It looks like San Antonio Spurs fans will have to wait until next season to see either De’Aaron Fox or Victor Wembanyama in action. While the Spurs improved from last season and made a promising midseason trade for Fox, injuries derailed their hopes of making a serious push.
Wembanyama was diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis in his shoulder and ruled out for the rest of the season. While Fox remained available, his latest injury update has made the Spurs’ path forward clear.
De’Aaron Fox Will Undergo Season-Ending Surgery for Lingering Finger Issue
Spurs fans might be surprised to learn Fox has been dealing with an injury all season. According to reports, he hurt his left pinkie during training camp with the Sacramento Kings but played through the pain.
Fox sustained extensor tendon damage that likely should have been treated sooner. With the Spurs out of the current play-in window (12th in the Western Conference), shutting him down now for surgery appears to be the right move. The extended recovery window should allow him to return at full strength next season. Fox is scheduled to undergo surgery on Tuesday, March 18, in Los Angeles.
De’Aaron Fox just spoke about the decision to get the finger surgery now. He said it’s his first-ever surgery. The recovery time is about 12 weeks.
He’ll be conditioning throughout and hopes to play open gym in the summer to get the chemistry going for next year’s team! pic.twitter.com/3btTznKPEd
— Jacob Tobey (@JacobRTobey) March 14, 2025
The Spurs traded for Fox with hopes of making a playoff push, but that will have to wait. His pairing with Wembanyama has intriguing potential — though they played just five games together, they combined for an average of 42.8 points in those games.
San Antonio sits at 27-37 and are 4.5 games behind the Dallas Mavericks for the last spot in the play-in tournament. With the season winding down, resting their stars and focusing on the offseason is the logical next step for the Spurs.
Even with a healthy Fox and Wembanyama, the Spurs likely won’t be considered title contenders yet. For now, the focus shifts to ensuring both players return in peak condition next season.