Warriors Salute Grieving Gregg Popovich After Eliminating Spurs From Playoffs

“I just want to send my love to Pop and his family again,” Draymond Green said after the game.

Head Coach Steve Kerr of the Golden State Warriors and Head Coach Gregg Popovich of the San Antonio Spurs speak before the game in Game One of Round One during the 2018 NBA Playoffs on April 14, 2018 at ORACLE Arena in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
Head Coach Steve Kerr of the Golden State Warriors and Head Coach Gregg Popovich of the San Antonio Spurs speak before the game in Game One of Round One during the 2018 NBA Playoffs on April 14, 2018 at ORACLE Arena in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
NBAE/Getty Images

After his team knocked off the San Antonio Spurs 99-91 Tuesday night in Oakland, Draymond Green didn’t praise the Golden State Warriors when he stepped to the podium after the game.

Instead, he took his moment with the media to praise Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, who was not at the game because he is still mourning the death of his wife Erin in private.

“I just want to send my love to Pop and his family again,” Green said. “It was kind of a thing the first day it happened and then it’s like gone. That problem don’t leave them, so much love Pop. I send my best prayers and wishes to him and his family.”

Warriors coach Steve Kerr, who played under Popovich in San Antonio, also had kind words for his absent friend.

“Pop, if you’re watching out there, we love you,” he said. “Our whole team and coaching staff have been thinking about you every day. Your team reflected who you are tonight. They battled every step of the way, and that was a big-time fight. We’re lucky to get out of here.”

Whether they win another title or not, it was a championship performance from the Warriors.

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