The best anyone can say about De’Aaron Fox this season is that he usually came through when it counted.
That’s probably the highest compliment a player can earn, other than carrying his team to the playoffs and being stamped a certified winner. Because “coming through when it counts” means you are trusted with the ball by your coach and teammates and rarely let them down in those moments.
It’s the definition of a clutch player, and that’s what Fox is and has been since the regular season began. The Sacramento Kings’ guard separated himself from most in the league by scoring often, and efficiently, in the final few minutes of close games in regulation and overtime. This is why, if the voters agree, he’ll be the winner of the inaugural Jerry West Clutch Player of the Year Award, named after the former Los Angeles Lakers great who was made for those moments.
It has been a gradual ascent for Fox, who showed promise as a rookie and improved almost across the board as a ball-handler, shooter, passer and leader here at age 25, all while becoming a first-time All-Star in 2022-23. It would not be unexpected if Fox is named to one of the All-NBA teams when those honors are announced this spring after establishing himself as one of the NBA’s best at his position.
But, in the clutch? Sacramento’s growth can be traced to its ability to win tight games, something the young team struggled with last season — and actually for the last decade. In 2021-22, the Kings were 17-23 in clutch games. This season, they practically flipped that, going 25-19 in those games. Anyway: Coach Mike Brown designated Fox as the prime candidate for hero ball shortly before the season began, and Fox repaid the gesture by constantly thriving in these moments.
“When I took the job I didn’t know how consistently he would be in the clutch,” Brown said.
Fox led all NBA players in clutch scoring, as his 194 points were 35 more than the next-highest player (DeMar DeRozan). Additionally, Fox did so with supreme confidence and accuracy, shooting 52.9% overall and 86% from the free throw line in the clutch, showing a steady hand when it mattered most.
Therefore, the poise, leadership and shot-making all factored into Fox being the league’s finest clutch player.
“His presence, calmness, demeanor, however, you want to call it has just been fantastic down the stretch of games, especially one-possession games,” said Brown. “It’s just a confidence that he exudes during that time in the game, and he’s shown play after play after play that he can go get it done.”
There are others deemed worthy of this award as well. While Fox was consistent all season, a handful of players not only had moments but strengthened their case for consideration with a string of clutch games in the second half of the season.
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