Gregg Popovich took issue with San Antonio Spurs fans booing Los Angeles Clippers players Wednesday night and took matters into his own hands, jumping on the public address microphone while Kawhi Leonard shot free throws.
“Excuse me for a second,” the veteran coach said with Leonard, a former Spurs star, at the line. “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.”
Fans responded with heightened boos as the Spurs trailed 48-39 late in the second quarter.
Coach Pop is not a fan of the booing. @spurs | #PorVida | 📺:BSSW pic.twitter.com/nU5Msi7RQc
— Bally Sports San Antonio (@BallySportsSA) November 23, 2023
Leonard’s free throws put the Clippers up by 10, which became 12 after a steal. But the Spurs immediately answered with a 9-0 run. The Clippers led 54-48 at halftime after being up by as many as 17 points earlier in the contest. LA defeated San Antonio 109-102 with Leonard scoring a game-high 26 points.
After the game, Popovich repeatedly said “don’t poke the bear” in reference to his crowd booing Leonard.
Leonard said he was “focused” at the free-throw line when Popovich was on the PA mic.
“I didn’t know if it was him or not,” Leonard said during the walkoff postgame interview. “They are a very classy organization and he wants to keep it that way.”
Popovich, 74, signed a five-year extension to remain San Antonio’s coach over the summer. The NBA’s all-time winningest coach has held the role since 1996.
He is a five-time NBA champion, three-time NBA Coach of the Year and four-time NBA All-Star Game head coach. On the international stage, Popovich coached Team USA to a gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics.
Leonard, a five-time All-Star, played the first seven years of his career in San Antonio. The Spurs traded him to the Toronto Raptors in July 2018.
“If I don’t have a Spurs Jersey on, they’re probably going to boo me for the rest of my career,” Leonard said. “They’re (some) of the best fans in the league, and they’re very competitive. Once I step on this basketball court out here, they show they’re going for the other side. And when I’m on the streets or going into restaurants, they show love.”
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(Photo: Alonzo Adams / USA Today)
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