De’Aaron Fox’s brutal Game 1 performance for the Spurs—going 3-for-13 for seven points with three turnovers—has fans now fixated on whether there are loopholes to escape the $229 million four-year extension signed during the offseason. The question sharpened a
The moment the Spurs needed De’Aaron Fox most, his shot selection turned into noise and his finishing turned into silence.
When Game 1 of the NBA Finals ended, Fox had 7 points on a staggering 3-for-13 from the field, three turnovers, and only five assists—numbers that didn’t just fall short. They helped leave New York’s defense with the breathing room the Spurs couldn’t afford.
A year ago, the Spurs traded for Fox believing they had found the perfect co-star for Victor Wembanyama. The plan was simple: Fox would steer the offense. “with Wembanyama patrolling anything and everything around the rim.” During the offseason. the Spurs didn’t just bet on that fit—they locked it in with a four-year. $229 million maximum contract extension. treating Fox as the clear second-in-command on a team with title aspirations.
But Wednesday’s Game 1 left many Spurs fans staring at that contract with a new kind of frustration. They began asking whether there are any loopholes to get out of the $229 million deal.
Fox didn’t have the kind of start that could have smoothed the night over. He opened the game with a flurry of 3-pointers—each one missed—and the misses didn’t stop there. By the time the Spurs were scrambling late. the game was deadlocked. and the decision that felt most consequential landed with the coaching staff: head coach Mitch Johnson backed the veteran Fox over rookie Dylan Harper.
Harper, the guard selected No. 2 in the 2025 NBA Draft, didn’t look like he belonged at the edge of the moment. He looked comfortable inside it. In his Finals debut, Harper was monstrous—16 points on 6-10 shooting.
For the Spurs, though, the lineup call in the dying minutes turned into a haunting what-if. Fox didn’t take advantage of the late window to shift the story. Instead. the night ended with a short jump shot with no defender in his face that clanked off the rim—an ending that effectively sealed the result for San Antonio.
The sting for Spurs fans isn’t only about a single loss. It’s also about timing and money: the next three seasons are set to bring Fox $53,460,000 or higher. In the NBA Finals. that kind of commitment doesn’t usually become a distraction because performance is supposed to carry it. Wednesday’s Game 1 did the opposite.
Until Game 2 tips off on Friday. the questions will keep circling the same theme: what would have happened if Harper were on the court over Fox in the moment the Spurs needed points most?. For many in San Antonio, the answer isn’t just about basketball. It’s about whether a $229 million extension can withstand a night like this—especially when the player being trusted to carry the burden struggled. and the newcomer being benched produced anyway.
De'Aaron Fox Victor Wembanyama San Antonio Spurs NBA Finals Game 1 Dylan Harper Mitch Johnson $229 million extension contract loopholes 2025 NBA Draft