De'Aaron Fox facts for kids
Fox in 2024
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| No. 4 – San Antonio Spurs | |
|---|---|
| Point guard | |
| Personal information | |
| Born | December 20, 1997 New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. |
| High school | Cypress Lakes (Katy, Texas) |
| Listed height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) |
| Listed weight | 185 lb (84 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | Kentucky (2016–2017) |
| NBA Draft | 2017 / Round: 1 / Pick: 5th overall |
| Selected by the Sacramento Kings | |
| Pro career | 2017–present |
| League | NBA |
| Career history | |
| 2017–2025 | Sacramento Kings |
| 2025–present | San Antonio Spurs |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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De'Aaron Martez Fox (born December 20, 1997), also known as “Swipa”, is an American professional basketball player. He plays as a point guard for the San Antonio Spurs in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Before joining the NBA, he played college basketball for the Kentucky Wildcats.
De'Aaron was chosen as the fifth player overall in the 2017 NBA draft by the Sacramento Kings. He had a fantastic season in 2023. He was picked for his first All-Star Game and made an All-NBA Team. He also helped the Kings reach the playoffs for the first time since 2006. In 2024, he was the player who led the league in steals.
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Early Life and High School Basketball
De'Aaron Fox grew up in Katy, Texas, and went to Cypress Lakes High School. In his junior year, he scored about 24 points, grabbed 6 rebounds, and made 3.5 assists per game. During the summer, he played for a team called Houston Hoops. He was recognized as one of the best players in the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League.
In his senior year, Fox averaged 32 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game. In January 2016, he was named a McDonald's All-American. This meant he was one of the best high school players in the country. He played in the 2016 McDonald's All-American Game in March. In April, he also played in the 2016 Jordan Brand Classic game. He helped his team win and was named a co-MVP.
Throughout high school, Fox led Cypress Lakes to the state playoffs three times. He even scored 50 points in a single game twice! Experts thought Fox was one of the top basketball recruits in the country. He decided to play college basketball for the Kentucky Wildcats. He chose Kentucky because it "felt like a family."
College Career at Kentucky
De'Aaron Fox started playing for the Kentucky Wildcats in November 2016. In one game against Arizona State in November, he achieved a "triple-double." This means he had double-digit numbers in three different stats: 14 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists. He was only the second player in Kentucky's history to do this!
In March 2017, Fox scored 39 points in a big game against the UCLA Bruins. This helped Kentucky reach the Elite Eight round of the NCAA tournament. However, their season ended when they lost a close game to the North Carolina Tar Heels.
After his first year, Fox decided to leave college early and enter the 2017 NBA draft. He said it was time for him to "live out my dream" of playing professional basketball.
Professional Basketball Career
Sacramento Kings (2017–2025)
The Sacramento Kings picked De'Aaron Fox as the fifth player in the 2017 NBA draft. He signed his first contract with the Kings in July 2017. In his first NBA game in October 2017, he scored 14 points.
Early Years and Big Improvements (2017–2019)
On November 1, 2018, Fox achieved his first "triple-double" in the NBA. He scored 31 points, grabbed 10 rebounds, and made 15 assists against the Atlanta Hawks. He was one of the youngest players ever to score 30 points in a triple-double.
Fox got much better during the 2018–2019 season. His points per game went from 11.6 to 17.3, and his assists per game jumped from 4.4 to 7.3. He was even nominated for the NBA Most Improved Player Award, finishing second.
Becoming a Star Player (2019–2022)
On July 31, 2020, Fox scored a career-high 39 points against the San Antonio Spurs. This was the Kings' first game after a break due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In November 2020, Fox signed a big five-year contract extension with the Kings. He was named the Western Conference Player of the Week twice in 2021. On March 26, 2021, he scored a new career-high of 44 points in a win against the Golden State Warriors. He tied that career-high again in March 2022 against the Dallas Mavericks.
First All-Star and Playoff Appearance (2022–2023)
On November 5, 2022, Fox scored 37 points and made a game-winning shot at the buzzer against the Orlando Magic. He was named Western Conference Player of the Week again in November.
In February 2023, De'Aaron Fox was chosen as an NBA All-Star for the first time! He was picked as a replacement for injured players. On February 24, Fox had an amazing game, scoring 42 points, making 12 assists, and getting 5 steals in a double-overtime win. This was one of the highest-scoring games in NBA history.
In the 2023 playoffs, Fox scored 38 points in his first playoff game against the Golden State Warriors. This was the second-most points ever scored by a player in their playoff debut. In April 2023, Fox won the first-ever NBA Clutch Player of the Year Award. This award goes to the player who performs best in important moments of games.
Career Highs and Steals Leader (2023–2025)
On November 17, 2023, Fox scored a season-high 43 points against the San Antonio Spurs. On December 2, he set a career-high with 16 assists against the Denver Nuggets. On March 6, 2024, he tied his career-high of 44 points in a win over the Los Angeles Lakers.
On November 15, 2024, Fox scored an incredible 60 points in a game against the Minnesota Timberwolves. This set a new record for the most points ever scored by a Sacramento Kings player in a single game! The very next day, he scored 49 points against the Utah Jazz. This meant he scored 109 points in just two days, which is a very rare achievement in NBA history.
San Antonio Spurs (2025–Present)
On February 3, 2025, De'Aaron Fox was traded to the San Antonio Spurs as part of a big trade involving three teams. He made his debut for the Spurs on February 5, scoring 24 points and making 13 assists. He was the first player in Spurs history to have over 20 points and 10 assists in his first game with the team.
Player Profile
De'Aaron Fox is 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighs 185 pounds. He mainly plays as a point guard. He is known for being left-handed.
Scouts have always praised Fox for his amazing quickness, speed, and athleticism. These skills make him one of the most dangerous players when running down the court quickly or driving to the basket. Fox once said that he believes he is the fastest player in the league when he has the ball.
Fox is very good at finishing shots close to the basket. He uses his body control and jumping ability to make layups and draw fouls from defenders. His speed often helps him get past defenders easily. While he is a great scorer inside, he has worked on his 3-point shooting.
Fox is also a good passer, usually making around seven assists per game. He often creates assists by running the pick and roll play and on fast breaks. On defense, his quickness and long arms (nearly 6 feet 7 inches) help him steal passes and move quickly to defend.
Endorsements
Before he was drafted into the NBA, Fox signed a deal with Nike. In October 2023, he signed a shoe deal with Curry Brand. This made him the first official player to have his own signature shoes with the brand.
Personal Life
De'Aaron Fox's parents are Aaron and Lorainne Harris-Fox. He has a brother named Quentin. Since he was young, people have called him “Fox,” “Swipa,” and “Swipa da Fox.” These nicknames come from Swiper the Fox, a character from the TV show Dora the Explorer. The nicknames also describe his skill at stealing the ball in basketball.
Fox chose the number zero when he played at Kentucky because he "fears no one." His high school coach said that Fox would practice in the gym every morning at 6 AM. His father believes that playing the NBA 2K video game series also helped him become the player he is today.
De'Aaron Fox is a fan of the Dragon Ball Z anime series. He says that Vegeta is his favorite character. In 2017, he even wore Dragon Ball Z-themed Nike shoes during a game.
In August 2022, Fox married Recee Caldwell. They had a son named Reign Fox on February 3, 2023.
Career Statistics
NBA Regular Season
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017–18 | Sacramento | 73 | 61 | 27.7 | .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 | |
NBA Playoffs
| 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 | |
College Statistics
| 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 |
See also
In Spanish: De'Aaron Fox para niños
- List of NBA single-game scoring leaders
