To cheer for one’s favorite NBA team or to ‘boo’ the opponent team is part of the beautiful ‘NBA Fan Experience’. The league thrives on the different kinds of fan interaction that takes place from buying player merchandise to chanting MVP for their favorites at the charity line. In a rare change of pace, Gregg Popovich called out the fans in his own arena recently.

Coach Popovich’s in-game stunt was criticized by many. A 53-year-old Los Angeles Lakers legend also called out the Hall of Fame coach for his actions.

Gregg Popovich’s In-Game Stunt Called Out by 7x NBA Champion

During a recent game between the L.A. Clippers and the San Antonio Spurs, the Spurs fans started ‘booing’ Kawhi Leonard when the Clippers star was at the line shooting free throws. Gregg Popovich then did the unthinkable and grabbed a mic to address the ‘booing’ fans directly.

Coach Popovich said, “Excuse me for a second, please stop all the booing. Let these guys play, and show a little class, it’s not who we are. Knock off the booing.”

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Many of the Spurs fans in the crowd did not appreciate this as they continued ‘booing’ even after coach Popovich’s plea. 7x NBA champion Robert Horry mentioned the moment in his podcast, “This is the incarnation of elementary school where you could not cheer for your team while someone else shooting their free throws.”

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He further added, “That’s some private elementary school stuff right there. At the back of my mind, I’m like ‘Is Pop trying to get Kawhi back? Is he trying to get on Kawhi’s good side?’.”

The co-hosts then talked about the relationship between Kawhi Leonard and Gregg Popovich. They also stated that Coach Popovich’s actions were not professional by any means and that no other coach except him would have had the audacity to do and get away with such a stunt.

Kawhi Leonard’s Performance against the Spurs

The two-time NBA champion is one of the NBA’s elite basketball players who has the ability to channel all the ‘hate’ he receives into his in-game performance. That is exactly what happened after the Spurs fans started ‘booing’ him because Leonard went on to make both his free throws amidst all the ‘booing’, tallying a total of 26 points in the Clippers’ 109-102 win.

Many claim that Gregg Popovich made the abrupt announcement in favor of Kawhi because he has a soft spot for the ex-Spurs star. However, some also believe that Coach Popovich did not want to ‘poke the bear’ and make it worse for his team.

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Either way, it did not work out well for the Spurs and Coach Popovich. However, considering Kawhi Leonard’s personality, the Clippers star would’ve definitely appreciated his former coach’s kind gesture.

What are your thoughts on Robert Horry’s take on Gregg Popovich’s in-game stunt? Let us know in the comments below!