De’Aaron Fox could make both the 2024 NBA All-Star and 2024 Paris Olympics roster.

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Sacramento Kings guard De’Aaron Fox is having the best scoring campaign of his career, one season after making his first All-Star Game and winning the NBA’s inaugural Kia Most Clutch Player award.

He’s averaging 27.9 points per game and, once again, serving as a key component to Sacramento’s rise in the Western Conference. The Kings are three games behind No. 1 Minnesota in the standings.

Fox recently sat down with NBA.com to discuss the Kings’ season so far, his All-Star bid, the toughest player to guard him and his first year as a dad. The 26-year-old will be in action Friday as the Kings visit the Philadelphia 76ers (7:30 ET, ESPN).

The following 1-on-1 conversation has been condensed and edited.

NBA.com: In your seventh NBA season, you’re averaging a career-high at nearly 28 points a night. What has been the catalyst behind your offensive jump?

Fox: I think for me it’s been shooting the 3 ball. I feel like I was one of the best finishers in the league and one of the best guys getting to the mid-range and floaters. So, just being able to score on all three levels. That’s definitely helped me.

Which player has given you the most problems defensively?

Defensively, I would say Jaden McDaniels. He’s long. He has great anticipation. I would say he guards me the best in the league.

Is there an opposing player or team you would credit for making you a better player because of the way they defended you?

I would honestly say Jrue (Holiday) because I’ve played against him for so many years now. There are times when he’s got the best of me. There are times when I’ve got the best of him. He’s made me learn how to use my body because he’s so strong. He guards one through four. He’s taught me how to get guys off me.

What’s different about the Kings this season following last season’s run to the playoffs?

That was the first time we made the playoffs in 17 years. This year we’re not going to surprise anybody. Technically, we’ve been better than last year record-wise, but we don’t feel like we’ve played better. I feel like we’re holding ourselves to a higher standard, and we know that we can play better than we are on both ends of the court.

What would be your All-Star case for Domantas Sabonis?

He does everything. He’s a walking triple-double, putting up around 20 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists. There aren’t many guys to ever play the game and do that, and he does it on a consistent basis. He can have a bad night, and you still look up and it’s 15-15-8. That’s not normal.

What about for yourself?

I think I score with the best of them. I think I get into the paint and create for others with the best of them. For me, All-Star isn’t my goal. I’m trying to win a championship.

You’re one of the NBA’s top scorers so far this season among American players. If the league’s top American players faced off against the league’s top international players, who wins five-on-five?

I think there are a bit more guys that can guard on the American side. I would probably say Americans.

Are you hoping to play in the Paris Olympics this year? 

If it’s a possibility, I’ll definitely think about it.

Almost a year ago, you welcomed the birth of your son Reign. What do you remember about that day?

It was great. Obviously, I missed two games. It was in my hometown. I grew up in Houston and that’s actually where we ended up having the baby because that was our next place on the road trip. My wife was having the layover there. She was about to come to Indiana, and then her water breaks in the airport. All of my people live there so they picked her up, and she was good from there. He was born three weeks early.

How’s fatherhood been since?

It’s been amazing, being able to see him every single day and just seeing what he does that’s new. He started walking at eight months and people were looking at us like we’re crazy. People wouldn’t believe (his age). He walks real easy now. He’s trying to start speeding up and run. It’s crazy.

What’s a trait of yours that you hope he doesn’t inherit?

My stubbornness. He’s already got it, though.