Fox told the Kings this summer he did not want to play for a fifth head coach in less than eight seasons in Sacramento.

The San Antonio Spurs traveled to face the Sacramento Kings on Friday night, a matchup that, at the start of the season, would've been seen as just a typical Western Conference contest. However, it meant more Friday as it was the first return to Sacramento for Spurs guard De'Aaron Fox since being dealt in early February.

While he never requested a trade, Fox made it clear that he did not want to play for any coach in Sacramento other than Brown, who was fired on Dec. 27 while the team held a 13-18 record. This action by the Kings set an eventual Fox trade into motion.