De’Aaron Fox will be in familiar territory tonight as the newly acquired San Antonio Spurs guard returns to Northern California. He’ll face his former team, the Sacramento Kings, for the first time since his trade to the Spurs. Fox spent the first seven and a half seasons of his NBA career in Sacramento before making the switch to San Antonio in a blockbuster trade before the February 6th trade deadline. However, his exit from Sacramento was anything but smooth.

Fox had turned down multiple max contract extension offers from the Kings, making it clear that he wouldn’t commit to the franchise unless he was convinced about its future aspirations and plans. One of his top priorities was stability. Having played under four different coaches in his first seven seasons, he wanted then-Kings head coach Mike Brown to remain at the helm. However, despite seeking Fox’s input, the Kings’ upper management decided otherwise and dismissed Brown in an abrupt manner—firing him while he was en route to the airport for an away game. Fox wasn’t even informed beforehand; he learned of the decision while dropping off a package.

“I was like, ‘Yo, I’ve been here for going on my eighth year. If Mike gets fired, I’ll be going on my fifth coach. And I told them, ‘I’m not going to play for another coach. I’m going to play for another team,‘” Fox stated. That was the breaking point for the 27-year-old, who shared a close bond with Brown. From that moment, there was no turning back—he made it crystal clear that he wanted out. Moreover, he wasn’t willing to be shipped just anywhere. He had one destination in mind: the San Antonio Spurs.

Fox’s decision drew criticism from many who accused him of “handcuffing” the Sacramento Kings. . But did that faze him? Not in the slightest. “There was no f***ing list. I wanted to go to San Antonio. A lot of people are mad, saying I handcuffed the team. Well, this is my career. It’s not my job to help build your team. I’m not about to just go where they want me to go,” Fox asserted. Sure enough, his wish was granted. But his cold stance wasn’t limited to the Kings’ management—it extended to his former teammates as well.

“It’s OK not to be close to everybody.”: De’Aaron Fox after unfollowing his former teammate Domantas Sabonis

De’Aaron Fox had a strong relationship with head coach Mike Brown, but that camaraderie didn’t seem to extend to all of his teammates in Sacramento. His demeanor toward them has been notably distant since his departure. When it was reported that Fox had unfollowed his former teammate Domantas Sabonis, many assumed it was a routine move following a trade. However, Fox’s response indicated otherwise.

A fan took to social media to ask Fox about the move. “Why did you unfollow Sabonis?” the fan questioned. To everyone’s surprise, Fox responded bluntly: “Don’t care to see it. Why’s that your problem?” The two exchanged a few words before the fan pressed further, saying, “That’s your boy tho!?” Fox, unfazed, coldly replied, “We were teammates. It’s OK not to be close to everybody.”

The now-deleted exchange made it clear that Fox and Sabonis weren’t particularly close off the court, contrary to what many had believed. Their relationship, it seems, was purely professional—strictly about basketball and nothing more. With Fox’s fallout with the Kings now fully out in the open, it’s evident why his demeanor toward his former teammate has been so indifferent.

As Fox prepares to face his old squad, the stage is set for not just a competitive on-court battle at the Golden 1 Center, but also a fiery reception from Kings fans. With tensions high and emotions lingering, all eyes will be on De’Aaron Fox as he steps onto the court in Sacramento once again.