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Spurs Back De'Aaron Fox as Starter While Dylan Harper Presses for Role

Coach Mitch Johnson will decide the opening lineup based on performance in training camp and early games.

Overview

  • Team sources reported Monday that the Spurs' front office remains publicly committed to De'Aaron Fox despite his poor five-game Finals performance.
  • San Antonio says Fox played through a high right ankle sprain in the playoffs, a factor the team uses to explain his low Finals shooting percentage and a critical Game 4 mistake.
  • Second-year guard Dylan Harper emerged as a high-efficiency sixth man, averaging about 11.8 points and 50.5 percent shooting as a reserve and positioning himself as a viable starting option.
  • Fox's four-year, $229 million extension through 2029–30 and the guaranteed money limit practical short-term options to trade or bench him immediately.
  • Johnson plans to test rotations, including three-guard lineups, in training camp and the early season, and those on-court results will determine whether the Spurs stick with Fox, elevate Harper, or pursue other moves.