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Gregg Popovich chastises Spurs crowd for booing Kawhi Leonard at free throw line

Nick Profile Picby:Nick Geddes•11/22/23•

NickGeddesNews

Gregg Popovich
Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports

It’s been five years since Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard forced his way out of San Antonio. Spurs fans haven’t forgotten, but head coach Gregg Popovich sure wishes they’d move on.

During San Antonio’s home game against Los Angeles Wednesday, Leonard was subject to boos from the crowd at Frost Bank Center while attempting a pair of free throws.

Popovich took issue with the boos.

Rather than sit back and allow the booing to commence, Popovich took matters into his own hands. The 74-year-old grabbed the arena mic and asked Spurs fans to “stop all the booing and let these guys play.”

“Excuse me for a second,” Popovich said to the crowd. “Can we stop all the booing and let these guys play? Have a little class. That’s not who we are. Knock off the booing.”

The booing did not stop. In fact, it only got louder as Leonard attempted his second free throw.

Kawhi Leonard, Gregg Popovich remain respectful of one another

The fallout between Leonard and the five-time NBA champions is well documented, and in his ensuing trips back to San Antonio, the home fans have let him have it. Leonard, named NBA Finals MVP in 2014 as a member of the Spurs, requested a trade from the franchise in 2018. Leonard, who played in just nine games during the 2017-18 season due to a quad injury, reportedly grew dissatisfied with how the Spurs and Popovich handled the injury. According to reports from ESPN at the time, Leonard felt the franchise turned on him once he sought a second opinion.

Both Leonard and Popovich have remained cordial towards each other in the years since the fallout, with Leonard speaking of the impact Popovich had on him in a press conference last November.

“He meant a lot, he’s the reason why I’m the player I am today,” Leonard said. “Built that foundation on showing me winning basketball and yeah, he’s a great coach. Still one of the best coaches I had. We been in too many battles to have a scar on our relationship.”