The San Antonio Spurs have made their call on De'Aaron Fox, and it's a vote of confidence. Despite a nightmare NBA Finals that had fans fuming and even launched a GoFundMe to pay off his contract, the team is sticking with their two-time All-Star point guard for the 2026-27 season.
Fox's numbers against the New York Knicks were ugly: 12.8 points per game on 34.3% shooting. But it wasn't just the stats that stung. In Game 4, with the Spurs up 106-105 and 13.1 seconds left, Fox drove for a layup instead of milking the clock. OG Anunoby swatted it, then hit the game-winner on the other end. Fox later said, 'You have to score. Try to get a layup, get up three, force them to need a 3. OG made a good block.'
The backlash was swift. A fan-created GoFundMe aimed to raise $221 million to buy out Fox's contract, and social media lit up with calls for a change. But according to ESPN's Michael C. Wright, San Antonio's front office never wavered. 'Internally, the Spurs remain committed to Fox as their franchise starting point guard,' Wright reported. 'Sources called Fox a calming presence and the team’s closer for most of the season, adding that one rough series essentially playing on one leg doesn’t change that.'
That decision, however, doesn't come without complications. Rookie Dylan Harper, who averaged 18.0 points and 6.4 rebounds in the Finals, has his camp pushing for a starting role. Wright noted, 'It’s expected that calls from Harper’s camp for a spot in the starting lineup will grow louder going into next season.' But the team isn't rushing into anything. Fox's contract won't become a burden until after Victor Wembanyama's extension kicks in and the Spurs look to extend Stephon Castle next summer.
Meanwhile, the Knicks are basking in their championship glow, with controversy at their victory parade and fake quotes from Carmelo Anthony going viral. For San Antonio, the focus is on internal chemistry and whether Fox can bounce back. The front office sees him as the steady hand that guided the team through the regular season, not the one who stumbled on the biggest stage.
Fox's postseason struggles are real, but the Spurs are betting on his track record. With a full offseason to heal and regroup, they believe he can reclaim his form. The question now is how Harper fits into the puzzle—and whether Fox can silence the doubters when the pressure returns.
