De’Aaron Fox on uncertain Sacramento Kings future: ‘You have to put those emotions aside’

The Sacramento Kings loss to the undermanned, under-rested Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday compounded the business of basketball discussions being had by the teams decision makers behind the scenes.

At the center of it, of course, is point guard DeAaron Fox, who sat at his locker following the 13-point defeat answering questions about not letting his uncertain future impact what happens on the hardwood.

Things around me change, Fox said when asked about the news of the past 24 hours.

Yall know stories about Sacramento.

Youve been there.

Things around here change.

So, Im fine.

Fox earlier in the day confirmed the reports that surfaced Tuesday that the Kings front office told him it was fielding trade offers for the former All-Star ahead of the Feb.

6 trade deadline.

Fox hasnt offered specifics about his conversations with Kings officials, but he hasnt hid from the fact his time with the team that drafted him in 2017 might be careening to a conclusion.

Fox was asked if his history with Sacramento, which included five straight losing seasons before ending the NBAs longest playoff drought in 2023, impacts how he views his future.

In this business, you have to put those emotions aside, Fox said.

Obviously, everybody especially who were here during that long (postseason drought), and who was on this team when we made the playoffs, obviously that means a lot to everybody.

But in the business of basketball you cant have too much emotion.

Kings players and interim coach Doug Christie said the news becoming public over the previous 24 hours didnt impact the way the team played in Philadelphia, when a 12-point third-quarter lead turned into a 13-point loss after scoring just 17 points in the fourth.

But Fox said hes had conversations with his teammates regarding what could be coming over the next week before the deadline.

Those things have come up, Fox said.

Its natural.

Were all human.

We talked about it going into shootaround.

Theres a business side of basketball.

Everybody knows that.

Besides the rookies here, everybodys been through trade deadlines and things like that.

But everybody in here is professional.

Fox on Wednesday confirmed he has a preferred destination and pointed to the reports from Tuesday that said he was interested in joining the San Antonio Spurs, where he could pair with Victor Wembanyama.

Fox is from Houston and recently constructed an offseason home there.

The Athletic reported Tuesday that Foxs agent, Rich Paul of Klutch Sports, told the Kings it would be wise to move him sooner rather than later.

ESPN reported Wednesday the Kings have fielded dozens of calls and trade offers for Fox, who might be the prize acquisition of the trade market along with disgruntled Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler.

It would mark the biggest departure for the Kings since moving on from center DeMarcus Cousins less than six months before drafting Fox in 2017.

I thought before the game everybody was in a really good spot, Christie said when asked if Foxs situation has impacted the teams spirit.

When you look at stuff like that, you can read into a lot of different things.

I dont do that.

Those guys are out there to win.

Theyre going to play their hearts out.

Theyre going to play extremely hard.

There are areas that we have to be better at, and thats ultimately like once we get a lead, we have to learn how to just step on somebodys neck and put them away.

And tonight is another example of not doing that.

...

Give the (76ers) credit.

They played a good game.

They were aggressive, knocked down shots.

Tyrese was Tyrese, and they got the win.

Tyrese Maxey scored 30 points and appeared to solve the Kings zone defense in the third quarter, helping swing the game.

Philadelphias bench outscored Sacramentos 40-15.

Hes a pro...

hes all right Malik Monk, Foxs former college teammate at Kentucky, led Sacramento with 21 points Wednesday, but failed to score while playing the entire fourth quarter.

The Kings as a team made six of 21 shots in the final frame while the 76ers pulled away.

Monk was asked if Foxs situation has impacted the teams spirit.

He paused.

Thats a good question, man, Monk said.

I wouldnt say the team (was impacted), but maybe for him though.

But I didnt see it.

Hes a pro.

I feel like hes been on the trade block before, maybe, just not publicly.

So hes all right.

The loss was the Kings third of four games on their six-game road trip.

Things wont get any easier when the team goes to Oklahoma City for to play the NBA Western Conferences top-seeded Thunder on Saturday.

The trip wraps up two nights later in Minnesota against the Timberwolves, who as of Wednesday had won three straight games.

We gotta fight, Domantas Sabonis said after posting his eighth triple-double of the season.

We feel like today was a very bad loss for us since we felt like we had control of the game many times, and we just couldnt get it done.

This story was originally published January 29, 2025 at 10:02 PM.

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