Sources closes to a San Antonio Spurs All-Star have made a critical update regarding his health going forward.
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Per Shams Charania of ESPN, point guard De’Aaron Fox will be re-joining the club for the first time this season on Saturday, in a home clash against the lowly New Orleans Pelicans.
Fox has been struggling with a hamstring injury since the summer, and had missed all of the 5-2 Spurs’ prior regular season contests. His return is well-timed, as rookie point guard Dylan Harper incurred a hamstring strain earlier this week and is expected to be on the shelf for several weeks.
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Charania added more context during a conversation with Malika Andrews on “NBA Today.”
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“Today’s his ramp-up day for that Saturday debut. Fox is the first of some returns here for the Spurs. Rookie guard Dylan Harper as well as center Luke Kornet are working their way back as well, so reinforcements and depth here will be on full display for the Spurs here pretty soon,” Charania said. “But even more critically now, potentially a long runway with Victor Wembanyama and Fox. Small sample size for them last season, only five games together, a total of 120 minutes. So seeing how Fox can carry that offensive burden with Wemby [is key].”
The 6-foot-3 Kentucky product, 27, had pressured the Sacramento Kings to move him to San Antonio as that club’s season and future were clearly heading south last season. He was ultimately flipped to San Antonio as part of a three-team blockbuster trade with the Chicago Bulls on Feb. 3, but only lasted 17 games before he was felled by tendon damage in his left pinkie finger that ultimately required surgery. In those 17 available games, Fox averaged a respectable 19.7 points on .446/.274/.819 shooting splits, 6.8 dimes, 4.3 boards and 1.5 swipes per.
He’s never been a great 3-point shooter, but has had two seasons connecting on 36 percent or more from distance, at a decent volume. If Fox’s jump shooting can improve from where it was last year, it could greatly improve San Antonio’s ceiling and general versatility on offense.
San Antonio inked Fox to a four-year, $229 million maximum extension in August, a clear vote of confidence in not only the fit of Fox next to All-Star center Victor Wembanyama but also a testament to how San Antonio brass feels about Fox’s chemistry with young perimeter stars Stephon Castle, the reigning Rookie of the Year, and Harper.
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