‘I Spoke English! I Just Told You!’ Spurs Coach Gregg Popovich Snaps at Reporter After Viral Incident Where He Scolded His Own Fans Mid-Game
After lashing out at his own fans in the middle of a game, San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich went on to snipe at a reporter in the post game news conference.
Popovich was being asked about the viral incident in which he grabbed a microphone and demanded Spurs fans stop booing opposing player Kawhi Leonard.
“Can we stop all the bull and let these guys play?” Popovich said, grabbing a microphone from the scorers’ table. “It’s got no class, it’s not who we are. Knock off the booing!
When pressed by reporters postgame, Popovich offered only a vague explanation for his actions.
“Anybody that knows anything about sports. you don’t poke the bear,” the coach said.
"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
An awkward silence lingered for a few seconds, before a reporter tried to press for a more expansive response. But Popovich cut him right off.
“I just told you why I did it,” Popovich said.
“Can you clarify that, though?” The reporter asked.
That second push for further comment set the coach off.
“I spoke English!” Popovich said. “I just told you! Anybody that knows anything about sports knows you don’t poke the bear. That’s my answer!”
One social media version of the video alone has received more than 15 million views, and the coach has been criticized by many over the bizarre incident.
Watch above.
