is that he can release the ball much faster with attackers like Harper, Wembanyama and Castle alongside him.
“Personally, we talk about playing fast without rushing. If I get the ball on a throw-in and one of these two guys is in front of me, yes I’m fast, but if I can send the ball forward, in 99% of cases I will do it” he confirms. “And knowing that now, when they catch the ball, there are maybe two or three defenders in front of them instead of five, or that instead of having ten eyes on them, there are fewer, it makes the game easier for them and for me. Because from there, they attack the paint, we get 3-point shots off the pass, or lay-ups, dunks, alley-oops… that completely opens up the game.”
