The basketball world is still reeling after De’Aaron Fox’s baffling last-second layup gifted the New York Knicks an historic 29-point comeback in Game 4. But according to sources close to the situation, the fallout inside the San Antonio Spurs locker room is reportedly far more explosive than fans realize. Golden State Warriors veteran Draymond Green didn’t just criticize the play — he allegedly compared it to one of the most infamous boneheaded moments in NBA Finals history, sparking a firestorm of debate.
During a segment on Inside the NBA, Green reportedly posed the question that has fans and insiders buzzing: “In the spirit of dumbness… what was the dumber play? De’Aaron Fox laying that ball up or JR Smith vs. us in Game 1 of those finals?” Shaquille O’Neal’s response was immediate and damning, insiders say: “Oh, this one.”
But what O’Neal and others are calling the worst playoff gaffe in recent memory may only be the tip of the iceberg. One unnamed league source told us that the Spurs’ historic collapse — the largest blown lead in NBA playoff history — has reportedly thrown the entire team’s postseason strategy into question. The Knicks’ OG Anunoby game-winner, which capped off the comeback, has reportedly left Spurs players and coaches scrambling for answers behind closed doors.
Charles Barkley, never one to mince words, allegedly pointed the finger not at Fox but at a troubling trend that has insiders worried. “JR just got confused on the score, but Dray, [the Fox shot] isn’t my problem with today’s game,” Barkley reportedly said. “When you’ve got that big of a lead, and you take five, six, seven, eight threes in a row, I’m like, ‘Damn!’” According to Barkley, the Spurs’ decision to abandon their inside game — especially with rookie phenom Victor Wembanyama on the floor — is what “really” bothers observers. “I don’t think there’s ever a reason to take eight threes in a row if it’s a tie game, but when you’ve got a 25-point lead, and you miss eight straight threes, that’s just bad. And they weren’t even thinking about using the clock either,” Barkley reportedly added.
Statistics paint a stark picture. The Spurs set an NBA Finals record with 14 first-half three-pointers, leading by 29 points early in the third quarter. But according to analysts who reviewed the footage, San Antonio went ice-cold, shooting 4-for-20 from the field and 2-for-12 from deep in the third alone. The Knicks, sensing blood in the water, reportedly sliced the deficit to 15 heading into the fourth. The final period saw the Spurs manage just 16 points on 4-for-19 shooting — and a staggering four turnovers — while the Knicks completed the unthinkable comeback. One ESPN analyst speculated that this loss “could define the Spurs’ season in the worst possible way,” with some insiders suggesting head coach Mitch Johnson’s adjustments are already under intense scrutiny.
As the debate rages on — Fox’s layup vs. Smith’s 2018 Finals brain freeze — what remains clear is that the Spurs are reportedly facing a crisis of confidence. Whether they can recover from this devastating defeat is now the burning question on every fan’s mind.
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