The San Antonio Spurs traded for De’Aaron Fox before the deadline last season, but they didn’t immediately see the payoff. The star guard only played 17 games for San Antonio before being shut down for the remainder of the 2024-25 campaign due to finger surgery.
Fast-forward to late 2025, and Fox has the Spurs in the NBA Cup Final at the Emirates with an 18-7 record. Both San Antonio and Fox have little to regret about the blockbuster acquisition. The Spurs are winning, Fox is thriving, and the Sacramento Kings continue to struggle.
What Did De’Aaron Fox Say About His Former Team?
Fox played almost eight full seasons in Sacramento, earning an All-Star nod and All-NBA selection in the 2022-23 campaign. However, the team never found long-term success. Fox only reached the playoffs once during his tenure, suffering a first-round exit in the 2023 postseason. The Kings still can’t seem to right the ship, as they own a 6-20 record that sits 14th in the Western Conference. Fox spoke on the difference between Sacramento’s struggles and the Spurs’ winning ways.
“I haven’t stopped smiling since I’ve been here [in San Antonio] … I don’t really have anything to say … The grass is greener on this side,” remarked the Spurs’ point guard.
Fox missed the first eight games of the season recovering from an offseason hamstring injury, but he hasn’t missed a contest since. He averages 23.9 points and 6.2 assists while shooting 39.1% from beyond the arc on 6.5 attempts per game. Questions surrounded the on-court fit between him, Stephon Castle, and Dylan Harper before the season started, but all three ball-handlers are off to great starts. They organize the seventh-best offense in the NBA, despite Victor Wembanyama missing 12 games.
Fox serves as a mentor to the sophomore Castle and rookie Harper. Both young guards have demonstrated the ability to play alongside Fox and effectively operate the offense without him. Harper’s strong downhill drives and rim finishing continue to impress, while Castle took a big step in his playmaking from year one to year two.
Why Did Fox Want Out of Sacramento?
After the Kings made the playoffs in 2023, Fox wanted the team to ride its momentum. Instead, Sacramento’s win total decreased every subsequent season, even after acquiring DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine. The Spurs’ point guard gave his thoughts on why the situation unfolded this way.
“We go to the playoffs, and after that, you want to build upon that … And that doesn’t mean going from the third seed to the first seed. It just means continuing to be a playoff team. I didn’t feel like we were there,” said Fox.
The Spurs are undoubtedly pleased with their position following the Fox trade. But given their record, the Kings likely have a different answer in mind.
