If you’ve ever watched a blur of purple—or more recently, silver and black—streaking down an NBA court, you’ve seen De'Aaron Fox. People call him "Swipa" for a reason. He’s arguably the fastest player in the league with the ball in his hands. But when fans ask where is De'Aaron Fox from, they’re usually looking for more than just a GPS coordinate. They want to know where that lightning-quick speed was born and which city gets to claim one of the most electric guards in modern basketball.
The short answer? He’s a Texas kid through and through. But the full story actually starts in the Big Easy.
Born in New Orleans, Built in Katy
Technically, De'Aaron Martez Fox was born on December 20, 1997, in New Orleans, Louisiana. Most people don't realize he spent his very early years in the 504 before his family made the move west. His parents, Aaron Fox and Lorraine Harris-Fox, eventually settled in Katy, Texas, a suburb of Houston that has become a massive hotbed for high-level athletic talent.
Katy is where the legend of "Swipa" actually began.
It wasn't all highlights and dunks early on. Fox was famously described as a "scrawny kid with an afro and glasses" when he first started popping up on the local radar. Imagine that. The guy who now glides past elite defenders was once just a skinny kid at Thornton Middle School trying to find his rhythm.
✨ Don't miss: Red Sox vs Yankees: What Most People Get Wrong About Baseball's Biggest Feud
The Cypress Lakes Era
When it came time for high school, Fox didn't take the "prep school" route that so many five-star recruits do these days. He stayed home. He attended Cypress Lakes High School in Katy.
Honestly, he basically put that program on the map single-handedly.
By the time he was a junior, he was putting up numbers that looked like a video game: 23.8 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 3.5 assists. By his senior year, he jumped to a staggering 32.1 points per game. He wasn't just playing; he was dominating. He led the Spartans to three state playoff appearances and even dropped 50 points in a single game—twice.
Think about the level of competition in Texas 6A basketball. It’s a gauntlet. To do that in the Houston area, against some of the best athletes in the country, is why he ended up as a consensus five-star recruit and the number six player in the entire nation for the class of 2016.
🔗 Read more: OU Football Depth Chart 2025: Why Most Fans Are Getting the Roster Wrong
A Family of High-Level Athletes
You don't get that fast by accident. The "Fox" genetics are real.
His father, Aaron Fox, was a "bonafide athlete" who played college football at Fort Hays State. But if you want to know where De'Aaron got his basketball IQ and his legendary touch at the charity stripe, look at his mom. Lorraine Harris-Fox played college ball at the University of Arkansas-Little Rock in the late 80s.
She wasn't just a role player, either. Lorraine still holds the school record for the highest free-throw percentage (an incredible 92.8%). De'Aaron has mentioned in interviews that his mom is his toughest critic, especially when it comes to his shooting. If he misses a couple of free throws, she’s the first one in his ear.
The Path to Pro: Kentucky and Beyond
While he’s from Katy, his "basketball home" for a year was Lexington. Fox committed to the University of Kentucky over schools like Kansas and LSU because he said it "felt like a family."
💡 You might also like: NL Rookie of the Year 2025: Why Drake Baldwin Actually Deserved the Hardware
His time as a Wildcat was short but legendary. He’s one of the few players to ever record a triple-double in Kentucky history (14 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists against Arizona State). He also famously outplayed Lonzo Ball in the Sweet 16, dropping 39 points and cementing his status as a top-five lock for the 2017 NBA Draft.
Where is He Now?
After eight years as the face of the Sacramento Kings, the landscape shifted in late 2025. As of January 2026, De'Aaron Fox is now suiting up for the San Antonio Spurs.
It’s a massive homecoming of sorts. Moving from Northern California back to Texas means he’s only about a three-hour drive from his old stomping grounds in Katy. Seeing him pair up with Victor Wembanyama has become one of the most talked-about storylines in the league.
Misconceptions About His Origins
- "He's from Sacramento": People often think he’s a West Coast native because he spent his entire early career there. He’s a Southern kid at heart.
- "He’s only a basketball player": Fox is a massive gamer. In fact, if he wasn't in the NBA, he’s joked about being a pro gamer or an accountant (he’s a math whiz).
- "He’s right-handed": He’s actually one of the most successful left-handed players in the league, a trait that makes his drives even harder to guard.
Actionable Takeaways for Fans
If you're following De'Aaron's journey or want to see the places that shaped him, here is what you should do:
- Watch the "Journey to the NBA" documentary: There’s great footage of his early days in Katy that shows the "scrawny kid" transition.
- Follow his foundation: The Fox Whole Family Foundation does a lot of work for breast cancer awareness, a cause close to his heart because his mother is a survivor.
- Check out his gaming content: If you want to see the "non-NBA" side of him, he’s active on Twitch and YouTube under the handle "SwipaTheFox."
De'Aaron Fox might be a superstar in San Antonio now, but his speed was forged on the courts of Katy, Texas, and the basketball IQ was passed down from a record-setting mother in New Orleans. That mix of Houston grit and Louisiana roots is exactly what makes him the "clutch" player he is today.