De’Aaron’s Fox’s struggles continue in loss to Mavericks. Should Kings be concerned?
De’Aaron Fox emerged as one of the new kings of the fourth quarter last season, routinely carving up defenses with blinding speed, ruthless aggression and devastating efficiency when the game was on the line.
Fox hasn’t looked the same this season after signing a five-year, $163 million max contract extension in November. The Kings say they are not concerned, but they clearly need more from the 23-year-old point guard who was held scoreless in the fourth quarter of a 105-99 loss to the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday at American Airlines Center.
“He’s out there playing hard for us every night, and some shots that he normally makes just aren’t going right now,” Kings center Richaun Holmes said. “That happens throughout the course of the season. As his teammates, we got his back, and we know nobody’s as hard on him as he is going to be on himself, so he’ll get himself right.”
Fox hurt his left shoulder in a loss to the Utah Jazz in the second game of the season, but he recently said the shoulder isn’t bothering him.
“I’m all right. I’m fine,” he said. “I just haven’t played well. That’s all it is.”
Fox was fourth in the NBA in fourth-quarter scoring last season, averaging 7.3 points on 48.8% shooting. He’s 123rd this season, averaging a paltry 3.2 points on 25.9% shooting, including 0-of-8 shooting from 3-point range. He ranks just behind Portland Trail Blazers backup guard Anfernee Simons, the No. 24 pick in the 2018 NBA draft, and just ahead of Oklahoma City Thunder rookie Josh Giddey.
Fox, who came out of Kentucky as the No. 5 pick in the 2017 draft, went 0 of 4 from the field in the fourth quarter against the Mavericks (4-2). He finished with 14 points on 5-of-16 shooting for the Kings (3-3), who suffered their first loss on the road.
Fox failed to reach the 20-point mark for the fourth time in six games, something that happened only 12 times in 2020-21. The Kings went 2-10 in those games last season. They are 1-3 this season.
“It’s early in the season,” Holmes said. “De’Aaron’s a great, great player, one of the best players in the NBA, and when the season first starts, there’s a lot of attention on him. A lot of defenses key towards him and it can take a moment to just get your rhythm.”
Fox is averaging 19.4 points per game, down from 25.2 last season. His field-goal percentage has fallen from 47.7% to 38.8, his 3-point shooting has plummeted from 32.2% to 16.1% and his free-throw shooting is down from 71.9% to 61.5%.
Kings coach Luke Walton has repeatedly expressed his belief in Fox, saying his shots will begin to fall. Fox was hardly alone in his struggles on Sunday as the Kings shot 39.6% from the field and 19.4% from 3-point range. Harrison Barnes made 5 of 16 from the field and 1 of 8 from beyond the arc. Tyrese Haliburton went 5 of 14. Buddy Hield was 4 of 13, making just 3 of 12 from long distance.
Kings center Tristan Thompson offered some veteran perspective following the loss to the Mavericks, saying there is no reason to be alarmed. Fox had 27 points and eight assists in a season-opening win over the Blazers. He had 23 points, seven rebounds and five assists in Friday’s win over the New Orleans Pelicans.
Thompson noted the Kings are .500 despite playing the toughest schedule in the NBA to date. They will conclude their current four-game road trip against the Jazz on Tuesday before coming home to face the Pelicans, Charlotte Hornets, Indiana Pacers and Phoenix Suns.
“I think D. Fox has been really great for our team,” Thompson said. “We’re above .500. We beat a really good Phoenix team on the road. We beat a New Orleans team that wants to score, so it’s been a good trip overall, but for D. Fox, it’s a long season and you’re going to have your highs and lows.
“I think De’Aaron’s playing well for us, very well. Of course, he might want to play better, and that’s OK because great players are always going to challenge themselves and expect more, but what we can do is do our part and play our roles and do our job just 1% better and make it easier on him. We’ve got a winning record, 2-1 on this road trip so far, so there’s nothing to be panicking about or be all negative about right now.”
Walton said Fox will be fine.
“We’re going to continue to play hard, we’re going to continue to get better and we’re going to continue to push,” Walton said. “One of the big steps we have to take forward is we have to be able to knock down 3-point shots, and big shots, and we know De’Aaron can do it. He’s done it last year. We went on two big win streaks last year and he was putting us on his back for a lot of those. He’s a hard worker. He’s done it before. He’s passionate. He cares. He wants to win, so there’s no doubt in my mind he, and us, will get there.”
