De’Aaron Fox
De’Aaron Martez Fox, born on December 20, 1997, is an American professional basketball player who currently plays point guard for the San Antonio Spurs in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Known for his elite speed, quickness, and playmaking, Fox has built a reputation as one of the league’s fastest players and a dynamic lead guard. Drafted fifth overall by the Sacramento Kings in 2017, he rose to national prominence with Sacramento before being traded to San Antonio in February 2025.
Early Life and Background
De’Aaron Martez Fox was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, and raised by his parents, Aaron Fox and Lorainne Harris-Fox, alongside a brother named Quentin Fox. Although born in Louisiana, Fox spent his formative years in the Houston area of Texas, where he developed his basketball skills on local courts and through competitive youth leagues. His family environment and his father’s guidance played an important role in shaping his disciplined approach to the game from a young age.
Fox attended Cypress Lakes High School in Cypress, Texas, where he emerged as one of the top high school guards in the country. As a junior, he averaged 23.8 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game, then elevated his production as a senior to 32.1 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game. On two occasions he scored 50 points in a single game, leading Cypress Lakes to three state playoff appearances, including a regional final during his senior year.
On the AAU circuit, Fox played for Houston Hoops in the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League, where he earned EYBL first-team honors and competed alongside future NBA players such as Justin Jackson, Justise Winslow, and Kelly Oubre Jr. He was named a McDonald’s All-American in January 2016, played in the McDonald’s All-American Game, and earned Co-MVP honors at the Jordan Brand Classic alongside future Kentucky teammate Malik Monk. Rated as a five-star recruit and the consensus number six overall prospect in the class of 2016, Fox committed to the University of Kentucky on ESPNU, choosing the Wildcats over Kansas, Louisville, Arizona, and LSU.
Path to Basketball
Fox’s path to elite basketball ran directly through the Houston-area youth scene, where his speed and scoring instincts quickly separated him from his peers. His performances in high school and on the AAU circuit attracted national attention, and by the end of his junior year he was considered one of the most promising point guards in the country. His selection as a McDonald’s All-American confirmed his status as a future professional prospect.
At the University of Kentucky during the 2016-17 season, Fox made an immediate impact under the Wildcats’ coaching staff. He recorded a triple-double of 14 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists against Arizona State, becoming only the second Kentucky player to achieve that feat after Chris Mill in 1988. In the 2017 NCAA Tournament Sweet Sixteen, he erupted for 39 points against UCLA to push Kentucky into the Elite Eight, and he was named SEC Tournament MVP after guiding the Wildcats past Arkansas in the championship game. He earned First-Team All-SEC and SEC All-Freshman Team honors before declaring for the 2017 NBA Draft.
De’Aaron Fox Career
Early Career (2017-2020)
De’Aaron Martez Fox was selected fifth overall by the Sacramento Kings in the 2017 NBA Draft and signed his rookie scale contract in July 2017. He made his NBA debut on October 18, 2017, against the Houston Rockets, finishing with 14 points, 4 rebounds, and 5 assists in 24-plus minutes. During his first two seasons, Fox showed flashes of his long-term potential while the Kings continued their rebuilding process around him.
His breakout came during the 2018-19 season, when he raised his scoring average from 11.6 to 17.3 points per game and his assists from 4.4 to 7.3 per game. On November 1, 2018, Fox notched his first career triple-double with 31 points, 10 rebounds, and 15 assists against the Atlanta Hawks, becoming only the second player after LeBron James in 2005 to record a 30-point triple-double before the age of 21. He finished second in voting for the NBA Most Improved Player Award, behind Pascal Siakam.
Sacramento Kings Breakthrough (2020-2025)
Fox’s ascent into the NBA’s top tier of guards came during the 2022-23 season, when he emerged as one of the league’s most explosive scorers and playmakers. On February 10, 2023, he was named an All-Star for the first time, joining the showcase as a replacement for Stephen Curry and Zion Williamson. On February 24, 2023, he poured in 42 points with 12 assists, 5 rebounds, and 5 steals in a double-overtime win over the Los Angeles Clippers, the second-highest scoring game in NBA history.
That same season, Fox led the Sacramento Kings back to the playoffs for the first time since 2006, opening the series against the Golden State Warriors with 38 points in Game 1. He was named the inaugural NBA Clutch Player of the Year in April 2023, finished the year on the All-NBA Third Team, and led the league in steals during the 2023-24 campaign while continuing to post career highs in scoring. On November 15, 2024, he set a franchise record with 60 points against the Minnesota Timberwolves, then followed it up the next night with 49 points against the Utah Jazz, joining Kobe Bryant and Wilt Chamberlain as the only players to score at least 109 points in a two-day span.
