The Spurs will be down yet another star going into the final stretch of the NBA season.
Trade deadline acquisition De’Aaron Fox is set to miss the remainder of the season after suffering tendon damage in his left pinkie that requires surgery, per ESPN’s Shams Charania.
The injury has reportedly been a season-long issue after Fox, 27, first aggravated a tendon during training camp in October.
Charania reported the decision to end Fox’s season early was made in part to help accelerate the healing process and build chemistry with the team throughout the upcoming offseason.
The Spurs acquired Fox on Feb. 3 in a three-team trade that ultimately saw six-time All-Star DeMar DeRozan get shipped off to the Kings.
Before the trade to the Spurs, the Kentucky alum had spent the entirety of his eight-year career with the Kings after getting selected in the first round (No. 5 overall) in the 2017 NBA Draft.
Fox played in 17 games after arriving in San Antonio last month, averaging 19.7 points, 6.8 assists and 4.3 rebounds.
Following Fox’s season-ending injury, the Spurs are now down two star players for the rest of the year.
Victor Wembanyama was ruled out for the rest of the season after a diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis in his shoulder on Feb. 20.
“You can’t replace Vic,” Spurs guard Chris Paul told reporters following Wembanyama’s injury. “I can’t stand on a guy’s shoulders and block every shot that comes to the rim. Aside from his basketball ability, his charisma and what he brings into the locker room, I think, is what we’ll miss the most.”
Wembanyama’s injury proved to be a huge blow for the Spurs, with the team going just 3-8 in the 11 games following the 21-year-old’s diagnosis.
Longtime Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich has also been out since November of the season after suffering a stroke.
ESPN reported on Feb. 22 that Popovich would not return to coach the Spurs for the rest of the year, with his NBA future being called “uncertain.”
