Fox’s place next to Luka Doncic and SGA proves Spurs made the right move

It's been known that De'Aaron Fox is one of, if not the, "King of the Fourth Quarter." The Swipa has Arctic ice in his veins, and it has been apparent for his entire NBA career. In 2022-23, the former Sacramento King won the inaugural Clutch Player of the Year award for his season-long heroics.

While Fox hasn't had much time to prove that he can win big games in the playoffs, he has had a different opportunity to show that he can. With both the Sacramento Kings and now the San Antonio Spurs, the hasty point guard has dominated in NBA Cup games.

Heading into Wednesday's clash with the Lakers, De'Aaron ranked third in NBA Cup points per game with 31.6, only trailing Luka Doncic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for the crown. Standing next to those two is not something that you should brush aside. Say what you want about the meaningfulness of the NBA Cup, but this is clearly something that you should take note of.

Fans forget how meaningful Fox will be to winning

When the Spurs traded for De'Aaron Fox, many fans forgot his actual impact. As many thought the star guard was not the real co-star Victor Wembanyama needed, he is beginning to prove that belief foolish. Without a shred of doubt, Fox is precisely what this team needed to get over the hump.

While Fox's presence as a primary ball-handler and playmaker was always going to make a real impact, the ways he can deliver in crunch time were forgotten about. Wemby is already one of the best players in the NBA, but he has yet to prove that he can step up in meaningful moments. Although he has shown glimpses of this, we are still waiting for some legendary Wemby moments.

With that, the Spurs needed someone who could step up when it matters most. That's where Fox comes in. Whether it's knocking down ever-so-important free throws or splashing clutch threes to will the team to victory, the man knows how to close a game. It is remarkable. This skill alone can and has helped the Spurs get to the destinations they hope for.

Fox's clutch gene will show up in the playoffs

Most importantly, Fox's NBA Cup dominance paints a future in which the guard electrifies the crowd in the playoffs. When the Spurs inevitably make the playoffs in the spring, they will need all hands on deck. If they want to prove the doubters wrong and make some noise on the grandest of stages, they will need their stars to step up.

Luckily for us, we have a guy who almost assuredly will do so. I don't know what it is about De'Aaron that has made him so amazing in crucial situations, but I am glad that it exists. As Wemby conquers his first playoff series, he will have a born-ready guard next to him to help alleviate some of the jitters.

Just imagine a crucial playoff home game where the clock is dwindling, and the game is tied. Then comes De'Aaron Fox to save the day and push the Spurs over the top. It will be amazing when it happens, and I, for one, cannot wait. For now, we will keep admiring the magic Fox has in store for us as the Spurs push towards their first NBA Cup title.