Kings’ De’Aaron Fox Discusses Decision To Hold Off On Extension

Kings point guard De’Aaron Fox had the opportunity to sign a three-year, $165MM extension this past offseason, but chose to put off contract talks until the 2025 offseason.

Fox will be eligible for a bigger payday in 2025. His maximum standard extension at that time would be worth a projected $229MM over four years. He could also qualify for a super-max extension worth up to $345MM over five years if he earns an All-NBA spot this season.

While Fox’s decision to bypass an extension this year was considered at least somewhat financially motivated, he also made it clear in an October interview that while he loves playing in Sacramento, he wants to make sure the Kings are committed to “competing at a high level” and “not just fighting for a playoff spot.”

The star guard reiterated that stance in the latest episode of Green’s podcast (YouTube link) when the Warriors forward asked him why he decided not to extend his contract this year.

“It has all to do with just the team, the organization,” Fox said (hat tip to RealGM). “Where are we going? I want to make sure that we’re in a position to try to win in the future because that’s ultimately what I want to do. I know I’ll make enough money regardless of where I play or what I do, I’m going to be fine. God forbid, knock on wood, you have a career-ending injury. But aside from that, I feel like I’m continuing to get better as a player every year.

“But for me, it’s: Are we looking like we’re continuing to get better year after year and are we going to be able to compete at a high level? … If we can show that this year, you sign an extension now. If not, obviously I still have another year, but that’s where my mindset is. At some point, will we be able to compete for a championship or really compete at a high level for a long time? That’s where I’m at.

“I love the city. I love being here and I’ve raised my family here. We’ve got the kids’ grandparents here. I would love to be here and retire here. How many people can say they played for one organization for their whole career? I want to be a part of that select few people, but at the end of the day I also want to win.”

After finishing in the lottery in each of Fox’s first five NBA seasons, the Kings won 48 games and snapped a 16-year postseason drought in 2022/23. However, the club was eliminated in the first round of the playoffs and then failed to make it out of the play-in tournament in ’23/24 after winning 46 regular season games.

Sacramento’s front office showed in the offseason that it wasn’t willing to stand pat and hope for internal improvement — the team went out and acquired six-time All-Star DeMar DeRozan via sign-and-trade, awarding him a three-year, $73.7MM contract.

However, the Kings have struggled to string together wins this fall and currently have a 13-14 record, making them the No. 12 seed. They’re 1.5 games back of the No. 10 Lakers for the final play-in spot, though they’re just two games behind the No. 6 Suns for the final guaranteed playoff spot in a congested Western Conference.

There’s an expectation that the Kings will return to the trade market ahead of the February 6 deadline, armed with Kevin Huerter, Trey Lyles, and future draft picks as potential trade chips as they look to further upgrade their roster. While Fox didn’t explicitly call for the front office to continue making moves, his comments to Green suggest he certainly wouldn’t be opposed to it.

“They know I’m going to give all I got, but at the end of the day the organization has also got to give all they got,” Fox said. “That’s where we are right now.”

Fox’s current contract pays him about $34.8MM this season and $37.1MM next season before expiring in 2026. He can’t sign an extension during the current season, but will become extension-eligible again next summer.