De’Aaron Fox’s All-Star night was a Spurs postseason preview

Fox didn't fill up the stat sheet on All-Star Sunday, but he put up a few points when called upon, and in the biggest moment of their first matchup, he drilled the game-winning three. The 2022-23 Clutch Player of the Year has operated similarly in San Antonio all season, and when the playoffs arrive, Spurs Nation can expect more of the same.

He hasn't gotten a chance to show his skills in the postseason often, but when he did, he and the Kings threatened to knock off the Golden State Warriors. He averaged 27 points and 8 assists in that series, and Sacramento was lighting the beam all the way to Game 7. This guy is a bona fide hooper, and the Spurs are going to get that in spades come April.

Swipa can be relied on in the toughest moments

The Team Stripes vs. Team Stars game was worth the price of admission in their first go-around. The second game doesn't really count for much, since by the final matchup of the night, Fox's squad was worn out. They'd played three straight games, and their roster was constructed primarily of older players. We'll give them a mulligan on that one.

The first meeting was electric, though. San Antonio's franchise point guard once again took a backseat, only playing about four minutes, as the game's larger names took center stage. However, when the game was tight, Fox was on the floor, and that wasn't a coincidence.

Sure enough, LeBron James—known for making the right basketball play in the most intense moments—found the second-time All-Star, and he drilled what was only his second made basket of the game. He only had three attempts, but he made them count.

That's why the Silver and Black brought this man to San Antonio. He's just barely entered his prime, and he's shown that he won't be shaken when his team needs a bucket. With a team primarily built on defense, giving them that component makes them as dangerous as anyone.

Fox's role couldn't be more perfect for the Spurs

Swipa stepped into the ideal situation for a player of his caliber. He's a score-first point guard with a savvy enough passing ability to be the head of the snake when he needs to be, but the Spurs have their goals set on larger things. Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper are huge parts of the future, so they need to have chances to grow on the court.

But they're good enough to do that while contributing to winning basketball, and when they need their veteran to guide them and/or close a game, he's ready to do it at a moment's notice.

Victor Wembanyama just recently expressed his hope in making it all the way to the NBA Finals. That didn't seem like a possibility when the season started, but now, you would be foolish to rule them out. They have every component you need to make a run in a Western Conference that may be deep, but there's no clear-cut big dog whom all teams should fear.

The stage is set for something magical to happen. It's more possible than ever since the Spurs added Fox to the roster to be Wemby's co-conspirator. And, yes, I used that particular word for a reason. Because what these two are about to do in the playoffs is going to be downright criminal.