With a built in diverter you could use a pex drop eared ninety degree female adapter and a nipple but that is more trouble than it is worth.
Can i use pex for tub spout.
Copper is the only professional installation material.
Pex when you pull up on the diverter the entire spout moves.
When pex is used on those tub spouts the excessive back pressure sends water up the shower.
The tub spout can be copper brass or galvanized pipe.
Pex to tub spout.
It is only created on tub spouts where a diverter closes off the easier path out the tub spout to send it to the shower.
Pax has a smaller inside diameter than copper when you will turn on the spout your showerhead will also be dripping if you read the manufacture instructions it will say do not use pex for spout level 2.
The interior diameter of pex is actually a fraction smaller than copper this forces water to come out of the shower at the same time as the tub spout.
These spouts will work with just a clean open copper pipe as it has a set screw adapter to clamp the pipe.
2 reasons i learned.
You cannot use pex because the pipe coming out of the valve needs to be able to support the weight of the tub spout and handle the abuse of pulling pushing down of the divirter built into the spout.
Ironranger mn i m pretty sure what they meant was that if you use 1 2 pex you could have a restriction since it s smaller than copper.
Copper keeps the spout in place.
Long story short it is unacceptable.
There is no way to secure pex adequately to keep a tub spout from flopping around.