 Fox in 2024 | |
| No. 4 – San Antonio Spurs | |
|---|---|
| Position | Point guard |
| League | NBA |
| Personal information | |
| Born | (1997-12-20)December 20, 1997 (age 27) New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. |
| Listed height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) |
| Listed weight | 185 lb (84 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | Cypress Lakes(Katy, Texas) |
| College | Kentucky (2016–2017) |
| NBA draft | 2017: 1st round, 5th overall pick |
| Drafted by | Sacramento Kings |
| Playing career | 2017–present |
| Career history | |
| 2017–2025 | Sacramento Kings |
| 2025–present | San Antonio Spurs |
| Career highlights | |
| |
Stats at NBA.com  | |
| Stats atBasketball Reference | |
De'Aaron Martez Fox (born December 20, 1997), nicknamed "Swipa", is an American professionalbasketball player for theSan Antonio Spurs of theNational Basketball Association (NBA). He playedcollege basketball for theKentucky Wildcats before being selected fifth overall by theSacramento Kings in the2017 NBA draft. Fox had a breakout season in2023, as he was selected to his firstAll-Star Game,All-NBA Team and was namedNBA Clutch Player of the Year, leading the Kings to their first postseason berth since2006. He alsoled the league in steals in 2024.
Fox attendedCypress Lakes High School inKaty, Texas.[1] As a junior, he averaged 23.8 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game. During the summer, Fox played for Houston Hoops in theNike Elite Youth Basketball League Circuit (EYBL) where he earned EYBL first-team honors.[2] On November 29, Fox scored 31 points, 12 rebounds, and 6 assists in a 68–53 victory overMacArthur.[3] On December 28, Fox put up 31 points and 6 assists in a 91–81 victory againstJay M. Robinson High School.[4] As a senior, Fox averaged 32.1 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game.[5] In January 2016, Fox was named aMcDonald's All-American and played in the2016 McDonald's All-American Game on March 30. In April, Fox played in the 2016Jordan Brand Classic, leading the East team to a 131–117 win while earning Co-MVP honors alongside Kentucky teammateMalik Monk.[6] Fox then competed at theNike Hoop Summit Games. He made the 2015–16 USA Men's Basketball Men's Junior Team in September 2015.[7] He was also invited to the NBPA Top 100 camp. Throughout his high school career, Fox led Cypress Lakes to three state playoff appearances including a regional final appearance his senior year, and twice scored 50 points in a single game.
In the class of 2016, Fox was the nation's second-best point guard behindLonzo Ball. He was rated as a five-star recruit and ranked the consensus No. 6 overall recruit by the three main recruiting services:Rivals,ESPN, and247Sports.[8][9][10]
He committed to Kentucky overKansas,Louisville, Arizona, andLSU on November 12, 2015, live onESPNU. With his reason to choose UK he stated "It felt like a family[11] (at UK)".[12]
| Name | Hometown | School | Height | Weight | Commit date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| De'Aaron Fox PG | Katy, Texas | Cypress Lakes (TX) | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 160 lb (73 kg) | Nov 12, 2015 | |
Recruit ratings:Scout:  Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: (96) | ||||||
| Overall recruit ranking: Scout: 6 Rivals: 6 247Sports: 6 ESPN: 6 | ||||||
Sources:
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On November 13, 2016, Fox recorded 21 points and 3 assists during a 93–69 victory overCanisius College at the Bluegrass Showcase. Six days later, he posted 16 points and 6 assists to defeatDuquesne University, 93–69. In a game againstArizona State on November 28, he recorded a triple double with 14 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists; this made Fox only the second Wildcat in the history of Kentucky basketball to record one after Chris Mill in 1988.[13] On January 7, 2017, Fox scored 27 points to go along with 6 assists in a 97–71 victory overArkansas. He tallied 21 points and 5 assists to defeatMississippi State, 88–81, on January 17. On February 18 that year, Fox scored 16 points and dished out 5 assists to help the Wildcats defeat theGeorgia Bulldogs. On March 4, Fox scored 19 points in a 71–63 win overTexas A&M. Kentucky would go on to defeatGeorgia in the quarterfinals andAlabama in the semi-finals. On March 12, Fox scored 18 points in an 82–65 win overArkansas in theSEC tournament in addition earning SEC Tournament MVP honors.[14] On March 17, Fox scored 19 points and 3 assists to defeatNorthern Kentucky University in the first round of theNCAA tournament. On March 19, Fox scored 14 points to defeatWichita State 65–62 in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. On March 24, In a Sweet 16 matchup against theUCLA Bruins, Fox scored 39 points to advance theKentucky Wildcats to the Elite Eight game.[15] In the Elite Eight, Fox only scored 13 points in a 75–73 loss to theNorth Carolina Tar Heels that ended the Wildcats season.
