De’Aaron Fox coming into his own as a closer

De’Aaron Fox is making a solid case to make the 2023 NBA all-star game. Recently, its seems as if every chance he gets to take the court he steps up and proves once again why he is propelling himself into the NBA’s elite players.

As of January sixth, Fox is doing it when it matters most and that is proven by his standing in the top ten for points per game scored in the 4th quarter. That’s right, Fox is playing as one of the game’s best closers on the season.

That isn’t a shocker, though, when you look at his recent play. Over the last ten games played for all players, Fox jumps up to fifth in the league in fourth-quarter scoring. He is averaging 11.3 points per fourth quarter over that span.

This is bringing the Sacramento Kings more success on the season. They have already impressed many around the league with their early season turnaround under first-year Kings head coach Mike Brown. Behind an elite offense, they began the year winning many more games than anyone outside of the franchise believed they would.

The lack of defense has caught up to them at times, though. In games they shouldn’t be able to win due to their poor defensive effort, Fox is taking over and keeping them alive. Oftentimes, he is doing more than just keeping them alive in those games, he is also playing a key role in getting them the win.

De’Aaron Fox is becoming an elite closer

It will take a longer run and a bigger sample size before De’Aaron Fox is truly cemented among the best closers in the game. If his recent run is anything to go off of, though, it won’t be long before everyone around the NBA knows and recognizes him as one of the absolute best closers in the league.

Although the Kings are just 5-5 in their last ten, things would be much uglier if not for the heroics from Fox in late-game situations. His average of 11.3 points per fourth quarter in those ten games comes behind an eye-popping 58.7 percent shooting from the field.

Not only is he producing, but he is also doing so in a very efficient manner. We’d like to see him get to the free throw line more and that very well could begin happening as he starts earning more of the ‘star’ treatment down the stretch of games.

Still, with his silky smooth mid-range game falling and a knack for coming up clutch, it is becoming increasingly clear that De’Aaron Fox is emerging as one of the best clutch players in the NBA.