San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich took the microphone Wednesday night and chastised the crowd at the Frost Bank Center, telling fans to stop booing former Spurs All-Star Kawhi Leonard and the Los Angeles Clippers.
“Excuse me for a moment,” Popovich said as he hushed the crowd late in the first half. “Can we stop all the cheering and let these guys play? Have a little class. It’s not who we are. Stop the booing.”
Leonard had 24 points as the Clippers defeated San Antonio 109-102 on Wednesday night, handing the Spurs their 10th straight loss.
“I thought that was a great moment, even more so despite the fans cheering, I think,” Clippers star Paul George said. “I think that was a great moment, when Dad had Kawhi in that situation again.”
Leonard has been jeered by Spurs fans since he demanded a trade and was dealt from San Antonio to the Toronto Raptors on July 18, 2018.
Leonard became the Spurs’ best player as the Big Three era of Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili came to an end. The forward was named MVP of the NBA Finals after the Spurs’ last championship in 2014.
“It’s bittersweet in Kawhi’s situation,” George said. “He hung championship banners here and was part of winning teams. Regardless of the situation, it sucks to give an organization something and a city something and for that to be the treatment you continue to get at this point. It’s a shame, but that’s what makes sport sport.”
Fans booed as Leonard stood at the free-throw line after a foul by Spurs forward Keldon Johnson with 3:08 left in the first half. Popovich then walked over and grabbed the public address microphone.
Popovich was asked afterwards what his intended message to the crowd was.
“Well, I guess anyone who knows anything about sports shouldn’t poke the bear,” Popovich said.
When asked if he didn’t want the cheering to motivate Leonard, Popovich repeated his answer.
“I spoke English,” Popovich said. “I just told you that anyone who knows anything about sports knows you don’t poke the bear. That is my answer.”
After an initial stunned silence following Popovich’s words over the PA, the crowd booed even louder in response. Leonard faced a barrage of louder cheers, but made both free throws.
The cheering continued every time Leonard touched the ball and spread to James Harden and other Clippers players.
“If I don’t wear a Spurs jersey, they’ll probably 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. As soon as I get here on this basketball court, they will show that they are going for the other side. When I am on the street or a When you enter the restaurant, they show love. It is what it is.”
Fans showered Leonard with thunderous cheers during his first return to San Antonio after his trade to Toronto. The cheering has subsided over the years and some fans cheered when he was announced at last year’s game.
Leonard said after Monday night’s game, which the Clippers won 124-99 to extend the Spurs’ losing streak to nine, he heard some cheering.
“I mean, it was kind of 50-50 tonight,” Leonard said. “I heard some cheering and some boos. But as I’ve said before, it’s a competitive fan base. They want to win every game, so once I get to the game there will be some boos. But when they walk through the city or restaurants, they show love.”
Popovich’s actions were reminiscent of former Indiana Hoosiers coach Bobby Knight taking to the microphone to berate fans for their actions during their game against Michigan State on Jan. 21, 1989.
“I don’t care what the quality of the officialdom is, we’re not throwing things into this,” Knight said.