The San Antonio Spurs will start De'Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle, and Dylan Harper together for the first time on Wednesday night against the Phoenix Suns. Coach Mitch Johnson confirmed the three-guard lineup will debut in the next-to-last preseason game at the Frost Bank Center, tipping off at 7 p.m.
Johnson had planned to roll out the trio earlier in the preseason opener on October 8, but Fox’s hip injury kept him sidelined for the first three games. With Fox back, the Spurs are set to field the lineup that includes Victor Wembanyama and Devin Vassell alongside the three speedy guards.
“I think they can dribble, pass, shoot, defend, make winning plays,” Johnson said of Fox, Castle, and Harper. “They’re unselfish, they have good size. They’ll need to rebound. They’ll need to run the floor because we have a tremendous level of pace that we like to play with, which means one or none of them will have the ball, which means they need to sprint and sprint ahead. So if you wanted to have something that’s a focus point, it would be sprinting ahead of the basketball for sure and rebounding to finish up the defense possessions.”
Castle, Fox, and Harper have already shown chemistry off the court. They were pictured joking around during the Spurs' media day portraits at the Victory Capital Performance Center on September 28. Their ability to combine quickness and size will be tested in the game against Phoenix, which promises a fast tempo.
Wembanyama and Vassell return to the starting lineup after resting during Monday’s 119-109 loss at Utah. Meanwhile, Julian Champagnie, Keldon Johnson, and Luke Kornet will sit out Wednesday’s game to rest, according to Johnson.
The Spurs have been experimenting with rotations throughout the preseason, balancing development and recovery. Fox’s return from injury signals a shift toward more extended minutes for the backcourt trio, whose complementary skill sets offer different ways to attack both ends of the floor.
The Suns, known for their own pace and scoring ability, will provide a stern test for the Spurs’ new look starting five. How the three guards handle the transition game and defensive responsibilities will be a focal point for Johnson and his coaching staff.
The game will be one of the final opportunities for the Spurs to fine-tune their rotations before the regular season begins. The decision to start Fox, Castle, and Harper together offers a glimpse into how the Spurs may approach matchups and pace once the season kicks off. The latest confirmed development is that this lineup will see its first game action on Wednesday night at the Frost Bank Center.
According to Yahoo Sports.
