DE'AARON Fox

Fox's return started quietly. Against Phoenix on Oct. 14 he had 9 points, 3 rebounds and 4 assists in 18.6 minutes, and the Spurs won. Two nights later he was sharper against Sacramento. He scored 16 points with 6 rebounds and 3 assists in 22.5 minutes. San Antonio won that game, and Fox finished with a plus-minus of 33.0. The Oct. 20 game against Oklahoma City was his most complete line. He had 14 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists in 31.9 minutes. The Spurs lost, but he was a plus-1.0 in his minutes. The rebounding stands out. He averaged 3.8 rebounds last season and has pulled down 6 and 7 in his last two games. His assists against the Thunder also beat last season's 6.2 average.

Fox played 72 games for San Antonio last season. He averaged 18.6 points, 6.2 assists and 3.8 rebounds in 31.0 minutes. He added 1.2 steals and 0.3 blocks a game, and turned it over 2.3 times a game. His shooting was efficient for a lead guard. He made 48.6 percent of his field goals. His three-point shot was the weak spot at 33.2 percent. He hit 76.0 percent at the line. His true shooting percentage was 57.8. His usage rate was 24.2, so he was a main option but not the only one. The Spurs were 6.3 points better per game with him on the floor. That plus-minus is the clearest sign of his value. He ran the offense, scored efficiently and the team won his minutes.

Fox's last stretch of last season came in June against New York. San Antonio lost on June 3, when he had 7 points and 5 assists in 37.9 minutes. He bounced back with 20 points and 5 assists on June 5, but the Spurs lost again. San Antonio won on June 8. Fox had 12 points and 8 assists, though he was a minus-7.0 in that win. On June 10 he scored 18 points with 5 rebounds and 7 assists, and the Spurs lost. The run ended with a loss on June 13. Fox scored 7 points with 5 assists in 36.8 minutes. He played heavy minutes all series, from 33.8 to 37.9 a game. His scoring swung from game to game. That inconsistency is the part of his game to watch this season.

Fox wears No. 4 for the Spurs. He is a 6-3, 185-pound guard out of Kentucky. He is 28 years old and in his 9th NBA season. That makes him a veteran in his prime, and he can be the steady hand in the backcourt. The first thing to watch is health. He missed games in early October and only reached full minutes on Oct. 20. The second is his outside shot. A 33.2 percent mark from three last season leaves room to grow. The third is his rebounding. If the 6 and 7 rebound games keep coming, his all-around line goes up. He already showed against Oklahoma City that he can fill the box score in starter minutes.