NBA Swing: Can the Spurs Figure out the Fox-Harper Issue?

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In a recently released article by GQ covering the San Antonio Spurs young backcourt duo of Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper, a short discussion between the two would further ignite rumors that were already started following the Spurs’ Finals loss to the New York Knicks:

“I’m going to win Sixth Man of the Year,” Harper says.

“You’re not going to be Sixth Man,” Castle replies. “Who are you going to be Sixth Man for?”

“I don’t [expletive] know- God?” Harper responds.

The GQ reporter would cut in, asking if Harper really believed he’ll be coming off the bench, before Harper gave his answer:

“What’s the political answer here? I’m going to do whatever the team needs me to do, man. If that’s come off the bench…” Harper then stops. “That’s crazy [expletive], no, I ain’t coming off no bench.”

Harper would follow up on his comments during the Spurs Media Day earlier this week:

“Everyone has a competitive edge to them, but the biggest thing for me is whatever I can do, just like last year, to help the team win. Whatever position the coaching staff thinks is best for me to be in, that’s the position I’ll have to own. I’m always going to be at the forefront of keeping the team together.”

in attack mode from the jump 😤@Ticketmaster | #PorVida pic.twitter.com/l2jyBbtw7d

— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) October 1, 2026

The second pick of the 2025 NBA Draft, Harper would play 69 games in his rookie season, coming off the bench in 65 of those games. He would average 11.8 PPG, 3.4 RPG, and 3.9 APG in 22 MPG.

Harper’s role would increase in the playoffs, especially with the lacking performance of starting point guard De’Aaron Fox. In 23 playoff games, Harper’s stats would jump to 14.1 PPG, 5.6 RPG, and 2.7 APG. He would come off the bench in 21 of the 23 games. The then-rookie guard would have five 20+ point performances during the playoffs, including a playoff high of 27 points in the Game 3 win of the Spurs’ first-round matchup against the Portland Trail Blazers while Victor Wembanyama was out with a concussion.

De’Aaron Fox, on the other hand, had an up-and-down postseason, with an ankle injury playing a significant role in his performance. Fox would average 15.6 PPG, 3.8 RPG, and 6.0 APG in 21 playoff games. Fox would have five 20+ point performances but would also make some of the Spurs’ most crucial mistakes in the Finals. In Game 4, Fox would collect a rebound off a missed Jalen Brunson shot attempt and would choose to attack the rim over attempting to draw a foul by the Knicks, who were down 105-106 with under 15 seconds left in the game. The game would finish with a legendary putback by OG Anunoby and the Knicks taking Game 4 after a 27-point comeback. Fox would only average 12.8 PPG, 3.0 RPG, and 6.0 APG in the Finals.

Fox would dispel rumors of chemistry issues with younger players on the roster, noting success on the court together, despite Castle, Harper, and himself not playing a tremendous amount of time on the court together during the regular season.

With Fox’s performance and Harper’s postseason play, many have called for Harper to start for the Spurs alongside the core of Stephon Castle and Victor Wembanyama. The Spurs traded for Fox in early 2025 to address the much-needed point guard situation next to Victor Wembanyama. Fox would sign a four-year extension worth $221 million that keeps him with the team through the 2029-30 season. Harper, on the other hand, is entering the second year of his four-year, $56 million rookie contract.

With a projected starting lineup of De’Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle, Devin Vassell, Tobias Harris, and Victor Wembanyama, some have pitched the possibility of a three-guard lineup with Fox, Castle, and Harper all starting. A three-guard lineup could work for the Spurs. Fox has always been a great distributor but not a great three-point shooter, while Castle and Harper were both league-average three-point shooters in the playoffs. If all three can become floor-spacing threats, they can open the floor for one another and Victor Wembanyama.

Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson would comment on the situation during Spurs media day:

“I see all three of them playing together. I don’t know the definition of a lot more, but more than we did in the regular season, for sure.”

Having Stephon Castle, Dylan Harper, and Victor Wembanyama still on rookie deals for now (Wembanyama will start a five-year, $255 rookie max extension in 2027), the Spurs can afford Fox, even though their guard situation next to Wembanyama can be filled by Harper, Castle, and him. While many put Fox in trade rumors following the Finals, the organization has stuck by the guard, and he isn’t expected to be traded any time soon. If the Spurs can get the best out of the Fox-Harper situation, there is no doubt they will be in the upper tier of the West and a legitimate championship contender once more. Opening night of the 2026-27 season will see the Spurs host the Oklahoma City Thunder in a rematch of the 2026 Western Conference Finals.