De'Aaron Fox's painful playoff struggles revealed what Spurs need from him most

We're officially in a new era of Spurs basketball. They exited a years-long rebuild and finally became the team to beat in the Western Conference. This means the expectations are higher than ever, specifically for their top players. No one has more pressure on them next season than De'Aaron Fox, who needs to re-establish himself as an aggressive offensive force at the point guard position.

When talking about Fox, it's important that we see every side of the story. He did struggle offensively for a good chunk of the postseason, but at the exact same time, it's hard to imagine San Antonio becoming the powerhouse that they are without him. While he has his flaws, it's impossible to completely write off the impact he has on this team.

So there's nuance to the De'Aaron Fox debate, but one thing remains true: if the Spurs want their best shot at a return to the Finals next season, they need him to be at his best. We know what he's capable of as a two-time All-Star. Now it's time for him to put it all on the table.

De'Aaron Fox needs to be more assertive next season

One thing that you have to admire about De'Aaron is his unselfishness. He willingly stepped back in the Spurs' offense, giving Dylan Harper and Stephon Castle more time with the ball in their hands. And this approach paid off as both guards were spectacular. Castle grew as a playmaker, and Harper emerged as a standout scorer off the bench.

There was a downside to this approach, though. Fox wasn't as aggressive and never found a consistent scoring rhythm. This issue crept into the postseason as he was a shell of himself on that stage. He struggled as a scorer, failing to deliver the shot-creating the Spurs needed consistently.

Now, a lot of that could be chalked up to health problems. He undoubtedly lost a step after aggravating his ankle against the Timberwolves in the Western Conference Semifinals, which led to a dip in his scoring output.

But still, his lack of aggression and inconsistent offense were problems that popped up in spurts throughout the year. San Antonio needs him to strike a better balance between unselfishness and assertiveness next season if they want to return to dominance in the West. He's being paid the big bucks to do it; now it's time for him to deliver.

Fox can optimize his game with a better three-point shot

Fox can be a more consistent threat in the Spurs' offense next season if he improves from the three-point line. He drained only 33% of his looks from distance last season and 29% in the playoffs. It's very difficult to be a reliable scorer for a contender if you struggle that much in such an important area of the game.

His potential growth from downtown could also optimize the Spurs' backcourt. He can be an even better fit next to Dylan Harper and Stephon Castle if he establishes himself as a reliable threat from range, capitalizing on possessions where he's playing off their gravity.

Here's the other important thing: if Fox has games where he isn't as explosive, the three-point shot must be a tool he can fall back on. He may not ever be as spry as he once was in Sacramento, but that doesn't mean he should lose his offensive impact. A good long ball gives him more variance in his scoring arsenal if he can't lean on his athleticism as much.

Big picture, De'Aaron Fox has been a catalyst behind the Spurs' return to dominance. But that doesn't mean he can't get better. If San Antonio wants to go from being a potential dynasty to a real one, their All-Star point guard needs to excel in his role.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow