De’Aaron Fox’s Injury Update
At the San Antonio Spurs’ recent media day, point guard De’Aaron Fox cast uncertainty over his participation in the team’s upcoming season opener against the Dallas Mavericks on October 22. The 27-year-old has been dealing with a right hamstring injury sustained during summer training sessions. As a direct result, team officials are likely to keep him on the sidelines for the entirety of the preseason and possibly the first game of the regular season as a precaution.
Fox’s Statements on Recovery
Fox confirmed, “I definitely won’t be playing in the preseason, that’s for sure. I don’t think I’ll be ready for opening night. But we’re going to play it by ear. I feel like I can play right now. But I don’t have that [medical] expertise.”
He further added, to underscore his physical readiness, that he was already running at a speed of 15 miles per hour on a treadmill, which he believes is faster than many of his teammates.
Contract and Previous Season
This past summer, Fox locked in a lucrative four-year extension worth $229 million, following a challenging previous season that was marred by a left pinky finger injury requiring surgery in March. He made his Spurs debut last February, coming to the franchise in a complicated three-team trade that involved various players and draft picks.
Partnership with Victor Wembanyama
In his limited time last season, Fox averaged 19.7 points and 6.8 assists over just 17 games, forming a brief partnership with the team’s highly anticipated star, Victor Wembanyama, who saw his season cut short by a serious health issue.
Reflecting on his decision to join the Spurs, Fox remarked, “[Wembanyama] was a big reason why I wanted to come here. I see the youth and the talent that they have. We know there will be growing pains, but you would love to win while you have growing pains rather than losing and trying to have moral victories.”
