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Sacramento Kings: De’Aaron Fox standing out in 2017 NBA Summer League

By Jordan Treske

LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 09: De'Aaron Fox #5 of the Sacramento Kings dribbles against Wade Baldwin IV #4 of the Memphis Grizzlies during the 2017 NBA Summer League game at the Cox Pavilion on July 9, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sam Wasson/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 09: De'Aaron Fox #5 of the Sacramento Kings dribbles against Wade Baldwin IV #4 of the Memphis Grizzlies during the 2017 NBA Summer League game at the Cox Pavilion on July 9, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sam Wasson/Getty Images) /
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Through his two first games in this year’s Summer League, De’Aaron Fox has made the exact first impression the Sacramento Kings and their fans have been hoping to see.

Two weeks after adding to their young core on draft night, the Sacramento Kings are getting their first extended look at the future with the 2017 NBA Summer League upon us.

For their Summer League roster, the Kings are featuring eight players that they have either drafted or have acquired over the last year-plus, making for a unique situation where playing time for all those rookies or second-year players has to be deliberately divided.

While results are not of the highest priority in Summer League, the Kings are winless through their first two games and have delivered contrasting performances after facing both the Phoenix Suns and the Memphis Grizzlies, respectively.

Through it all, however, one constant has stood throughout for them and that has been De’Aaron Fox.

A favorite for Kings fans throughout the pre-draft process, Fox has already acclimated well to his new surroundings in Sacramento, along with fellow rookies Justin Jackson, Harry Giles and Frank Mason III.

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Now with this year’s Summer League underway, the fifth overall pick in this year’s draft has shown the promising qualities that he’s known for and that Kings fans are looking forward to seeing in the years to come.

Through the first two games, Fox is averaging 17.5 points, 4.0 assists, 4.0 rebounds and 4.0 steals per game.

Offensively, Fox has shined getting buckets as he zips down the floor in transition, showcasing the blazing speed that few can match in the Summer League setting. Along with that, Fox has made his way to the free throw line numerous times in both games, but has struggled converting his opportunities as he’s shooting 10-of-18 from the stripe.

Despite struggling with turnovers when facing off against the Grizzlies, Fox has displayed his court vision as a playmaker when feeding his teammates via the pick-and-roll or hitting them up for easy buckets in lob opportunities like in this clip with Georgios Papagiannis.

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While there are definite questions over how effective he’ll be as a jump shooter at the NBA level, especially from beyond the arc, Fox has hit some tough step-back jumpers while in half-court situations.

On the defensive end, Fox has been a pest with his on-ball defense, pressuring his assignment to cause turnovers and creating easy scoring opportunities for himself and for others. The same goes for his help defense too, as he’s swiped the ball away from opposing players as they attempt to make their way into the lane, showing that he truly does live up to his Twitter handle.

You obviously don’t want to overreact to Summer League action, much less two games of it, but Fox has been exactly as advertised, both in his strengths and concerns.

For their third Summer League game Monday night, the Kings will face off against the Los Angeles Lakers, headlined by the second overall pick of this year’s draft in Lonzo Ball — someone Fox has a notable history of facing off against.

Next: 2017 NBA free agency tracker: Grades for every deal so far

How the Kings will fare tonight and beyond as we shift to the tournament format remains to be seen, but Fox will certainly look to continue doing exactly what he’s done this far into Summer League.

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