Kawhi Leonard’s Blunt Message For Gregg Popovich
Kawhi Leonard's Blunt Message For Gregg Popovich
Kawhi Leonard offered heartfelt comments about Gregg Popovich following the legendary coach’s announcement on May 3, 2025, that he would be stepping down from his head coaching position with the San Antonio Spurs.
After the Los Angeles Clippers were eliminated from the 2025 playoffs, Leonard took a moment to acknowledge his former mentor’s impact on his career.
“He had a phenomenal career. He coached until pretty much he couldn’t,” Leonard stated, showing genuine respect for Popovich’s 29-season tenure with the Spurs. The six-time NBA All-Star spent the first seven years of his professional career under Popovich’s guidance in San Antonio.
Leonard specifically credited Popovich with establishing his basketball foundation and teaching him winning principles. “I appreciate everything he has done for me, coming into the league,” Leonard remarked. His comments reveal the lasting professional influence Popovich had despite their eventual parting.
Their relationship wasn’t without complications. During the 2017-18 season, tensions arose between Leonard and the Spurs organization regarding injury management approaches. This disagreement ultimately resulted in Leonard’s trade to the Toronto Raptors, where he subsequently led the franchise to its first championship.
Despite the circumstances of their professional separation, the mutual respect between Leonard and Popovich remains evident. While some Spurs fans have expressed lingering disappointment about Leonard’s departure, Popovich has consistently defended his former player from criticism.
Popovich is expected to continue his association with the Spurs in a front office role as president of basketball operations. Leonard, meanwhile, concluded his comments with personal well-wishes for his former coach, simply adding, “But also, just stay healthy.”
A longtime sports reporter, Carlos Garcia has written about some of the biggest and most notable athletic events of the last 5 years. He has been credentialed to cover MLS, NBA and MLB games all over the United States. His work has been published on Fox Sports, Bleacher Report, AOL and the Washington Post.
