De’Aaron Fox surprised fans as he revealed his decision to opt.
De’Aaron Fox surprised fans as he revealed his decision to opt for season-ending surgery.
After news broke Thursday that De’Aaron Fox opted for season-ending surgery to repair a ligament in his left pinkie finger, the San Antonio Spurs guard explained his timing, with 18 games remaining in the 2024-25 season.
Fox cited recovery time as a key factor in his decision, emphasizing the importance of a full offseason for training. “The big thing was, ‘What was the recovery time?’” Fox told reporters Friday. “Did we want to risk missing half the offseason? You want to be able to get a full offseason with the guys and be on the court. That played a big role in the decision.”
Spurs forward/center Sandro Mamukelashvili shared the team’s reaction, saying Fox informed them after their last game. “Everybody was upset because he was hooping, but we just hope the surgery goes well so he can recover fast,” he said. De’Aaron Fox surprised fans as he revealed his decision to opt.
Fox also announced the news ahead of the Spurs’ trip to Los Angeles, where his doctor will perform the procedure. He noted that his bent pinkie had become an issue, particularly when catching the ball.
“I’ve worked out without it, and I’ve hit it while working out,” Fox said. “If it was my right hand, I feel like I’d be fine. But since it’s my left, it’s affecting how I dribble and shoot, which is a major reason I wanted to get it fixed.”
The Spurs will host the Charlotte Hornets on Friday and the New Orleans Pelicans on Saturday before heading to Los Angeles to face the Lakers. De’Aaron Fox surprised fans as he revealed his decision to opt.
Spurs Rookie Stephon Castle Earns Praise for His Versatility
Despite having a top-tier talent in Victor Wembanyama and an All-Star point guard in De’Aaron Fox, the San Antonio Spurs remain a young team in the midst of a rebuild. This season has been plagued by injuries and illnesses affecting both key players and head coach Gregg Popovich. However, the Spurs’ future looks bright, and rookie guard Stephon Castle has been a major part of their progress.
Castle has emerged as a frontrunner in the Rookie of the Year race, averaging 13.6 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game. While his shooting efficiency could improve, his impact on both ends of the floor has been undeniable. Over his last ten games, he has elevated his scoring to 19.2 points per game, primarily coming off the bench in nine of those contests. In Friday’s loss to the Charlotte Hornets, Castle made his first start since February 3, demonstrating his greatest strength—adaptability.
“When you start the game and play with those guys, there’s a different level of game flow than when you come in later,” said acting head coach Mitch Johnson. “But he’s done it before, so I think he’ll continue to adjust and get back into the rhythm.”
Castle has performed well in games he starts, benefiting from increased playing time, but he has also excelled as a leader of the second unit. Given his steady production, it seems inevitable that he will claim the starting shooting guard role alongside Fox when the Spurs become more competitive next season. So far, he has been exactly what the team needed.
