When the San Antonio Spurs drafted Victor Wembanyama in 2023, their goal instantly became to surround him with the right pieces in the backcourt. It felt like the Spurs were connected to every point guard in the NBA.
From Trae Young to Darius Garland to De’Aaron Fox, San Antonio essentially had their pick of whatever point guard they wanted. They ended up settling on Fox, who they acquired just prior to last season’s trade deadline.
Looking at that trade a year later and given what has happened to the trade landscape for guards around the league, one thing has become clear about the Spurs and their Fox acquisition.
San Antonio made the right decision to acquire De’Aaron Fox
The Spurs were heavily connected to Young a couple of years ago, but he has since flamed out with the Hawks and was traded to the Wizards last week.
Fox, meanwhile, has been a big part of the Spurs’ success so far this season. He is averaging nearly 21 points per game, four rebounds, and six assists on 47 percent from the field. He also has a true-shooting percentage of 57 percent, and San Antonio has a +3.8 net rating with him on the floor.
The clutch is where Fox has really shined, though, as he averages the most clutch minutes on the team, and the Spurs have a +21.6 net rating with him on the court during clutch situations. He averages three points in the clutch, tied with Wembanyama for the team lead. His synergy with the big man and other players on the roster has been a huge plus for the team’s offense.
The Spurs rewarded Fox with a four-year extension last summer, signaling that they view him as a big part of their long-term future. He, along with Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper, forms a lethal trio of guards that San Antonio can continue to build around.
It would have been tougher to fit Young in with this core due to the complete upheaval that would have to occur on offense and defense. It’s safe to say that the Spurs chose the right guard to help spearhead their contending window.