Building on the momentum of their last season, the Kings have taken the right train in the Western Conference at the start of the 2023/24 financial year after a new prestigious success last night against Golden State, including a De’Aaron Fox who plays like a potential MVP.
After having greatly contributed to putting Sacramento back at the top of the table in its conference, the Californian “franchise player” wants to pursue new challenges, and the most glorious of them would be to bring back a title to the city of Sacramento, which has never yet experienced the intoxication of the coronation (the franchise’s only title, in 1951, dates from the time when the Royals/Kings played in Rochester, in the state of New York).
“After being All-Star, All-NBA, I’m expected to play at a certain level. I wouldn’t say it’s added pressure. I like going into the field. I like to play. I like having the best opposing defender on me. I want to be the best player on the field every night. But in the end, we want to win titles. I won’t be able to play basketball forever and I want to be able to bring a ring to town.”confides De’Aaron Fox in an interview given to Andscape.
The planets are finally aligned
The leader also appreciates finally being able to benefit from a group that matches his ambitions, he who waited six years before playing his first series of playoffs. Building on their third place acquired last season and with a group that has changed little, the Kings have more than ever the weapons to compete with the competition.
“I always wanted to win a title. But would that have been realistic at the time? No, it wouldn’t have been. But I think that when we play at our best, both offensively and defensively, we can compete with anyone.”he added.
For him, Sacramento has all the cards in hand to be able to execute its plan. Everyone has their role, and if everyone manages to honor it, De’Aaron Fox sees no limit to this team.
“We can shoot, we have guys who can score in the paint, we can produce offense from nothing, we lead the league in assists and we have players who, they must play in isolation, can go for a basket. And any time you need a basket, you need guys like that. Obviously, we don’t want to play like that all the time. But when it gets to that point, you have to have guys who can get you a basket. We have this. And throughout a game, when the ball is moving and guys are putting their shots, we become difficult to stop.”
And the MVP title?
Among the most complete players in the league statistically, the Kings leader also knows that a good season for Sacramento could allow him to gain points in the race for the MVP. In any case, there is no longer any question of hiding from this ambition which has now become legitimate.
“I want to continue playing at a high level. If I win it, that’s cool. If I don’t win it, it doesn’t matter. I never said to myself, ‘I want to win MVP,’ but I feel like it’s a real possibility. But I have to play at the highest level more often than at a good level. I want to be a great player in this league.”
| De’Aaron Fox | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2017-18 | BAG | 73 | 28 | 41.2 | 30.7 | 72.3 | 0.5 | 2.3 | 2.8 | 4.4 | 2.2 | 1.0 | 2.4 | 0.3 | 11.6 |
| 2018-19 | BAG | 81 | 31 | 45.8 | 37.1 | 72.7 | 0.5 | 3.2 | 3.8 | 7.3 | 2.5 | 1.6 | 2.8 | 0.6 | 17.3 |
| 2019-20 | BAG | 51 | 32 | 48.0 | 29.2 | 70.5 | 0.7 | 3.2 | 3.8 | 6.8 | 2.8 | 1.5 | 3.1 | 0.5 | 21.1 |
| 2020-21 | BAG | 58 | 35 | 47.7 | 32.2 | 71.9 | 0.6 | 2.9 | 3.5 | 7.2 | 2.9 | 1.5 | 3.0 | 0.5 | 25.2 |
| 2021-22 | BAG | 59 | 35 | 47.3 | 29.7 | 75.0 | 0.4 | 3.5 | 3.9 | 5.6 | 2.9 | 1.2 | 2.9 | 0.4 | 23.2 |
| 2022-23 | BAG | 73 | 33 | 51.2 | 32.4 | 78.0 | 0.6 | 3.6 | 4.2 | 6.1 | 2.4 | 1.1 | 2.5 | 0.3 | 25.0 |
| 2023-24 | BAG | 10 | 36 | 48.0 | 37.2 | 75.7 | 1.0 | 3.3 | 4.3 | 6.0 | 2.9 | 1.6 | 1.9 | 0.3 | 29.9 |
| Total | 405 | 32 | 47.3 | 32.3 | 73.7 | 0.5 | 3.1 | 3.7 | 6.2 | 2.6 | 1.3 | 2.7 | 0.4 | 20.4 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
