Not all experiences are the same. Paul George and Chris Paul’s relationship suffered after their on-court spat during a playoff series between the Clippers and the Suns. “Words was thrown out there that shouldn’t be thrown out there between two men,” George described. Kings’ De’Aaron Fox too feels the same way about the mannerisms of CP3. However, the outcome of his interaction with the ‘Point God’ had a sweet ending.

During their most recent matchup, a game before Paul would eventually become the second most decorated creator in NBA history, Fox recalled his conversation with the Spurs PG. It wasn’t hostile. They met at center court after halftime and Paul spared a compliment for the crafty marksman.

“You know, CP an a****le. He don’t care to compliment or nothing like that. So he walks up to me and he’s like, ‘Yo, you like the only point guard that plays defense.’ Like actually come and guards me, come pick me up,” he shared with Draymond Green. At that point, he felt Paul was launching a mental plot to make him timid during the game.

However, after the game, De’Aaron Fox found time to reflect on just how genuine the remark was. Chris Paul, a nine-time All-Defensive member, doesn’t reserve such loaded praise for every next guy. That’s when it hit. “I’m like, you know, CP don’t just walk up to anybody and give them a compliment like that. So, I’m like he really felt that” he said on The Draymond Green Show with Baron Davis.

It’s the embodiment of the pressure that Fox wants to be. He is working towards being “the guy that people don’t want to put you in the action because you blow actions up. And at the end of the day, still on offense being able to get to work.” Chris Paul’s acknowledgment just felt like music to his heart.

How De’Aaron Fox is transforming the Kings’ defense

Over the past few seasons, ever since Sabonis and Fox became distinguished All-Stars, there has only been one drawback about the Sacramento Kings. “We got to be better defensively,” Fox openly admitted. Over the climax of the regular season last year, Mike Brown saw those signs. And this season, it’s been put into full effect.

The Kings are recording their best defensive rating since Brown became the coach in 2022. A lot of the improvement can be alluded to the effort De’Aaron Fox is putting into being a hawk. When matching up against guards, he is holding them to just 41% shooting whereas last season he allowed guards to shoot at 47%.

He’s found a way to utilize his explosive pace to mindfully stay in front of opponents. That tenacity has likely passed on to the entire season. The Kings, as a group, allow opponents to only shoot 46.1% from the floor. At the same time, the one-time All-Star is still a terror to go up against offensively.

He is posting 26.2 points per game on some of his best-efficiency shooting from the floor. A reputed speedster, Fox also scores the second most points from drives (12.3) due to his ability to easily get by his defender. The Kings also average the most points when they have an inventive scorer like Fox on the floor.

Their systems still need some polishing. The Kings are not over the .500 mark this season still adjusting to the introduction of DeMar DeRozan. However, they have played great basketball thus far. The few areas that need attention are far from the major troubles they had these past few seasons.

Despite their ranking, do you think the Kings will be back in the playoffs this season? Let us know your views in the comments below.