{"id":336369,"date":"2026-06-14T21:59:11","date_gmt":"2026-06-14T21:59:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/336369\/"},"modified":"2026-06-14T21:59:11","modified_gmt":"2026-06-14T21:59:11","slug":"spurs-coach-under-fire-for-fateful-nba-finals-decision","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/336369\/","title":{"rendered":"Spurs coach under fire for fateful NBA Finals decision"},"content":{"rendered":"

Following a disastrous result in Game 4 in which the San Antonio Spurs<\/a> blew a 29-point lead, head coach Mitch Johnson responded to criticism of his decision to continue to play De\u2019Aaron Fox<\/a>, who made numerous mistakes that cost the game.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t get into social media,\u201d Johnson said after the game. \u201cI think I\u2019ve been fired 212 times, and we\u2019ve traded Fox 72 times. People have their opinions. I don\u2019t care. I care what the people that matter in our building, our organization, in that locker room, that they know how I feel.\u201d<\/p>\n

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He went on to make it clear Fox would play a major role in the rest of the series.<\/p>\n

More NBA<\/a>:\u00a0Victor Wembanyama Sends Defiant Message After Embarrassing Game 4 Loss<\/a><\/p>\n

\"SpursHead coach Mitch Johnson of the San Antonio Spurs looks on during the second quarter against the New York Knicks<\/a> in Game Five of the 2026 NBA Finals at Frost Bank Center on June 13, 2026 in San Antonio<\/a>, Texas.<\/p>\n

More NBA:\u00a0Spurs Coach Mitch Johnson Gets Honest After Inexplicable Game 4 Loss<\/a><\/p>\n

De\u2019Aaron Fox will have the basketball in his hands at the end of the game tomorrow, and I have the utmost confidence he\u2019s going to deliver like he\u2019s done countless times for us,\u201d he concluded.<\/p>\n

Johnson stuck to his word, giving Fox minutes in the most important game of his career \u2013 and the point guard failed to deliver. In the final quarter, Fox finished with 0 points, 0 assists, and 0 rebounds while shooting 0-for-4 from the field.<\/p>\n

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The Spurs coach took immediate heat for his decision from longtime NBA veteran Nick Van Exel who said, \u201cMitch Johnson died on that Fox hill and he didn\u2019t have to. He had options.\u201d<\/p>\n

San Antonio could have turned to Dylan Harper<\/a>, who showed he has what it takes to compete at the highest level and excel in pressure situations.<\/p>\n

Instead, Johnson chose Fox and the Spurs are headed home empty-handed.<\/p>\n

More NBA:\u00a0Spurs Star Dylan Harper Places Blame After Knicks Game 4 Win<\/a><\/p>\n

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