Fans Booing Kawhi Leonard Were Stopped By Spurs Coach Gregg Popovich
When he played for the San Antonio Spurs, Kawhi Leonard was a well-liked superstar. Leonard spent seven seasons on the Texas team and was twice named Defensive Player of the Year.
Fans Booing Kawhi Leonard Were Stopped By Spurs Coach Gregg Popovich
The two-way standout was also voted the Finals MVP and contributed to the team’s 2014 Championship triumph. But the same San Antonio audience that adored Kawhi in the past now despises him greatly.
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
Late in the second quarter of the Spurs’ 109-102 loss to the Clippers, the coach of the San Antonio Spurs hurried up to the microphone at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio. Popovich was infuriated by the way Spurs supporters were abusing former Spurs player Kawhi Leonard, who is currently shooting free throws for the Clippers.
Every time Kawhi Leonard visits San Antonio after being traded out of the Spurs in 2018, the local crowd has been antagonistic against him. Even now, Kawhi continues to face jeers during the Los Angeles Clippers game at the Frost Bank Center.
Greg Popovich grabbed the mic during Kawhi Leonard’s free throws to tell the fans to stop booing because it has no class and isn’t who they are. Man, I love Pop. pic.twitter.com/pSkZoVpNpR
— Ricky Chu (@RikDaddy) November 23, 2023
The situation became so bad that halfway through the match, Gregg Popovich had to ask the audience to cease jeering. Coach Pop grabbed the microphone from the speaker when Leonard was attempting two free shots and said:
“Excuse me for a second. 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.”
Leonard played for the Spurs for seven years, and in 2014, he contributed to the team’s NBA Finals victory.
Greg Popovich told the fans to stop booing Kawhi Leonard because he is trying to recruit Kawhi back to the Spurs!! pic.twitter.com/0OYM4mzkDq
— PJ Hoops (@RealPjHoops) November 23, 2023
Amidst rumors that he desired to leave San Antonio, he was dealt to the Raptors during the 2018 summer. with his lone and only season with Toronto, he won a championship.
But even with his contributions to the team, the five-time All-Star was receiving criticism from the Frost Bank Center crowd as he was at the free throw line in the closing seconds of the second quarter.
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
In the Clippers victory, Leonard scored a team-high 26 points, regardless of whether Spurs supporters encouraged him to put in more effort.
“It’s a completive fanbase,” Leonard said after Monday’s game, according to the Associated Press. “They want to win every game. Once I come into the game, there’s going to be boos, but walking around the city or going to restaurants, they show love.”
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