San Antonio Spurs Era (2025-Present)
On February 3, 2025, De’Aaron Martez Fox was traded, alongside Jordan McLaughlin, to the San Antonio Spurs in a three-team deal that sent Zach LaVine and multiple draft picks to the Sacramento Kings. Two days later, Fox debuted for San Antonio with 24 points, 5 rebounds, 13 assists, and 3 steals in a one-point win over the Atlanta Hawks, becoming the first player in Spurs history to record 20-plus points and 10-plus assists in his debut. In 17 appearances, he averaged 19.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 6.8 assists before undergoing season-ending surgery in March 2025 to repair tendon damage in his left pinkie finger.
On August 4, 2025, the Spurs and Fox agreed to a four-year, $229 million maximum contract extension that runs through the 2029-30 season. He was selected to his second NBA All-Star Game in February 2026, and he later reached the NBA Finals with the Spurs, where they fell to the New York Knicks in five games. Despite the Finals loss, Fox’s transition to San Antonio positioned him as a central piece of the franchise’s long-term plans.
Driving Style and Strengths
De’Aaron Martez Fox is widely regarded as one of the fastest players in the NBA, particularly in transition and when attacking from baseline to baseline. Listed at 6 feet 3 inches and 185 pounds, he relies on elite quickness, body control, and leaping ability to finish at the rim and draw fouls. He generates much of his offense out of the pick-and-roll and in the open floor, where his passing vision produces consistent assist opportunities for teammates.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among the defining moments of Fox’s career are his 60-point performance against the Minnesota Timberwolves in November 2024, his inaugural NBA Clutch Player of the Year honor in 2023, and his role in leading the Sacramento Kings back to the playoffs in 2023 after a 16-year absence. He also earned selection to his second All-Star Game in 2026 and reached the NBA Finals in his first full postseason run with the San Antonio Spurs.
De’Aaron Fox Career Wins
De’Aaron Martez Fox has compiled a series of individual accolades and team accomplishments across his professional career, highlighted by two NBA All-Star selections, an All-NBA Third Team nod, and an NBA steals title. He also owns an NCAA-level trophy collection that includes SEC Tournament MVP honors and First-Team All-SEC recognition during his lone season at Kentucky.
Sacramento Kings Highlights
With the Sacramento Kings from 2017 to 2025, Fox’s signature run came during the 2022-23 season, when he earned his first All-Star selection and helped end the franchise’s 16-year playoff drought. He set a Kings single-game scoring record with 60 points against the Minnesota Timberwolves in November 2024, then added 49 points against the Utah Jazz the following night. He was also named Western Conference Player of the Week three times during his tenure in Sacramento.
Other Wins & Performances
Before the NBA, Fox collected high school and AAU honors, including McDonald’s All-American status and Co-MVP honors at the 2016 Jordan Brand Classic. At the University of Kentucky, he was named First-Team All-SEC, SEC All-Freshman Team, and SEC Tournament MVP while leading the Wildcats to the 2017 NCAA Tournament Elite Eight.
De’Aaron Fox Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
De’Aaron Martez Fox was born to his father Aaron Fox and his mother Lorainne Harris-Fox, and he has one brother, Quentin Fox. His parents supported his early athletic development, with his father often crediting Fox’s discipline and daily habits as foundational to his professional career.
Personal Life
Fox married Recee Caldwell in an elaborate ceremony in Malibu, California, in August 2022. The couple welcomed their son, Reign Fox, on February 3, 2023. Fox carries the nicknames “Fox,” “Swipa,” and “Swipa da Fox,” inspired by the character Swiper from the Nickelodeon series Dora the Explorer and his knack for steals.
2025 Season Performance
De’Aaron Martez Fox began 2025 with the Sacramento Kings before being traded to the San Antonio Spurs at the February 3 deadline. In 17 appearances with San Antonio, he averaged 19.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 6.8 assists, highlighted by his record-setting debut performance against the Atlanta Hawks. His season was cut short in mid-March when he underwent surgery to repair tendon damage in his left pinkie finger.
Despite the abbreviated campaign, Fox secured his long-term future by signing a four-year, $229 million maximum contract extension with the Spurs in August 2025. He remained a central figure in San Antonio’s backcourt and offensive identity, providing the team with its franchise point guard for the foreseeable future.
Looking ahead, Fox and the Spurs entered the 2025-26 season focused on building continuity around their new core. His combination of speed, playmaking, and late-game poise positioned him as the offensive engine of a young Spurs team aiming to return to playoff contention and chase a deeper postseason run.