The San Antonio Spurs have been among the best teams in the NBA this season. While Victor Wembanyama deserves the lion’s share of the credit, the Spurs built a really good team around him. Among the best players they have surrounded Wembanyama with is De’Aaron Fox, whom they acquired a little over a year ago from the Sacramento Kings. Unfortunately, Fox will not be around for their upcoming matchup against the Memphis Grizzlies.
Why Won’t De’Aaron Fox Play for the Spurs Tonight?
According to ESPN’s Injury Report, Fox will not be available for the Spurs vs. Grizzlies matchup due to “low back tightness.” That’s a shame because of how good Fox has been for San Antonio this season.
De’Aaron Fox has stepped up in a BIG way for the Spurs with Wemby sidelined 🙌
San Antonio is 7-2 in that stretch thanks to Swipa’s strong play 🦊 pic.twitter.com/5BTywID0Ej
— Ball Don’t Lie (@Balldontlie) December 4, 2025
In his first full season with the Spurs, Fox is averaging 18.9 points, 6.3 assists, 3.8 rebounds, and 1.2 steals while shooting 48.6% from the field and 34.2% from three.
His points per game average is actually a pretty steep decline from the scoring numbers he would put up with the Kings, but that’s what happens when a player willingly takes a second-in-command role playing behind one of the league’s best players.
Besides, the Spurs’ attack has been more well-rounded than relying on the likes of Wembanyama and Fox, as they have other players capable of creating their own shot, such as Stephon Castle, Devin Vassell, Keldon Johnson, Dylan Harper, and Harrison Barnes.
His absence is definitely not the end of the world for the Spurs, as they’ve done well while undermanned. Furthermore, they are facing the Grizzlies, one of the NBA’s worst teams.
At 24-47, the Grizzlies sport the league’s seventh-worst record, and that’s been by design. Trading Jaren Jackson Jr., combined with Ja Morant’s and Zach Edey’s injuries, has all added up to a tanking season. It’s a shame they fell apart like this, but when it was clear their current makeup wasn’t working, they had to do something.
Anyway, with Fox out, the Spurs don’t have much to worry about because it’s in the Grizzlies’ best interest to lose games like tonight. San Antonio is still within spitting distance of catching the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference (only three games behind Oklahoma City), so this is one of those games where the Spurs and Grizzlies can scratch each other’s backs.
It’s not like the Spurs wouldn’t want Fox to be out in games like tonight, but it’s fair to assume they are not too broken up about it.
