The San Antonio Spurs came very close to winning the 2025 NBA Cup.
However, the San Antonio Spurs ultimately suffered a heartbreaking 124-113 defeat against the New York Knicks in the 2025 NBA Cup finals.
After the 11-point loss, Spurs star De’Aaron Fox reflected on the importance of the NBA Cup, as the third edition of the competition comes to a close.
De’Aaron Fox recalls the OKC Thunder and Milwaukee Bucks winning the NBA Cup
Prior to the introduction of the NBA Cup, players and teams focused primarily on staying in peak shape for the playoffs.
However, the incentive of decent prize money and another trophy has motivated players to be in top-notch form during the competition.
Upon being asked if competition in the NBA Cup is a stepping stone in lifting the Larry O’Brien trophy, Fox gave the example of the OKC Thunder and the Milwaukee Bucks.
“The Bucks and Thunder] are teams that have won championships in the last five years. History says getting here is pretty good.
“… I think history is kind of showing that if you can make it to this [NBA] Cup, then you can win a championship,” Fox said after the game.
In simple terms, Fox believes if a team has been in the NBA Cup finals in the last five seasons, they have won an NBA Championship or come close to it.
History is indeed on De’Aaron Fox’s side
Since the introduction of the competition, the LA Lakers, Indiana Pacers, Thunder, Bucks, Knicks, and Spurs have reached the final stage.
Excluding the 2025 NBA Cup finalists, each of the four teams has either won or at least reached the NBA Finals in the last five seasons.
Keeping that in mind, Fox may not be too unhappy over losing to the Knicks in the finals if it means he can reach the 2026 NBA Finals.
But can he lift the Larry O’Brien trophy like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander or Giannis Antetokounmpo? Only time will tell.
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