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Sacramento Kings: 5 goals for De’Aaron Fox’s rookie season

By Josh Cornelissen

LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 9: De'Aaron Fox #5 of the Sacramento Kings looks on during the game against the Memphis Grizzlies during the 2017 Las Vegas Summer League on July 9, 2017 at the Cox Pavilion 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 9: De'Aaron Fox #5 of the Sacramento Kings looks on during the game against the Memphis Grizzlies during the 2017 Las Vegas Summer League on July 9, 2017 at the Cox Pavilion 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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MEMPHIS, TN – MARCH 24: Aaron Holiday #3 of the UCLA Bruins and De’Aaron Fox #0 of the Kentucky Wildcats compete for a loose ball in the second half during the 2017 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament South Regional at FedExForum on March 24, 2017 in Memphis, Tennessee. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
MEMPHIS, TN – MARCH 24: Aaron Holiday #3 of the UCLA Bruins and De’Aaron Fox #0 of the Kentucky Wildcats compete for a loose ball in the second half during the 2017 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament South Regional at FedExForum on March 24, 2017 in Memphis, Tennessee. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

4. Average 1.5 steals per game

The path that sees Fox become a passable long-range shooter is long and arduous, and will not happen in his first couple of seasons. But the area where Fox can make his impact from day one will be on the defensive end, with tenacity and quick hands.

In college Fox was able to swipe 1.5 steals per game, and that’s a reasonable barometer for his first NBA season as well. In the last 10 seasons, a total of nine guards have cleared that threshold in their rookie seasons, so it’s not unrealistic to expect Fox to reach that mark.

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The primary way point defenders are often projected is with on-ball defending, which is certainly a major component of their defensive role. Fox should excel at this, with quick-twitch reflexes and superb lateral agility. He has the physical tools to develop into one of the league’s best on-ball defenders, alongside the likes of Patrick Beverly and Avery Bradley.

The reality is that Fox is undervalued for his off-ball defensive abilities as well. His vision on defense encompasses not just his man but the entire half court, and at Kentucky he was constantly jumping passing lanes. While on-ball defense occasionally yields steals in the NBA, it will be off-the-ball where Fox can rack up the steals.

The Sacramento Kings organization has been without a high-end backcourt defender for years upon years, and Fox could be the first step in changing that. With quick hands and enough playing time he should be able to take away 1.5 possessions per game from the opponent, a stepping stone on his way to becoming one of the very best point guard defenders in the league.

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