SAN ANTONIO — While the lone Texas-based NBA team, the Dallas Mavericks, is battling for a spot in the 2024 Finals, San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich is supporting them.
Yes, you read that right.
Despite the Spurs and Mavericks being long-time rivals on the court, Popovich put that aside and wished Dallas the best of luck in their playoff march, including shouting out Mavs owner Mark Cuban.
"Go Mavs! Come on, Mark! Kick ass," Popovich said.
The Spurs-Mavs rivalry runs deep, going back to the 2000s when San Antonio was racking up titles, and the Mavericks were trying to stop the Spurs in the postseason.
It also runs deeper away from the floor when Cuban threw potshots at San Antonio's Riverwalk, calling it a “muddy ugly-ass River Walk,” and said Dallas fans hate Spurs fans more than they do.
“If you go to San Antonio, they hate us a lot more, I think, than we hate them,” Cuban said to the Dallas Morning News in 2014.
Popovich believes in good sportsmanship, and it was evident last season when he took the microphone during a home game against the Clippers, requesting Spurs fans stop booing former player Kawhi Leonard throughout the game.
He also preaches that his players show class in wins and losses, so, unsurprisingly, he is cheering on the in-state rival.
But how will Spurs fans react to this is another question.
The Mavericks are one win away from returning to the NBA Finals up 3-0 versus Minnesota in the 2024 West Finals.
How do you feel about this, Spurs fans? Let us know on X at KENS 5 and JeffGSpursKENS5.