From CBS Sports · · 1m 10s
Spurs Start Harper, Bench Fox for Opening Night
Spurs start Dylan Harper over De'Aaron Fox for opening night, risking benching veteran in early season.
In brief
Spurs start Dylan Harper over De'Aaron Fox for opening night, risking benching veteran in early season. San Antonio Spurs start Dylan Harper on opening night, leaving De'Aaron Fox to potentially bench after a Finals injury. Originally reported by CBS Sports.
Spurs Start Harper
San Antonio Spurs start Dylan Harper, the No. 2 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, on opening night.
Fox's Injury Impact
De'Aaron Fox's injured ankle and Finals struggles loomed large over San Antonio's NBA Finals loss to New York Knicks.
Three-Guard Lineup Concern
Harper, Fox, and Castle are strong drivers with questionable 3-point shots, risking poor shooting when all three play together.
Wembanyama's Role
Victor Wembanyama, the game-breaking center, spaces the floor and helps the Spurs' shooting.
Spurs' Historical Performance
San Antonio outscored opponents by 17.6 points per 100 possessions when Champagnie played with two guards.
Benching Fox Strategy
Spurs plan to bench De'Aaron Fox after opening night, risking alienating a key player with a max contract.
Long-Term Plan
Spurs will test the three-guard lineup before deciding whether to bench Fox permanently.
The short version
San Antonio Spurs start Dylan Harper on opening night, leaving De'Aaron Fox to potentially bench after a Finals injury.
