The clumsiness at 3-points is one of the common threads of the start of the season for the Kings. And of De'Aaron Fox who saw his success percentage increase from 36.9% last year – his career high – compared to 28.2% before tonight's game against the Suns.
Facing Phoenix, against whom he finished 0/6 behind the arc during a first clash earlier in the week, the Kings leader decided to return to his fundamentals. Namely, focus on your speed in your circle attacks.
The effect was devastating for the Suns defense. Starting with Tyus Jones too often overwhelmed by the accelerations of the left-hander opposite. At the break, De'Aaron Fox had 14 points on the clock with only one missed shot heading into halftime.
He kept this playing philosophy afterwards by continuing to attack his defender. And when he wasn't able to convert himself, his popped balls delighted shooters like Kevin Huerter. De'Aaron Fox still allowed himself to convert his second try behind the arc in the fourth quarter on a fixation from Keegan Murray.
Finally the 3-point address
“ The emphasis was on getting into the paint. I took a 3-point shot off the dribble, another in a catch-and-shoot. But apart from that, I tried to go in the racket. Any time we're able to do that and get open shots, we're a better shooting team. This is why we placed emphasis on this point “, reports the leader after the meeting.
An adjustment that paid off because the Kings signed their best 3-point night of the year. Among the worst teams in the league in the exercise, the Californians had not yet finished a meeting with more than 50% success this season. Last night, they finished 15/28 at 3-points and De'Aaron Fox, author of 29 points (11/17 including 1/2 from distance), 10 assists and 6 rebounds, has a lot to do with this good ratio.
“ Luke (Loucks, the wizard), told me about it and I'm just trying to be able to apply it. Making my teammates have open shots, getting to the free throw line, whatever needs to be done », Said the 26-year-old player who notably redoubled his passes towards Domantas Sabonis on a sequence so that the latter, very open, decided to send behind the arc.
“ This is what we expect from Fox. He's the fastest guy in the league. He's the best finishing guard in the league, but our spacing has to be good, and it was pretty good tonight. It's up to us to make that happen, and then it's up to him to make sure he stays aggressive, that he goes into the paint where he's formidable. », recalls Mike Brown.
With nearly 12 points on average scored in the paint, he is the most productive guard in the league in this area, behind Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
| 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 | 2.8 | 0.4 | 23.2 |
| 2022-23 | BAG | 73 | 33 | 51.2 | 32.4 | 78.0 | 0.5 | 3.6 | 4.2 | 6.1 | 2.4 | 1.1 | 2.5 | 0.3 | 25.0 |
| 2023-24 | BAG | 74 | 36 | 46.5 | 36.9 | 73.8 | 0.9 | 3.7 | 4.6 | 5.6 | 2.6 | 2.0 | 2.6 | 0.4 | 26.6 |
| 2024-25 | BAG | 11 | 37 | 47.3 | 28.2 | 87.7 | 1.0 | 4.3 | 5.3 | 4.7 | 2.9 | 1.6 | 3.5 | 0.0 | 24.2 |
| Total | 480 | 33 | 47.1 | 33.2 | 73.9 | 0.6 | 3.2 | 3.8 | 6.1 | 2.6 | 1.4 | 2.7 | 0.4 | 21.3 | |
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.
