Wembanyama praises – Victor Wembanyama leaned on De’Aaron Fox’s experience ahead of Game 3 after Fox was heavily criticized for a rough showing in Game 1 against the New York Knicks. With the Spurs staring at a 2-0 deficit, Wembanyama said Fox has repeatedly made things easier for
De’Aaron Fox took heat after Game 1 of the NBA Finals against the New York Knicks — and on Tuesday, Victor Wembanyama made sure everyone heard why that same Fox still matters.
Fox’s opening-round struggles were stark. He finished with seven points on 3-of-13 shooting from the field, including 0-of-4 from three-point range. The criticism didn’t stop with the stat line; fans also felt coach Mitch Johnson should have benched Fox in crunch time and played Dylan Harper instead.
Then Game 2 arrived with a different storyline. Fox scored 20 points on 8-of-12 shooting from the floor, including 2-of-2 from long distance. He also added three rebounds and five assists. The Spurs still lost a heartbreaker to the Knicks, but the response from Fox was there.
Now, with San Antonio staring at a 2-0 deficit and heading into Game 3 of the best-of-seven series, Wembanyama stepped to the microphone and framed Fox as more than just a player who can score.
“It’s been great. I think it’s been saving us a lot of trouble over the course of the season. Sometimes he makes things very easy for us,” Wembanyama said in a media conference.
Wembanyama’s message carried a clear reminder of what the Spurs are building around — and what can get lost when attention swings only to one game.
“He’s an experienced guy who we’ve always been able to turn to when we need him. It’s easy to forget that our guards are really young and how precious he has been for them.”
Fox, at 28 years old, has been part of how San Antonio has managed the pressure of this run to the NBA Finals. He’s helped guide the 20-year-old Dylan Harper and the 21-year-old Stephon Castle, while also easing some of the pressure off the 22-year-old Wembanyama.
The Spurs’ locker room is said to include veteran stability with Fox alongside Harrison Barnes, Bismack Biyombo, Kelly Olynyk, and Mason Plumless — a group the team has long valued as mentorship. But the Finals don’t reward reputation. They demand production at the exact moments that decide games.
That’s why Game 3 looms so directly for Fox. San Antonio will need him to keep making his presence felt on the floor if the Spurs are going to turn this series around.
The tension from Game 1 never fully went away. Wembanyama didn’t erase it. Instead, he acknowledged what the young group can gain from a seasoned voice — and insisted it’s been there all season, not just during the brighter nights.
NBA Finals San Antonio Spurs New York Knicks Victor Wembanyama De'Aaron Fox Game 1 Game 2 Game 3 Mitch Johnson Dylan Harper Stephon Castle