After having an All-Star-caliber start to the 2022-23 NBA season, Kings guard De’Aaron Fox has gone quiet the last couple of games.
Of course, his impact is more than what a stat sheet shows, but something still has felt off lately about the leader of this rising Kings squad.
It turns out that Fox has been playing through a foot injury that’s been causing him pain and discomfort for more than a month, and an MRI revealed he suffered a bruise to his foot.
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In an exclusive interview with the Sacramento Bee's Jason Anderson, Fox said that he sustained the injury back on Nov. 5 during the Kings’ 126-123 intense overtime win against the Orlando Magic -- yes, the game where his buzzer-beater halfcourt shot won the game.
When asked how much his foot is bothering him, Fox responded: “A lot.”
But it took 15 games and 32 days to go by for Fox to finally say something publicly.
After the Kings’ 126-113 loss to Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks Wednesday night at Fiserv Forum, Anderson noted that Fox was getting medical attention on his right foot.
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While he says he doesn't expect to be sidelined by the injury for Sacramento's matchup against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday, Fox is listed as questionable on the injury report due to foot soreness.
Fox scored just 15 points on 31.3 percent shooting from the field and 16.7 percent from deep in Wednesday's loss.
After starting the season averaging 27.8 points on 55.0 percent shooting from the field and nearly 40 percent from the 3-point line during the first five games of the season, Fox is averaging 15.0 points on 40 percent shooting from the field and 28.6 percent from behind the arc over the last five games.
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While one fan on Twitter suggested Fox's injury is an excuse for his recent play, Fox's wife, Reece, quickly came to his defense and dismissed that notion.
It should be noted that Fox also has been playing through "a bug" and a thumb injury. He said he injured his left thumb in last week's clash against the Indiana Pacers at home and then aggravated it on Wednesday in Milwaukee. He added he's still getting over the illness.
But Fox doesn't want it to be an excuse and plans on doing what he's been doing: Pushing forward.
“I’ve played well while it was hurting, so I’ll be fine,” he said.