De’Aaron Fox Thriving in San Antonio: “The Grass Is Greener on This Side”
De’Aaron Fox isn’t just wearing a new jersey this season-he’s wearing a new mindset. After six seasons as the face of the Sacramento Kings, the ninth-year point guard has found new life with the San Antonio Spurs, and he’s not looking back.
“The grass is greener on this side,” Fox said recently, reflecting on his journey from Sacramento to San Antonio. And judging by his play, it’s hard to argue.
Fox is averaging 23.9 points, 6.2 assists, and 3.6 rebounds per game on an efficient 48% from the field, 39% from three, and 84% from the line. That’s elite production, but what’s just as impressive is how seamlessly he’s fit into a Spurs team that’s not only competing-but winning.
His latest performance? A 22-point showing in a statement win over the Oklahoma City Thunder, handing OKC just their second loss in their last 26 games.
That victory also punched San Antonio’s ticket to the NBA Cup championship game-a remarkable turnaround for a franchise that’s been rebuilding the last few seasons. And Fox has been at the center of it.
A Fractured Ending in Sacramento
Fox’s exit from Sacramento wasn’t abrupt-it was a slow burn. After years of coaching turnover and inconsistent roster building, the tension reached a tipping point. Despite a promising turnaround under Mike Brown, who won 2023 NBA Coach of the Year and helped guide the Kings back to the playoffs, the front office opted to fire him after a midseason slump.
Fox wasn’t on board with that decision. In fact, he made it clear: if Brown wasn’t the coach, he didn’t want to be there.
“We go to the playoffs and after that you want to build upon that,” Fox said. “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.”
That sentiment only deepened over the summer of 2024, as the franchise’s direction became murkier. When the Kings fired Brown after a five-game skid, Fox followed through on his word. He let the front office know he wasn’t interested in an extension-and his agency made it public that his preferred destination was San Antonio.
A Trade That Changed the Trajectory
The deal got done. Fox was shipped to the Spurs in a three-team blockbuster that saw Sacramento bring in Zach LaVine, along with two first-round picks and five second-rounders. Kevin Huerter, Zach Collins, and Tre Jones were re-routed to Chicago.
It was a major shake-up, and for Fox, a fresh start.
Now in San Antonio, he’s not just playing well-he’s thriving. The Spurs have embraced his leadership, his pace, and his two-way impact. And Fox, in turn, has embraced the culture and continuity that had eluded him in Sacramento.
He’s not keeping tabs on his old squad, either.
“I don’t really have anything to say,” Fox said when asked about the Kings. “It is what it is.
I wish [Keegan Murray] the best. Whether that is rebuilding, I want him to be in the best situation for him.
… The grass is greener on this side.”
What’s Left in Sacramento?
Fox’s departure left a significant void in Sacramento-and the ripple effects are still being felt. The Kings currently hold the third-worst record in the NBA, and internal friction seems to be mounting. According to league sources, there’s a disconnect between some veteran players and interim coach Doug Christie’s staff.
While Keegan Murray-who recently signed a five-year, $140 million extension-is expected to be a long-term building block, it’s tough to say who else will be part of the franchise’s future plans. General manager Scott Perry has a busy road ahead, including the task of finding a new franchise point guard to replace the one they let walk.
Trade Watch Begins
December 15th has long been circled on the NBA calendar as the unofficial start of trade season, and for Sacramento, that date couldn’t come soon enough. With the team floundering and the roster in flux, expect the Kings to be active in trade discussions in the coming weeks.
Their upcoming schedule won’t offer many breaks either, with games against the Trail Blazers (twice), Rockets, Pistons, and Mavericks looming before the end of the month.
A New Chapter
For Fox, the move to San Antonio has been more than just a change of scenery-it’s been a rejuvenation. He’s playing some of the best basketball of his career, leading a young team with poise, and doing it with a smile that had faded during his final days in Sacramento.
The Spurs are in contention. Fox is thriving. And as far as he’s concerned, the grass really is greener.