As De’Aaron Fox prepares to step onto the floor under a massive max contract, the pressure in San Antonio is reaching a boiling point. Following a grueling run to the NBA Finals and a disappointing individual finish on the game’s biggest stage, all eyes are on how the veteran guard will bounce back.
Interestingly, one of Fox’s most praised individual traits is actually emerging as a deeply concerning red flag for the coaching staff and analysts alike: his heavy reliance on the floater.
The Floater Paradox: Elite Efficiency, Dangerous Trend
On paper, Fox’s floater numbers look phenomenal. Last season, he shot an elite 53.6% on floaters on 1.5 attempts per game, placing him among the absolute best in the NBA at converting what is traditionally one of the toughest shots in basketball.
However, beneath those shiny percentages lies a troubling double-edged sword. Fox wasn’t nearly as dynamic with the ball in his hands last season, getting to the rim far less frequently and settling instead for mid-range jumpers, perimeter looks, and floaters.
Far from a positive indicator, an elite conversion rate on floaters often signals a deeper issue: a lack of elite first-step explosion or lost foot speed, meaning a player can no longer reliably bypass primary defenders to get all the way to the rim for high-percentage layups.
The Shocking Drop in Rim Pressure
The contrast in Fox’s shot distribution across recent seasons highlights just how stark this shift has been:
- 2024–25 Season: Fox shot 65.8% on 243 attempts in the restricted area and 65.5% within five feet, averaging roughly 4.6 shots a game right at the basket.
- 2025–26 Season: Those numbers cratered. Fox shot just 56.1% on 66 attempts in the restricted area and 51.3% on 76 attempts within five feet, plummeting to just one shot per game right at the rim.
For a max-contract point guard, dropping from nearly five shots at the rim down to just one is an alarming regression. The Spurs didn’t commit a max deal to a player intended to float around the paint or settle for jumpers; they brought in Fox to carve up defenses, collapse the interior with his speed, and spray passes out to open shooters alongside Victor Wembanyama.
Regaining the Spark
While Fox remains in his twenties and entirely capable of a physical bounce-back, his passivity and reliance on floaters last season severely capped San Antonio’s offensive ceiling. If the Spurs are going to take that final step and capture a championship, they need a re-energized, explosive De.Aaron Fox who attacks the rim with malice rather than settling for floaters.
Do you think De’Aaron Fox can rediscover his elite burst and get back to attacking the rim this season, or has his style permanently shifted toward a jump-shooting guard?
