The NBA Cup final is setting up to be more than just a battle between two of the league’s top teams - it’s a reunion with some serious emotional weight. When the San Antonio Spurs take on the New York Knicks, all eyes will be on the matchup between De’Aaron Fox and his former head coach, Mike Brown. These two were central figures in Sacramento not too long ago, and now they’ll be on opposite sidelines, each leading their new teams into a high-stakes showdown.
Before the game, Brown didn’t hold back in showing love for his former floor general - and he did it with a smile.
“He’s a fabulous young man with a beautiful family… I always told him he could be one of the best two-way players. Hopefully, he isn’t tomorrow,” Brown joked.
That’s classic Mike Brown - heartfelt with a touch of humor. But there’s also truth behind the praise.
Brown coached the Kings from 2022 to 2024, helping guide them to their first playoff appearance since 2006. That 2023 postseason run was a breakthrough moment for a franchise that had been stuck in the mud for years, and Fox was at the heart of it.
But the feel-good story didn’t last.
The Kings struggled to recapture that same spark over the next two seasons. A slow start to the 2024 campaign led to Brown’s dismissal, and the ripple effects didn’t stop there.
With Fox heading into the final year of his contract and questions swirling about his long-term future in Sacramento, the front office made a move. They sent Fox to San Antonio in a trade that signaled the end of an era.
There had been speculation that Fox might request a trade if Brown was let go, but Fox later clarified that wasn’t the case - the Kings traded him without a formal request. Either way, the result is the same: two key pieces of Sacramento’s recent resurgence are now thriving elsewhere.
And thriving might be an understatement.
Mike Brown has the Knicks rolling. They’re sitting in second place in the Eastern Conference, playing a brand of basketball that’s physical, disciplined, and tough to beat. Brown’s defensive principles have taken hold quickly in New York, and the roster has bought in.
Meanwhile, Fox is flourishing in San Antonio. The Spurs are 18-7 and holding down the fifth spot in the West - a remarkable start for a young team still finding its identity. Fox has stepped in as a veteran leader, bringing his trademark speed, scoring touch, and improved defensive presence to a group that’s clearly ahead of schedule.
So now, in the NBA Cup final, we get a matchup that’s rich in narrative and even richer in basketball intrigue. Fox and Brown know each other’s tendencies inside and out. They’ve shared playoff battles, locker room moments, and the highs and lows of trying to turn around a long-suffering franchise.
Now, they’ll try to outduel each other on one of the league’s newest stages.
There’s no bad blood here - just mutual respect and a shared history that makes this final even more compelling. Brown helped shape Fox into the player he is today. And Fox, in many ways, helped validate Brown’s coaching tenure in Sacramento.
Both have moved on. Both are in better spots. And now, they’ll face off with a trophy on the line.