Kings guard De’Aaron Fox has been named the Western Conference Player of the Week, while Magic forward Franz Wagner has won the award for the East, the NBA announced on Monday (via Twitter).
Although Sacramento only went 2-2 during the week of November 11-17, Fox had a phenomenal four games individually, averaging 40.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 7.3 assists and 2.0 steals on .574/.571/.810 shooting in 37.1 minutes per contest. He scored a career-high 60 points in Friday’s overtime loss to Minnesota and followed that up with 49 points in Saturday’s win over Utah, becoming just the third player in NBA history to score at least 109 points in back-to-back games.
Fox is averaging a career-best 28.9 PPG, which ranks sixth in the league, through 14 games. After leading the NBA with 2.0 steals per game in ’23/24, he’s currently seventh this season at 1.8 per contest. The Kings hold an 8-6 record.
Wagner, a 23-year-old forward from Germany, also had a terrific week. He averaged 30.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, 5.7 assists and 2.0 steals while only turning the ball over three times in three home victories (36.5 MPG). He posted a shooting line of .458/.357/.889. The Magic have won five straight and, like the Kings, are currently 8-6.
According to the NBA (Twitter link), the other nominees in the West were Stephen Curry, Anthony Davis, LeBron James, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, Alperen Sengun and Shaedon Sharpe. Wagner, who was also nominated for the award last week, beat out Giannis Antetokounmpo, Cade Cunningham, Dyson Daniels, Darius Garland, Donovan Mitchell, Jayson Tatum and Karl-Anthony Towns in the East.
42 FTA in those 4 games, with a 2-2 record should NEVER mean a player is the best player of the week SMH
What’s wrong with the high number of free throws? You think the Sacramento Kings are getting favorable whistles from the refs in games now?
That’s never been the case, they’ve always faced an uphill battle and I don’t think that has changed this year suddenly.
Perhaps Fox is being coached properly and taught to beat his man, as he frequently does, off the dribble, and going to the hole for fouls?
Maybe the coaching is great over there in Sacramento? Mike Brown’s pretty good ya know.
I’m definitely not a Kings fan but I do recognize great players here and there. Kudos to Fox for bringing a little recognition to himself and in turn, the Kings.
Gary, you havent seen the light. Let me shine it on for you:
Shai, Fox, Harden, Russ = good players who use a cheat code to get 10+ FTAs a game that Steph Curry DOES NOT GET FOR DOING THE EXACT SAME PLAYS.
Fox averages 1.2 FTA/game more than Stephy for their careers. That’s not really a difference.
Sure, a small sample size makes it look like a massive difference, but that’s 4 games. Stephy probably weeks like that too.
Games of 10+ FT ATT, career:
S Curry: 63 across 15+ seasons
D Fox: 66 across 7+ seasons so far
S Gilgeous-Alexander: 97 across 6+ seasons
If you cant see that this is the league refs conspiring against Curry, I don’t know what to tell you. Steph drives the lane at least 5-10 times a game and never gets a call, but these frauds all get that single touch-foul or even worse, a kick-your-legs-out-so-it-touches-the-guard foul.
Okay, Steph never gets call. The myopia is strong with you.
Also: who calls him “Stephy”? Weirdo ish, tbh…
Also: hating on Podz. Weirdo ish tbh…
Also: man loving Moody. Weirdo ish tbh…
Little baby Stephy never gets a call so he throws a tantrum, like a toddler.
Don’t complain he might be a warrior next season.
Haha that’s funny and might come true, because of his shoe deal
Hater
Its great to see De’Aaron Fox turning it up a notch when his team needs him. I thought this a couple years now that he is just an unguardable guy out there especially now that he can hit the three-point shot regularly.
You are at his mercy when he has the ball and you just hope he cools off at some point. His quickness, his Drive and mental toughness… I just hope he stays healthy and we can enjoy watching him play. What a superstar he is becoming.
2-2 record, cool .500 player you got there. Steph is 10000x better.
What?
Interesting seeing Franz being amazing without Banchero, they have to find a way to utilize Franz better with Paolo and understand they got two no1 guys and not a 1/2 situation.
Orlando is going to be a VERY good team when both those two are playing. I think they need a guy like Klay Thompson but I like what they’re doing. Paolo is easily the most underrated star in the league.
Davey you’re right and I think that’s why they went after the guard from Denver. Great defense and great shooting. They were really short in the guard Department. Too bad they didn’t get the Kentavious from 2 years ago when he was a little bit better and younger.