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Spurs stand by De’Aaron Fox despite Finals performance questions
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- Spurs stand by De’Aaron Fox despite Finals performance questions
Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images
De'Aaron Fox is expected to remain the San Antonio Spurs' starting point guard next season, which shouldn't come as a huge shock. Even though they fell short against the New York Knicks in five games, Fox's impact on their playoff run was clear. Reaching the NBA Finals isn't a small achievement.
The conversation around Fox hasn't quietened down, though. The focus has shifted from questions about his fit with Victor Wembanyama to whether he can be the second star on a title-winning team.
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For much of the regular season, Fox fit seamlessly into what the Spurs were building. His pace lifted their transition game, his playmaking opened up space for Wembanyama, and his leadership helped accelerate a rebuild that seemed ahead of schedule. But when the Finals arrived, that version of Fox wasn't there.
Throughout the playoffs, Wembanyama was clearly carrying San Antonio's title hopes, while Fox struggled to make a consistent impact offensively. The numbers told a difficult story.
He shot around 34 per cent from the floor in that series and managed under 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 can truly be Wembanyama's top running mate when it matters most.
Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images
Wembanyama's presence shapes the conversation
This isn't just a discussion about Fox; it's equally tied to Wembanyama. There's no question about who leads this team. Wembanyama has established himself as one of the NBA's most dominant players and remains at the centre of everything San Antonio is building toward.
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The real question is who best complements him in that role. Right now, the Spurs seem to believe that Fox is still their guy, and over the next few years, we'll see whether that confidence pays off.
The other option was trading him for another playmaker who better complements Victor Wembanyama's unique skill set, but those opportunities are rare. Few teams were offering star-calibre players back before last season's deadline.
San Antonio was right to stick with De'Aaron Fox
Fox may never be as complete an offensive player as Brunson or someone like Devin Booker, but there is value in consistency, too. He was steady throughout the regular season and postseason, leading up to the Finals.
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A long-term deal means he needs to get back into form quickly this year. There will always be some question about how high his ceiling actually goes as San Antonio tries to build around its superstar centre, but Fox did help them reach new heights last season, regardless of how it ended.
Both Fox and the Spurs head into next season with questions to answer. The team needs to prove their Finals run wasn't just a one-off, while Fox has to show that his play against the Knicks was more of an outlier than a sign of bigger issues.
That is why reports of San Antonio's continued commitment matter. The Spurs are making it clear they still believe in the partnership, and now Fox has to 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 last four games that matter most.
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