Gregg Popovich Uses Kawhi Leonard Reference to Condemn Jerry Krause Booing in Chicago

Gregg Popovich joins the NBA veterans and players in voicing his opinion on the Jerry Krause incident last night. Former General Manager of the Bulls, Krause was honored as one of the organization’s greats. Unfortunately, he was booed at while his widow, Thelma Krause, couldn’t hold her tears back.

Talking about the whole circumstance, Pop draws similarities to the whole Kawhi Leonard incident. He says, “I feel the same way about that as when Kawhi Leonard got booed here. It’s unnecessary. It’s impolite. It’s ignorant. If anything, it’s like a snapshot of the world we live in today. Meanness seems to be a lot more condoned.”

Pop’s beration of the Chicago crowd and his comments make a valid point. While Krause’s time with the Bulls in the Jordan-Pippen era was filled with hate from fans of both sides, there is no denying that he was key to the franchise’s dominant run. Almost six years have passed since his death and that hate is still alive and somehow even more intense.

Pop made a very good point when he said “… it’s like a snapshot of the world we live in today.” The man is no more. MJ and Pippen have retired and live comfortable lives. The Bulls have also moved on from the Jordan era. And yet, the reaction Chicago had was “impolite,” “ignorant,” and “unnecessary”.

Just like what San Antonio did to Kawhi Leonard.

Read More: NBA Fans Blame Michael Jordan’s Last Dance for Ruining Jerry Krause – What Happened in Netflix’s 2020 Blockbuster?

Gregg Popovich and Kawhi Leonard

The incident Popovich refers to here is none other than the November 22nd 109-102 win. Since Kawhi’s departure from the Spurs in 2018, San Antonio has never wasted any chance of letting the former Spurs All-Star know their bitterness for leaving them. Since the 2014 championship run (courtesy of ‘The Klaw’), the franchise has yet to land its sixth ring.

Kawhi, after being traded to the Raptors, led them to their first championship in 2019. That proved to be another reason for the hatred of Spurs’ home crowd to intensify. Kawhi Leonard, on the other hand, is not new to the booing and barely veiled contempt of a place that once adored him. Enjoying one of his healthiest stretches this season, the Kawhi-led Clippers have thrashed the ‘Lone Star State’ every time they met.

But then again, San Antonio hasn’t been that hard to defeat this season. Still in the rebuilding stage, Pop’s beloved Spurs are just testing the waters with Victor Wembanyama smack in the middle of it all. But that’s a Gordian Knot to untie another day.

What do you make of Coach Pop’s comments? Do you agree with his view?

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