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The San Antonio Spurs' NBA Finals loss to the New York Knicks has led to endless chatter over coach Mitch Johnson's decision to play veteran De'Aaron Fox over rookie Dylan Harper.
The numbers from the Finals made the rotation debate exceptionally hard to miss. Harper averaged 18.0 points, 6.4 rebounds and 3.0 assists in 31 minutes, shooting 49.5% from the field.
Meanwhile, Fox played 36.6 minutes per game but averaged just 12.8 points and 6.0 assists with 2.8 turnovers. His 34.3% shooting overall was underwhelming, and that 25.0% from three was nowhere near what was expected from a veteran guard. He literally played six more minutes a night than the rookie while producing far less.
The optics got terrible by the time Fox finished Game 5 with seven points on 3-of-15 shooting in 37 minutes as the Knicks won 94-90 to clinch the title. Harper, in those same 31 minutes, dropped 25 points with five rebounds and four assists.
After the loss, Spurs guard Devin Vassell confirmed the 20-year-old wasn't happy riding shotgun. "He was upset with playing time and different roles that he was in, but when we needed him most, he stepped up," Vassell told reporters, per Sam Vecenie of The Athletic. "We have a star in the making."
Now, Shannon Sharpe added fuel to the “Nightcap” podcast, pointing out that Klutch Sports represents both Johnson and Fox. He said, “Mitch Johnson is represented by Klutch. So is De'Aaron Fox.” His co-host Joe Johnson connected the dots, noting, "Okay. Make it make sense then."
Joe Johnson and Shannon Sharpe react to Devin Vassell Saying that Dylan Harper was upset about his playing time and certain role with the team during the season they debate if Mitch Johnson loyalty with De'Aaron Fox is because they are under the same agency https://t.co/e6F90Zej92 pic.twitter.com/aYoAzVHJdb
— joebuddenclips/fanpage (@Thechat101) June 15, 2026Amid this, Johnson stated, "De'Aaron Fox will have the ball in his hands at the end of the game tomorrow," while Brendan Haywood criticized the coach for failing to optimize lineups, saying, "That's how you lose the locker room. That's how you slowly but surely lose the locker room."
The Klutch Sports connection is just a theory, and Johnson has never addressed it. However, the argument against the rotation stands on its own, especially with Fox’s contract situation.
Fox played this past season earning $37.1 million, and his four-year maximum extension now locks him in for the upcoming 2026-27 season. When a coach shares an agency with a struggling star and keeps him on the floor over a highly productive rookie, fans will naturally question the decision.
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- Mavericks fans know exactly what Spurs fans are feeling about De'Aaron Fox right now
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