Hoops Habit
Fansided

Sacramento Kings: Ranking De’Aaron Fox among the league’s other point guards

By Cannon Wonderlich

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - NOVEMBER 21: De'Aaron Fox #5 of the Sacramento Kings kicks the pass by Ricky Rubio #3 of the Utah Jazz in the second half of a NBA game at Vivint Smart Home Arena on November 21, 2018 in Salt Lake City, Utah. 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 Gene Sweeney Jr./Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - NOVEMBER 21: De'Aaron Fox #5 of the Sacramento Kings kicks the pass by Ricky Rubio #3 of the Utah Jazz in the second half of a NBA game at Vivint Smart Home Arena on November 21, 2018 in Salt Lake City, Utah. 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 Gene Sweeney Jr./Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 4
Next
Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images
Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images /

The middle 10

20. D.J. Augustin, Orlando Magic – VORP: 0.2, WS: 1.9

D.J. Augustin is the only quality point guard on the Magic, giving him a lot of time to display his game.

19. Lonzo Ball, Los Angeles Lakers – VORP: 0.3, WS: 0.7

Lonzo Ball doesn’t have the knockdown shot that he showed in high school, but the other aspects of his game have been great. He is one of the best defensive point guards in the league, and he is able to get a triple-double on any given night.

18. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Los Angeles Clippers – VORP: 0.4, WS: 1.0

Clippers rookie Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has looked promising and has assumed the starting role over Patrick Beverley already. Don’t expect that to change anytime soon.

17. Goran Dragic, Miami Heat – VORP: 0.0, WS: 0.4

Last season, Goran Dragic made it onto his first All-Star roster. He hasn’t been quite as productive this season, mainly due to injury. Regardless, Dragic still has potential to be one of the top-15 point guards in the league and he will be focusing on getting the Heat into the playoffs for Dwyane Wade’s final season.

16. Devin Booker, Phoenix Suns – VORP: 0.3, WS: 0.4

The point guard position in Phoenix is in a weird spot. Devin Booker, a natural shooting guard, has been running the point as of late and the former backup, Isaiah Canaan, was recently waived. The Suns are grooming rookies Elie Okobo and De’Anthony Melton to take the role in the future, but for now, it looks like Booker will play at the 1 until a suitable trade comes along.

15. D’Angelo Russell, Brooklyn Nets – VORP: 0.5, WS: 0.8

D’Angelo Russell was looked at to be the best Brooklyn Net when they traded Brook Lopez to the Lakers for him. While Russell has been solid, the real star in Brooklyn is Caris LeVert, who suffered an injury that will keep him sidelined for a few months. In the meantime, Russell will get the chance to prove to the world that he is the team’s leader.

14. Jamal Murray, Denver Nuggets – VORP: 0.2, WS: 1.3

Jamal Murray will be the second option behind Nikola Jokic on the Nuggets for the coming years, and in just his third season, he’s doing a great job filling the role. His season has been highlighted with a 48-point game against the Celtics, which showed that he has the ability to be a volume scorer.

13. De’Aaron Fox, Sacramento Kings – VORP: 0.4, WS: 1.2

De’Aaron Fox has been phenomenal for the Kings this season. Sacramento fans have the hope of making the playoffs for the first time in over a decade. They have finally found a strategy that works. Shooters like Nemanja Bjelica and Buddy Hield will provide spacing to open the floor for Fox to drive in and get open looks at the rim.

Not all of the Kings’ success can be attributed to Fox though, as other young players like Willie Cauley-Stein and the aforementioned Buddy Hield have been exceptional for the team. The winning culture pioneered by Fox is making for a great environment for rookie Marvin Bagley III to grow and learn the professional game in. If this is the kind of improvement that Fox is making in his second year, Kings fans should be excited to see the success to come with him at the helm.

12. Jrue Holiday, New Orleans Pelicans – VORP: 0.7, WS: 1.6

Jrue Holiday is coming off a bounce-back season, where after DeMarcus Cousins tore his Achilles, Holiday assumed the role as the second option. With Cousins gone, Holiday’s role hasn’t seen much change. Elfrid Payton was starting at point guard for New Orleans before going down with an injury earlier this season. During this time, Holiday was starting at the shooting guard position, but has filled the majority of the point guard minutes until the Pelicans’ last game.

11. Ben Simmons, Philadelphia 76ers – VORP: 1.1, WS: 2.4

Ben Simmons won Rookie of the Year in a phenomenal two-way race last season and it’s been more of the same this season. Like in his rookie year, he still is only scoring at the rim, something that many fans were hoping would change in his second season. Simmons is still a phenomenal player and has plenty of time left in his career to work on his shot.

Home/Sacramento Kings