Recently appearing on Draymond Green‘s podcast, De’Aaron Fox recalled being helpless against Stephen Curry in Game 7 of the 2023 opening round of the playoffs. Possibly one of the greatest postseason battles in recent years, the Kings went up against the Warriors, who were the defending champions.
Making the playoffs for the first time since 2006, Sacramento faced Steph Curry and Co. in the first round. Though the Kings had a better record in the regular season , they couldn’t undermine Golden State’s championship DNA. Living up to its hype, the series would go down to the wire, with Curry putting on a spectacle.
Having all the makings of a perfect script, the Warriors-Kings matchup was nothing short of box office. It was marked with several twists and turns, including a suspension for Draymond. Nonetheless, the veteran experience of the Dubs came in handy, sending the Beam Team home.
De’Aaron Fox Opens Up on Stephen Curry’s Historic Game 7
Kings guard Recalls Steph Curry’s 50 Piece
Up 2-0 against the Warriors, Sacramento’s young crew of De’Aaron Fox, Domantas Sabonis, Keegan Murray, and Malik Monk had the edge. However, the Dubs had experience and wisdom on their side, which propelled them to win the next three games.
Heading for a Game 7 at home, the Kings would fall prey to Curry’s shooting prowess, who recorded his career playoff-high 50 points. In his latest interaction with Draymond, Fox opened up on feeling helpless against the Chef despite throwing the kitchen sink at him.
“When I say it was nothing you could do, like we threw the kitchen, we threw the goddamn kitchen at like we didn’t throw the sink, we threw everything that there was in the kitchen at them. There was absolutely nothing you could do. He (Steph) dribbling around four or five people…and one. It was just like a snowball and it’s like bro we trying.”
Averaging 27.4 points, 5.4 rebounds, 7.7 assists, and 2.1 steals, Fox led the Kings in all of those categories against the Warriors except rebounds. In his playoff debut, the 26-year-old gave it all he had, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the championship core of the Warriors.
Chef Curry’s Game 7 Heroics
In one of the greatest Game 7 performances in NBA history, Curry dropped 50 points, eight rebounds, and dished out six assists on 52.6% shooting from the field. The two-time Warriors MVP also became the first player to score 50 points in a Game 7.
Curry was 7-for-18 from the 3-point line, with most of his teammates struggling from the field. However, the four-time champion had help from Kevon Looney, who posted a double-double, which included 21 rebounds. Curry further cemented his case as an all-time great with this performance.
De’Aaron Fox Admitted Lack of Experience Cost Them
Fox, who was playing his career’s first playoff series did not shy away from admitting that the Kings weren’t ready for high-pressure moments.
“We hadn’t been there. We didn’t know how to adjust to the last thing they did. That’s when the series was over.”
Nonetheless, the Kings are a young team and can continue to learn from their experiences. While they’ve had an inconsistent start to the 2024-25 season, they’ve shown glimpses of potential.
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