Spurs' Mitch Johnson Praises De'Aaron Fox's Superstar Play and Leadership

The Spurs head coach highlights Fox's ability to balance All-Star production with mentoring the team's young core.

Published on Feb. 18, 2026

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San Antonio Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson praised veteran guard De'Aaron Fox for his standout play and strong leadership on the team. Despite being an All-Star-caliber player, Fox has embraced a mentorship role with the Spurs' young backcourt duo of Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper. Johnson highlighted Fox's unique ability to dominate games while also uplifting his younger teammates.

Why it matters

The Spurs have quickly emerged as a contender in the Western Conference, led by the superstar talent of Victor Wembanyama. Fox's veteran presence and two-way impact have been crucial in helping the team's young core develop and thrive alongside the franchise's cornerstone player.

The details

After being traded from the Sacramento Kings, where he was the franchise cornerstone, De'Aaron Fox has seamlessly transitioned into a leadership role with the Spurs. Despite being an All-Star-caliber player in his own right, Fox has embraced mentoring Spurs guards Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper, who are both relatively young. Head coach Mitch Johnson praised Fox's ability to dominate games with his scoring and playmaking while also uplifting his younger teammates.

  • Fox was traded to the Spurs prior to the 2023-24 NBA season.

The players

Mitch Johnson

The head coach of the San Antonio Spurs, leading the team's resurgence as a Western Conference contender.

De'Aaron Fox

An All-Star guard for the San Antonio Spurs, known for his superstar-level production and strong leadership with the team's young core.

Victor Wembanyama

The franchise cornerstone of the San Antonio Spurs, a highly touted rookie who is expected to be a superstar in the NBA.

Stephon Castle

A young guard for the San Antonio Spurs, part of the team's promising backcourt alongside Dylan Harper.

Dylan Harper

A young guard for the San Antonio Spurs, part of the team's promising backcourt alongside Stephon Castle.

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What they’re saying

“You have De'Aaron Fox, who's an All-Star player, that is saying, 'Go do that. Go be relentless, and go be fearless.' While he still has the ability to take over games. I think that's really hard to do.”

— Mitch Johnson, Head Coach, San Antonio Spurs (SiriusXM NBA Radio)

The takeaway

De'Aaron Fox's ability to balance his superstar-level production with a strong mentorship role for the Spurs' young backcourt has been crucial to the team's rapid rise as a Western Conference contender. His veteran leadership and two-way impact complement the franchise-altering talent of Victor Wembanyama, making the Spurs a formidable team poised for sustained success.