The San Antonio Spurs faithful have reached their breaking point with De'Aaron Fox. After a catastrophic Game 4 collapse against the New York Knicks in the NBA Finals, fans channeled their frustration into something unprecedented: a crowdfunding campaign to cover the remaining $221 million on Fox's contract.
The Spurs held a commanding 29-point lead with just over 15 seconds left, up 106-105. Fox had the ball and a clear path to the basket, but instead of running down the clock and forcing a foul, he went for a layup. OG Anunoby blocked it, and the Knicks eventually won the game on a last-second shot.
Fox's postgame explanation only added fuel to the fire. "I tried to get a layup, go up three, force them to take a three, and OG got a good block," he said. When asked why he didn't just dribble out the clock, Fox replied, "I just thought I'd be able to outrun him."
Spurs fans were not having it. Within hours, a GoFundMe appeared with the goal of buying out Fox's contract. The campaign was quickly removed by GoFundMe, which stated that it "will remove any that have not been authorized by the recipient of the funds." But the message was clear: the fan base is done with the veteran guard.
Social media erupted with outrage. One fan wrote, "I woke up ready to forgive De'Aaron Fox if he showed ANY accountability.. HE SHOWED NONE! HE STILL THINKS HE WAS CORRECT TO EVEN ATTEMPT THE SHOT! Bench him for the rest of the foreseeable future." Another added, "It's time to go Fox. We have a young stud who makes far less but just as effective."
Fox has been underperforming throughout the Finals, averaging just 14.3 points on 38.2% shooting. His decision-making has been a recurring issue, and this latest blunder has many questioning whether he can be trusted in clutch moments.
The Spurs now face a must-win Game 5 on Saturday, and all eyes will be on Fox to see if he can redeem himself. Meanwhile, the team has stuck with Fox for Game 5, but the fan base's patience is wearing thin.
This isn't just about one bad play—it's about a pattern of poor decisions that have cost the Spurs dearly. The GoFundMe may have been a joke, but the sentiment behind it is very real. Fox has a lot to prove, and Game 5 might be his last chance to win back the trust of San Antonio.
For now, the Spurs are left to pick up the pieces after a historic collapse that has drawn comparisons to the Falcons' infamous Super Bowl meltdown. But unlike that game, this series isn't over yet—and Fox has a chance to write a different ending.
