De'Aaron Fox proved he's the biggest Ball-er of them all
Friday's Sweet 16 game between UCLA and Kentucky confirmed there's absolutely no way De'Aaron Fox was born on this planet.
That's the only logical explanation after LaVar Ball boasted that his son, Lonzo, is the best player on earth, because the Bruins standout got toasted by the Wildcats point guard throughout the contest.
Related - LaVar Ball: Lonzo can beat LeBron, Westbrook in 5-on-5 game
Fox flew out of the gate, scoring Kentucky's first eight points of the game, and didn't let up on his relentless assault throughout the full 40 minutes. He finished with a career-high 39 points on a remarkably efficient 13-of-20 shooting from the field, marking the best freshman performance in NCAA tournament history.
De'Aaron Fox has set the all-time single-game freshman scoring record for an NCAA Tournament game. 36 points. (Via @ESPNStatsInfo.)
— Jeff Borzello (@jeffborzello) March 25, 2017
As for the matchup with Ball, it appears Bruins head coach Steve Alford threw in the towel early on that one, because the Pac-12 freshman of the season was no match for Fox.
| Stats | De'Aaron Fox | Lonzo Ball |
|---|---|---|
| Points | 39 | 10 |
| Field Goal % | 65 | 40 |
| 3-pt FG % | 0 | 16.6 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 4 |
| Assists | 4 | 8 |
| Rebounds | 3 | 3 |
| Steals | 2 | 0 |
Fox can beat people in so many ways, and his wide-ranging skill set was on full display on the biggest stage.
Half-court execution
The 6-foot-3, 187-pounder is known for his incredible speed in the open court, but that doesn't mean the defense can relax in half-court play. Fox showed he can be just as deadly in a tight area, blowing past Ball for the easy finger roll at the hoop.
Lightning-quick defense
Quick as a Fox! #Sweet16 pic.twitter.com/abO6iUDMmY
— NCAA March Madness (@marchmadness) March 25, 2017
Fox did show flashes of his lightning speed throughout the night, reading Ball perfectly and jumping the passing lane for an easy steal. From there, the finish was academic, with the freshman opting for the two-handed hammer.
Finishing in traffic
Fox may not be the thickest character on the court, but his freakish athleticism allows him to have no problems finishing in traffic at the rim. He showed that throughout the contest, but most impressively with this finish, after losing Ike Anigbogu with a filthy dribble move in the lane.
One day Lonzo Ball might be better than LeBron James, Steph Curry, and Russell Westbrook. One day he might actually be the best player in the world. But on Friday night, the best baller on the court was undoubtedly De'Aaron Fox.