Spurs beat Knicks, Popovich alone in 5th for coaching wins

San Antonio Spurs fans like to let Kawhi Leonard have it when he visits his former team. San Antonio fans loudly boo Leonard when he’s introduced, touches the ball and shoots free throws. Spurs coach Gregg Popovich took it into his own hands to try to change that behavior.

While Leonard was shooting free throws, Popovich grabbed the public address microphone to implore Spurs fans to stop booing.

“Excuse me for a second,” Popovich said. “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.”

Postgame, Popovich said he was trying to make sure the fans “didn’t poke the bear”. He offered no other explanation for asking fans to stop booing. Leonard seemed undisturbed by the fans’ reaction.

“If I don’t have a Spurs jersey on, they’re probably going to boo me the rest of my career. But I mean it is what it is. Like I said, they’re one of the best fans in the league and they’re very competitive,” Leonard said. “Once I step out on this basketball court out here, they show that they’re going for the other side. When I’m on the streets or going into restaurants, they show love. So it is what it is.”