The San Antonio Spurs are the ‘dumbest basketball team in the history of civilization,’ a hoarse Charles Barkley roared after the New York Knicks’ historic 29-point comeback at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday night.
And according to Barkley, the biggest culprit in the Spurs’ Game 4 collapse was point guard De’Aaron Fox, who could have helped San Antonio even the series at 2-2 by holding the ball in the waning seconds of play.
Instead, Fox went in for a contested layup with a one-point lead, only to get blocked by New York’s OG Anunoby, who would later score the game-winning tip-in with 1.2 seconds remaining to give the Knicks a 3-1 series edge.
‘That was a dumbass play,’ Barkley said of Fox’s decision to drive to the hole. ‘He did not have to shoot that ball. He could have just got fouled, there was no reason for him to shoot that ball.’
The Knicks were in the bonus at the time and without the ability to stop the clock, would have had no other choice but to foul Fox with less than 10 seconds to play. Fox, a 28-year-old All-Star who shot 76 percent from the line in 2025-26, could have then given the Spurs a three-point lead by making a pair of free throws, thereby leaving the Knicks to attempt a last-second 3-pointer to potentially force overtime.
‘I tried to get a layup to get up three,’ Fox told reporters after the loss. ‘Force them to need a three. OG made a good block.’
OG Anunoby blocks De’Aaron Fox in the game’s final moments to set up New York’s winÂ
The Inside the NBA crew has been appearing on ABC throughout the ongoing league Finals
Fox did make a smart foul on New York’s Jose Alvarado on the ensuing possession. San Antonio wasn’t in the bonus so it stopped the Knicks’ momentum and allowed the Spurs to reset defensively.
Regardless, Fox tried to trap New York’s Jalen Brunson on the game’s penultimate possession, which allowed Anunoby to cruise in unimpeded for the game-winning putback.
‘The San Antonio Spurs helped the New York Knicks win this game by doing some of the stupidest-ass stuff I’ve ever seen on a basketball court,’ Barkley later said of the Western Conference champs.
Fox made other blunders too.
There was an unnecessary step-back 3-point attempt midway through the third, not to mention two costly turnovers before the end of the frame.
Later, with three minutes left to play and Fox dribbling a hole into the MSG floor, Anunoby tipped the ball into the backcourt. Although Fox recovered possession, he was left with well-contested 3-pointer that rimmed out. After a substitution, Brunson responded by hitting a 3-pointer to cut San Antonio’s lead to 104-103.
Fox was blamed for a number of costly turnovers on Wednesday at Madison Square Garden
The Spurs point guard has faced relentless criticism on social media, but some feel as though teammate Victor Wembanyama deserves some blame as well for missing two late free throws.
‘A total choke job by Wembanyama last night,’ Yahoo! Sports’ Kevin O’Connor wrote on X. ‘Had fear in his eyes at the line when he bricked both free throws. Seems Fox is taking most of the criticism for his dumb decisions. But Wemby blew it again too.’
Many others felt the Spurs’ seven-man rotation was to blame.
‘I mean, a lot of Spurs players cost them that game,’ one fan wrote on X.
Fox made just 6 of 16 shots from the field for 18 points on Wednesday to go with seven assists and four costly turnovers.Â
Game 5 of the NBA Finals will take place on Saturday in San Antonio, where the Knicks will have a chance to clinch their first championship since 1973.
