Clippers’ Kawhi Leonard Reacts To Gregg Popovich Telling Spurs Fans To Stop Booing Him
During the second quarter of the Los Angeles Clippers-San Antonio Spurs game on November 22, Gregg Popovich grabbed the PA announcer’s microphone and asked Spurs fans to stop booing Kawhi Leonard, who was at the foul line.
“Excuse me for a second,” Popovich said to the crowd. “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 the first seven years of his career with the Spurs before requesting a trade in the offseason of 2018. The two-time Finals MVP is booed every time he comes back to San Antonio.
“If I don’t have a Spurs jersey on, they’re probably going to boo me the rest of my career,” Leonard said. “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. 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.”
Leonard had a great career with the Spurs. He averaged 16.3 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.8 steals and 0.7 blocks and made two All-Star teams. Leonard also won two Defensive Player of the Year Awards and the 2014 Finals MVP Award.
However, Leonard was frustrated with how the Spurs handled his quad injury during the 2017-18 season. The future Hall of Famer only played in nine games that season and asked for a trade in the offseason of 2018.
The Spurs traded Leonard to the Toronto Raptors. Leonard guided the Raptors to the 2019 title and then signed with the Clippers in the offseason during free agency.
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