At the conclusion of his freshman season, Fox announced that he would forgo his final three years of collegiate eligibility and enter the2017 NBA draft.[16] As he stated in his announcement, "I think I’ve had a pretty good freshman season through the guidance of our coaching staff and I think it’s time for me to live out my dream."[17]
On June 22, 2017, Fox was selected with the fifth overall pick in the2017 NBA draft by theSacramento Kings. On July 8, 2017, he signed his rookie scale contract with the Kings.[18] During four games of the2017 NBA Summer League, Fox averaged 11.8 points, 3 assists and 2.3 steals while playing 21.3 minutes per game. Fox made his NBA debut for the Kings in their season opener on October 18, 2017, against theHouston Rockets, where he scored 14 points, 4 rebounds, and 5 assist in 24-plus minutes in a 105–100 loss.[19] On October 23, 2017, Fox recorded a career-high 19 points, 4 assist, 5 rebounds, and 3 steals in a 117–115 loss against thePhoenix Suns. On December 8, 2017, he scored 14 points, 4 assist and 2 steals in a 116–109 win against theNew Orleans Pelicans. On January 6, 2018, Fox recorded 18 points and 7 assist in a 106–98 victory over theDenver Nuggets. On January 25, 2018, Fox scored 14 points, 4 assist and a putbackslam dunk with 3.3 seconds left giving theSacramento Kings the lead in an 89–88 win over theMiami Heat. On January 28, 2018, Fox scored a season-high 26 points, going 6–6 from three-point range in a 15-point loss to theSan Antonio Spurs.[20] On February 14, Fox was namedLonzo Ball's replacement for theRising Stars Challenge.
On November 1, 2018, during a 146–115 win over the Atlanta Hawks, Fox notched his first career triple-double with 31 points, 10 rebounds, and 15 assists to bring the Kings to a 6–3 record, becoming the only player afterLeBron James in 2005 to score a 30-point triple double before the age of 21. Fox drastically improved during the 2018–2019 season. Not only did he improve in every major statistical category (Including his points per game from 11.6 to 17.3 and assists per game from 4.4 to 7.3), He also finished top 3 and was nominated for the NBA Most Improved Player Award, finishing second toPascal Siakam.
On July 31, 2020, Fox scored a then career-high 39 points in a 129–120 loss to theSan Antonio Spurs. This was the Kings’ first game in theOrlando bubble, returning from a 4-month hiatus due to theCOVID-19 pandemic.[21]
On November 25, 2020, Fox signed a five-year, $163 million contract extension with the Kings.[22] On February 8, 2021, Fox was namedWestern Conference Player of the Week for the first time in his career averaging 31 points & nearly 9 assists while winning all 4 games on the first week of February. On March 26, 2021, Fox scored a then career-high 44 points on 16-of-22 from the field in a 141–119 victory over theGolden State Warriors.[23] On March 29, 2021, Fox was once again named Player of the Week for the second time during Week 14. Fox averaged nearly 37 points & 5 assists per game while shooting 64% from the field over the 4 games, all ending in victories for the Kings.[24]
On March 5, 2022, Fox tied his then career-high with 44 points on 18-for-31 shooting in a 114–113 loss against theDallas Mavericks.[25] On March 12, Fox had 41 points and a season-high 11 assists in a 134–125 loss against theUtah Jazz.[26]
On November 5, 2022, Fox put up 37 points, alongside a buzzer-beating, game-winning three, in a 126–123 overtime win over theOrlando Magic.[27] He was named the Western Conference Player of the Week for November 14–20 after leading Sacramento to a 3–0 record, where he averaged 25 points, 3.7 rebounds and 8 assists per game.[28] On December 28, Fox recorded 31 points and a season-high 13 assists in a 127–126 win over theDenver Nuggets.[29] On February 10, 2023, he was named anAll-Star for the first time in his career as a reserve. Fox andAnthony Edwards were announced as injury replacements for injured starsStephen Curry andZion Williamson.[30] On February 24, Fox recorded a season-high 42 points, 12 assists, five rebounds and five steals in a 176–175 double overtime win over theLos Angeles Clippers. It was thesecond-highest scoring game in NBA history.[31] On March 15, Fox put up a game-winning three-pointer in a 117–114 win over theChicago Bulls.[32]
