In October 2014, the San Antonio Spurs played a preseason game against the Phoenix Suns. However, many of the Spurs' top players were absent that day, as was head coach Gregg Popovich , who allowed his assistant, Ettore Messina, to coach the roster.
This didn't sit well with then-Suns owner Robert Sarver. During the game, he addressed all spectators, apologizing that they couldn't enjoy the full experience due to the opposing team's decisions. Knowing Popovich, a comeback was sure to follow soon.
"The only thing that surprises me is that he didn't say it in a chicken suit. I'll just leave it at that," remarked Coach Pop, per ESPN. He further commented, "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."
The Spurs were unrecognizable
Usually, the PA system is used during preseason games to thank fans for their support in the past season, get everyone excited for the new one, or honor specific players. This time, though, a completely different message was delivered.
"This is not the game you paid your hard-earned money to watch," Sarver told the crowd. "I apologize for it. And I want you to send me your tickets if you come tonight with a return envelope, and I've got a gift for you on behalf of the Suns for showing up tonight. Thank you."
Reflecting on that contest, the visiting Spurs were indeed hardly recognizable compared to their championship-winning team from before. They were missing key players like Kawhi Leonard, Tiago Splitter, and Patty Mills due to injuries, along with the legendary duo of Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili, who were resting for load management.
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Examining the decisions
When it comes to injuries, there's little room for debate when players are sidelined. This suggests that Sarver was probably more frustrated about the two Hall of Famers, Duncan and Ginobili, not being on the court. However, Coach Pop, who had just returned from overseas travel with his team, provided a clear explanation for their absence.
"Duncan and Ginobili, are two of the oldest guys in the league who just came back from a 13-day European trip," emphasized the 75-year-old.
Some people, likely including Sarver, thought it was disrespectful that Messina, not Popovich, was coaching the Spurs that day. However, this coaching change would soon become routine; whenever Pop was unavailable, Messina took over on the sidelines for San Antonio. It only made sense to test out this arrangement beforehand, with the preseason being the perfect platform for doing so.
Ultimately, it wasn't surprising that the shorthanded Spurs lost 121-90 to the Suns. One can only hope that the fans from Arizona found some joy in that win and that they indeed managed to get their money back from the controversial owner.
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