When the San Antonio Spurs traded for De'Aaron Fox in early February, it was expected that the point guard would immediately become Victor Wembanyama's running mate. While the two could still very easily have a long-term partnership, Wembanyama being shut down for the season did stop any immediate success in its tracks.
Wembanyama might not be the only one missing significant time, as Fox has been nursing an injury to his pinky finger, although he might be on the verge of seeking a permanent solution.
Fox has long been expected to require surgery this offseason, although he has done a solid job of playing through any discomfort or pain. However, with the Spurs spiraling and the playoffs basically out of the question at this point, Fox might rush into surgery this season so he can have a full summer to get used to the Spurs' system.
"We're shooting for whenever we're in LA, because the doctor's in LA, so that makes it easier," said Fox of getting his nagging finger looked at. "The surgery may or may not happen that day."
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The Spurs will next play the Los Angeles Lakers on March 17, so it stands to reason that if he does go under the knife, his season could be over before the middle of this month.
In 15 games with the Spurs, Fox is averaging 19.3 points and 6.5 assists while taking a slight hit to his shooting efficiency, and by shutting him down, the Spurs will almost certainly be in the running for a top pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.
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This story was originally published March 10, 2025 at 4:04 PM.