Fox began his pro basketball career when he was selected by the Boston Celtics in the first round (24th pick overall) of the 1991 NBA Draft. As a member of the Celtics, Fox became the first rookie starter on opening night since Larry Bird in 1979 and made the 1992 NBA All-Rookie Second Team after averaging 8 points a game. Fox played off the bench his first two seasons as the Celtics reached the playoffs for the last time in the Larry Bird era. By the 1995-1996 season, Fox had become the team's starting small forward and achieved double figure scoring. He recorded career highs of 15.4 points a game and 2.2 steals a game (4th in the league) and made 101 three-point field goals in the 1996-1997 campaign. In the summer of 1997, the Celtics released Fox, and he signed with the Los Angeles Lakers. He played and started in all 82 games during the 1997-1998 season, averaging 12 points a game. In the playoffs, he tallied 10.9 points a game as the Lakers advanced to the Western Conference Finals before losing to the Utah Jazz. In the 1998-1999 season, the Lakers acquired All-Star small forward Glen Rice. Fox primarily served as his backup during the next two seasons. Prior to the 1999-2000 season, Phil Jackson became the team's head coach. The Lakers achieved the league's best record with 67 wins, led by the MVP play of Shaquille O'Neal and the young all-star Kobe Bryant under Jackson's triangle offense. In the playoffs, Fox played all 23 games as the Lakers advanced to the 2000 NBA Finals against the Indiana Pacers. In the Finals, Fox averaged 6.7 points, including 11 in the Lakers' game 1 victory. In game 6, with the Lakers leading the series 3-2, Fox hit a critical three pointer in the 4th quarter to help the Lakers' final rally as they won the game and the NBA title, Fox's first. Following the departure of Glen Rice, Fox started 77 of 82 games in the 2000-2001 season, posting averages of 9.6 points a game while shooting 39 percent from three point range. In the playoffs, Fox started in all 16 games as the Lakers swept through the first three rounds and reached the 2001 NBA Finals against the Philadelphia 76ers. Fox scored 19 points in the Lakers' game 1 loss; the 76ers were led by Allen Iverson's 48 points. The Lakers would win the next four games of the series, securing their second straight championship. In the fifth game, Fox contributed with 20 points, and hit all three of his three-point field goal attempts. In the 2001-2002 season, Fox played and started in all 82 games in the regular season and in all of the Lakers' 19 playoff games. The Lakers faced a grueling 7 game series against the Sacramento Kings, with Fox scoring 13 points in the Lakers' game 7 victory in Sacramento. In the 2002 NBA Finals against the New Jersey Nets, Fox averaged 9.8 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.5 steals as the Lakers swept the Nets in 4 games to win their third straight NBA title. In the 2002-2003 season, Fox started in 75 of 76 games but suffered an ankle injury that kept him out of the last two games of the first round against the Minnesota Timberwolves and the entire Western Conference Semifinal series against the San Antonio Spurs. The Spurs defeated the Lakers 4-2. Fox missed 40 games in the 2003-2004 season due to a foot injury, but started in 34 of 38 games while active. He would only play in 3 of 16 playoff games as the Lakers advanced to the 2004 NBA Finals but lost to the Detroit Pistons in 5 games. In 56 career NBA playoff games, Fox averaged 6.1 points per game, 2.6 rebounds, and 1.8 assists. Fox played internationally for Canada once, at the 1994 FIBA Basketball World Championship held in Toronto.
