Fantasy Basketball Risers 2. De’Aaron Fox carries momentum from last season.
No, last year’s strong finish wasn’t an aberration — Sacramento Kings point guard De’Aaron Fox is making significant strides thanks in part to the more cohesive team construct around him. If it holds, this will be Fox’s most productive season by far, averaging 27.8 points, 7.2 rebounds, 5.6 assists, one steal and 0.8 blocks per contest on career-best efficiency on field goals (55%) and 3-pointers (39.3% on 5.6 attempts).
Given his history as a player, it’s hard to say whether this is a genuine step forward in his shooting efficiency or if it’s a hot start waiting to even out. One aspect working in his favor is that he’s not the sole playmaker for the team anymore now that Domantas Sabonis, a skilled post-passer and operator from the elbows, can set him up for easier looks.
This hasn’t taken away from Fox’s usage rate either, so this assistance is more ‘in addition to’ than ‘instead of.’ Therefore, even if he doesn’t shoot this well forever, Fox is going to have a big year for a Kings team with a legitimate shot at the Play-In Tournament. Those who decided to draft him coming off last year’s excellent growth are being rewarded handily.