Gregg Popovich responded Saturday to Robert Sarver, who grabbed a mic late in Thursday’s exhibition game to apologize to the Phoenix Suns' home crowd after five San Antonio Spurs players missed the game.
“As I said, the silliness begins," Popovich said. "Most wise individuals would check facts before they made statements. Unless you’re interested in putting on a show. In that case, the facts get in your way, as in this case.
“We had five guys we didn’t send: Patty Mills had a shoulder operation. Tiago Splitter has been out the whole preseason. Kawhi Leonard was out and is still out for 10 more days. The other two, Duncan and Ginobili, are two of the oldest guys in the league who just came back from a 13-day European trip.
“The only thing that surprises me is that he didn’t say it in a chicken suit. I’ll just leave it at that.”