De'Aaron Fox defends himself from the criticism for playing hurt in the 2026 Playoffs image
The San Antonio Spurs had a fantastic run in the 2026 Playoffs. Of course, it ended in a loss in the NBA Finals to the New York Knicks, but in general, it was an impressive run for almost every player.
Unfortunately, De'Aaron Fox has become the punching bag for them losing in the postseason. He has been criticized for his underwhelming performances and for his decision to play while injured.
De'Aaron Fox comes to his own defense after 2026 Playoffs criticism
During the 2026 Playoffs, Fox was having a good run during the first two rounds. Unfortunately, in the Semifinals against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Fox suffered a right ankle sprain, which should have forced him out for at least four to six weeks.
Due to his experience of not playing in the Playoffs often, he wanted to get back onto the court as soon as possible. He played the final two games of the series against Minnesota, and then he played the final five games of the Western Conference Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
MORE:De'Aaron Fox feels he deserves to move on from the NBA Finals
Unfortunately for Fox, that injury affected how he played for the rest of the Playoffs, including his disastrous run in the NBA Finals. Since the spotlight is at its brightest during the Finals, Fox has become the main player to face criticism from all angles.
"Why did I play? I felt like I could help the team. Seeing the OKC series, I thought there were things I could come out there and help with... I played more games in the Playoffs hurt than I did healthy," Fox said to Marc J. Spears of Andscape.
Unfortunately for Fox, that criticism won't go away until he can silence them. He has the opportunity to do so in the 2026-27 season, as the spotlight will be on him and the Spurs.
If they can get back to the NBA Finals, they must win it to get redemption. It will be challenging because the NBA has gotten so much better in the past few months. However, the Spurs are still quite a strong team this season.
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