San Antonio Spurs guard De'Aaron Fox made a critical error in Game 4 against the New York Knicks, and now his former college coach, John Calipari, is catching heat for a defense that only made things worse.
With the Spurs leading 106-105 and 13.1 seconds left, Fox drove into traffic and attempted a contested layup over Knicks forward OG Anunoby rather than forcing a foul. Anunoby blocked the shot, raced down the court, and hit the game-winner. The mistake has drawn widespread criticism, with some fans even launching fundraisers to buy out Fox's contract.
Fox doubled down after the loss, saying, "You have to score. Try to get a layup, get up three [points], [and] force them to need a 3. OG made a good block." Those comments only fueled the backlash.
Calipari's Excuse Raises Eyebrows
During an appearance on "The Dan Patrick Show," Calipari, who coached Fox at Kentucky, defended his former point guard by revealing Fox is playing through a high ankle sprain. "Stop on De'Aaron Fox, he's playing with a high ankle sprain – probably shouldn't be playing," Calipari said. "He would normally dunk that layup – if he would've dunked it, he's the hero."
Instead of calming the storm, Calipari's comments ignited a firestorm of mockery. Fans flooded social media, pointing out that the ankle injury doesn't explain Fox's decision to take a contested layup instead of slowing down and drawing a foul.
"So Fox on a high ankle sprain still took the layup instead of slowing down and getting fouled. You do know this makes him look even worse right," one fan posted. Another added, "If De'Aaron Fox is playing with a high ankle sprain why was he saying he thought he could outrun OG and score?"
A third fan quipped, "I respect John Calipari for defending his former player De'Aaron Fox but the ankle is located far away from the brain. It was one of the dumbest plays in sports history. Case closed."
Spurs Stand by Fox
Despite the fan uproar, the Spurs are sticking with their star guard. Fox has $221 million remaining on his contract over the next four seasons, making him a long-term investment. Spurs coach Mitch Johnson expressed unwavering support during Friday's media availability, saying, "People will have their opinions. I don't care. I care about the people in our building and that locker room. De'Aaron Fox will have the basketball in his hands at the end of the game tomorrow. I have nothing but the utmost confidence that he's going to deliver for us like he's done countless times."
Johnson's loyalty will be put to the test in Game 5 on Saturday. Whether Fox can shake off the criticism and the ankle injury remains to be seen. The Spurs have confirmed Fox will start, but the pressure is mounting.
Meanwhile, the Knicks are riding high after a dramatic win that has shifted the momentum of the series. The Game 4 thriller at Madison Square Garden was packed with drama, including controversy over a security wall that frustrated fans in the previous game.
For Calipari, his attempt to shield Fox from criticism has backfired spectacularly. Instead of deflecting blame, he's made his former player a bigger target. As Game 5 approaches, all eyes will be on Fox to see if he can silence the doubters or if this series will become a cautionary tale about bad decisions and even worse excuses.
