The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

THE Bahamas has been good to De'Aaron Fox.

Fox had one of the best games of his brief collegiate career with the Kentucky Wildcats last season in the Bahamas at the Atlantis Showcase and is now looking forward to the prospect of pairing with Bahamian guard Buddy Hield in Sacramento.

Speaking to a group of international reporters during an online teleconference, powered by Cisco, Fox, the No.5 overall selection by the Sacramento Kings, said that the possibility of playing alongside Hield in the backcourt is the future for the Kings.

"Buddy is a tremendous competitor, he's a great player, a great talent. When he got traded to Sacramento he started playing really well toward the end of the season," Fox said. "I feel like I complement him well. He's a great shooter, a scorer, I can distribute the ball and just help to bring a lot of firepower to the backcourt."

In 25 games for the Kings last season, Hield made 18 starts and averaged 15.1 points and 4.1 rebounds per game while he shot 42 per cent from three-point range.

At the Atlantis, Fox notched just the second triple-double in the history of Kentucky basketball with 14 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists in a blowout win over Arizona State last November.

It marked the second time for Fox playing in the Bahamas after his participation in the Nike EYBL Exhibition game in August 2015.

With his speed, explosiveness and finishing ability, Fox has drawn comparisons to fellow Wildcat John Wall. Naturally, the comparisons have been drawn to Fox and Hield replicating the success that Wall and Bradley have had in Washington.

The immediate takeaway from Fox's demeanour following the draft is his confidence as a floor general.

Fox was the third point guard taken and one of the first five taken in the first nine selections. The other four point guards included Markelle Fultz (Philadelphia 76ers), Lonzo Ball (Los Angeles Lakers), Frank Ntilika (New York Knicks) and Dennis Smith (Dallas Mavericks).

The Kings are in the midst of a rebuild after trading All-Star Center DeMarcus Cousins in February. The team finished with 32 wins, but it was an improvement on recent seasons. The last time the Kings reached the playoffs was in 2006 under head coach Rick Adelman.

Kentucky finished 32-6 and reached the Elite Eight last season and Fox averaged 16.7 points, 4.6 assists and 3.9 rebounds per game.

"For me going into the NBA, I know it's going to be tough to change a team, but for me, I wanted to come in and be able to affect the game right away," Fox said. "A lot of people say I could be a franchise-changer, and that's what I really want to be."