Tuesday night at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs met with a trophy on the line. The NBA Cup final had everything it promised. Big shots, big moments, and, inevitably, Spike Lee making himself part of the show.
With celebrities packed courtside and the atmosphere closer to a playoff game than a midseason matchup, it did not take long for Lee, the Knicks’ most famous and loudest supporter, to find his moment. That moment came in the second quarter.
Knicks Superfan Spike Lee Furious Over Spurs’ DeAaron Fox
After Spurs star De’Aaron Fox was whistled for a non-shooting foul for pushing Knicks guard Jalen Brunson, Lee leaned in from his courtside seat and delivered a short, sharp message aimed directly at Fox.
“You can’t do that,” Lee said as reported by Fullcourtpass.
At the time of the exchange, the Spurs held a slim 46–40 edge, and Fox was in full control of the game. The former All-Star barely acknowledged Lee, staying focused as he continued to orchestrate the Spurs’ offense. By halftime, Fox had nine points and eight assists, helping San Antonio take a narrow 61–59 lead into the break.
Lee’s presence at the NBA Cup final was never in doubt. When asked earlier whether he would attend the championship game after the Knicks beat the Orlando Magic in the semifinals, he gave a response that only he could.
“Is the Pope Catholic? Did the Pope go to Villanova? Do we have three players from Villanova?” Lee said. The answer, as he made clear, was yes. He was going to be there.
Lee’s connection to the Knicks runs deeper than courtside banter. He often wears a necklace featuring former head coach Red Holzman’s 1973 championship ring, a reminder of the franchise’s last NBA title. That same devotion earned him a spot in the James F. Goldstein SuperFan Gallery at the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield.
After the Knicks’ NBA Cup semifinals win, Lee made it clear he views the trophy as more than a novelty.
“Yeah. It’s not over,” Lee said. “Tuesday. It’s great. But we got a bigger thing. It’s a path.”
That path, at least in Lee’s mind, leads toward something the Knicks have been chasing for more than 50 years. New York has not won an NBA championship since 1973, the same season tied to the ring Lee proudly wears.
On the court, the Knicks backed up their superfan’s belief. The Mike Brown led squad pulled away in the second half and defeated the Spurs 124–113 to capture the NBA Cup. Brunson finished with 25 points, while OG Anunoby led the way with 28.
Fox added 16 points for the Spurs but could not keep pace late as the Knicks closed strong.
The heckle itself will live briefly on social media, but the result may linger longer. For Lee, the Knicks’ NBA Cup win is proof that his team has what it takes to win the NBA championship.
