’I Blame Gregg Popovich’ — NBA Analyst Blames Spurs Legend for Turning Victor Wembanyama Into ’Anti-America Crybaby’
· Yahoo Sports
San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama has been hearing it from critics around the sports world for his behavior both on and off the court during the 2026 NBA Finals, which the Spurs lost to the New York Knicks in five games.
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While most have been pointing fingers at Wembanyama and his underwhelming co-star De’Aaron Fox, one longtime sports voice is aiming his angst toward former Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich.
Jason Whitlock Labels Gregg Popovich a ‘Communist’
Jason Whitlock spelled out why he’s holding Popovich accountable for what Wembanyama has been going through on Monday’s episode of his podcast, “Fearless with Jason Whitlock.”
“I blame Gregg Popovich for what Victor Wembanyama has become,” Whitlock said. “Victim Wembanyama. I want you to look at this collection of lowlights that Wembanyama put together during this postseason that totally transformed his reputation.
“Victor Wembanyama entered into this season, ‘Oh, he’s the new face of the NBA, and he’s super competitive, and unlike the LeBron James era, he’s going to be different. He wants to compete with everybody.’ And, he’s bought the hype that he’s bringing this nastiness to the NBA.
“He really wants to compete, and he’s old school,” Whitlock continued. “But he’s gone too far, and he’s just a dirty player. Just a dirty, cheap, petulant, spoiled, no gratitude, no appreciation for America. He’s a communist, like Gregg Popovich. Gregg Popovich turned this great basketball creation into [something] everybody now hates.”
Whitlock further admitted that he was rooting against Wembanyama in the Finals. He even mentioned that Wembanyama walked off the Frost Bank Center court in San Antonio without shaking any Knicks players’ hands after Game 5.
Popovich has been outspoken on issues such as racial discrimination and police brutality. He’s also been a strong, vocal supporter of the NBA’s Black History Month celebrations. Whitlock appears to believe that Popovich’s left-wing ideology has rubbed off on Wembanyama, who caused a stir with his actions during U.S. national anthem ceremonies throughout the Finals.
Popovich had to step down as Spurs head coach in May 2025 after suffering a mild stroke. Despite Whitlock not being a fan of the 77-year-old’s political stances, during his time on the Spurs’ sidelines, Popovich led the franchise to five NBA championships in 1999, 2003, 2005, 2007, and 2014.
Mitch Johnson took over on a full-time basis in the 2025-26 NBA season after serving as an interim head coach for the final 77 games of the 2024-25 campaign. He succeeded Popovich, who was the Spurs’ head coach for 29 seasons.
Wembanyama, 22, will now be tasked with bouncing back from the biggest adversity of his young career next season, with all eyes on how he responds.