3. De’Aaron Fox
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De’Aaron Fox is a versatile threat when it comes to basketball and gaming. As the 5th overall pick in 2017’s NBA Draft, Fox now serves as the starting point guard for the Sacramento Kings. In addition to being a viable member of the Kings, Fox has also been widely recognized as an up-and-coming star to keep a close eye on, with ESPN ranking him as the 25th best player in the NBA.
Off the court, he’s similarly dominant at his other passion, gaming. On Twitch, you can watch “Swipa the Fox” dig into everything from NBA 2K to Need for Speed, Fortnite, and Dragon Ball FighterZ. According to Fox’s father, all the time he spent playing NBA 2K growing up helped him cultivate a deeper understanding of basketball strategy.
Touching upon his love of gaming in an interview with Rolling Stone, Fox stated: “It takes me away from basketball and you don’t have to think too much while you do it, so that’s one thing. It’s always been fun for me. I wouldn’t necessarily say it’s an escape – just because I have fun with it – but it keeps me busy. It’s something to do.”
He continued by saying his favorite character in NBA 2K18 is none other than himself. It’s a smart choice, especially given his confirmation that the style of play between his video game counterpart and himself are close. “It’s pretty close to the way I play. No video game will ever be perfect, as far as sports, just because you can’t just put someone in the game and expect them to do it all, but it’s pretty good.”
