Kawhi Leonard and the Clippers are continuing their resurgence with a win over the San Antonio Spurs. However, it wasn’t an easy game for Leonard, who was heavily booed by Spurs fans during the game. It even prompted Gregg Popovich to step in to calm the crowd down. Leonard has shared his true feelings about being booed in San Antonio.
“If I don’t have a Spurs jersey on they’re probably gonna boo me for the rest of my career. It is what it is. They’re one of the best fans in the league and they get very competitive… When I’m on the streets or going into restaurants they show love.”
Kawhi Leonard on Spurs fans:
“If I don’t have a Spurs jersey on they’re probably gonna boo me for the rest of my career… They’re one of the best fans in the league… When I’m on the streets or going into restaurants they show love.” pic.twitter.com/USd5eEgn3j
— Joey Linn (@joeylinn_) November 23, 2023
He also spoke about Popovich’s action to protect him from the fans.
“They’re a very classy organization and I’m pretty sure he wants to keep it that way.”
Kawhi Leonard on Gregg Popovich and this moment:
“They’re a very classy organization and I’m pretty sure he wants to keep it that way.” https://t.co/7qUFf8X5MS
— Joey Linn (@joeylinn_) November 23, 2023
Leonard ended the game with 26 points on 58.8% shooting, one of his best games since the James Harden trade. The Clippers held on to win the contest 109-102 and are now 6-7, needing one win to enter the .500 club.
They have two tricky fixtures awaiting them on back-to-back nights after Thanksgiving, with the first coming against the New Orleans Pelicans and the second against the Dallas Mavericks.
Gregg Popovich Reacts To What He Did
Popovich’s actions weren’t loved by all observers. While some recognized the classy nature of the gesture, many thought it was an overreaction to booing, something fans in an arena are always going to do. In fact, Popovich’s show of support for Kawhi ended up irking more fans and making the boos even louder.
Wow. #Spurs HC Gregg Popovich just grabbed the arena microphone with Kawhi Leonard at the free throw line, and asked the crowd to stop booing.
Fans have been booing Leonard, who asked to be traded from San Antonio, on every touch.
Not sure I've seen that in an NBA game. pic.twitter.com/PHk3yD2IHG
— Nate Ryan (@nateryansports) November 23, 2023
He got honest about his intentions with that gesture after the game, saying he didn’t want fans to end up instigating Kawhi into destroying them on the court.
“You don’t poke the bear. I just told you why I did it. I spoke English and I told you. Anyone that knows anything about sports knows you don’t poke the bear, that’s my answer.”
Gregg Popovich on the Kawhi Leonard incident: "Anybody that knows anything about sports knows you don't poke the bear."
OK then. pic.twitter.com/jYhBv1gcK5
— HoopsHype (@hoopshype) November 23, 2023
Popovich gave a very cold response to the journalist, clearly upset about the situation becoming as big of a talking point as it has. Leonard didn’t destroy the Spurs on his own, but he did have a sensational game to lead them to this win. Not wanting to provoke him might have been a good strategy, especially with the lessons Pop has learned over his career.
Last season, Popovich ended up claiming he wanted to limit Luka Doncic to under 50 points in a matchup as a joke. That led to Doncic scoring 51 points instead, proving Popovich wrong. Star players can find fuel from the smallest of incidents, and Pop didn’t want his young Spurs squad to be the victims of an angry Kawhi dropping buckets.
The Spurs didn’t end up winning and lost their 10th game straight, meaning Popovich’s temper is naturally running high. Victor Wembanyama‘s rookie season is off to a rocky start, but Pop’s gesture for Kawhi shows he still respects all former players who led him to success, even if they left the franchise on ugly terms, as Kawhi did.
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