De’Aaron Fox Denies Rumor He Met With Kings Owner Amid Trade Rumors: ‘That Wasn’t True’

NBA star De’Aaron Fox denied a rumor that he met with Sacramento Kings owner Vivek Ranadive. 

“That wasn’t true,” Fox told The Sacramento Bee. “I haven’t talked to Vivek.”

News 4 San Antonio’s Dusty Garza tweeted Thursday that Ranadive was flying to Oklahoma City for a sit-down dinner with Fox, adding: “I’m told he’s on a mission to convince Fox to stay in Sacramento.”

Fox did not sign an extension with the Kings in the offseason. All signs point toward the Kentucky product getting traded soon. 

Fox hasn’t requested a trade from the Kings, but he prefers to get traded to the San Antonio Spurs. 

One of the best players in the NBA, Fox is averaging 25.1 points, 5.0 rebounds and 6.2 assists this season while shooting 46.8% from the field, 32.1% from beyond the arc and 82.9% from the free-throw line. He’s making $34.8 million.

“Bottom line here is the Kings seem to know Fox isn’t going to re-sign with them,” a league executive told ESPN. “That’s clarifying, and now they can be a first mover and do it at a time when they can get the best deal. This is how Utah played things with Donovan Mitchell a few years ago. They got out ahead of it and generated a bidding war.”

Fox has career averages of 21.5 points, 3.9 rebounds and 6.1 assists. He was the fifth overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft. 

“Fox did not sign an extension in the offseason and has been less engaged than usual during the season, sources said,” NBA insider Brian Windhorst of ESPN wrote. “Matters were worse when coach Mike Brown was fired, which put undeserved blame on Fox and only increased the displeasure.”

The Spurs and Kings have spoken about a Fox trade. However, no deal is close. 

Sacramento made the playoffs in 2023, losing to the Golden State Warriors in the first round in seven games. Fox has only made the postseason once.