De’Aaron Fox and Skal Labissiere have strong start in NBA Las Vegas Summer League

Last week was a big one for De’Aaron Fox. After debuting for the Kings in the Las Vegas Summer League on Friday, the fifth pick in the 2017 draft signed his rookie contract with the team.

Fox has shone in his first two summer league games. While he has struggled to find his range from the three-point line (he has only made one of his six attempts from downtown), Fox’s driving ability and mid-range game have been on full display in his first two outings.

In that first game Fox scored 18 points, shot just under 50% from the floor, and added 3 boards, 4 assists, and a game-high 5 steals in 26 minutes. He got into the paint, put defenders on skates, and played hard defensively. His driving ability impressed the King’s summer league coach Jason March, “He can get into the paint whenever he wants,” said the coach following the first game.

Fox played alongside fellow former Kentucky Wildcats big man Skal Labissiere, the Kings’ first round pick from 2016, who was acquired via trade with the Phoenix Suns. Skal added 10 points, also shot just under 50%, and played all-around ball with 1 assist, rebound, steal, and two blocks, one of which came against the Suns’ first round pick Josh Jackson.

Fox followed up his first game with a relatively even second game yesterday. Still working to dial in the trey, Fox went 1-for-3 behind the arc. However, he totaled 17 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 steals in 30 minutes of play against Memphis.

Fox continued to showcase his speed and defensive capabilities in the follow-up to his debut.

Similarly, Skal had another solid night in his second outing. He put up 13 points on 6-of-12 shooting, hauled in 8 boards, and contributed one assist and one block in the losing effort. He seems to be settling in to the NBA game and is showing off a broader range of skills. Skal is looking to build on the strong finish he put on his rookie season as he heads into his second year.

The Kings are still looking to win their first game in the Las Vegas Summer League. Fox and Labissiere have their third game tonight versus the Lakers. This was supposed to be a rematch between Fox and the Lakers’ number two pick Lonzo Ball, one that was drawing lots of media attention; however, it has been reported that Ball will not be playing tonight due to a groin injury.

Those eagerly anticipating the head-to-head between these two guards will have to wait a little bit longer. Until that day, here are the highlights from their last matchup in the NCAA Tournament:

Even though you won’t be able to see Fox and Ball go head to head, you can still watch tonight’s game at 10:30 PM Eastern time on NBA TV or on the ESPN App.