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NBA Playoffs: Top five players without a playoff appearance

By Larry Hammonds

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 30: Head Coach Monty Williams of the Phoenix Suns holds the Western Conference Championship trophy as his team looks on after the Suns defeated the LA Clippers in Game Six of the Western Conference Finals at Staples Center on June 30, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. 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 Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 30: Head Coach Monty Williams of the Phoenix Suns holds the Western Conference Championship trophy as his team looks on after the Suns defeated the LA Clippers in Game Six of the Western Conference Finals at Staples Center on June 30, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. 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 Harry How/Getty Images) /
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NBA playoffs (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
NBA playoffs (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /

Top five players without NBA playoffs experience: 4. De’Aaron Fox

De’Aaron Fox is a solid point guard who has continued to get better every year since he was drafted. He’s still a below-average perimeter shooter, but he’s improved his scoring inside of the arc. Always known to be fearless when attacking the rim with a reputation of playing a downhill game, Fox shot a career-high 68.9 percent from within the restricted area this season and 53.9 on two-point field goals. He is one of just five players this season to average at least 25 points and seven assists per game while playing in at least 50 games.

He was gifted with blurring speed that he’s always used in the open court to get the defense on its heels, but it’s the improved body control and strength he’s added that has allowed him to impose his will on defenders and intimidate defenses when he drives to the paint despite his slight 6’3” frame.

Fox has already proved that he has the confidence and mental toughness to take over games when the Kings need him to (although sometimes I question his late-game decision-making). The problem is he plays for the Sacramento Kings, one of these most chaotic and poorly run franchises in all of North American professional sports. For the better part of the last two decades, the franchise has proven to have no real sense of direction, becoming a revolving door for players, coaches, and front office staff alike.

The Kings are owners of the longest active playoff drought in the league, having missed the postseason for 15 consecutive seasons, and it doesn’t look like they’re gonna get over the hump anytime soon. So long as Luke Walton is the head coach anyway. With Fox entering the first of a five-year contract extension he signed with Sacramento worth up to $195 million, it may be a while before we see him in the playoffs.