The 2025-26 NBA playoffs marked just the second time in Fox's nine-year career that he had participated in the postseason.
That didn't quiet calls on social media for Fox's demotion in favor of Harper, who in Game 5 became the sixth rookie in league history to score 25 points when facing elimination in the NBA Finals. San Antonio traded for Fox in February 2025 with an agreement in place to sign him to a max deal later that summer before knowing it would land the No. 2 pick in the NBA lottery three months later and draft Harper. The addition of the Rutgers standout created a logjam in the backcourt.
Harper voiced displeasure earlier in the season about a lack of playing time and his role, but those increased as the season progressed and the rookie gained more experience.
Internally, the Spurs remain committed to Fox as their franchise starting point guard. Sources called Fox a calming presence and the team's closer for most of the season, adding that one rough series essentially playing on one leg doesn't change that. The four-year, $229 million contract extension Fox signed last summer kicks in next season, raising his salary from $37.1 million to $49.8 million. He's scheduled to make $61.7 million in the final year of the deal in 2029-30, when he'll be 32 years old.
It's expected that calls from Harper's camp for a spot in the starting lineup will grow louder going into next season. But it's not an issue San Antonio needs to address right away. Fox's contract won't become a potential eyesore until after Wembanyama's upcoming rookie extension kicks in, and when the Spurs are looking next summer to extend Castle to what should be a max deal.
https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/49108219/san-antonio-spurs-offseason-priorities-nba-finals-loss