De'Aaron Fox is hoping to change the narrative surrounding his Sacramento Kings, and he could do so as soon as his second season in the league. Fox has taken a major step forward following his rookie year, now leading a team that sits one game back of the No. 8 spot in the Western Conference:

“I’ve always been a winner regardless of where I’ve been, as far as college, AAU, middle school basketball, high school basketball. My team has always been able to find a way to win,” De'Aaron Fox told Marc J. Spears of The Undefeated. “Why can’t it be different here? We’re not at the highest level yet, but we’ve always seen guys turn teams and turn franchises around. So, I’ve always thought, ‘Why not, why not, why not?’ Let me be that guy.”

Fox hasn't only morphed his game into a more effective one, but also the collective culture around his team, now boasting an air of confidence and a positive mentality that no longer feels out of contention:

“A lot of young guys just want to be able to feel that playoff atmosphere,” said De'Aaron Fox. “People always ask after big games, ‘Does that feel like the playoffs?’ I’m like, ‘I’ve never played in the playoffs. I don’t know what the playoffs feel like.’ But that’s something that I definitely want just to get my feet wet with.”

The Kentucky product is averaging a much-improved 17.2 points, 3.7 rebounds, 7.2 assists and 1.7 steals in his second campaign, proving to be a large reason why this Kings team now has playoff aspirations.

The acquisition of Harrison Barnes before the trade deadline served as a double down from ownership, who clearly wants success now, not later — much to the pleasure of Kings fans.