The San Antonio Spurs are fully committed to surrounding their superstar, Victor Wembanyama, with top-tier talent. This commitment is evident in their four-year, $229 million contract agreement with De’Aaron Fox, which will keep him in San Antonio until 2030.
While the Spurs have been one of the most steady and cautious teams in the NBA over the past 30 years, this latest move could be their biggest risk yet. Fox played in just 17 games for San Antonio after he arrived at the trade deadline. With one career All-Star appearance, he will now become one of the highest-paid players in the league.
“San Antonio Spurs star De’Aaron Fox has agreed to a four-year, $229 million maximum contract extension with the franchise, Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul told ESPN,” Shams Charania wrote on X. “The max deal secures Fox’s future in San Antonio through the 2029-30 season.”
With his new contract kicking in at the end of next season, Fox will earn an average of $57 million a year from 2026 to 2030. There is no player option in the contract, meaning his contract will dominate the Spurs’ payroll for the next four years. He averaged 23.5 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 6.3 assists in 62 total games last year.
Fox Is Staying Long-Term
Fox was sent to San Antonio at the trade deadline in a three-team deal that saw Zach LaVine go to the Sacramento Kings and other assets heading back to the Chicago Bulls. He expressed his frustration with the Kings throughout the first half of last season, and the Spurs were his ideal landing spot.
However, after moving to San Antonio, Fox played in just 17 games, and only five alongside Wembanyama. He dealt with a finger injury last year, choosing to have season-ending surgery to fix the issue in mid-March.
However, the one major cause for concern is that Fox is a career 33% three-point shooter. Yes, Wembanyama doesn’t stay in the paint like other traditional big men, but with the pressure he will get in the low post, Fox doesn’t come in as a strong three-point threat like many of the other top guards making similar money. Wembanyama is the type of player that thrives with shooters around him, and Fox doesn’t fit that mold.
The Spurs just made a big gamble giving Fox the massive deal. At an average annual salary of $57 million, he’ll be one of the highest-paid players in the NBA. Though the contract wouldn’t begin until after next year, Fox will earn more than Stephen Curry, Luka Doncic, Anthony Edwards, and Kevin Durant based on current annual salaries.
Regardless, Fox has been one of the most consistent players in the NBA since he arrived in 2017. He has averaged at least 21 points, five assists, and six rebounds per game over the past seven seasons, and before last year, he had only missed more than 15 regular-season games once.
The Spurs Are Ready For Next Year
Now that they’ve locked down Fox, albeit for a large sum, San Antonio expects to have their new core ready to go for next year. Along with their point guard and Wembanyama, the Spurs drafted Dylan Harper second overall and Carter Bryant ninth overall in the latest draft.
They also have the reigning Rookie of the Year in Stephon Castle, as well as other young players like Devin Vassell, Jeremy Sochan, Keldon Johnson, and Julian Champagnie.
San Antonio added big men Luke Kornet and Kelly Olynyk over the offseason. If anyone needs any reassurance that they are strictly building around Wembanyama, the Spurs have only four players over 30, and an average team age of 23.8 years old.
In what might be the franchise’s biggest change, San Antonio will have a new head coach entering next year for the first time in 30 seasons. Hall of Famer Gregg Popovich decided to step down from his role after facing multiple health concerns, elevating Mitch Johnson in his place.
Johnson had a 32-45 record coaching the team last year, but expects to lead the team to greater heights next season with Wembanyama, Fox, and their supporting cast.
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