The San Antonio Spurs are starting to turn heads out West.
With a gritty win over the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday, the Spurs became just the second team this season to knock off the champs-joining the Trail Blazers, who edged them out earlier in November. But this wasn't just a one-off upset.
San Antonio has now won five of its last six games and, maybe more importantly, is finally getting healthy. And when a young, talented team starts clicking physically and mentally, things can get interesting in a hurry.
But while the momentum is building, there’s a bigger conversation happening behind the scenes-one that could define the Spurs’ long-term trajectory. It centers around De’Aaron Fox, the dynamic point guard who’s been a key piece of San Antonio’s resurgence since arriving via trade from Sacramento in February.
Fox missed the first eight games of the season with a hamstring injury, but since returning, he’s been exactly what the Spurs hoped for: a high-octane playmaker who can push the pace, create for others, and score efficiently-especially from deep. He’s shooting a career-best 39.1% from three this year, a major development for a player whose outside shot has long been a question mark.
And then there’s the chemistry with Victor Wembanyama. The 7-foot-4 phenom is the centerpiece of everything San Antonio is building. Fox’s ability to complement Wemby’s game-whether in the pick-and-roll, in transition, or spacing the floor-has been a welcome sight for Spurs fans dreaming of a return to contention.
But here’s where things get complicated.
There’s growing chatter that the Spurs could consider a bold swing-something in the realm of a “Luka Doncic-like heist”-to accelerate their climb into the NBA’s elite. That idea? Packaging Fox in a blockbuster trade to land another superstar-caliber player.
It’s a risky proposition, no doubt. Fox is playing at an All-Star level, and trading him would mean breaking up a backcourt that’s just starting to gel.
But San Antonio has made it clear: Wembanyama is the franchise. Everything else is on the table if it means maximizing the window around him.
According to reports, the Spurs are not willing to move their prized young guards, Dylan Harper and Stephon Castle-two players they view as long-term foundational pieces. That makes Fox, despite his recent resurgence, a potential trade chip if the right opportunity presents itself.
The reference point here is the Lakers’ shocking 2025 deadline deal for Luka Doncic, which cost them Anthony Davis, Max Christie, and a first-round pick. It was a steep price, but it landed them a top-five player and changed their trajectory overnight. San Antonio may not be chasing Doncic, but the blueprint is there: identify a transformative player, pay the price, and go all-in.
The Spurs have options. They can stay the course and continue developing chemistry between Fox and Wembanyama. Or, they can roll the dice, move Fox, and swing for the fences in pursuit of a star who could elevate them into true title contention.
Either way, one thing’s clear: San Antonio isn’t interested in wasting time. With Wembanyama already showing flashes of generational greatness, the Spurs are looking to fast-track their rise. And whether that means keeping Fox or using him to bring in another game-changer, the front office is preparing to make the kind of decision that could shape the franchise for years to come.