De’Aaron Fox: ‘What’s big about me is I play both sides of the ball’

De’Aaron Fox has started the season strong, leading the Sacramento Kings with improved stats across the board. He’s betting on himself after forgoing an extension to aim for a ‘supermax’ contract, positioning the Kings as a potential playoff threat …

De’Aaron Fox has started the season strong, leading the Sacramento Kings with improved stats across the board. He’s betting on himself after forgoing an extension to aim for a ‘supermax’ contract, positioning the Kings as a potential playoff threat in the Western Conference.

Off the court, Fox is launching his signature shoe, the Fox 1, in collaboration with Curry Brand. Designed for speed and agility, the sneaker reflects Fox’s style with unique elements like “fur” on the tongue and lightning-inspired accents.

Despite last season’s playoff appearance via the Play-In tournament, which some might view as a step back from the prior year, he remains focused on building team chemistry, especially on defense, to compete in a challenging Western Conference.

Last week, before Fox scored 109 points over a two-game span, he sat down with HoopsHype. Fox discussed his start to the 2024-25 NBA season, what it’s been like teaming up with DeMar DeRozan, having Malik Monk re-sign, the Kings’ potential as a competitive force in the West, and more, as we near the release of his Fox 1 with Under Armour’s Curry Brand.

Jeff Teague evaluates Bronny James with Lakers, DeMar DeRozan on Kings

DeMar DeRozan on the Kings should be all sorts of fun.

Former NBA veteran Jeff Teague and the guys from ‘Club 520’ react to Bronny James’ NBA summer league games with the Los Angeles Lakers. They also discuss how LeBron James getting to play with his son is going to be like a movie this upcoming season. The guys then react to DeMar DeRozan getting traded to the Sacramento Kings, and debate whether the Kings have what it takes to compete in the Western Conference.

Bronny James has certainly received a ton of media attention for all the obvious reasons, but DeMar DeRozan going to the Kings — which would have been a bigger story in an offseason without Bronny — has gone a little bit under the radar. DeRozan on the Kings gives Sacramento an even more potent offense. If Sacramento is going to be a threat next season, the Kings will likely need to win games 130-125. The Kings are going to be an offense-first, defense-later team. For reasons good and bad, they’re going to be one of the most fun teams to watch in the NBA.

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Boogie Ellis scores 17 points, makes NBA statement with Kings

Boogie Ellis got off to a great start with the Kings. Now let’s see if he can keep it going.

The spotlight in NBA summer basketball is falling squarely upon Bronny James of the Los Angeles Lakers. Meanwhile, however, another USC basketball alumnus is trying to stick in the league and elevate his professional career. Boogie Ellis got off to a really good start over the weekend in San Francisco. He scored 17 points on 6-of-10 shooting for the Sacramento Kings in a win over the San Antonio Spurs. This was the NBA statement Boogie needed to make … and he will need to deliver more of them to convince NBA teams that he deserves a regular roster spot.

Boogie Ellis, 23 years old, was viewed as too old to be drafted. That’s not a direct quote from anyone, but 23-year-old Dalton Knecht — eventually picked at No. 17 by the Lakers in the 2024 NBA draft — was widely viewed as a player whose stock crashed because of his age. Boogie Ellis is a less impressive, less imposing version of Knecht, so when Knecht fell several spots from his projected position, Boogie Ellis had to have known that his odds of getting drafted were low. The Kings gave him a chance to make his case in summer basketball. This 17-point display is a great first start, but now Boogie has to back it up with even more strong performances.

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Another USC Trojan joins DeMar DeRozan on the Kings

Sacramento Trojans? Jordan McLaughlin joins DeMar DeRozan on the same day,

On Saturday evening, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that former USC Trojan Jordan McLaughlin will sign with the Sacramento Kings, joining fellow Trojan DeMar DeRozan. Via Wojnarowski: “Free agent guard Jordan McLaughlin has agreed to a one-year deal with the Sacramento Kings, agent Greg Lawrence of @wassbasketball tells ESPN.”

McLaughlin, 28, has spent all five of his NBA seasons to date with the Timberwolves, providing backcourt depth.

The former USC standout averaged 3.5 points and 2 assists in 11.2 minutes per game across 56 appearances last season.

In his career, he has averaged 4.4 points, 1.6 rebounds and 3.1 assists per contest while shooting 44.6% from the field and 36.9% from 3-point range in 242 regular season games. McLaughlin has had some very good role-player moments in his career, but he hasn’t been a relentlessly productive player. With the Timberwolves reaching the NBA Western Conference finals last season, they are clearly intent on making upgrades to their roster. McLaughlin should get backup-level minutes in Sacramento. He will give the Kings a floor leader who can play defense.

