Detroit Pistons head coach JB Bickerstaff offered advice to De’Aaron Fox and the San Antonio Spurs ahead of Game 5 of the NBA Finals against the New York Knicks. Fox is facing criticism for his fourth-quarter error down the stretch of a 105-104 loss, where De’Aaron, with a one-point lead intact (104-103), went for a layup with the 24-second shot clock turned off that was ultimately blocked. Knicks forward OG Anunoby saved New York from facing a 3-point deficit before his offensive rebound led to a put-back shot to push his team ahead.
Bickerstaff gave the Spurs advice on how to help Fox bounce back in Game 5, per ESPN’s NBA Today.
“We love you, and we need you. We understand what his talents are, and how good he’s been as an All-Star before as a floor leader, as a floor general,” Bickerstaff said. “So, all we need you to do is be who you are, and who you are is good enough. The outside noise doesn’t matter. The outside noise has no impact on the job that he has to do — what his teammates think of him, what his coaching staff thinks of him. You’re hoping for three more games.”
For JB Bickerstaff, the best thing for Fox is continuous support from his Spurs teammates heading into Game 5.
“How do we get the best out of him? By showing him love. By showing him support. Obviously, helping him see the things that are going to be in front of him if there [are] adjustments and tactics you need to make, giving him the keys to those. Believe in him. Show him support because he’s earned it. He’s a heck of a player and a heck of a teammate.”
"We love you and we need you."
—Pistons head coach J.B. Bickerstaff on the advice he would give De'Aaron Fox
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— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) June 12, 2026
Fox and the Spurs will host the Knicks in Game 5.
Mike Brown’s old De’Aaron Fox comments resurface after Game 4
Knicks head coach Mike Brown coached Spurs guard De’Aaron Fox during their time with the Kings. After watching the veteran guard go for a contested layup over running out the clock in the final seconds of Game 4, Brown’s comment on Fox’s lapse in judgment resurfaced online.
Brown criticized Fox for the late-game blunder, eerily similar to OG Anunoby’s block of Fox at the rim that set the stage for the Knicks’ go-ahead bucket in Game 4, per LakeShowYo on X (formerly Twitter).
“If you’re up three, you’ve got to guard your man at the three-point line, and there should be no closeout opportunity, no closeout opportunity,” Brown said. “They know that, the only thing that can hurt us is a three. I need to go back and watch the film, but there was no reason for there to be a hard closeout……For sure, 100 percent, we told our guys, we can’t give up a three. Stay connected, stay on the high side…..we close out, and we foul with three seconds to go. That’s tough.”
Mike Brown was fired the following day after calling out De’Aaron Fox for making a stupid play back in 2024
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— LakeShowYo (@LakeShowYo) June 11, 2026
The Spurs and Knicks will face off in Game 5 on Saturday.
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