De’Aaron Fox did not join the San Antonio Spurs to rescue them, but the team now needs him to play that kind of role. Fox was brought in to support Victor Wembanyama, giving the Spurs a proven guard to complement their young star. Instead, in the NBA Finals against the New York Knicks, Fox has become one of the most important and least dependable pieces in the series.
His Game 3 performance showed both the danger and the potential of his presence. Fox struggled for most of the night, shooting 3 of 13, before hitting a key midrange jumper with 12.2 seconds left to help San Antonio secure a win and avoid falling into a 3-0 hole. The shot preserved the Spurs’ hopes in the series and reminded everyone why he matters so much. It also highlighted a bigger issue: San Antonio needs more consistent production from him.
Fox has not looked like the same player who once was known as one of the fastest and most explosive guards in the league. In these playoffs, he has averaged 15.9 points while shooting 42.8% from the field, 29.4% from three and 75.0% from the free-throw line. He has struggled to get to the rim and has failed to lead the Spurs in scoring in any playoff game so far. That is a major concern for a player who is the team’s highest-paid veteran and its most experienced postseason performer.
At the same time, the Spurs are not asking the impossible. Wembanyama has been outstanding on both ends of the floor, while rookies Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper have already exceeded expectations and taken on major responsibilities. Castle has already set a franchise playoff scoring record for rookies, and Harper has been guarding top opposing players while producing at a level that points to historic potential. Neither young player can reasonably be expected to carry even more.
Fox’s value is tied to what he can create for others, especially Wembanyama. His speed, ball handling and experience make him the one perimeter player most capable of breaking down a defense, forcing help and opening space in the paint. That was evident in Game 3, when Fox assisted on three of Wembanyama’s four lob dunks, showing how important his playmaking can be when he is aggressive.
There is also a physical factor. Fox has been playing through a high ankle sprain suffered earlier in the playoffs, which likely has limited his ability to attack the basket and score efficiently. Even so, he has been logging heavy minutes and remains essential to San Antonio’s structure. His absences in the West Finals against Oklahoma City exposed how much the Spurs rely on his ball security and shot creation.
If the Spurs want to turn this Finals series around, they need Fox to do more than make occasional clutch shots. They need him to consistently pressure the defense, create transition opportunities, drive hard in pick-and-roll, and generate the kind of playmaking that makes Wembanyama even more dangerous. With that level of production, San Antonio still has a real chance to win the series.
