De’Aaron Fox didn’t waste any time reminding people he can still explode at the rim.
In the second quarter of the Spurs’ preseason matchup with the Suns on Wednesday at Frost Bank Center, Fox took the ball hard to the basket and finished with a vicious dunk over Rasheer Fleming, drawing the foul and turning the arena into a frenzy. It was the kind of finish that looked right out of his Kentucky days, when punishing the rim came naturally.
San Antonio rolled to a 123-103 win for its first preseason victory, and Fox chipped in nine points, three rebounds, and four assists. The Spurs also put their potential starting five on display, running out Fox, Dylan Harper, Stephon Castle, Devin Vassell, and Victor Wembanyama.
There had been some speculation that Fox could be the odd man out of the starting group to make room for Harper, but the preseason look suggested otherwise. The 28-year-old veteran appears to have his spot locked in.
Fox enters this season looking to put a rough NBA Finals stint behind him. He has the full confidence of coach Mitch Johnson and his teammates, and he’ll be trying to turn that trust into a bounce-back year.
Wembanyama led the way with 19 points, four rebounds, three assists, two steals, and four blocks. Castle added 18 points, four rebounds, and three assists, while Carter Bryant contributed 16 points, five rebounds, and two blocks.
Last season, Fox averaged 18.6 points, 3.9 rebounds, 6.1 assists, and 1.4 steals in 72 games, shooting 48.6% from the field while giving San Antonio steady play and leadership for its young core.
In Other News...
Spurs Camp Cuts Put New Focus On A Roster Battle To Watch
The Spurs trimmed their camp roster ahead of the 2026/27 season by waiving Taelon Peter, Malik Williams and Terry Taylor, part of the usual late-preseason sorting that comes with training camp competition. It is the kind of move that rarely grabs headlines on its own, but it does sharpen the focus on who is still standing as the Spurs continue to shape the back end of the roster.
Around the league, several other teams were making similar decisions, with the Hawks signing Giorgi Bezhanishvili to an Exhibit 10 deal, the Jazz adding Chance Moore and the Cavaliers waiving Jaxson Robinson. Cole Swider, DeAndre Williams and Steven Crowl were also let go by the Lakers, Clippers and Nuggets, respectively, underscoring how active this stretch can be as teams settle on their final looks before the season begins. [Read more 🡒]
Spurs May Be Seeing An Early Answer Behind Victor Wembanyama
The Spurs have spent the preseason looking for the kind of sturdy interior presence that can take some of the burden off Victor Wembanyama, and rookie center Tarris Reed Jr. has given them a promising early look. Reed has stood out for his work on the glass and around the rim, including a 17-rebound game against Utah and another strong showing against Phoenix, where he finished with three blocks and nine rebounds.
For a young big trying to earn trust in a crowded rotation, that sort of consistency matters as much as the headline numbers. Reed said he plans to keep bringing effort and persistence, and San Antonio will be watching to see whether that carries into a steady role as the season gets closer. The Spurs could use a reliable backup behind Wembanyama, and Reed has at least made that conversation worth having. [Read more 🡒]
Spurs Already Have One Big Concern With This Wembanyama Experiment
The Spurs spent a preseason look against Phoenixs backups trying something ambitious, dropping DeAaron Fox, Stephon Castle, Dylan Harper, Devin Vassell and Victor Wembanyama into a guard-heavy lineup that was always going to be watched closely. It was the first time that group had played together, according to coach Mitch Johnson, and even in a small sample it hinted at both sides of the equation San Antonio is trying to balance: enough ballhandling and perimeter talent to pressure defenses, plus the kind of size and activity Wembanyama brings to everything around him.
What showed up quickly, though, was the downside. The group flashed defensive promise, but the spacing and shooting issues were apparent early, leaving the Spurs with a familiar preseason question as they keep sorting through rotations before the games start to count. The idea is intriguing enough to keep revisiting, but the early returns suggest there is still plenty to iron out before this kind of look can be counted on in regular-season minutes. [Read more 🡒]