The second everybody has been ready for is lastly right here. On Wednesday evening, De’Aaron Fox will make his San Antonio Spurs debut in opposition to the Atlanta Hawks. It marks the primary sport of a brand new period of Spurs basketball that runs by way of the speedy level guard and Victor Wembanyama. It additionally kicks off with a workforce that’s sarcastically tied to the future of this iteration of the Silver and Black.
The Hawks owe the Spurs their 2025 and 2027 first-round picks. These belongings are what might ultimately make San Antonio a championship contender. Profitable video games in opposition to them to enhance the worth of these picks is at all times factor. The Hawks are struggling proper now, shedding eight of their final 9 video games. Atlanta is coping with accidents to key gamers like Jalen Johnson, Clint Capela, and Bogdan Bogdanovic.
Nonetheless, this Hawks workforce is feisty, and Trae Younger at all times performs up for the Spurs. It’ll be take a look at for this new-look Spurs squad.
February fifth, 2025 | 6 PM CT
Watch: ESPN | Pay attention: WOAI (1200 AM)
Spurs Accidents: Charles Bassey – Out (MCL sprain), Riley Minix – Out (G League), Chris Paul – Questionable (finger sprain)
Hawks Accidents: Bogdan Bogdanovic – Out (not with workforce), Kobe Bufkin – Out (shoulder), Clint Capela – Out (again spasms), Jalen Johnson – Out (shoulder), Daeqwon Plowdon – Questionable (G League), Trae Younger – Possible (achilles tendinitis), Cody Zeller – Out (not with workforce)
What to observe for:
Fox’s match
It’s one sport, however there could also be indicators of how Fox suits with the Spurs instantly. Be careful for the way he operates within the pick-and-roll with Wembanyama or how he units up gamers like Devin Vassell for simpler threes. His offensive gravity will possible play a significant position, however it might be much more fascinating to observe how he operates defensively. With Wembanyama behind him and certainly one of Jeremy Sochan or Stephon Fort engaged on the ball, he’ll have free reign to leap passing lanes and attempt to create steals. It’s straightforward to see him slotting in with the Spurs’ present workforce, nevertheless it’ll be fascinating to observe it play out in real-time.
Will Jordan McLaughlin play?
Chris Paul has been listed as questionable for Wednesday’s sport. Assuming Fox and Fort begin and Paul sits, that leaves the newly acquired Jordan McLaughlin and Blake Wesley as the only real backup level guards on the roster. Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson might wish to get a take a look at the newly acquired McLaughlin in a bench position in opposition to Atlanta. His capturing could be a welcomed addition to a bench unit that has struggled to hit from deep. If nothing else, he’ll carry a veteran presence to assist regular the workforce when Fox is off the courtroom.
Backup middle minutes
Charles Bassey went down with an obvious knee harm within the Spurs Monday evening loss to the Memphis Grizzlies. With out him, that leaves Sochan because the de facto backup “middle.” Fortunately for the Spurs, Atlanta lacks some measurement inside. Onyeka Okongwu will possible begin at middle, standing at simply 6-foot-8. The Hawks’ backup bigs, Dominick Barlow and Larry Nance Jr. are each undersized facilities as properly. Johnson will as soon as once more be asking Sochan to step up and play large within the second unit, and don’t be shocked if Sandro Mamukelashvili performs some spot minutes as properly.
