Influence. A word that’s quite relevant in the world of sports. Of course, the NBA isn’t an exception, because the longer a player stays in a team, the more important he becomes. Just like Giannis Antetokounmpo’s influence in the Milwaukee Bucks, that’s been a massive talk recently. But for once if we turn our heads towards the Sacramento Kings, then De’Aaron Fox might have a similar influence on the team.

Allegedly, Fox may or may not be responsible for Kings’ HC Mike Brown’s untimely exit from the team. Speaking on FanDuel TV’s Run It Back, ex-Clippers star Lou Williams narrated a story. And it was about the rumored rift between Coach Brown and the 27-year-old star point guard. He said: “So I’m hearing there was just some pushback from how De’Aaron Fox was continuously being singled out, you know, whether it was publicly or behind the scenes, or the players just didn’t agree with that sentiment.”

De’Aaron Fox disputed the idea he had issues with head coach Mike Brown or helped to orchestrate Brown’s ouster. However, there has to be a starting point for such a controversial narrative. Surely, there has to be an epicenter for Lou Williams’ story.

Meanwhile, this story doesn’t sit well with De’Aaron Fox. The Sacramento Kings’ star boy immediately reposted the tweet and quoted: “There was never any pushback about anything. This narrative of us butting heads or me going to management saying anything is bulls**t. So you can run with that if you want to.”

In December, Rich Paul (Fox’s agent) met Kings execs to discuss their vision as De’Aaron Fox eyes free agency in 2026. Days later, Sacramento parted ways with coach Mike Brown. Reports revealed tensions, with Brown’s intense approach—publicly and privately challenging players like Fox—sparking unrest.

However, given the way Fox reacted to the HC’s firing, one might say it was unbelievably cold. And well, who knows, this might have sparked the rift story.

De’Aaron Fox broke the ice with a chillingly composed response to Mike Brown’s firing

The Sacramento Kings star De’Aaron Fox finds no reason for the roster to feel “guilty” following Mike Brown’s removal from the team. “I wouldn’t use the word ‘guilt,'” Fox said on Saturday. “That’s the nature of the job that we have. Obviously, him signing his extension this summer, we thought we would be together a whole lot longer.”

Fox added: “But that’s the decision that they made. But at the end of the day too, he’s still getting paid. A great part of being an NBA player, being an NBA coach is those things can happen, but contracts are guaranteed.”

Anthony Slater and Sam Amick of The Athletic revealed that Mike Brown’s stern pressers had begun to grate on players. His final jab? A sharp critique of Fox’s late-game defense in a crushing 114-113 loss to the Pistons. Questions linger about De’Aaron Fox’s role or influence in shaping Coach Brown’s unusual fate.

Thus there remains a big cloud of doubt around why the Kings fired Mike Brown. At the same time, De’Aaron Fox’s strong opposition to Lou Williams’ story is screaming one clarification, and that is, that he had nothing to do with Monte McNair and the front office’s sudden decision. Now the question is: What is the real story behind all of this?