11:58am: Fox suffered a moderate right ankle sprain and is expected to miss some time, tweets Shams Charania of The Athletic. Sources tell Marc J. Spears of Andscape that the guard could return within a week (Twitter link).
7:59am: The Kings are determining the severity of an ankle injury that De’Aaron Fox suffered late in Sunday’s win over the Lakers, writes Jason Anderson of The Sacramento Bee. A league source told Anderson that the team’s medical staff was examining Fox after the game and an update will be provided once the extent of the damage is clear.
The All-Star guard hurt his right ankle late in the fourth quarter, but returned to the court for the start of overtime despite being told to remain on the bench, according to Anderson. Head coach Mike Brown pulled him from the game after about 90 seconds, saying he was “limping really bad,” but he admires Fox’s toughness for attempting to play.
“(Fox) is tough as nails, man,” Brown said. “To try to show the grit that he showed and get out there to help us win a ballgame, that just speaks volumes to who he is and how much he wants to lay his body on the line to help his team.”
Fox was injured on a drive to the basket when he stepped on Gabe Vincent’s foot and rolled his right ankle. He remained on the ground for two to three minutes, Anderson states, then limped to the locker room with trainers before quickly returning to the team’s bench.
Fox checked back into the game and led a comeback that put Sacramento in front, but the Lakers forced overtime on a layup by LeBron James. Fox wasn’t supposed to stay in the game for the extra session, and Brown wasn’t aware that he was on the court until it was too late.
“So I started calling him, and he’s ignoring me,” Brown said. “He felt he could go, so he stayed on the floor, and then when I felt he really couldn’t go, we took him out.”
Anderson points out that Fox missed 17 games during the 2019/20 season with a Grade 3 sprain to his left ankle. The Kings have to hope the news isn’t as bad this time, as a prolonged absence would be a significant obstacle in what’s expected to be a tight Western Conference playoff race. Fox scored 37 points Sunday night, including 13 in the fourth quarter, and is averaging 31.3 points, 4.3 rebounds and 6.0 assists through three games.
One thing about Fox is nobody can guard him with his quickness. From what I see on the court he is the young Curry on offense.
Honestly, I see him as young Dwayne Wade with a 3pt shot. Just smaller. He won’t be as good as Wade on defense, but his clutch scoring and ability to leave people in his dust or make an instant stop and pop is so like Wade.
Reason I compare him to Curry is because how tough he is to guard. If he played in NY he would be a top 10 player in the NBA. His 3 pt shooting is improving so he is the next all star for many years.
Makes sense. I said Wade because the way he plays isn’t like Curry. Curry’s always been a skill over tools guy (which is why he’s still the same caliber player from his prime in his mid-30s). Fox reminds me of “The Flash” in his best years.
Why would playing in NY make him a top 10 player? He is already the main scoring option on the kings and Mike Brown challenging him really is the reason for his ascension. Don’t get the NY reference. Please explain.
It’s called the Tony Gwynn syndrome.
Greater media attention. You play in NY, you get a spotlight. Same with LA. Happens for every sport.
yea i get the increased media exposure, but media attention doesn’t make a top 20-25 player, which fox already is, into a top 10 player. joker, lillard, booker, giannis don’t play in big media markets but are still top 10 players.
sorry, just don’t agree with that take.
rober, you’re absolutely right I guess Arc is just exaggerating a little bit.
But, I would agree with him that Fox doesn’t get nearly the recognition he deserves. The guy is a player and with that three-point shot now he’s practically unguardable.
Ask any east coast fan who is better Fox or Brunson. I can bet you most think Brunson is better because of the NY exposure when its Fox.
arc2, alright, i was done commenting but need to rebute another silly response.
so last i checked, fox was an all-star AND 3rd team all-nba. brunson? not even all-star. he might have got snubbed, but he was in NY…the best media attention in the world right, but still didn’t make it. where’s that NY exposure advantage you talking about?
and i can say the same thing as you…ask any west coast fan who is better fox or brunson.
just admit that NY exposure theory is wrong and move on.
Between 2005-2011 Dwyane Wade had to have been one of the toughest assignments for opposing defenders to guard in league history. He was very fast, could stop on a dime, could get to the rack at will along with a killer mid-range and was an underrated passer.
If all that failed Wade himself was an elite defender.
Fox is playing well right now. The Kings all know it’s Fox, Sabonis and everybody else is a role guy. If they can figure out how to add one more bona fide dude to their guys they will be dangerous.
Lakers are gonna fall apart at some point during the season. LeBron continues to refuse to abide by his minutes limitation. He played 40 minutes with overtime last night.
Gabe Vincent played 31 minutes, scored 2 points, had 2 assists and no rebounds …. In 31 minutes. Max Christie is getting no minutes. That’s a problem if Gabe is gonna do this regardless of his contract.
They may already have that other bona-fide dude in Keegan Murray. He has more potential that he’s starting to show.
Wasn’t it Gabe Vincent’s foot Jason Tatum stepped on and twisted his ankle & the Celtics went on to lose that 7th game against the Heat? And lost that series and a chance at the title.
Gabe played 31 minutes last night & only scored 2 points? Celtics sure made Gabe into a 3-point shooting star in that playoff series. And Caleb Martin as well. Celts have to up their defense against the three this season! Go Celts!
Beach, yes you’re probably right but wow don’t they look fantastic so far? I wasn’t sure about the gamble changing their entire team Focus from Grit to offensive machine, but it’s looking good in the very early going.
Porzingis has played fantastic. Shoots the three well, blocks shots, and kicks the ball when he gets double teamed and doesn’t Force anything. He’s letting the game come to him naturally.
Good coaching, good game plan. Celtics look great so far.