Not sure what you mean by "and he always was." The coaches might have helped him get there, but this is a absolutely new-and-improved version of DFox we're seeing - in multiple ways..
I think it is a little bit of both. All the things he's doing physically, you can argue that he always could do. He's just learned to pace himself a lot better (quite possibly due to not having to take on the whole offensive load as he used to).
Took up the full shot clock and ended it with a made HB three! Nice decision by Monk there. That was a back-breaking possession for the Grizzlies at this point in the game.
Did Malik develop these point guard skills this summer or were all his past coaches just so dumb that they never bothered putting the ball in his hands?
I freaking love Mike Browns strategy of usually not bringing fox in until about halfway through the fourth. Comes in rested and ready to "Reke Havoc" lol