Heading into the 2026 NBA Finals, the whole scenario seemed like a win-win for Kentucky fans. With Keldon Johnson and De'Aaron Fox pushing the envelope for the San Antonio Spurs and Karl-Anthony Towns helping lead the New York Knicks, one way or another, a former Kentucky Wildcat was getting a ring for the first time. That's still technically true.
But, all the same, it hurts to see any one of our guys go down on the national stage. Last night's game four will be remembered for as long as the NBA is still around. The Knicks, after being down 29 points at one point and 20 in the fourth quarter alone, completed the biggest comeback in Finals history.
Madison Square Garden nearly exploded when OG Anunoby flew in off a missed Jalen Brunson triple for a heroic tip-in that would leave barely more than a second on the clock. KAT would then get a hand on the Spurs' inbound pass, leaving it short to Stephon Castle who couldn't get a good look.
The Knicks went up 3-1, and the aftermath, both in the city and online, has been all-encompassing. But, unfortunately for the aforementioned Fox, much of the blame for the Spurs' choke has been placed squarely on his shoulders.
Fingers Pointed at Fox
Fox shot a 6-16 clip from the field, including a more than respectable 4-9 mark from long range, and paired seven assists and five rebounds with 18 points. That seems solid enough, especially given the stage and circumstance.
But it was one single play that landed Fox in the line of fire and, even from the perspective of a Cats fan that loves the guy, this one is hard to defend. Check out this viral clip of the moment from BrickCenter on X:
Fox could’ve just held the ball… He really cost the Spurs a championship 😭 pic.twitter.com/nQPJTr7vri
— BrickCenter (@BrickCenter_) June 11, 2026
As the clock wound down below 15 seconds in the fourth, with a one-point lead and possession, Fox inexplicably tried to finish a heavily contested fast break. This was instead of, you know, dribbling out and being fouled in what would've likely wrapped things up for San Antonio.
The result, after his miss, was that aforementioned bucket from Anunoby that may have changed the course of Knicks' history forever. Fox was left as the butt of countless online jokes. and KAT, who finished with a 13-point, 10-rebound double-double, was left to reap the rewards.
Reaping the Rewards
The primary reward being a championship ring earned for a franchise that hasn't seen the Finals since 1999. Then, the Knicks lost to the Spurs in a series that set the franchise back for literal decades. It's poetry in motion.
Fox wasn't the only guy to crack under pressure; Jose Alvarado got saved from a backcourt violation by a timeout and Josh Hart whiffed an open dunk on the break. But the long gone Cat's bad decision is the one that ultimately defined this game.
The Spurs will get a chance to defend home court in game five, but with their backs against the wall and without any remaining momentum, Fox's miss has a seemingly high chance to haunt fans of that team for years to come.
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