Gregg Popovich implores Spurs fans to stop booing Kawhi Leonard mid-game, fans boo louder

The Hall of Fame coach addressed the San Antonio during an extraordinary moment in the second quarter of Spurs-Clippers on Tuesday night.

SAN ANTONIO — Something truly surreal happened Wednesday night at the Frost Bank Center as the Spurs hosted Kawhi Leonard and the Clippers.

In the second quarter, the Klaw went to the free throw line and the San Antonio faithful booed the 2014 Finals MVP loudly. That isn’t what was surreal; they had been doing that all game, did it all of Monday’s game and have done it every time he’s touched the ball in this building since he forced his way off the team in 2018.

But in between the free throws, Kawhi’s former coach decided he’d had enough. He grabbed the public address microphone and addressed the fans, imploring them to stop booing the guy.

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

“Excuse me for a second. Please stop all the booing and let these guys play. It’s got no class, it’s not who we are,” Popovich said to the crowd. “Knock off the booing.”

The crowd treated Pop less like a Hall of Famer and more like a substitute teacher who assigned homework, booing more loudly than they had all night. It wasn’t the result he wanted, but it did get the fans engaged as his guys fought back to cut a once 17-point deficit down to just three.

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