The team Rick Fox most wants to play for might not be who you'd expect
Rick Fox has witnessed greatness firsthand.
The 13-year veteran won three championships with the Kobe-Shaq Los Angeles Lakers at the turn of the millennium, playing on two of the best post-Michael Jordan teams (who Fox faced in the '90s as a member of the Lakers and Boston Celtics).
The 1999-00 Lakers went 67-15 in the regular season, tying the fourth-best regular-season record ever. The 2000-01 Lakers went 15-1 in the playoffs, which is the best win percentage in the playoffs history.
He's also shown he knows a thing or two about loyalty. While some of Kobe Bryant's former teammates have bashed him in recent years -- on and off the record -- Fox has never said a bad word about Bryant or the Lakers in the public eye. Fox, an NBA analyst for NBATV, certainly has the platform to speak out against the Lakers, yet refuses to.
But that doesn't mean he would go back and play for them -- at least not in their current state. Fox sees a great thing going up in Northern California -- a team playing as well as the teams he played on, if not better -- and wishes he could join in on the fun.
Following the 2016 All-Star Celebrity Game on Friday night, Fox was asked about which team he would most like to play for in today's era.
Instead of picking his former team, the Lakers, where he'd likely start at small forward (and have Bryant move to shooting guard, putting Jordan Clarkson or Lou Williams on the bench as the sixth man), Fox went with the popular pick, the flavor of the month (and perhaps the decade): the Golden State Warriors.
“Probably the Golden State Warriors, if I’m going to be honest," Fox said. "I want to be on a championship team.”
Hey, at least he's honest.
Fox was then asked who his favorite player was currently, and instead of going with his former teammate, Bryant, Fox said he most enjoys watching the reigning MVP.
“Steph Curry," Fox said without hesitation.
It looks the Warriors have won over even one of the most loyal former Lakers with their brand of basketball. Fox, a gritty defender and solid 3-point shooter, would fit in perfectly off the bench for the Warriors as a small-ball 4 or small forward.
Not that Golden State needs any more shooters.
Jovan Buha covers the NBA for FOX Sports. Follow him on Twitter: @jovanbuha.
