De'Aaron Fox's strong leadership is powering the Spurs just as much as his elite scoring

De'Aaron Fox has been tremendous to start the 2026-27 campaign. He's averaging 16.5 points per game, and while that's not a high number compared to his days in Sacramento, he's playing the most efficient basketball of his career, and he's defending his tail off.

Swipa has a 68.6% TS and 63.6% eFG. His previous bests were 59.9% TS and 55.7% eFG. The speedy Fox's 102.2 defensive rating and +16.6 net rating are also career bests, while his 19.1% usage rate is the lowest over his 10 seasons in the NBA. It's an impressive launch, for sure. However, what's just as noteworthy is his attitude.

Fox isn't worried about proving doubters wrong

After the start he's had, the ex-Kings guard would have had every right to gloat or scold the critics who suggested the Spurs should trade him. But he doesn't care about the noise one bit.

"It is what it is. I’m at the point in my career, even in my life [where] I’m not worried about proving anybody wrong. I promise you, I don’t care. So I’m coming out here, I’m trying to play winning basketball," Fox told me after his 8-10 FG performance against the Timberwolves.

San Antonio's floor general dialed in on the team's goals for the season. "We want to get back to the stage where we were at. But, like I said before, we can’t skip steps. We know that it’s a long season...it’s about to be November. We can’t think about what’s going to happen in June, because one, we have to get back there again."

That's the most mature answer anyone could have given in this situation. 10/10. No notes. Fox's overall message is consistent with what we've heard from everyone, from the players to the coach. Last season was last season, and they're focused on becoming the best versions of themselves this year. That means putting in the work every single day.

The Spurs' veteran leadership is as strong as it has been in a nearly a decade

Tim Duncan retired after the 2015-16 season. Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker weren't far behind him. The leadership in the locker room has gone through several iterations, but this is the best it's been since the Big 3 ran through the AT&T Center's hallways.

Fox has been tremendous in that regard, but Harrison Barnes is also a rock in that locker room. This is a 15-year veteran who started for nearly his entire career until his second campaign in San Antonio. Last season, Mitch Johnson relegated him to the bench after a slow start, and by the end of the year, there were games he just didn't play.

He's already reached that point this season, as the former Warriors champion didn't play a lick on Halloween. But you won't hear a peep out of him about it. This team has a one-track mind. It's all about the big picture for the Silver and Black, and that doesn't involve crying about playing time or reacting to critics on the outside looking in.

It's exactly how it should be. San Antonio isn't the place for nonsense. The guys love and respect each other, and do so while moving in the same direction: toward a Larry O'Brien trophy. That's the goal, and it's the only thing they care about. Fox is a huge part of that, and when they finally cross that finish line, the journey will speak for itself.

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