Twitter (I refuse to call it "X") can be a very valuable resource for those who are interested in learning about the game of basketball. In fact, a lot of the ideas for posts on this website are inspired by stuff we see on that app.
With that said, it is also a toxic place where a lot of harsh/unnecessary comments are dished out to athletes and public figures, and unfortunately, one of our very own was the target of some unfair criticism.
Twitter account calls out De'Aaron Fox
There is so much negativity being spewed around Twitter that there is quite literally an account called "Hater Central." The account focuses on pointing out poor performances authored by NBA (and soccer) players. With nearly 138,000 followers, the account has an extremely wide outreach.
Yesterday, after the Sacramento Kings fell to the New York Knicks (their second straight loss), Hater Central posted this tweet regarding De'Aaron Fox's recent performance:
De’Aaron Fox over last 4 games:
— Hater Central (@TheHateCentral) January 26, 2025
14.2 PPG
28% FG
20% 3PT
WE HAVE A NEW FACE OF HATER CENTRAL…KILLIAN HAYES WITH TRACK SPEED 😈😈😈 pic.twitter.com/Nnjc7DKpha
For those who are unaware, the account is comparing Fox to Killian Hayes, a former 2020 lottery pick who is now out of the league, because the two of them are both lefty guards.
Anyway, the tweet is focusing on Fox's recent struggles. What it fails to account for is that Fox missed three games earlier this month with a glute injury. So, that could still be causing him some discomfort. On top of that, Fox has been dealing with an ongoing thumb injury. The bottom line is that he is clearly unhealthy.
Before the glute injury, Fox was averaging 26.2 PPG and 6.7 APG on 58% true shooting. He was playing at a clear All-Star level – far from anything Hayes ever did in the past.
Even if Fox wasn't battling some physical ailments, it isn't uncommon for a player to go through a multi-game stretch of poor play. Basketball (like all sports) comes with its fair share of highs and lows. There is no doubt that Fox would have eventually broken out of this cold streak and come back stronger than ever.
Haters are going to hate, and sometimes, they are going to do it on Twitter accounts created specifically for throwing shade. But Fox is a much better player than that tweet suggests, and soon, he'll show the owner of that account the All-Star that he is.