Fox: I will have to undergo surgery one day, but the timing will depend on the situation

Spurs point guard De'Aaron Fox said Thursday he hopes to delay surgery as long as possible without affecting his game.

"Brian (Spurs general manager Brian Wright) and I have discussed the surgery," he told TA's Spurs reporter Mike Monroe. "One day I'll have to have surgery, but until then, we'll see how it goes."

Fox's comments show that he understands the need for surgery, but always prioritizes the team's situation. This season, Fox has been playing with a dislocated pinky finger on his left hand, and has fixed his pinky finger on his left ring finger. According to Mike Monroe, as long as the Spurs theoretically lose their playoff qualification, Fox will immediately undergo surgery.

Fox, 29, was selected by the Sacramento Kings with the fifth pick in the first round in 2017 and started his NBA career. He played for the Kings for eight seasons, averaging 21.5 points, 3.9 rebounds, 6.1 assists and 1.4 steals per game, and led the team to the playoffs for the first time since 2006 in the 2022/23 season.

In February of this year, Fox came to the San Antonio Spurs in a three-team trade. In an interview with Mamike Monroe, he recalled his feelings at the time: "My first thought was, 'Wow, I'm going to play for another team.' I've been with one team for almost ten years, so it felt weird at first. Then it was, 'Oh, no, I have to move to the other side of the country.'"

Fox then added: "Besides that, I'm excited to join the Spurs. The Spurs have a lot of young players, but I think they are very talented, so this makes me very much looking forward to it."

So far, Fox has played 13 games for the Spurs, averaging 19.3 points, 4.2 rebounds, 6.6 assists and 1.77 steals per game. However, the Spurs are ranked 13th in the Western Conference with a record of 26 wins and 34 losses in the absence of Victor Wenbanyama for a long time, and their playoff prospects are slim.

Despite this, Fox still showed an optimistic attitude. He said: "Our biggest concern is Wenban Yama's health. Health is the most important thing for us. Although we lost him, there are still many talented players in the locker room. His absence provides more opportunities for others to grow."