Fox has handed the scoring load to Wembanyama, Castle and Harper and taken the point guard's job: 7.0 assists, 53.1% shooting and a 13.4 net rating through five games. What's left to fix is the 3.0 turnovers a night.
What is Fox's job on a roster built around Wembanyama?
He runs it. Fox leads the Spurs with 7.0 assists a game and a 29.4% assist rate in 31.4 minutes, while Wembanyama carries the scoring at 25.0 a night. Castle at 17.4 and Harper at 17.2 have both outscored Fox's 15.4. That is the design, not a demotion. At 28, with nine years in, he is the veteran setting the table for a young core.
Is Fox shooting well enough to justify taking fewer shots?
Yes. He is making 53.1% overall and 38.9% from deep on 3.6 attempts a game, good for a 65.1% true shooting mark. His usage sits at 18.9%, modest for a lead guard. The free throw line is the soft spot at 78.3%. There is a case for more volume, but this kind of accuracy at this usage argues for patience, not pressure.
What do the numbers say when Fox is playing?
With Fox in the game, San Antonio posts a 116.7 offensive rating and a 103.3 defensive rating, a net of 13.4. The team as a whole is at 114.1 and 108.1, a 6.0 net. The defensive gap is the larger one, and his 1.8 steals a game are part of it. The one listed lineup he anchors, with Vassell, Wembanyama, Castle and Harper, is plus 9.4 across 53 minutes.
Where does Fox need to be better?
Ball security. Three turnovers against 7.0 assists is a ratio of roughly 2.3 to 1. That is workable, but a nine-year point guard should not settle for it. Harper and Castle also handle the ball, so Fox does not need to force passes to create. Cutting that number is the most direct way to keep his net rating from slipping as the games pile up.
What does his contract mean for the Spurs' flexibility?
Fox makes $49.8M this season, the largest deal on a $196.1M payroll that sits $4.3M under the $200.4M tax line. His salary rises to $53.8M in 2027-28, $57.8M in 2028-29 and $61.8M in 2029-30. He is not on the injury report and has played all five games. At that price his production has to show up in wins, and so far it has.
Is De'Aaron Fox injured?
No. Fox is not on the injury report and has played in all five of the Spurs' games.
How much is De'Aaron Fox's contract with the Spurs?
Fox earns $49.8M in 2026-27, and his salary rises each year to $61.8M in 2029-30. He is the highest-paid player on the Spurs.
