Popovich calls Jones and Kraft ