After a disastrous NBA Finals, most San Antonio Spurs fans are ready to see Dylan Harper start at point guard over De’Aaron Fox.
Despite making the All-Star Game, Fox was one of the worst players on the floor in the Finals, averaging just a dozen inefficient points and making questionable decisions while leading the offense. Harper, meanwhile, looked confident and poised.
Of course, it was only a matter of time before Harper usurped Fox, but that day seems to be coming sooner than expected. For now, the Spurs will keep Harper, Fox, and Stephon Castle on the roster. The clock is ticking, though.
The Spurs signed Fox to a four-year maximum deal last summer, and even with Victor Wembanyama taking a pay cut, there’s no way the Spurs can keep all three guards on the roster long-term. That means it’s only a matter of time before Fox is traded. Ideally, the Spurs will be able to get a decent return for the veteran. For now, though, his value is at an all-time low.
Even with Fox having lost the confidence of the fan base, there is one compelling argument pointing to him remaining the starter.
Dylan Harper’s Biggest Weakness Will Hold Him Back
Ahead of the 2025 NBA Draft, Harper was touted as one of the best guard prospects in recent years. He was compared to James Harden, Cade Cunningham, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Despite that, there’s still a learning curve.
Spurs’ guards only have one job: make Wembanyama as effective as possible. Harper is an elite passer and can get Wemby the ball, but then isn’t as effective as the team would like. Off-ball, he simply doesn’t command enough attention. Opponents can pack the paint, getting in Wembanyama’s way.
In his rookie season, Harper shot 34.3 percent from deep. Fox shot 33.2 percent from deep. Neither of those marks is that good, but Harper shot only 33.3 percent on wide-open 3s, 19th worst in the entire NBA. Fox was at 35.1 percent, which isn’t great, but is serviceable.
In the playoffs. Fox’s wide-open mark fell to 32.7 percent. Harper’s plummeted to 27.7 percent. In short, teams can leave Harper open, knowing he’s not much of a shooting threat.
Until Harper can reliably draw a man out to cover him, it’s impossible for him to successfully maximize Wembanyama. Harper is a better player than Fox, but Wemby is a better player alongside Fox.
Given The Alien’s skillset and dominance, being better next to Wemby is more important than being better overall. For now, Fox has Harper beat.
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