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Boogie Ellis will play in NBA summer league with the Kings

It’s all any athlete can want: a chance. Summer league means everything to Boogie Ellis.

All any athlete wants is a chance to prove himself. Boogie Ellis of USC will get that chance with the Sacramento Kings in the NBA summer league. It is an emotional moment for Ellis, as Luca Evans of the Orange County Register reported:

“Only if y’all knew how much I been through these last 5 years I just want to thank GOD for putting me in this position been through every emotion but it made me and built me for any situation that comes,” Ellis wrote on his Instagram, posting a picture of himself in a Kings jersey.

Many people think Ellis is a better NBA prospect than Bronny James, even though Bronny was an NBA draft pick at No. 55 to the Los Angeles Lakers. No matter. Boogie gets his shot when he takes the court for summer league ball.

Some people think he’ll deliver the goods, as reported by Evans:

“I’m a Boogie fan,” an NBA scout, who had evaluated USC and spoke on condition of anonymity, told the Southern California News Group in the winter. “I just like how determined he is, and how gritty he is. He’s a smaller guard, but he does have some length. And, just like, he’s a natural leader out there.”

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NBA Twitter reacts to Suns’ huge 22-point comeback win vs. Kings: ‘Season-altering win’

Here’s how NBA Twitter reacted to the Phoenix Suns’ huge comeback win over the Sacramento Kings.

The Phoenix Suns pulled off an incredible comeback down 22 in the fourth quarter with nine minutes remaining to beat the Sacramento Kings 119-117.

Grayson Allen (29 points) and Kevin Durant (27 points, 12 in the last five minutes) led the way for Phoenix’s huge comeback.

Here’s how NBA Twitter reacted to it.

NBA Twitter reacts to Damian Lillard’s game-winner vs. Kings: ‘One of the most clutch players ever’

Here’s how NBA Twitter reacted to Damian Lillard’s game-winner vs. the Sacramento Kings.

Damian Lillard delivered his first game-winner for the Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday night against the Sacramento Kings at the buzzer in overtime (143-142).

Dame led the Bucks in scoring with 29 points and eight assists, while Giannis Antetokounmpo added a triple-double of his own with 27 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists.

Here’s how NBA Twitter reacted to Damian Lillard’s game-winning three at the buzzer.

Steph Curry reacts to Kings’ Keegan Murray’s 47-point performance vs. Jazz

After Kings wing Keegan Murray knocked down 12 3-pointers on his way to a 47-point effort against the Kings, Steph Curry chimed in with a reaction.

While Steph Curry was leading the Golden State Warriors to a much-needed victory over the Brooklyn Nets, another player in Northern California was putting together a career performance. Sacramento Kings wing Keegan Murray caught fire against the Utah Jazz for 47 points.

Murray couldn’t miss from beyond the arc, hitting a scorching 12 3-pointers on 15 attempts in only three quarters. The former Iowa Hawkeye hit an NBA-record 11 consecutive triples against the Jazz. Murray tallied 26 of his career-high 47 points in the third quarter.

After Curry wrapped up the Nets in San Francisco, he was asked about Murray’s performance in his postgame press conference on Saturday night. The two-time MVP praised the Kings’ breakout shooter.

Watch Curry’s reaction to Murray’s sharpshooting against the Jazz via @NBCSWarriors on X, formerly known as Twitter:

Murray became the seventh player in NBA history with 12 made 3-pointers in a single contest. Murray finished two made 3-pointers short of Klay Thompson’s NBA-record 14 3-pointers in a single game.

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NBA Twitter reacts to Sacramento’s 24-point comeback win vs. Warriors: ‘Fire Steve Kerr’

Here’s how NBA Twitter reacted to the Sacramento Kings’ 24-point comeback win over the Warriors.

The Sacramento Kings were down 72-48 to the Golden State Warriors in a win-or-go-home game for the in-season tournament.

They went on an incredible run in the second half and beat Golden State 124-123, thanks to Malik Monk’s tough game-winner.

Sacramento advanced to the quarterfinals of the in-season tournament, where they’ll face the Pelicans.

Here’s how NBA Twitter reacted to yet another thrilling contest between these two teams.

NBA Twitter reacts to Stephen Curry’s 50-point game in Game 7: ‘Steph is a basketball god’

Here’s how NBA Twitter reacted to Stephen Curry’s legendary performance in Game 7 vs. the Kings.

Stephen Curry exploded for 50 points as he led the Golden State Warriors to the second round after beating the Sacramento Kings 120-100 in Game 7.

NBA Twitter was in awe of Curry’s performance, and rightfully so. He became the player with the most points ever in a Game 7.