De’Aaron Fox praised his San Antonio Spurs teammates following their 132-119 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday at crypto.com Arena. Fox highlighted the collective effort that secured the team’s spot in the NBA Cup semifinals.
Fox credited Stephon Castle for his two-way impact. “Even last year, he plays a brand of winning basketball… he was big for us on both ends of the court tonight,” Fox said, noting Castle’s contributions in scoring, distributing, and defending Luka Doncic.
Keldon Johnson’s early impact also earned praise. “KJ… immediately gets an offensive rebound, a loose ball, or scores. He brings so much energy for us every single night,” Fox said, emphasizing Johnson’s role in maintaining momentum throughout the game.
Fox reflected on building chemistry with Castle and Dylan Harper. “Off the court… we do game nights, play board games, figure out ways to get together… on the court, their talent makes them easy to play off of,” he explained, noting the importance of unselfishness and court vision.
The guard discussed blending high-paced offense with Victor Wembanyama’s unique skill set. “Even with him, we get the ball out with Vic trailing… he can create for himself or for somebody else, which adds a dynamic to our offense,” Fox said, outlining how the Spurs adapt whether Wembanyama is on the court or sidelined.
Mentoring Dylan Harper was another focus. “We want him to take the ball, get downhill, create for himself, create a shot for somebody else, and continue to do that,” Fox said, emphasizing the balance between nurturing talent and maintaining team identity.
Fox recalled a critical late three-pointer that helped halt the Lakers’ comeback. “Playing off of Steph… I got a wide-open three. If I don’t hit that, I probably don’t miss that shot,” he said, underscoring the team’s mature response to pressure.
Reflecting on high-stakes competition, Fox expressed confidence in the Spurs’ capabilities. “Even without Vic, we have so much talent on this team… this is just a stepping stone… we want to win the NBA championship,” he said, highlighting the team’s long-term goals beyond the NBA Cup.
Fox’s comments underscored the Spurs’ balance of youth and experience as they prepare to face defending champion Oklahoma City in the semifinals this Saturday. The Spurs aim to continue their nine-win surge in 12 games while navigating a high-paced, versatile offense.
