In a wild turn of events, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich grabbed the stadium microphone and told the crowd to stop booing Kawhi Leonard during the Spurs game against the Clippers on Wednesday.
As they have since Kawhi left San Antonio, the crowd were booing Leonard at the free throw line, but Pop had had enough.
“Excuse me for a second,” Popovich said as he grabbed the stadium microphone and addressed the crowd. “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.”
Unfortunately, Pop himself ended up getting booed and then the booing for Kawhi intensified after Pop intervened.
When asked about the move postgame, the veteran coach simply said, “Anybody that knows anything about sports. You don’t poke the bear.”
After the Clippers won the game 109-102, Clippers All-Star Paul George also commented on the fans’ behavior.
“He’s hung championship banners here… Regardless of the situation, it sucks to give an organization something and a city something, for that to be at this point the treatment you still get…,” George said.
NBA fans that weren’t watching the game from Frost Bank Center respected Pop’s action greatly (for the most part).
Pop so classy man, can’t hate him at all
— ²³𝙻𝚎𝙱𝚛𝚘𝚗𝚌𝚑𝚒𝚝𝚒𝚜🏀☄️🌎💞 (@BronGotGame) November 23, 2023
Bro thought he was in a movie
— Nathan (@jakeIayman) November 23, 2023
He won them a ring and they act like clowns
— W🅰️VIDTREY35 (@HonestKDFan35) November 23, 2023
If Nick Nurse tried to pull this in Philly we would boo the roof off that place
— Chill Rich Dude (@jakep316) November 23, 2023
they booed louder the second free throw 💔 pic.twitter.com/r96z8YDrFH
— ¹ (@wembycore) November 23, 2023
Pop just gotta retire atp
— brandon (@SamHowellMVP) November 23, 2023
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