Popovich Replies to Suns Owner's Criticism of Spurs with 'Chicken Suit' Retort

SAN ANTONIO—Saturday wasn't the best night to test Gregg Popovich. 

And Phoenix Suns majority owner Robert Sarver, thousands of miles away, bore the brunt of it. 

The Spurs coach, looking weary after the Spurs' lengthy European trip, admitted he wasn't in the mood for much conversation prior to Saturday's preseason game against the Miami Heat. Then reporters asked for his response to what Sarver did Thursday night—apologizing to Suns fans that so few headline players participated in Phoenix's 121-90 win against visiting San Antonio.

"Hey everybody," Sarver told the crowd, with about three minutes left. "I want to thank you for coming out tonight. This is not the game you paid your hard-earned money to watch. I apologize for it, and I want you to send me your tickets if you came tonight with a return envelop, and I got a gift for you on behalf of the Suns for showing up tonight. Thank you."

Popovich also skipped the game—letting assistant and longtime Euroleague coach Ettore Messina take over for a night. On Saturday, he didn't seem to know many, if any, details. 

"Was that directed at us or something?" Popovich asked a reporter. "Is that the point you're trying to make? So you'd love for me to respond so you can have something to write, and all that kind of thing?"

He paused, and proceeded. 

"As I said, the silliness begins," Popovich said. "And I think 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 over the summer. Tiago Splitter has been out the whole preseason with a calf (injury). Kawhi Leonard was out and is still out for 10 more days. The other two, (Tim) Duncan and (Manu) 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."

Ah, but we can't. 

Christian Petersen/Getty Images

Not when there's context behind that. 

Popovich, after all, didn't just pluck the poultry reference out of thin air. 

During the 2004-05 regular season, Popovich sat Duncan and Ginobili against Phoenix, causing Sarver to flap his arms like, yes, a chicken, prior to apologizing. 

Of course, Popovich is unapologetic about his practices, even after the league fined him $250,000 for sending Duncan, Ginobili, Green and Tony Parker home before a national television game in 2012 in Miami. 

And Saturday, he sat Parker against visiting Miami. The Heat—on a second night of a preseason back-to-back—weren't complaining. They rested four healthy contributors: Chris Bosh, Dwyane Wade, Chris Andersen and Luol Deng. 

Ethan Skolnick covers the NBA for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter,@EthanJSkolnick.