The San Antonio Spurs may have fallen short of winning an NBA championship, but one thing is becoming increasingly clear: De’Aaron Fox’s value to the franchise is being seriously underestimated.

A shocking recent take from NBA analyst Kevin O’Connor has ignited fierce debate among Spurs fans after he suggested that Fox has “no All-Star upside” and described him as merely “a fine point guard.”

For many in San Antonio, those comments couldn’t be further from the truth.

Did Everyone Forget What Fox Did for the Spurs?

It’s understandable that some fans expected more from Fox during the playoffs. The 28-year-old guard struggled with consistency in the NBA Finals, and his performances were undoubtedly one of the reasons the Spurs failed to capture another championship banner.

But reducing his entire impact to a disappointing postseason stretch ignores the bigger picture.

Without Fox, it’s hard to imagine the Spurs making such a dramatic leap into championship contention in the first place.

His speed, shot creation, and ability to control the offense transformed San Antonio’s attack after his arrival. He gave Victor Wembanyama the elite backcourt partner the franchise had been searching for and instantly elevated the team into one of the Western Conference’s biggest threats.

The “No All-Star Upside” Claim Makes Little Sense

The criticism becomes even more puzzling when one simple fact is considered: De’Aaron Fox was literally an NBA All-Star during the 2025-26 season.

How can a player who was just named an All-Star suddenly have no All-Star potential?

That argument simply doesn’t add up.

In fact, there are reasons to believe Fox could be even better next season.

Throughout much of the playoffs, the veteran guard was reportedly dealing with an ankle injury that clearly affected his explosiveness. A healthy offseason and a full recovery could allow him to return stronger and more aggressive.

History suggests that Fox responds well to criticism, and after the disappointment of falling short in the Finals, motivation should not be an issue.

Why Comparing Him to Ja Morant Isn’t So Simple

O’Connor also implied that Ja Morant possesses significantly more upside than Fox.

While Morant is unquestionably one of the league’s most electrifying players, his recent injury problems and availability concerns have dramatically changed his value around the NBA.

Meanwhile, Fox remains one of the most dependable offensive guards in the Western Conference.

The Spurs are not rushing to move on from him because they understand exactly what he brings to the table.

If Fox bounces back with another elite season, San Antonio can continue building around him and Wembanyama—or potentially increase his trade value even further down the road.

Either way, the franchise remains in a strong position.

The Bottom Line

Yes, De’Aaron Fox needs to be better next season.

Yes, the Spurs need more from him in the biggest moments.

But writing him off after one disappointing postseason run feels incredibly premature.

Teams across the NBA would gladly take a guard with Fox’s scoring ability, leadership, and experience.

The criticism may be loud right now, but don’t be surprised if De’Aaron Fox uses it as fuel and reminds everyone exactly why he remains one of the most important players in San Antonio’s championship ambitions.