In Game 1 of the Kings’ first round playoff series against theGolden State Warriors, Fox put up 38 points in a 126–123 win. This was the second-most points in a playoff debut, afterLuka Dončić who scored 42 points in 2020.[33] On April 19, 2023, Fox was named as the inaugural recipient of theNBA Clutch Player of the Year Award, winning overJimmy Butler andDeMar DeRozan.[34] He averaged 27.4 points and 7.7 assists in the series, but he couldn't avoid the Warriors winning the series in 7 games.[35]
On November 17, 2023, Fox scored a season-high 43 points along with 8 rebounds and 7 assists in a 129–120 win over the San Antonio Spurs.[36] On December 2, Fox scored 26 points and recorded a career-high 16 assists in a 123–117 win over the Denver Nuggets.[37] On March 6, 2024, Fox tied his then career high with 44 points in a 130–120 win over theLos Angeles Lakers.[38]
On November 15, 2024, Fox scored a career-high 60 points in a 130–126 overtime loss to theMinnesota Timberwolves. His 60 points set a Kings franchise record for the most points scored by a Kings player in a game.[39] The very next day, Fox scored 49 points and delivered 9 assists in a 122–117 win over the Utah Jazz. He became the second Sacramento player to score at least 100 points in a two-game span, with the other beingDeMarcus Cousins in 2016 when he scored 104. Fox is just the third player in NBA history to score at least 109 over two days, joiningKobe Bryant (2007) andWilt Chamberlain (17 different times).[40]
On February 3, 2025, Fox was traded, alongsideJordan McLaughlin, to theSan Antonio Spurs in a three-team trade also involving theChicago Bulls in which they sentZach LaVine,Sidy Cissoko, three first-round picks and two second-round picks to the Kings andZach Collins,Tre Jones and a 2025-first round pick to the Bulls, who also receivedKevin Huerter from the Kings.[41]
On February 5, Fox made his debut for the Spurs, recording 24 points, five rebounds, 13 assists (matching his season-high) and three steals in a 126–125 win over theAtlanta Hawks. He became the first player in Spurs franchise history to post 20+ points and 10+ assists in a debut.[42] In 17 appearances for San Antonio, Fox averaged 19.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 6.8 assists. On March 13, it was announced that Fox would undergo season-ending surgery to repair tendon damage in his left pinkie finger.[43] On August 4, the Spurs and De'Aaron Fox reached a 4-year, $229 million maximum contract extension. The max deal has no player option in the final year and will keep him with the franchise until the 2029–30 season.[44]
| GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game |
| FG% | Field goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field goal percentage | FT% | Free throw percentage |
| RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game |
| BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game | Bold | Career high |
| * | Led the league |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017–18 | Sacramento | 73 | 61 | 27.8 | .412 | .307 | .726 | 2.8 | 4.4 | 1.0 | .3 | 11.6 |
| 2018–19 | Sacramento | 81 | 81 | 31.4 | .458 | .371 | .727 | 3.8 | 7.3 | 1.6 | .6 | 17.3 |
| 2019–20 | Sacramento | 51 | 49 | 32.0 | .480 | .292 | .705 | 3.8 | 6.8 | 1.5 | .5 | 21.1 |
| 2020–21 | Sacramento | 58 | 58 | 35.1 | .477 | .322 | .719 | 3.5 | 7.2 | 1.5 | .5 | 25.2 |
| 2021–22 | Sacramento | 59 | 59 | 35.3 | .473 | .297 | .750 | 3.9 | 5.6 | 1.2 | .4 | 23.2 |
