The Sacramento Kings have been terrible for a long, long time. The last time they made the playoffs was over a decade ago, in 2005-06. In fact, 2006 was actually the last time Sacramento was even two games above .500 as late as December. Things looked grim for the Kings as they entered this season with a young and unproven roster and no 2019 first-round draft pick. Then, we got a glimpse of the new and significantly improved De’Aaron Fox, and for once, the future looked bright. Now 30 games into the 2018-19 season, the Sacramento Kings are 16-14 and legitimately in the midst of the Western Conference playoff hunt. 

Fox made “the leap” sooner and more fantastically than anyone was expecting. From a statistical standpoint, Fox’s numbers are astoundingly better than they were last season. His scoring is up from 12 points per game to 18 per game. His assists have increased from four to seven per contest, and he’s jumped from 31 to 39 percent from three-point range and 41 to 48 percent from the field. From an aesthetic standpoint, he looks stronger, especially around the rim, and is in full command of Dave Joerger’s offense.  Oh, and did I mention he’s probably the fastest player in the league?

Predicting whether a raw, talented point guard is ever going to make "the leap" can be a tricky business. For every De’Aaron Fox, there’s a number of Elfrid Paytons and Emmanuel Mudiays who struggle to put it together. Yet, anyone who saw how hard Fox competed against Lonzo Ball in the NCAA Tournament and how distraught he was after losing a heartbreaker to UNC in college at least knew that basketball meant the world to him. Thus, once the mental aspect of the game clicked for him, he was ready to emerge as the Kings’ franchise centerpiece and leader. His game, leadership and maturity have drawn the admiration of players and coaches (and the occasional camerawoman) around the NBA this season.

Fox’s play even had his own coach comparing him and rookie teammate Marvin Bagley to Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant. Joerger surely needs to settle down with that comparison, as Bagley is better served in a different role for now, but the Fox-Westbrook comp does have some traction. Both players are elite athletes with great work ethics, they each have games that fit the pro game better than the college game, and both broke out earlier than people expected. Even if Fox and Bagley never reach the level of Russ and KD, Kings fans can take solace in knowing that the franchise's dark days may soon be behind them. 

Which brings us to today's quiz of the day. As of December 2018, Fox is one of 27 University of Kentucky alumni currently playing in the NBA. So with that in mind, how many of the 27 can you name in five minutes?

Good luck!