John Calipari Blasts De'Aaron Fox Critics Ahead of NBA Finals Game 5
San Antonio Spurs guard De’Aaron Fox has caught intense heat after he let the game and potentially the series slip right through his fingers during Game 4 of the NBA Finals on Wednesday night.
With the Spurs clinging to a one-point lead and just under 13 seconds, Fox grabbed a loose ball after a Jalen Brunson miss, and instead of dribbling out the clock, he attacked the rim for what he thought was an open layup.
The issue is that OG Anunoby came flying in to block the shot. Then Anunoby went and tipped in the go-ahead basket with just 1.2 seconds left, and New York secured the 107-106 victory.
In what was the biggest comeback in NBA Finals history, the Knicks erased a 29-point deficit to walk out of Madison Square Garden with a commanding 3-1 series lead, and everyone has been quick to point the blame at Fox.
But one voice has now pushed back, John Calipari, who appeared on “The Dan Patrick Show” on Friday, and defended his former Kentucky point guard.
“Stop on De’Aaron Fox, he’s playing with a high ankle sprain, probably shouldn’t be playing. He would normally dunk that layup. If he would’ve dunked it, he’s the hero,” Calipari said, before begging the question, “What would have happened to Josh (Hart) if he missed that dunk and they had lost?”
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Calipari coached Fox during his lone season at Kentucky in 2016-17, when Fox averaged 16.7 points, 4.6 assists, and 4.0 rebounds across 36 games. He famously scored 39 points against UCLA in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament to lead the Wildcats to the Elite Eight, all as just a freshman.
Fox has since gone on to become a two-time NBA All-Star, third team All-NBA honoree, and one of the faces of this Spurs run to the NBA Finals.
Calipari, already a Hall of Fame head coach, led Kentucky to four Final Fours, six SEC Tournament titles, and an NCAA Championship in 2012. He now coaches the Arkansas Razorbacks, who he just led to a 28-9 record, an SEC tournament title, and the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament.
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The Spurs now face a Game 5 elimination game on Saturday night at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio.
Tip-off is set for 8:30 p.m. ET with the Spurs listed as 5.5-point favorites. A loss would end San Antonio’s season and ignite further debate about how it ended.
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This story was originally published June 12, 2026 at 5:56 PM.