Gregg Popovich wasn’t having any of it on Wednesday night.
During the second quarter of the San Antonio Spurs’ 109-102 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers, the head coach hurried to the microphone at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio. Popovich, visibly upset with the way Spurs fans were treating former star Kawhi Leonard as he took free throws for the Clippers, addressed the crowd.
“Excuse me for a second. Can we stop all the booing and let these guys play?” Popovich implored the fans while Leonard was at the free-throw line. “It’s got no class. It’s not who we are. Knock off the booing.”
Popovich then walked away, gesturing with his arms, and received brief applause from some fans. However, the boos quickly resumed.
Leonard began his NBA career with the Spurs in 2011, acquired on draft night with the No. 15 overall pick. Spending seven seasons in San Antonio, he played a crucial role in securing an NBA title for the franchise in 2014.
However, Leonard’s departure from the Spurs was marked by challenges. Limited to just nine games during the 2017-18 season due to a lingering quad injury, disagreements between Leonard and the organization about how to handle the situation strained their relationship. Eventually, the Spurs traded him to the Toronto Raptors, where he won another championship, before joining the Clippers in 2019.
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The boos on Wednesday night were a continuation of a trend since Leonard’s departure. Spurs fans have consistently expressed their disapproval every time he returns to San Antonio.
Despite Popovich’s efforts to quell the boos, Spurs fans seem resistant to change.
Leonard acknowledged the situation after the game, saying, “If I don’t have a Spurs jersey on, they’re probably going to boo me the rest of my career. But I mean, it is what it is. Like I said, they’re one of the best fans in the league, and they’re very competitive. Once I step out on this basketball court out here, they show that they’re going for the other side. When I’m on the streets or going into restaurants, they show love. So it is what it is.”
In the game, Leonard led the Clippers with 26 points, four rebounds, and four assists.
