Kawhi Leonard Responds After Spurs Coach Gregg Popovich Stops Game To Blast Fans

 In one of the most bizarre scenes in an NBA game in recent years, San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich literally walked over to the scorer's table in the middle of the game, grabbed the microphone and ripped into his home court fans for continuing to boo former Spur Kawhi Leonard every time he touched the ball:

Gregg Popovich just took the mic and told Spurs Fans to stop Booing after Kawhi Leonard made a free throw
pic.twitter.com/RBGyXShwP2

— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) November 23, 2023

No one can recall this ever happening before in an NBA game. After Leonard made one free throw, and was at the line ready for his second shot, Popovich blasted into the mic: "Excuse me for a second... Can we stop all the booing and let these guys play? It's got no class, it's not who we are. Knock off the booing!"

Kawhi Leonard, of course, is public enemy No. 1 in San Antonio after he forced his way out of town in 2018, only to be traded to the Toronto Raptors and immediately bring them their first NBA championship. He's since gone on to the Los Angeles Clippers, where he's spent much of the last four seasons injured with leg and knee problems. 

Pop's post-game explanation was just as hilarious as his mid-game rant:

"Anybody that knows anything about sports. You don't poke the bear."

Coach Gregg Popovich explains why he took the mic and told the fans to stop booing Kawhi.@spurs | #PorVida | 📺:BSSW pic.twitter.com/inUUTzfqS8

— Bally Sports San Antonio (@BallySportsSA) November 23, 2023

"Anybody that knows anything about sports. You don't poke the bear," Popovich said. When asked to expand on that, he merely repeated himself. "I spoke English, I just told ya. Anybody that knows anything about sports knows that you don't poke the bear. That's my answer."

Of course, what he meant was, getting Kawhi Leonard mad could only make him play harder, and that's never a good thing for Kawhi's opponents. For the record, the booing didn't really stop. 

As for Kawhi, he said he barely noticed Pop on the mic.

"If I don't have a Spurs jersey on, they are probably going to boo me for the rest of my career," Leonard said. "It is what it is. They are some of the best fans in the league and they are very competitive. Once I stand on this basketball court out here, they are going to show that they are going for the other side. When I'm on the streets or going into a restaurant, they show love. It is what it is."

Leonard finished the game with 26 points in a 109-102 Clippers win.