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Sacramento Kings: De’Aaron Fox named to FanSided’s 25-under-25 list

By Justin Fried

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 11: De'Aaron Fox #5 of the Sacramento Kings looks on against the Washington Wizards in the first half at Capital One Arena on March 11, 2019 in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 11: De'Aaron Fox #5 of the Sacramento Kings looks on against the Washington Wizards in the first half at Capital One Arena on March 11, 2019 in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /
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Sacramento Kings rising star point guard De’Aaron Fox has officially been named to FanSided’s top 25-under-25 list for the 2019-20 season.

The Sacramento Kings are about a month away from kicking off their 2019-20 season and they will do so while hosting one of the youngest cores in the NBA. And arguably the leader of that core is rising star point guard De’Aaron Fox.

Fox was drafted by the Kings with the fifth overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft but his rookie season didn’t quite go according to plan. However, the former Kentucky star showed out in his second NBA season establishing himself as one of the best young players in basketball.

His performance last season helped earn him a spot on FanSided’s 25-under-25 list for the upcoming 2019-20 season. Every year since 2017, FanSided has put together a list of the top 25 NBA players under the age of 25.

For the first two years of the tradition, Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo reigned supreme at the top of the list. But since the reigning MVP is set to turn 25-years-old this season, he is no longer eligible.

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That left a spot for a new king to take the crown and that man was none other than Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic. Jokic had his best season as a pro this past year which helped him beat out the likes of Karl-Anthony Towns, Luka Doncic, and Ben Simmons.

Where did this leave Fox you ask? After all, Fox should certainly be considered among the best young players in the league from a talent perspective.

The 21-year-old Fox came in at No. 9 on the list right behind Boston’s Jayson Tatum and directly ahead of Indiana’s Myles Turner. Outside of Doncic and first overall pick Zion Williamson — who checked in at No. 7 — Fox was the youngest player in the top 10.

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In fact, only two other guards were even listed in the top 12 — that being Utah’s Donovan Mitchell and Phoenix’s Devin Booker. No, we’re not counting Ben Simmons as a point guard.

Fox is actually the first member of the Kings to ever make the list and incredibly enough, he didn’t even qualify for the “best of the rest” list last season which ranks the top 10 players who didn’t make the actual list.

And outside of Williamson who obviously didn’t play in the NBA last season, Fox is the only player in the top 12 to have not been on the list last season which indicates that he’s the biggest riser.

Fox’s teammate Marvin Bagley just missed out on making the list as he was ranked at No. 26 on FanSided’s “best of the rest” list proving that he truly is the best of the rest. Perhaps Bagley could take a huge sophomore leap just as Fox did.

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Needless to say, much of the Kings’ success this season will revolve around Fox. The speedy playmaker known as “Swipa” will lead a fast-paced offense primed with new starters in the frontcourt.

Bagley is expected to step into a starting role after spending nearly all of his rookie season coming off the bench. And veteran center Dewayne Dedmon was signed in free agency to give the Kings a more versatile, reliable upgrade over Willie Cauley-Stein.

The hope is that Fox and the Kings could sneak into the playoffs in a very competitive Western Conference. That, of course, remains to be seen but Fox could be primed for stardom with a repeat showing this season.

His first All-Star bid may not be too far in the future and the hope is that there will be plenty more where that came from.

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There is a sense of optimism amongst Kings fans and look no further than the electric Fox as the cause of it. He is truly one of the very best young players in the NBA.

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