The San Antonio Spurs let a 14-point third-quarter lead slip away in Game 1 of the NBA Finals, falling 105-95 to the New York Knicks as Jalen Brunson poured in 19 of his 30 points in the second half.
De’Aaron Fox was arguably the biggest reason for the collapse, finishing with just seven points on 3-of-13 shooting in 38 minutes while coach Mitch Johnson played him over rookie Dylan Harper to close the game. After the game, Fox addressed the adjustment of playing alongside Victor Wembanyama, telling reporters he has accepted a reduced role. However, NFL legend Shannon Sharpe wasn’t pleased with the Spurs guard’s comments.
Shannon Sharpe Challenges De’Aaron Fox’s Approach in the NBA Finals
Fox’s postgame comments were measured but telling. “Obviously, I’m not shooting the ball as much,” he said. “But coming here, I knew that was the way it was going to be. As a player, you sacrifice for the betterment of the team. There are times when I need to take shots or times when I don’t take as many shots, but at the end of the day, you need to make the shots that you take.”
During a recent segment of “Nightcap,” Sharpe responded to Fox by stressing on the fact that San Antonio and Sacramento are way different, and the two-time all star has to find the right balance.
“I don’t think he needs to take 30 shots because he’s never played with a player that’s the equivalent of Wemby,” Sharpe said. “I’m not saying you need to take five shots, but I’m not saying you need to take 25 shots either.”
“There has to be a balance somewhere in there that he can find a way where ‘I can be aggressive,’ but not, because bro, you’re not in Sacramento anymore,” Sharped added. “You would have never been in this situation in Sacramento. And maybe that’s one of the reasons… first of all, you didn’t have the level of talent that you have surrounding you now. And obviously, when you’re in that situation, you have to sacrifice something.”
Fox has been battling a high right ankle sprain since the second round against Minnesota, and the numbers since his return reflect it. Over his last six games, the 28-year-old has averaged just 10.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 6.0 assists. He scored in single digits in three of his last four outings.
Harper, meanwhile, was arguably the Spurs’ best player in Game 1, scoring 16 points on 6-of-10 shooting off the bench. Stephon Castle also contributed in double figures, and both young guards have outperformed Fox offensively since his ankle flared up.
However, Fox’s value to this team extends beyond the box score. When he missed the first two games of the Western Conference Finals against Oklahoma City, the Spurs averaged 22 turnovers per game, but once Fox returned for Games 3 and 4, turnovers dropped to 14 per game. His presence steadies an offense that otherwise trends young and volatile.
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That said, as Sharpe said, championship basketball demands role acceptance. Kevin Love took a backseat in Cleveland next to LeBron James, while Chris Bosh redefined his game in Miami. Even Stephen Curry took a little bit of a backseat when he shared the floor with Kevin Durant.
Fox doesn’t need to be the alpha on this roster; he just needs to be the connector who keeps the offense flowing without turning the ball over and scoring efficiently when opportunities arise.
