The San Antonio Spurs have gone from rebuilding to contending in what feels like the blink of an eye. At the heart of this rise is a dynamic duo: Victor Wembanyama, the generational talent who's quickly becoming the face of the franchise, and De’Aaron Fox, the veteran guard whose presence has been nothing short of transformative.
Head coach Mitch Johnson has this team playing with confidence and cohesion, but make no mistake - it’s the balance between Wemby’s sky-high ceiling and Fox’s steady hand that’s driving San Antonio’s resurgence.
Let’s start with Fox. Most fans remember him as the engine behind the Sacramento Kings’ brief but exciting playoff run in the 2022-23 season.
Alongside Domantas Sabonis, he helped end the Kings’ long postseason drought and reminded everyone just how electric he can be with the ball in his hands. But after hitting a ceiling with Sacramento, Fox needed a new challenge - and San Antonio needed a leader.
Now, that pairing looks like a perfect fit.
Fox has stepped into a leadership role with the Spurs like he’s been waiting for this moment. He’s not just producing on the court - he’s setting the tone for a young roster that includes promising guards Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper.
Both players have the tools, but Fox gives them something just as important: a blueprint. He’s the veteran voice in their ear, the guy showing them how to carry themselves, how to stay aggressive, how to lead without overshadowing.
And that leadership hasn’t gone unnoticed.
“You have De'Aaron Fox, who's an All-Star player, that is saying, 'Go do that. Go be relentless, and go be fearless.'
While he still has the ability to take over games. I think that's really hard to do,” Johnson said in a recent interview with SiriusXM NBA Radio.
That quote says it all. Fox isn’t just coexisting with Wembanyama and the young core - he’s empowering them.
He’s still capable of taking over a game when needed, but he’s also comfortable stepping back and letting the next wave of Spurs talent find their rhythm. That’s rare.
And it’s exactly what this team needs.
Wembanyama, for all his brilliance, is still developing. Castle and Harper are still learning the ropes. But with Fox in the mix, the Spurs have a stabilizing force - someone who’s been through the ups and downs, someone who understands the grind of an NBA season, and someone who can help guide this team through the inevitable growing pains.
San Antonio’s future is bright, and it’s not just because of the highlight-reel blocks or the jaw-dropping dunks. It’s because they’ve found the right balance - a young superstar in Wembanyama, a veteran leader in Fox, and a head coach in Mitch Johnson who knows how to bring it all together.
The Spurs are no longer just a team to watch for the future. They’re a team to watch right now.