SAN ANTONIO,TX - MAY 10: Head coach Gregg Popovich of the San Antonio Spurs reacts during game against the Oklahoma City in game Five of the Western Conference Semifinals during the 2016 NBA Playoffs at AT&T Center on May 10, 2016 in San Antonio, Texas. (Image: Getty)
Gregg Popovich was undeniably angry during the second quarter of his San Antonio Spurs‘ 118-104 home victory over the Denver Nuggets on Thursday, and the coach made no visible attempt to hide it.
Popovich drew his first technical foul for arguing with an official from the bench. He didn’t stop there, however.
The coach chased after the referee and continued to bark at him, eventually earning his second technical and getting ejected with 1:36 remaining in the first half and the Spurs up 51-50.
Nuggets guard Emmaniel Mudiay immediately decided to troll Popovich by mimicking the referee and signaling for the coach to get tossed.
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Fans on Twitter were amused by Mudiay’s gesture:
Mudiay apologized on Twitter early Friday for his action, saying he meant no disrespect to Popovich, whom he called one of the GOAT (greatest of all time), and adding he simply wanted “to have fun.”
The guard finished with 12 points on 4-for-10 shooting from the field with two assists and three turnovers.
The Spurs are currently the West’s second-ranked team, while the Nuggets are the eighth seed.
The Nuggets (17-24) next host the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday, when the Spurs (33-9) visit the Cleveland Cavaliers.
SAN ANTONIO,TX – MAY 10: Head coach Gregg Popovich of the San Antonio Spurs reacts during game against the Oklahoma City in game Five of the Western Conference Semifinals during the 2016 NBA Playoffs at AT&T Center on May 10, 2016 in San Antonio, Texas.
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