Rich Paul says the exact reason why he wanted De’Aaron Fox on the Spurs

Once Victor Wembanyama arrived in San Antonio, the smart money should have immediately shifted to favor them as the league's next potential dynasty. We haven't seen one of those since the Steph Curry-led Warriors were dominating the late 2010s. If there's going to be another one to burst through this era of parity, it's likely to be led by someone nicknamed "The Alien," and Rich Paul understood that.

“The goal was to get to San Antonio because I always felt like, and this was before they draft Harper, they needed a point guard. But not just a point guard. You have to have a point guard with the understanding that I’m coming in, but I’m not the number one guy.” -Rich Paul

Fox was paid the max, and he averaged over 25 points per game as the primary scorer on a professional basketball team for several years. He would be well within his right to ask for more touches, but he doesn't do that. He doesn't clash with Vic or the other young guards on the team, and that selflessness is just as important to his fit with the team as the skill he provides on the floor.

Taking a reduced role was the best path for Fox's career

Let's just call it like it is here; you're going to have a very hard time winning championships in this league if the best player on the team is a point guard without abnormal size like Magic Johnson. Isiah Thomas and Curry are the only two to pull it off... ever.

Every other title winner was led by any of the other positions. It's exactly why Becky Hammon made her controversial Jalen Brunson claim a few years ago, but she was 100% correct. If your best player is the smallest guy on the court, you'll likely fall short.

Fox has a much better chance of capturing the Larry O'Brien trophy now that he won't be expected to carry the load. He's already earned the second all-star nod in his career, and his journey in San Antonio has just begun. He's brought much to this roster, and his presence has raised both the floor and the ceiling this season.

As Rich Paul and Max Kellerman discussed on their Game Over podcast, Fox's role on the Spurs is perfect, but it took the right kind of player for this to work. Guys need to be humble enough to embrace the collective, and Swipa has done that.

He also still gets to close games for the Silver and Black, and as the NBA's first-ever Clutch Player of the Year winner, he's uniquely suited to do so. The marriage works for everybody.