Former Kings guard De’Aaron Fox was cheered and jeered Friday night when he returned to Golden 1 Center for the first time as a member of the San Antonio Spurs.
The reception for Fox during pregame introductions was an even mix of cheers and boos. Fans booed every time he touched the ball during the game. They cheered loudly every time he missed a shot, especially when Keon Ellis blocked his shot midway through the first quarter.
Fox received a standing ovation when the Kings played a tribute video during a first-quarter timeout. Fox appeared to be touched by the response as he smiled and waved to the crowd.
Earlier in the day, Fox said he had been greeted warmly since returning to Sacramento on Thursday.
“For people I’ve come across already, it’s been a lot of love and I really appreciate that,” Fox told reporters following Friday’s morning shootaround. “Obviously I was 19 years old when I got here. I was welcomed with open arms. I definitely appreciate the time that I had here.”
Interim Kings coach Doug Christie said he hoped the reception for Fox in Sacramento would be “always love,” but he noted that “the business aspect of our game gets in the way sometimes.”
Christie did not hesitate when asked about Fox’s legacy in Sacramento.
“I think Foxy’s legacy is one of the greatest players that’s played in a Sacramento Kings uniform,” Christie said. “From when I met him when he first came here, to watching him play, to having conversations with him, to watching him grow into an All-Star, I’m super proud of and for him.”
The Kings chose Fox out of Kentucky with the No. 5 pick in the 2017 NBA draft. He spent almost eight seasons in Sacramento before he was traded to San Antonio on Feb. 3 in a three-team deal that brought Zach LaVine to Sacramento while sending Kevin Huerter to the Chicago Bulls.
Fox was named an All-Star and an All-NBA Third Team selection for the first time in 2023 after leading the Kings to the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference. He helped the organization end the longest playoff drought in NBA history after 16 consecutive losing seasons.
Fox shared a moment with former Kings general manager Vlade Divac during his pregame warmups. He also exchanged hugs and handshakes with former coaches and teammates. That included assistant coach Luke Loucks, who was coaching his final game with the Kings before leaving to become head coach at Florida State.
As Fox made his way toward the locker room after warmups, he stopped for several minutes to sign dozens of autographs for fans. Many fans showered Fox with adulation while others heckled him from a distance.
“It’s part of the process that when you are someplace, especially (as long as Fox was in Sacramento), there’s a lot of love and respect that goes with that, but when you rip a scab off there’s a lot of pain that goes with that, too,” Christie said. “I think both sides have to understand that.”