De'Aaron Fox Stats: Why the Mid-Range King is Tearing Up the League

De'Aaron Fox Stats: Why the Mid-Range King is Tearing Up the League

If you’ve watched a San Antonio Spurs game lately—or kept tabs on the Sacramento Kings before the blockbuster mid-season trade in 2025—you know that the box score rarely tells the whole story of De'Aaron Fox. People love to talk about his speed. Sure, he's basically a human blur. But the real meat of the De'Aaron Fox stats conversation right now isn't just about how fast he runs; it’s about how he’s mastered the art of the "slow down" to become one of the most efficient scoring guards in the modern era.

Honestly, it’s wild to look at where he started. Back in his rookie year (2017–18), he was averaging a modest 11.6 points per game. Fast forward to the 2024-25 season split between Sacramento and San Antonio, and he was putting up 25.0 points with the Kings before seeing a slight usage shift after moving to Texas. Currently, in the 2025-26 season, Fox is settling into a sweet spot with the Spurs, averaging 21.0 points and 5.9 assists through his first 28 games.

The Mid-Range Renaissance

Most of the league is obsessed with the three-point line. Not Fox. Well, he shoots them—hitting about 34.1% from deep this season—but his bread and butter is that nasty 10-to-16-foot area. If you look at the shot charts, he’s taking about 21.6% of his attempts from that mid-range distance. He's making over 51% of those. That’s elite. It's basically a layup for him at this point.

He’s not just a "fast break" guy anymore.

You've got to appreciate the footwork. In the 2025-26 season, his Effective Field Goal percentage (eFG%) is sitting at 55.1%. For a 6'3" guard who lives inside the arc, that’s incredibly difficult to maintain. He’s essentially become a professional "tough shot" maker.

Why the 60-Point Game Changed Everything

We have to talk about November 16, 2024. If you missed it, you missed a masterclass. Fox dropped 60 points on the Minnesota Timberwolves.

60.

In a single game.

He broke the Kings' franchise record, surpassing legends like Jack Twyman and DeMarcus Cousins. He shot 22-of-35 from the floor. The most telling part of that game? He only made six threes. That means he absolutely decimated one of the best defenses in the league by attacking the paint and the mid-post. It was the moment everyone realized Fox wasn't just an All-Star; he was a Tier 1 offensive engine.

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Defensive Growth Nobody Noticed

People used to call him a "traffic cone" on defense. That's harsh. It's also no longer true.

In 2023-24, Fox actually led the NBA in steals. He’s maintained that pesky energy. This season, he’s averaging 1.4 steals per game. His defensive rating (DRTG) is hovering around 113.8, which, while not All-Defensive Team level, is a far cry from the liability he was early in his career. He’s using that elite speed to jump passing lanes rather than just chasing guys around screens.

The Clutch Gene is Real

Remember when the NBA introduced the Clutch Player of the Year award in 2023? Fox won the inaugural trophy for a reason.

The stats backed it up then, and they still do. In "clutch" situations—last five minutes, score within five points—his usage rate spikes to over 35%. He wants the ball. More importantly, he knows what to do with it. This year with San Antonio, his "clutch" shot share is up to 11.6%, proving that even on a new team with a superstar like Victor Wembanyama, the ball still finds Fox when the lights are brightest.

Breaking Down the 2025-26 Season (So Far)

Let’s look at the raw production for this current campaign:

  • Games Played: 32 (as of mid-January 2026)
  • Points Per Game: 20.4
  • Assists Per Game: 5.8
  • Rebounds Per Game: 4.2
  • Field Goal Percentage: 46.9%
  • Free Throw Percentage: 79.7%

It’s a bit of a transition year. Going from being "The Guy" in Sacramento to a co-pilot role in San Antonio means fewer shots, but better looks. His assist-to-turnover ratio is a solid 2.1, showing he's taking better care of the rock than in his younger days when he’d occasionally dribble into a crowd with no plan.

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What’s Next for Fox?

If you're a fantasy manager or just a box-score watcher, keep an eye on his free-throw attempts. He’s currently at 4.6 attempts per game, which is slightly down from his peak. If he gets back to being aggressive at the rim—where he shoots a staggering 66.7% in the 0-3 foot range—those scoring averages will jump back into the 25+ range easily.

Fox is in his prime. He’s 28 years old. The speed is still there, but the IQ has finally caught up.

To really track his value, watch his "On-Off" splits. The Spurs are currently +2.6 points better per 100 possessions when Fox is on the floor. That’s the "winner" stat that doesn't always show up on a highlight reel but keeps him in the conversation for the best point guards in the Western Conference.

How to Use These Stats for Your Advantage

If you're looking to dive deeper into the De'Aaron Fox stats for fantasy or betting, focus on his performance against "drop" coverages. Teams that let him get to his spot in the mid-range are getting burned.

Next Steps for Analysis:

  1. Check his home/road splits; Fox historically shoots about 3% better at home.
  2. Monitor his usage rate in the fourth quarter, which is currently the highest on the Spurs roster.
  3. Watch the chemistry with Wembanyama—as their pick-and-roll frequency increases, Fox's assist numbers are projected to climb toward 7.5 per game.