De'Aaron Fox, the Sacramento Kings star guard, has been dealing with a persistent finger injury this season, playing through a dislocated pinkie on his left shooting hand, said Fox in an interview after a tough overtime loss to the Toronto Raptors. According to The Sacramento Bee, the injury occurred during an early training camp practice, but despite the setback, Fox has made it clear he does not intend to take any time off the court.
Even though X-rays returned negative, suggesting no bone damage, Fox hinted at ligament damage, saying, "(It’s) probably a ligament," as per The Sacramento Bee. Fox's resolve to play through the pain mirrors his teammates' past decisions, as both Keegan Murray and Domantas Sabonis played through similar hand injuries last year. However, the finger trouble might be contributing to his shooting slump, with Fox missing all 11 of his 3-point attempts in the recent game against the Raptors, where he also registered five turnovers. The pressure does not seem to deter him, as he said, "I wouldn’t change anything," particularly about the last shot of the game, which did not go as planned.
"I can't say (the injury) is the reason," Fox mentioned, a sentiment echoed in his interview with The Score as well. Despite the setbacks and a shooting slump indicated by a career-worst 26.8% from the 3-point line across six games, Fox seems determined to adapt and overcome the difficulties posed by his taped-together pinkie and ring finger.
The Kings' performance and Fox’s personal contributions will remain under close scrutiny as the season progresses. The team hopes to bounce back and improve their early record, which currently stands at a possibility of moving to 4-3 if successful in their first road trip finale in Miami. With the injury apparently not worsening, Fox's resolve is clear: he intends to play on, adjust as necessary, and, in his own words, "I just got to get used to it," as he told The Score, indicating his commitment to the team and to his performance irrespective of the challenges he faces.
