The Spurs are preparing to run out a duo that is as good as we have seen over the past decade wearing silver and black. Victor Wembanyama is set to return fully healthy from his blood clot, while De'Aaron Fox is far removed from his personal repairs. Without any hurdles in sight, the pair is ready to conquer the NBA.
Last season, we didn't get to see what this newly constructed coupling could become. In their easy-to-miss time together last season, Fox was battling a hand injury and still getting familiar with his new surroundings. But now, the pair have had a full offseason to work, grind, and polish their games and their bodies. Each player is on the brink of explosion. However, one thing remains uncertain.
Victor Wembanyama and De'Aaron Fox need to learn how to play together
While both players are ready to kick off the season with an emphasis, they haven't had nearly enough playing time together to become a truly compatible pairing.
As we have seen with duos across the league, it is essential for success that the two are capable and willing to play to each other's strengths and use one another to create offense. Wemby and Fox are not there yet.
Unlike other dynamic duos, Wembanyama and Fox have drastically different playstyles and means of creating offense. The Frenchman is unlike other bigs as he loves to peel to the edges for a deep-ball and is not much of a roll man. Meanwhile, the hasty point guard is not much of a jump shooter and typically opts to drive to the rim.
Neither player will want to shift their game plan, meaning the two have a lot of work to put in to figure out how to make the two unique play styles gel. Yet, this may be the duo's greatest strength.
The upside of a Fox-Wembanyama two-man game is limitless
Despite the ruggedness that will likely come from this duo's work together to start, once they figure it all out, the potential is frightening. Much like we have seen the pairing of Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic in Denver, Vic and De'Aaron can absolutely terrorize opposing defenses.
The first core element of their two-man game will come on dribble handoffs from Wemby to Fox. In Sacramento, the speedster thrived running this play with big man Domantas Sabonis. While the Spurs' big man can't set screens like Sabonis, he still has the size to get in the way of Fox's trailing defender. Frankly, it may not even matter because of how quickly Fox can explode off the handoff.
The second fun installation from this duo will be created on slip-screens. When the Spurs star guard is handling the rock, Wembanyama can come in for a quick screen and slip out to the perimeter or the interior for an effortless look. With Fox's excellent playmaking chops and the Alien's hard-to-miss catch radius, it will be simple to make this play work.
This is just the tip of the iceberg. The duo will be able to thrive in transition and work together to find open shots all around the half-court. However, it will be critical to be patient with the pair. The transition into becoming a dominant two-man game won't happen overnight. Fox will need to learn Wembanyama's spots, and the big man will need to learn how to play next to an elite point guard.
Whether it happens midway through the season or it is not fully developed until playoff time, the newest Spurs duo will make it happen; we need to wait calmly. Once their synergy is complete, the results will be devastating.