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Popovich grabs mic throughout FTs to inform crowd to cease booing Kawhi
Gregg Popovich grabs a microphone throughout the center of Kawhi Leonard’s free throw makes an attempt to ask the group to cease booing.
SAN ANTONIO — Spurs coach Gregg Popovich grabbed the PA announcer’s microphone throughout Wednesday evening’s recreation in opposition to the LA Clippers and requested the house followers to cease booing whereas former Spurs standout Kawhi Leonard shot a pair of free throws.
Leonard stepped to the road with 3:06 left within the second quarter. As the group started booing throughout Leonard’s first free throw, Popovich briefly spoke to crew chief Tyler Ford earlier than strolling over to the scorer’s desk.
“Excuse me for a second,” Popovich stated to the group. “Can we cease all of the booing and let these guys play? Have just a little class. That is not who we’re. Knock off the booing.”
When requested in regards to the second postgame, Popovich stated his message was about not wanting followers to provide Leonard any further motivation.
“I believe anyone that is aware of something about sports activities — you do not poke the bear,” Popovich stated.
Popovich repeatedly went again to the “do not poke the bear” remark when responding to follow-up questions.
Leonard, who scored 18 of his game-high 26 factors after Popovich addressed the group, stated he wasn’t totally conscious of what occurred within the second till talking with folks after the sport.
“I used to be simply within the second making an attempt to knock down my free throws,” he stated.
After Popovich’s announcement, the boos received louder and louder on the Frost Financial institution Heart. The boos got here not just for Leonard when he touched the ball however for anybody else on the Clippers, particularly when James Harden discovered his technique to the free throw line.
The Clippers received 109-102 for his or her seventh straight victory over the Spurs.
Since Leonard was traded from the Spurs in 2018, he has been frequently booed each time he has returned to San Antonio, a typical apply from followers towards gamers who’ve left franchises on unhealthy phrases.
The Clippers defeated the Spurs on Monday evening, and the boos had been the identical for Leonard all through the sport.
Leonard stated he understands what sort of response he’ll obtain any time he returns to San Antonio.
“If I haven’t got a Spurs jersey on, they’re most likely going to boo me the remainder of my profession,” Leonard stated. “However I imply it’s what it’s. Like I stated, they’re top-of-the-line followers within the league and so they’re very aggressive. As soon as I step out on this basketball courtroom out right here, they present that they are going for the opposite aspect.
“Once I’m on the streets or going into eating places, they present love. So it’s what it’s.”
