In an extremely unusual — perhaps even unprecedented — move, Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich took a microphone from the scorer’s table while Kawhi Leonard was shooting free throws to urge the home crowd to stop booing, writes Tom Orsborn of The San Antonio Express-News (subscriber link).
“Excuse me for a second,” Popovich said after telling referee Tyler Ford he was going to interrupt the game to make an announcement. “Can we stop all the bull and let these guys play? It’s got no class. That’s not who we are. Knock off the booing.”
His words had the opposite effect, as Leonard was booed even louder after Popovich stopped speaking (Twitter video link via Nate Ryan of KENS 5).
After Wednesday’s game, Popovich claimed that he didn’t want Leonard to be motivated by the booing, but that’s obviously a much different reason than what he told the fans, notes Mike Finger of The San Antonio Express-News (via Twitter).
“Anybody who knows anything about sports, you don’t poke the bear,” said Popovich, who declined to clarify those comments.
Leonard asked to be traded from San Antonio back in 2018 after spending his first seven years with the club, and has been relentlessly booed by Spurs fans ever since, Orsborn adds. The two-time Finals MVP said he was nonplussed by the incident, tweets Andrew Greif of The Los Angeles Times.
“They’re probably going to boo me the rest of my career…They’re one of the best fans in the league and very competitive,” Leonard said (Twitter link via Orsborn). “Once I step on this court, they show that they’re going for the other side. When I’m on the streets or going into restaurants, they show love.”
Here’s more from the Southwest:
- Prior to their loss to Memphis last weekend, the Spurs held a players-only meeting, Orsborn writes in another subscriber-only story for the Express-News. There was “no drama” involved in the meeting, according to Orsborn, and guard Devin Vassell said he hopes to step into a leadership role — something the young team has been lacking early in 2023/24. “We addressed a lot of stuff,” he said. “I think there’s going to be changes as the year goes on and stuff like that.”
- After missing the past four games with a rib fracture, Pelicans forward/center Larry Nance Jr. was able to suit up on Wednesday against Sacramento, tweets Will Guillory of The Athletic. Nance finished with four points, four rebounds and a steal in 12 minutes during New Orleans’ victory.
- Rockets head coach Ime Udoka said first-round pick Amen Thompson has been able to do more individual on-court work in recent days and may be able to practice in the next week or two, according to Danielle Lerner of The Houston Chronicle (Twitter links). Thompson, the fourth pick in June’s draft, has been battling a Grade 2 right ankle sprain.
Pop completely embarrassed himself tonight. What a slap in the face to your own fan base. Sad.
the opposite. Pops was correct
No, Pop was out of line and he realized it. That’s why he changed the story after the game and made up the story that he didn’t want to “poke the bear”. It hasn’t been reported but the fans actually booed the message than proceeded to boo more enthusiastically the rest of the way. I agreed with the booing in his first game back, but I do think it’s time to stop, but you can tell fans paying thousands of dollars for season tickets that they can’t boo a guy that they feel betrayed them. They don’t have to be right – but they can do it.
No, the fans have every right to boo whoever they want, including the home team or a former player who the fans feel betrayed them.
It’s actually pretty hilarious. I love the Spurs and just laugh at it all. I love kawhi. Was for upset when it went down. It happened 7 years ago. If you want to boo go for it. Either way I’m over it and can laugh at it all. it’s wemby time. I think Pop was going out of his way to show Kawhi respect. The fact that anyone can get upset at that is hilarious.
Love Pops but he needs to chill. I get why SA would boo Kawhi. Plus I don’t think we still know the whole story on why he left.
Watch the Spurs a few times. Cause I want to check out Wemby. I think a true PG would go a long to helping them. A true PG can help to or can manage a game. Something we don’t take into account anymore.
I’m sure you’ve heard the PG is the QB in basketball. Well it still holds true. Especially in a close game. Or when you are trying to close a game out.
They will draft Collier next year
Yeah you can really tell the Spurs are just experimenting at the moment… They have a true PG come off the bench…
Also gotta get that number 2 pick somehow…
They have a true PG coming off the bench that has a very limited cieling. Jones isn’t much of shooter nor can he create his own shot. He will make a good rotation backup though. If the Sochan experiment works out then have a PG where the sky is the limit and if it doesn’t then they have a skilled secondary creator at SF. Might as well see if it works as the Spurs aren’t going to win that many games with Jones or Sochan starting anyway.
Sochan has really improved. Going to be a great 2way player. He’s become a good play maker and offensive player. He’s going to be a solid 3.
Look at what a true PG did for the Bulls when they had Lonzo. They went from first place in the East, to now barely a play-in team.
Given they were probably playing above their head, but even still the difference has been insane!!
It just goes to prove your point though. I mean, look no further than the Knicks with Brunson.
Lonzo is 6’6″, plays lock down defense, is a very gifted passer and he can shoot. Tre Jones is none of that.
I completely agree, hence the reason they need a real PG..lol
Tre Jones is a solid backup.
Spurs are just using the season to do “experiments”. Who can play what role with Wemby. They will begin to look different next year, and will then be good to go the following year. Portland needs to be taking notes.
Well people are less civilized more than every. What does he expect. Humans are pigs now. Men woman kids, even animals are getting sick of us.
Pop had a senior moment. Who cares fans do stupid stuff all the time like boo obvious fouls or when the ball clearly hits off their guys.
Pop embarrassing himself then making it worse by talking about it after. The Sochan experiment is stupid, he can be doing the same thing off the bench. Wemby’s development should be more important than Sochan experiment and he clearly plays better with Jones.
When the Spurs are ready to contend, they will have a chance to be the best defensive team in the NBA. Wemby gives you an insane number of possibilities on both sides of the ball. At some point, Wemby will start assuming a much larger portion of the ball-handling, and decisions made with the ball. If they pull off Sochan at PG …. The defensive potential you would have to build off of would be insane.
Spurs are wisely in the lab right now.
Pop and Kerr still trying to tell everyone how to act. They both can go F off
Hardly shocking that pompous fool is trashing his fans.
Imagine being a dude on hoopsrumors comments criticizing the greatest coach in any sports ever
I don’t have a problem with anyone criticizing Pop, within reason of course. We all know some fans tend to think they know more than every head coach in the history of sports, let alone one as good as Pop. And even more fans operate with short-sighted thinking that isn’t going to apply to a HOF coach with infinite job security leading an experimental rebuild.
What I find funny are the folks who criticize basketball Pop for non-basketball reasons, aka they’re mad he said mean things about their guy. The fact they can’t separate the two speaks volumes.
Not even close. Horrible take
Average coach who couldn’t win without Tim Duncan. Come on San Antonio the whole city embarrassed themselves!