Pop interjects midgame, asks Spurs crowd to stop booing Kawhi

Five years after the San Antonio Spurs granted Kawhi Leonard's trade request, the home crowd at the Frost Bank Center continued to boo the Los Angeles Clippers star when he touched the ball during Wednesday's clash.

Longtime Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich took the mic during the second quarter and asked spectators to stop booing Leonard in between the two-time Finals MVP's free-throw attempts.

Leonard had no issues with the reception he received from the Spurs faithful.

"If I don't have a Spurs jersey on, they're probably going to boo me the rest of my career," Leonard said postgame, according to ESPN's Andrew Lopez. "But ... like I said, they're one of the best fans in the league and they're very competitive."

Leonard added: "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."

Meanwhile, Spurs guard Jeremy Sochan applauded Popovich's decision to stand up for his former player.

"I think it's the right thing to do. You don't know what's going on in Kawhi's head," Sochan told reporters postgame, per Tom Orsborn of the San Antonio Express-News. "He's done so much for this organization, so there's no need to disrespect him like that.

"I guess it's part of the game. But at the same time, he's a human too. So, at the end of the day, I respect what coach Pop did."

San Antonio acquired Leonard on draft night 12 years ago along with the rights to Erazem Lorbek and Davis Bertans in exchange for George Hill. The San Diego State product developed into of the game's top two-way players during his Spurs tenure.

Leonard earned numerous accolades over seven seasons in San Antonio, including two All-NBA first-team nods, a pair of Defensive Player of the Year awards, and Finals MVP honors.

However, things went south during the 2017-18 campaign when a quad injury limited Leonard to nine appearances. While the Spurs' medical staff cleared Leonard to return, the five-time All-Star sought a second opinion from his own doctors.

Leonard's teammates reportedly held a players-only meeting, imploring him to return late in the season as they pursued a playoff berth. The California native never suited up for the club again.

In June 2018, Leonard apparently asked the Spurs to trade him, expressing a preference to be moved to the Los Angeles Lakers.

The Spurs traded Leonard and Danny Green to the Toronto Raptors that summer for DeMar DeRozan, Jakob Poeltl, and a protected 2019 first-round draft pick.

Leonard led the Raptors to their first and only championship during his lone season north of the border, winning his second Finals MVP award in the process.

The Clippers eventually prevailed 109-102 on Wednesday for their third straight win.