San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich is known for being a no-nonsense kind of guy. He is not one to sugarcoat things or shy away from the truth, even if it may be difficult to hear. This applies to his players and the media, but Popovich recently showed that he is not afraid to call out fans as well.
During their game against the Los Angeles Clippers, there was a noticeable tension in the air as former Spur Kawhi Leonard returned to San Antonio for the first time since his controversial departure. Despite Leonard’s role in helping the Spurs win a championship in 2014, his request for a trade after just seven years with the team left a sour taste in the mouths of some fans.
As Leonard stepped onto the court, he was met with a chorus of boos from the home crowd. It was at this point that Popovich took matters into his own hands, grabbing the arena microphone to address the fans directly.
“Excuse me for a second,” Popovich’s voice boomed throughout the arena. “Can we stop all the booing and let these guys play? It’s got no class, it’s not who we are. Knock off the booing.”
This impromptu act sparked mixed reactions from fans, with some cheering and others becoming silent. But Popovich didn’t seem to care. He was more concerned with the well-being of his players and the reputation of Spurs fans as a whole.
Wow. #Spurs HC Gregg Popovich just grabbed the arena microphone with Kawhi Leonard at the free throw line, and asked the crowd to stop booing.
Fans have been booing Leonard, who asked to be traded from San Antonio, on every touch.
Not sure I’ve seen that in an NBA game. pic.twitter.com/PHk3yD2IHG
— Nate Ryan (@nateryansports) November 23, 2023
After the game, Popovich was asked about his actions and responded in a typical fashion. “Anybody that knows anything about sports knows you don’t poke the bear,” he said. “That’s my answer.”
Leonard, who finished the night with a game-high 26 points, also weighed in on the booing, stating that he was not bothered by it and understood the competitive nature of Spurs fans.
“If I don’t have a Spurs jersey on, they are probably going to boo me for the rest of my career,” Leonard said. “It is what it is. They are one of the best fans in the league and they are very competitive. Once I stand on this basketball court out here, they are going to show that they are going for the other side.”
Throughout the game, it was clear that Popovich’s words had an impact on the crowd, as the boos seemed to decrease as the game went on. Despite the result of the game, which ended in a 109-102 win for the visiting Clippers, both Leonard and Popovich showed class and respect towards each other, proving that their bond from their time together in San Antonio is still strong.
