Fox ready for emotional Sacramento return, first game vs. Kings

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Fox ready for emotional Sacramento return, first game vs. Kings originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SACRAMENTO – De’Aaron Fox is about as familiar with Sacramento as anyone, but something felt different Thursday when he arrived at the place he once called home.

“The first thing that was strange was going to The Sawyer [Hotel],” Fox said after Spurs shootaround Friday morning at Golden 1 Center. “I’ve never stayed a night there before. That was definitely the weirdest part for me.”

Fox spent seven-and-a-half years in California’s state capital during his time with the Kings, but he was used to driving about 25 miles east to his Carmichael home after practices and games.

Friday’s shootaround was the first time he stepped foot into Golden 1 Center as a member of the San Antonio Spurs. While he’ll use humor and have a lighthearted attitude toward the matter, it’s undoubtedly bound to be an emotional return Friday night.

“For people that I’ve come across already, it’s been a lot of love and I really appreciate that,” Fox said. “I was 19 years old when I got here and I was welcomed with open arms. So I definitely appreciate the time that I had here.

“I was raised here. From a really young man to a young man who’s now raising a family. I appreciate the time that I had here, I had a lot of fun here. So it’s definitely not something that I take for granted.”

After wanting to spend his entire NBA career with the Kings and truly believing he would, things quickly changed for Fox and the only professional basketball organization he had known. He was traded to San Antonio, his preferred destination, on Feb. 3 in a three-team deal that also brought two-time NBA All-Star Zach LaVine from the Chicago Bulls to the Kings.

While there have been rumors and plenty of chatter since Fox’s departure regarding why or how it came about, he is ready to put the talk behind him and just focus on basketball.

“I spoke my piece, so I’m done talking about it,” Fox said. “I’m excited to be here playing in front of this fanbase again and see people that I know and love.”

Fox is unsure what to…

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/article/fox-ready-emotional-sacramento-return-161358794.html

Author : NBC Sports BayArea

Publish date : 2025-03-07 16:13:00

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