De’Aaron Fox is expected to continue at point guard for the San Antonio Spurs next season, which shouldn’t be too shocking. Despite falling short against the New York Knicks in five games, Fox’s impact on their playoff run was evident. Reaching the NBA Finals is no small feat.
The conversation around Fox hasn’t quieted down, however. He has moved away from questions about his fit with Victor Wembanyama and whether he could be the second star in a title-winning team.
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For most of the regular season, Fox fit right in with the Spurs. His speed elevated their transition game, his play opened up space for Wembanyama, and his leadership helped speed up a rebuild that seemed ahead of schedule. But when it came to the finale, that version of Fox wasn’t there.
Throughout the playoffs, Wembanyama has clearly carried San Antonio’s title hopes, while Fox has struggled to make an impact offensively. The numbers told a difficult story.
He shot nearly 34 percent from the floor in that series and managed less than 13 points per game. His struggles were most evident in Game 5, where he finished with just seven points as New York wrapped up the title. That performance raised questions about whether he could be the Color’s leading rusher when it mattered most.
Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images
Black’s presence shapes the conversation
This is not just a discussion about Fox; equally tied to the Black. There is no question as to who is leading this group. Wembanyama has established himself as one of the best players in the NBA and sits at the heart of everything San Antonio is building.
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The real question is who complements him well in that role. Right now, the Spurs seem to believe Fox is still their guy, and over the next few years, we’ll see if that confidence pays off.
Another option was to trade him for another player who better fits Victor Wembanyama’s unique skills, but those opportunities are rare. Few teams were offering quality players back before last season’s deadline.
San Antonio was right to stick with De’Aaron Fox
Fox may never be an offensive player like Brunson or someone like Devin Booker, but there is value in consistency, too. He was consistent throughout the regular season and last season, leading up to the Finals.
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A long-term deal means he needs to return to form quickly this year. There will always be some question about how high his ceiling is as San Antonio tries to build around its star center, but Fox helped them reach new heights last season, no matter how it ended.
Both Fox and the Spurs enter the upcoming season with questions to answer. The team needs to prove that its playoff run wasn’t just a one-off, and Fox needs to show that his performance against the Knicks was more than a sign of bigger problems.
That’s why reports on San Antonio’s continued commitment are important. The Spurs made it clear they still believe in the partnership, and now Fox must reward that faith. After the Finals, the debate is less about whether De’Aaron Fox can help the Spurs win and more about whether he can help them win the all-important final four games.
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