The Sacramento Kings have seen their playoff chances reduced to near-rubble after a tough post-All-Star schedule has put them six games back of the eighth spot in the Western Conference. Yet point guard De'Aaron Fox, a large reason for their recent surge as potential playoff contenders, is encouraged the team has found its identity.
“This is a foundational year because we were able to establish something,” Fox said, according to Paul Flannery of SB Nation. “Everybody knows when you play the Kings you’re going to play fast. We’re going to get you out of your comfort zone. We’ve established ourselves as being here. It was a laughingstock the last couple of years, and now that we’ve had this season people’s eyes are opening and starting to take Sacramento serious.”
The Kings had long been the laughing stock of the league, but that started to change this season, as Fox and company took down a handful of big names throughout the season, showing they've turned the page on the ridicule they once used to be.
Fox's clear progress from his rookie season to this second one has been a notorious one, an improvement that clearly has helped spearhead the Kings to the run-and-gun monster they've become in the West. The Kentucky product is now in the race for Most Improved Player award, along with backcourt partner Buddy Hield and several other deserving candidates.
“A lot of people say it’s expected (of a high pick), but if you make the improvement it doesn’t matter if it’s expected or not,” Fox says. “It’s improvement. It’s whatever with the award. If I win it, cool. If I don’t win it, cool. I just want to help my team win.”
The Kings will likely miss out on the playoffs, but even if they do — this season isn't lost just yet — bur rather part of a foundational process every contender must experience before making the leap to becoming playoff-bound.
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