After the NBA play-in games and Game 1 of the playoffs, there are mixed emotions. The Warriors, Kings, Bulls, and Hawks, the four teams from both conferences ranked ninth and tenth, failed to create miracles in the play-in games. Now, they can only watch the playoffs on TV, which is not a pleasant feeling.
In the first round of the playoffs, Edwards led his team to defeat Durant’s Suns. Despite the regular season record of 3 wins and 0 losses, everything starts anew in the playoffs. As for the Lakers, even with LeBron and AD giving their all, they couldn’t beat the Nuggets. Two points stood out: LeBron seemed to show his age in the fourth quarter, failing to convert simple layups, and the Nuggets showed their strength, with their starting five combining for 97 points with only 4 turnovers.
Additionally, without Giannis, the Bucks only led the Pacers by a maximum of 30 points, while Lillard scored 35 points in the first half, setting a record. The Clippers, who had been uncertain due to Kawhi’s absence in Game 1, still managed to win against the Mavericks at home, despite a dismal performance in the second quarter, scoring only 8 points.
Now, let’s look at some off-court matters. According to ESPN salary expert Bobby Marks, if Kings guard De’Aaron Fox makes any All-NBA Team this year (regardless of the position), he will be eligible to sign a 4-year, $267.5 million contract extension with the Kings this summer.
But wait, there’s more. If Fox is selected for an All-NBA Team next season, it would trigger the veteran designated player provision, allowing him to sign a 5-year, $346 million supermax contract in 2025, potentially making it the largest contract in history. Fox must be itching for this opportunity!
Currently, Fox’s contract is not too hefty, at $163 million over 5 years, expiring in two years. His salary next year would be approximately $37.1 million, still less than Klay’s. This season, Fox led the Kings to a 46-36 record, placing ninth in the Western Conference. In the play-in round, they defeated the Warriors but lost to the Pelicans, missing out on the playoffs.
It’s unfortunate that after defeating the formidable Warriors, they lost to the Pelicans. Fox played 74 games this season, averaging 35.9 minutes, with 26.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, 5.6 assists, and 2.03 steals per game. His shooting percentages are 46.5% from the field, 36.9% from three-point range, and 73.8% from the free-throw line, with the first two being career highs.
With an average of 2.03 steals per game, Fox narrowly beat out Alexander to claim the steals title for the season. Both players had 150 steals, but Fox played one less game than Alexander.
In ESPN reporter Lowe’s All-NBA Team predictions, Fox was left out. Regarding guards, the first team includes Alexander and Doncic; the second team comprises Brown and Leonard; and the third team consists of Curry and Booker. Leonard being listed as a guard is somewhat unusual.
In my opinion, Fox has a chance to make the third or even second team. At least, Booker seems a bit lackluster in comparison. The Kings had three wins against the Lakers this season, and facing Davis, LeBron looked like a cat facing a mouse. If the Nuggets are the Lakers’ top nemesis, then the Kings are the second. Fox is definitely worth a max contract!