While Gregg Popovich has no choice but to move forward with his current roster, San Antonio Spurs fan Juan Vasquez isn't quite ready to let Kawhi Leonard‘s injury go just yet.
Vasquez is suing the Golden State Warriors and center Zaza Pachulia this Tuesday on behalf of Spurs season ticket holders and San Antonio card shop What's On Second.
“All we are asking from the court is that this type of behavior, that can and does cause serious injury to our team and those that love it, not be allowed in San Antonio,” said Alfonso Kennard, Jr., lead attorney for the plaintiffs via Nick Moyle of the San Francisco Chronicle.
This lawsuit claims Pachulia acted “without excuse or justification, intentionally and maliciously invaded the landing zone of an opposing athlete, Kawhi Leonard.”
Popovich shamed Pachulia during a post-game rant, citing the history of his antics against Leonard, point guard Patty Mills, and ex-Spurs forward David West, who is now his teammate with the Warriors.
The complaint expressed the big man's actions “devastated the quality of the Spurs' chances of being competitive and having additional games in their home arena, both in the Western Conference Finals and also potentially in the NBA Finals” and also had a negative effect on “the value of the tickets purchased by plaintiff subsequent to their purchase.”
Among the demands of the suit are a sum no greater than $73,000, a temporary restraining order to keep defendants from acting in the described manner, and any other relief for which the plaintiffs may be justly entitled.
This lawsuit has a very low probability to have any repercussions, given that the NBA protects its players from these sort of charges, unless they are from one player to another because of outright assault or negligence. Furthermore, proving actual intent will be the only thing that could get the ball rolling, which could prove quite difficult for Vasquez and the rest of the plaintiffs.