NBA: Ranking every team’s best player in 2019-20

One year ago the Sacramento Kings were the laughingstock of the league, a team packed with players on rookie contracts en route to a top-three pick they owed to another team. Buddy Hield was their “best player” by default, the worst such player in the league.

Fast forward to the present and the Kings’ future is exponentially brighter. Hield himself took a step forward, but so did many of the team’s young players. None improved their position more than De’Aaron Fox, who went from an historically bad rookie season to become the next great young point guard.

Lightning quick, Fox and the Kings leaned into their strengths and flew up-and-down the court, wearing opponents down and scoring in bunches. Fox not only improved his finishing, but also his jumper, taking and making more 3-pointers and becoming a threat from multiple levels.

Defensively his reputation has probably outpaced him, but his quick hands rightfully earned him the nickname “Swipa” as he ranked sixth in total steals last season.

Looking ahead: Whether the Kings continue their growth or fall victim to regression (both are likely to happen) Fox looks to be the centerpiece of that growth, a future star ready to take the place of the league’s aging floor generals. While Harrison Barnes is paid like the team’s best player he is more of a supporting cast member.

For Fox to not be on this list in a year likely means either Marvin Bagley III or Bogdan Bogdanovic has taken a massive leap forward.