NBA All-Star Game 2019: All-Star caliber Guards, Part 1

#5 DeAaron Fox

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The rise of De'Aaron Fox as the best player of the 2017 NBA draft from the dormant state that he was in as a rookie is not surprising for fans who followed him from his high school days.

Always projected as one of the best athletes of his class, Fox's speed and ability to make things happen on the break was misused during the 17-18 season, when the Kings played at the league's slowest pace and lined up the likes of Zach Randolph and Vince Carter with regularity. Contrast them for yourself:

2017-18 stats: 11.6 points, 2.8 rebounds, 4.4 assists per game on 41.2% shooting from the field, 30.7% on 3-pointers,

2018-19 stats: 18.0 points, 3.5 rebounds, 7.3 assists per game on 47.4% shooting from the field, 37.9% on 3-pointers

They're playing at the NBA's second-fastest pace this season (104.95 possessions per game), and their backcourt duo of Fox and Buddy Hield has excelled at pushing the pace on a per-possession basis. The sophomore has also developed significantly at attacking the basket in the half-court set, using his spectacular lateral agility to great effect off the dribble and blowing past slower defenders.

Definitely one of the top 3 fastest on-ball players in the NBA alongside John Wall and Westbrook, Fox is already shooting at a better clip than the aforementioned superstars. With a couple of years more under his development, Fox will start playing at perennial All Star levels, make no mistake.