While he never requested a trade, Fox made it clear that he did not want to play for any coach in Sacramento other than Brown, who was fired on Dec. 27 while the team held a 13-18 record. This action by the Kings set an eventual Fox trade into motion.

De’Aaron Fox spent much of his time in Sacramento as the fan favorite and face of the Kings franchise that ended a record-long playoff drought and brought much-needed joy to what had been a downtrodde

The Kings honored the former Kentucky guard with a video tribute before the game, during which fans booed Fox but also cheered.