De'Aaron Fox's clutch bucket helped Spurs pull off rare spectacle

When De'Aaron Fox arrived in San Antonio, the excitement in the fan base was through the roof. It's been a while since the Silver and Black have had a stud with the respect Fox commands in the NBA. He's a baller, and his talent is unquestionable, but he has a specific trait that the Spurs had desperately needed, and he just provided a taste of it last night in a rare win vs. the Grizzlies.

Swipa is ranked seventh in the NBA in clutch points per game and fifth in total points scored in the clutch. He's a closer, and that's a player this team needed, specifically from the guard position. It's easier for those guys to get their shots off, and last night's dagger was a great example of that.

Fox will help turn the tide on Spurs bad fortune with teams like Memphis

San Antonio struggles with the Grizzlies. They have been the bane of the Spurs' existence for the last five years. Last night was only the second win SA has had against Memphis since December 23, 2020, making them 2-16 in their previous 18 matchups.

The other win game was on April 9, 2024, at the end of last season, but there were so many players injured that night that they should have just canceled the game altogether. So I don't count that one. Jamaree Bouyea and RaiQuan Gray got minutes that night for San Antonio, and some guys named Jack White and Timmy Allen played most of the game for Memphis, for God's sake.

While both teams were compromised last night, it wasn't nearly to the same degree as that game 11 months ago. Jaren Jackson Jr.'s 42-point explosion should be enough to convince anyone of that. We'll take that win happily over a squad that has bullied our guys for half a decade and take it as a sign of things to come.

Victor Wembanyama will be back next season, and he'll be better than ever. I can say that because he's one of those guys who will always be better the next time you see him after an extended absence. He breathes the game of basketball, so even now, he's likely studying teams and techniques to improve his game once he gets back on the court.

Sure, that's all speculation, but we're talking about the guy who brought a book to the All-Star Game because he "reads before every game." The tea leaves have been hinting toward the summer of 2025 as the best time for the Spurs to get active with their assets.

Assuming that happens, a refurbished roster with a better, rested, and driven Wemby and a speedy point guard, in Fox, who continues to prove his ability to close the deal, will quickly turn San Antonio back into the juggernaut they're used to being.