If you listened to what the critics had to say, Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper made De'Aaron Fox unnecessary and redundant. The San Antonio Spurs didn't need another guard who struggles to bury three-point shots and have thus outgrown Fox before he could even be properly assimilated.
It hasn't taken long for Fox to remind the skeptics of a simple fact: While Castle and Harper project to be able to win games for the Spurs in the future, he can do so in the present—with or without Victor Wembanyama.
San Antonio has a predominantly young roster, but Victor Wembanyama has made it essential for the franchise to prioritize the present as well as the future. Wembanyama is already widely regarded as one of the best players in the NBA, with his name pencilled in for Defensive Player of the Year and All-NBA honors before the season could even begin.
That alone puts pressure on the Spurs to surround Wembanyama with the type of talent that can help him compete for a postseason appearance—immediately.
Fox represents the opportunity to do so as an accomplished and star-caliber point guard with a history of being a franchise player. He's selflessly embraced that Wembanyama is the face of the Spurs, but his history of leading teams to the playoffs and above-.500 seasons remains a factor.
With all three of Castle, Harper, and Wembanyama battling injuries, Fox is silencing the critics and [leading the Spurs to wins](https://airalamo.com/spurs-are-grossly-overachieving-considering-one-undeniable-fact) no other player on the roster has consistently proven to be able to.
De'Aaron Fox is saving Spurs from disaster, silencing premature criticism
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Fox arrived in San Antonio as an All-NBA and All-Star honoree who has led the Association in steals and won the Clutch Player of the Year award. He'd averaged 25.1 points, 6.1 assists, 4.1 rebounds, 1.5 steals, and 1.9 three-point field goals made between the four completed seasons prior to being traded to the Spurs.
After missing San Antonio's first eight games in 2025-26, Fox is back on the court and putting the team on his shoulders as the trio of the future fights to get healthy again.
The Spurs have won five of their seven games with Fox in 2025-26, including each of the three they've played without Wembanyama. With the franchise player sidelined, Fox has recorded averages of 26.7 points, 7.7 assists, 2.7 rebounds, 2.0 steals, and 3.0 three-point field goals made per outing.
Fox led the Spurs in scoring during each of their three wins without Wembanyama, and dished out 11 assists against the Sacramento Kings and nine in a win over the Atlanta Hawks.
De'Aaron Fox is thriving individually and helping his teammates
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In addition to excelling individually, Fox has guided the team's efforts by spreading the wealth and feeding the hot hand. He's helped Harrison Barnes, Julian Champagnie, and Keldon Johnson turn in 20-point games, and was David Jones Garcia's most vocal supporter during his breakout performance against the Atlanta Hawks.
In many respects, what Fox has offered the Spurs is more than just proven All-NBA talent they otherwise lack beyond Wembanyama—he's become a locker room leader.
Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson praised Fox for [helping "set the tone"](https://airalamo.com/de-aaron-fox-already-elevating-spurs-crucial-sacrifice-stats-show) for the balance in the locker room by embracing a secondary role despite his history as a franchise player. His unselfish mentality is shining through on the court, with a willingness to do anything the situation calls for.
Most agree that Castle and Harper have a chance to become great players, as well, but if the goal is to win now, the Spurs need a ready-made second star.
Fox has proven across a nine-year NBA career that he can put a team on his back and take over late in games. He's doing it again early in 2025-26, ranking second on the Spurs behind Wembanyama at 5.6 points per fourth quarter on 53.1 percent shooting from the field.
Helping Castle and Harper become the stars they're capable of being is still a top priority in San Antonio, but if the goal is to win now, then Fox gives the Spurs their best shot at helping Wembanyama do so.