De'Aaron Fox

Nearly two weeks had passed since De’Aaron Fox stole the show, declawing the Minnesota Timberwolves’ defense during a franchise record-setting 60-point masterpiece. As confirmed through a long-established nickname, though, it certainly wouldn’t be the only thing the Sacramento Kings’ All-Star guard set his sights on swiping. Finding his speedy-yet-controlled playstyle to be a perfect fit in November 27, 2024’s rollercoaster-like clash, Fox — perhaps aware of Naz Reid’s need to quickly pass to avoid a five-second violation — channels free safety skills, poking the basketball free of Anthony Edwards’ grasp. Built for the challenge of a steal-and-score sequence within a two-second span, Fox carefully spins his momentum rim-bound before softly floating in a buzzer-beating, deficit-cutting layup. As fate would have it, “Swipa” wasn’t done pickpocketing, as he helped the Kings loot a come-from-behind victory through a game-closing 29-6 run. The see-saw clash saw the Kings lead by 14, then trail by 12, only to ultimately win by 11. Illustrating his greatest traits throughout, the crunchtime assassin closed with 26 points (on 10-of-22 shooting), eight rebounds, eight assists, two steals, and three 3-pointers.