San Antonio Spurs point guard De'Aaron Fox has been cast as the star the franchise may not need. Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper represent the future in the backcourt, and many have speculated that they'll soon outgrow the demand for having a veteran like Fox in the lineup.
The human element of a successful team can never be disregarded, however, and Fox is playing an essential role in San Antonio's success by setting the tone for players sacrificing their egos.
Fox was the franchise player during his time with the Sacramento Kings, albeit while splitting that responsibility and recognition with fellow All-NBA star Domantas Sabonis. The shift from being the focal point to a supporting star could thus have been difficult to manage on an emotional level.
According to Jared Weiss of The Athletic, head coach Mitch Johnson praised Fox for accepting that Victor Wembanyama is the franchise player and noted that his sacrifice has set the tone for the rest of the locker room.
“The level of engagement and commitment to want to be here, it’s very clear we have the face of our franchise and (Fox is) comfortable with that and everyone around him is,” Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said. “I think for De’Aaron to be one of the faces of his franchise prior to joining our group and wanting to really be here and show that desire, it helps set the tone for everybody else. Because he has been someone who’s been in similar shoes, where he’s been the max guy and the big dog with his group."
It takes a confident and mature player, as well as a true locker room leader, to accept such a reality when they're just entering the prime of an already impressive career.
Mitch Johnson: De'Aaron Fox "set the tone" by accepting he isn't the Spurs' franchise player
Without hyperbole, Fox is one of the best point guards in the NBA. He's a former All-Star, All-NBA honoree, Clutch Player of the Year recipient, and steals leader whose production and poise under pressure rivals the best in the Association.
Between the 2020-21 and 2023-24 seasons—the latter being the last full year before he joined the Spurs—Fox accumulated mind-blowing averages of 25.1 points and 6.1 assists per game on 48.2 percent shooting from the field.
With this in mind, he could've easily marched into San Antonio and claimed that he and Wembanyama were equal faces of the franchise. He would've had reason to do so considering his talent, accomplishments, and contracts, but such a decision could've aliented his teammates—Wembanyama included.
Instead, Fox has willingly accepted that the franchise's top priority is a different player and has thus committed himself to focusing on the bigger picture.
In 2024-25, Fox averaged 1.7 fewer field goals and 1.2 more assists per 36 minutes after being traded to the Spurs. It was an early example of the sacrifice he was prepared to make to fit alongside not only Wembanyama, but the other players on the roster.
That includes Castle and Harper, who he's supported both on and off the court as future pillars of the franchise he hopes to be able to play alongside.
Perhaps there will be a moment in time when the Spurs need to make difficult decisions about Fox's future with the club. What he's doing in the present, however, is adapting his game on the court and showing a young locker room how to handle the pitfalls of ego off of it.
For all of the conversations that will inevitably occur about Fox near the 2026 NBA trade deadline, Johnson's comments should take center stage.