2024-25 Spurs Player Reviews: De’Aaron Fox

Ed Szczepanski-Imagn Images

Although we didn’t see much of him, acquiring Fox showed (or at least confirmed) that the Spurs are ready to move out of rebuild mode.

Welcome to Pounding the Rock’s 2024-25 player reviews! The series will look at the players who finished the season with the San Antonio Spurs on guaranteed contracts and who played consequential minutes and/or a vital role (so no two-way players because we hardly saw them this year, and no players who were traded away).

De’Aaron Fox

2024-25 stats (total): 62 games, 23.5 points, 6.3 assists, 46.3 FG%, 31.0 3PT%

Spurs stats: 17 games, 19.7 points, 6.8 assists, 44.3 FG%, 27.4 3PT%

Contract Status: 1 year, $34.8 million remaining (extension eligible)

Age: 27

As the Spurs entered their second season of the Victor Wembaynama era, a lingering question was where his first star teammate would come from (because as we all know, it takes at least two to tango these days). Would someone from within grow into the role, or would he come via the draft or free agency? It turned out, the answer was trade. As January rumors swirled that the Spurs were working on acquiring De’Aaron Fox from the Sacramento Kings, fans were cautiously optimistic but knew not to get their hopes too high.

Then, it actually happened. Not only did the Spurs pull off arguably their biggest trade in franchise history (at least among those that were for positive reasons), but they did it without giving up a single core player. Three fringe/non-rotation players (Tre Jones, Zach Collins, Sidy Cissoko) and only one of their own draft picks — as well two protected picks that weren’t likely to convert in the first round and Minnesota’s 2031 pick — is a steal of a deal for a star, and in limited playing time, Fox showed what the future could hold.

Despite playing through a torn tendon in his thumb since training camp, Fox continued to post his typical stat line with the Kings before the Spurs acquired him at the beginning of February. His arrival marked hope during a rough stretch, with the Spurs having slogged through a brutal January schedule and just setting out on the Rodeo Road Trip. They got a win in Atlanta while Fox led the team with 13 assists in his first appearance, and despite clearly trying to defer to his teammates as they built chemistry, there were promising signs.

Unfortunately, he only got to play in five games with his new star teammate before Wemby was ruled out for the rest of the season with deep vein thrombosis. It ended up costing the Spurs valuable team-building time, and while Fox would go on to play in their next 12 games, it was becoming clear that the play-in was just out of reach without Wemby. Perhaps knowing what was to come, Fox put out his best performance with a near triple-double in a home win over the Mavs on March 12 before he was shut down for the remainder of the season to get his thumb fixed, bringing an end to a brief but promising Spurs debut.

Looking ahead

There really wasn’t too much to take away from Fox’s first 17 games as a Spur, but the future is what’s important. He brings a lot of intangibles that the Spurs have been lacking in recent years: a go-to scorer, shot-creator, someone who could take some of the defensive pressure off of Wemby, and the clutch gene as a former Clutch Player of the Year. While his shooting numbers took a minor dip in San Antonio, it can presumably be chalked up to a lack of chemistry and his thumb, which has now been surgically repaired.

Although shutting him down may have cost the Spurs a shot at the play-in (they got close as they won more in the last month while other play-in contenders struggled), what’s more important is the earlier recovery time means Fox can spend much more time practicing with his new teammates in the offseason, and hopefully Wemby — who seems to be cleared for contact sports now — will soon join him. (Oh, and the Spurs should have a top-10 draft pick, so there’s that benefit as well.)

Contract-wise, Fox is eligible to sign an extension this summer, which he is expected to do. (The Spurs likely wouldn’t have traded for him if there was any concern that he wouldn’t.) Fox turned down a 3-year, $165 million extension offer from the Kings last fall, but he is eligible for up to 4-years, $229 million with the Spurs. Since winning seems to be his ultimate goal (and playing for the Spurs has been a dream of his), he may be willing to negotiate down a bit, and both sides seem willing to work with each other.

It would have been great to see more of the Wemby-Fox duo this season, but the future is much brighter with him in-tow, and expectations will be much higher going forward.