Spurs look smarter by the day as De'Aaron Fox emphatically silences his doubters

The San Antonio Spurs traded for De’Aaron Fox and gave him a max contract extension six months later. There was plenty of hate online, but things look fantastic now. Fox was an All-Star, put up some of the best advanced metrics of his career, and helped the Spurs leap to second in the loaded Western Conference. The superstar has everyone backpedaling on their hot takes as San Antonio looks like a serious title threat.

Fox averages 18.5 points, 6.1 assists, 3.8 rebounds, and 1.3 steals in 31.0 minutes per game this season. He is shooting 48.8 percent from the field and 33.2 percent on his 3-point attempts. It has led to Fox producing the second-best win shares per 48 minutes and the third-best value over replacement player (VORP) of his career. He is not the leading scorer or best player, but the 6’3 guard doesn’t have to be. The Spurs have Victor Wembanyama, and Fox is proving to be the perfect running mate.

Tons of hate showed up online after the two-time All-Star landed a max contract. Fans were worried this would ruin Wemby’s chances of winning, but there is a reason Rich Paul wanted Fox in San Antonio. The agent knew this would be the perfect fit, and the Spurs instantly became contenders.

Spurs’ trade for De’Aaron Fox looks genius

San Antonio acquired Fox on the cheap, but giving him a max contract was part of the deal. The All-Star wanted to get paid, and the eventual deal fired fans up.

The 28-year-old was immediately added to SB Nation’s worst contract list. Fox is getting a ton of money, but fans are overlooking fit. The Spurs have an apex superstar in Victor Wembanyama and a burgeoning second star in Stephon Castle. San Antonio needed an All-Star guard capable of running the offense, hitting clutch shots, and blending in when the youngsters are going off. Fox has filled that role magnificently.

The Spurs are going to be in the playoffs for the first time since 2019. They hadn't won 60 regular-season games since 2017 until now. They are back as a serious title contender. That wouldn’t be possible without a prime star helping them win.

The Spurs have won 76.3 percent of their first 80 games this season. They are 7-3 without Fox, but the more important number is their record without Wemby. San Antonio has gone 12-5 in those 17 games with Fox leading the show. Yes, the Spurs have won 70 percent of their games without their best player, which would still be the second-best winning percentage in the West over the full season.

San Antonio put on another roster-building masterclass. They jumped from 22 to 60-plus victories in two years. It took some lottery luck to land Victor Wembanyama, but that wasn’t all. The Spurs know Wemby is the best defensive player on the planet, but he needs a point guard feeding him the ball. Castle is best next to another guard capable of handling the ball and creating offense.

The Spurs needed someone capable of being the number one when necessary or the third option.  De’Aaron Fox is that player. If San Antonio needs a shot off the dribble in the clutch, Fox can step in. He is also comfortable letting Wemby cook or feeding him in the paint.

The Spurs are a serious title threat capable of winning games without Wembanyama in the lineup. They know the star guard duo will cook. San Antonio made a genius trade for Fox, and they keep looking better as he proves to be worth every penny of his max contract.

The doubters are quiet as the San Antonio Spurs head into the playoffs with the best shot to knock off the defending champion Thunder and start a dynasty of their own. Never doubt the silver and black. They always make the right moves.