| 2022–23 | Sacramento | 73 | 73 | 33.4 | .512 | .324 | .800 | 4.2 | 6.1 | 1.1 | .3 | 25.0 |
| 2023–24 | Sacramento | 74 | 74 | 35.9 | .465 | .369 | .738 | 4.6 | 5.6 | 2.0* | .4 | 26.6 |
| 2024–25 | Sacramento | 45 | 45 | 37.0 | .469 | .322 | .829 | 5.0 | 6.1 | 1.5 | .4 | 25.0 |
| San Antonio | 17 | 17 | 34.0 | .446 | .274 | .819 | 4.3 | 6.8 | 1.5 | .3 | 19.7 | |
| Career | 531 | 517 | 33.3 | .470 | .330 | .746 | 3.9 | 6.1 | 1.4 | .4 | 21.5 | |
| All-Star | 1 | 0 | 9.3 | .000 | — | — | .0 | 2.0 | .0 | .0 | .0 | |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Sacramento | 7 | 7 | 38.5 | .424 | .333 | .756 | 5.4 | 7.7 | 2.1 | .6 | 27.4 |
| Career | 7 | 7 | 38.5 | .424 | .333 | .756 | 5.4 | 7.7 | 2.1 | .6 | 27.4 | |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016–17 | Kentucky | 36 | 34 | 29.6 | .479 | .246 | .736 | 4.0 | 4.6 | 1.5 | .2 | 16.7 |
Listed at 6 feet 3 inches (1.91 m) and 185 pounds (84 kg),[45] Fox has primarily played thepoint guard position throughout his career. He is left-handed.
Coming out ofKentucky, Fox was highly regarded among scouts for his quickness, speed, and athleticism.[46] These attributes combined make Fox one of the most dangerous players on thefast break and driving to the rim. Fox himself stated in 2018 "If we’re talking about from baseline to baseline with the ball in my hands, I’m definitely the fastest person in the league."[47]
Fox is a high end finisher at the rim, being able to use his body control and leaping ability to finishlayups and draw fouls and often using his speed and quickness to blow by defenders. Fox is considered to be a poor3-point shooter, as during the2019–2020 NBA season, Fox shot a career low 29.2% shooting percentage from three.[48]
Fox has also demonstrated good passing ability, averaging around sevenassists per game.[48] Fox generates most of his assists running thepick and roll and the fast break.
On defense, Fox can be exploited by bigger guards because of his small frame, but can intercept passes and makes quick rotations due to his elite quickness and nearly 6-foot 7 inchwingspan.[49]
Fox signed a multi-year endorsement deal withNike prior to the2017 NBA draft.[50]
In October 2023, Fox signed a shoe deal withCurry Brand, making him the first official signature athlete for the brand.[51]
Fox was born to his parents Aaron and Lorainne Harris-Fox and has one brother named Quentin Fox. Since elementary school, Fox goes by the nicknames “Fox”, “Swipa”, and “Swipa da Fox”, inspired by Swiper the Fox from theNickelodeon television seriesDora the Explorer and his ability on the court to record steals.[52] Fox chose the number zero at Kentucky because he “fears no one”, giving his original number five to teammateMalik Monk, who played with him on the Kings. According to his high school coach, Fox would come to school at 6 AM and practice in the gym every morning. Fox would sleep on the couch almost every night and play theNBA 2K video game series. This, according to his father, is one of the reasons he has developed into the player that he is today.[53]
Fox is also a fan of theDragon Ball Zanime series and says thatVegeta is his favorite character.[54] In 2017, Fox sportedDragon Ball Z inspiredNike shoes in game.[55]
In February 2022, Fox was the subject of criticism after he shut down his personalNFT project “SwipaTheFox”, with more than $1.5 million in unpaid investment to approximately 100,000 investors. Fox explained his decision in a Twitter thread, wherein he claimed he wasn't satisfied with the quality of the project so far and was shutting it down until the end of the NBA season, but did not answer critics who demanded a return of their investment.[56][57]
In August 2022, Fox marriedRecee Caldwell at an elaborate ceremony in Malibu, California. Caldwell gave birth to their son Reign Fox on February 3, 2023.
· Basketball Reference 