Spurs point guard Fox is out for the season due to pinky surgery and is expected to return next season

Spurs star De'Aaron Fox will undergo surgery on Tuesday in Los Angeles for a tendon injury to his left pinkie finger. He is expected to return next season, according to a release from Shams Charania and the San Antonio Spurs.

Fox, 27, plays mainly as a point guard and was selected by the Sacramento Kings with the fifth pick in the first round in 2017. 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 helped the team end its 17-year playoff drought in the 2022/23 season.

In February this year, Fox joined the San Antonio Spurs through a three-way trade. So far, he has played 17 games for the Spurs, averaging 19.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, 6.8 assists and 1.5 steals per game.

However, the Spurs have performed poorly after losing head coach Gregg Popovich and core center Victor Wenbanyama, and are currently ranked 12th in the Western Conference with a record of 27 wins and 37 losses. Against this background, Fox finally decided to undergo surgery.

In fact, Fox suffered a tendon injury to his left little finger as early as October last year, but he has insisted on playing with the injury this season. According to TA Spurs reporter Mike Monroe last week, Fox will immediately undergo surgery if the Spurs theoretically miss the playoffs.

Fox also hinted at this decision in a recent interview with Monroe: "Brian (Spurs general manager Brian Wright) and I have discussed the surgery. One day I have to undergo surgery, but before that, we will see how the situation goes."

For the Spurs and Fox, undergoing surgery at this time will not only help speed up the recovery process, but also help to better build chemistry with the team during the offseason. The Spurs said they hope Fox can recover smoothly and be fully prepared before the start of next season.