When the Sacramento Kings made the decision to part ways with head coach Mike Brown and trade away De’Aaron Fox, they didn’t just hit the reset button - they detonated their competitive foundation. And now, while the Kings are stuck in a tailspin, Fox is thriving in San Antonio, playing some of the best basketball of his career and leading a young, surging Spurs team that looks like it could be a real problem in the Western Conference for years to come.
Fox didn’t mince words when asked about his former team:
“I don’t really have anything to say. It is what it is… The grass is greener on this side.”
That quote isn’t just a jab - it’s a truth bomb. Fox left behind a Kings franchise that’s struggled with stability and direction, and landed in a Spurs system that’s built for growth, built for winning, and built around some of the most exciting young talent in the league - including the last two Rookies of the Year.
And here’s the thing: it didn’t take long for Fox to make his presence felt in San Antonio. After battling through injury issues that lingered into this season, he’s back on the floor and playing a pivotal role.
When Victor Wembanyama missed time earlier this year, it was Fox who stepped up and kept the Spurs’ offense humming. He wasn’t just filling in - he was leading.
That leadership showed up big in the NBA Cup semifinals, where the Spurs knocked off Oklahoma City, handing the Thunder just their second loss of the season. That win wasn’t a fluke.
It was a statement. San Antonio is currently fourth in the ultra-competitive Western Conference, and they’re looking every bit like a playoff team - maybe even more.
Meanwhile, the Kings… well, they’re still searching for answers. Since Fox’s departure, Sacramento has spiraled.
The franchise has cycled through head coaches, and the firing of Mike Brown - who had helped stabilize the team and bring some much-needed structure - was the final straw for Fox. He wanted to win.
He wanted to compete. And the Kings weren’t offering that.
Without Fox, Sacramento has lost its identity. They’re near the bottom of the league in most major statistical categories, and even with Domantas Sabonis still in the fold, they’ve struggled to find any kind of rhythm or consistency. The team that once had promise now looks like it’s back to square one.
Could the Kings have convinced Fox to stay? Maybe.
But by the time Brown was let go, the writing was already on the wall. The shift to Doug Christie as head coach hasn’t produced results, and the team’s trajectory has only gone further south.
For Fox, leaving when he did looks more like foresight than frustration.
As for the Spurs, their road to the Finals won’t be easy. The Lakers, Nuggets, and Thunder all stand in the way. But with Fox running the show and Wembanyama back in the mix, San Antonio has the pieces to make a deep run - maybe even sooner than expected.
And if that happens, it’ll be yet another reminder of what the Kings let go. De’Aaron Fox didn’t just leave Sacramento. He leveled up.