Spurs coach Gregg Popovich during a game against the Denver Nuggets, February 10, 2020. - David Zalubowski / AP / SIPA

San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich lashed out at Donald Trump's inability to describe him as "deranged idiot" and "cowardly" to say "black lives matter" and "to unify people "after the death of George Floyd. After LeBron James and Michael Jordan, who notably rebelled in the last few days after the homicide by a white police officer of this unarmed black man, Popovich, a declared opponent of the American president, strongly condemned his attitude.

"If Trump had a brain, even if he was 99% cynical, he would go out and say something to unify people. But he doesn't care about bringing people together. Even now. This is how disturbed he is. Everything revolves around him. It all depends on what benefits him personally. It's never for everyone's good, "he told The Nation .

Jordan, Hamilton, Williams, Thuram are indignant at the death of George Floyd https://t.co/WEu16MpKIZ

- 20 Minutes (@ 20Minutes) June 1, 2020

“It is clear, however, what needs to be done. We need a president who simply says that "the life of blacks counts". But he won't. He cannot because it is more important for him to calm the small group of followers who validate his madness, "he added.

For the past six days, Donald Trump has been confronted with the most serious civil unrest in his mandate. Promising to restore order in the United States, he denounced on Monday "acts of internal terrorism". “It is not only a source of division. He is a destroyer. (…) This is why he hides in the basement of the White House. He's a coward. He creates a situation and runs away like a schoolboy. In fact, it is better to ignore it. There is nothing he can do to improve that, because of who he is: a deranged idiot, "said Popovich, who won five NBA titles with the Spurs.

"We have seen this before, but nothing changes"

He also pointed to stagnation when faced with the problem of racism. “What strikes me is that we all see this police violence and racism, and we have seen this before, but nothing changes. That is why these protests have been so explosive. But without leadership, without understanding the problem, there will never be change. "And white Americans have avoided dealing with this problem for a long time, because we have had the privilege of avoiding it." That too must change, "he called.

An official autopsy report released Monday said that George Floyd, 46, had died "by homicide" because of "pressure on his neck". "In other words, he was murdered," tweeted Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr, who plays with Popovich, Lloyd Pearce (Atlanta Hawks) and ex-coaches David Fizdale and Stan Van Gundy, d '' a committee created by the National Association of American Basketball Coaches (NBCA), responsible for reflecting on various actions to combat racial violence and intolerance in the American cities where NBA teams play.

“We are committed to working with local officials and authorities to create positive change in our communities. We have the power and the platform to influence change, and we will use it, ”said the coaching statement.

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Death of George Floyd: Trump threatens to deploy army if violence continues

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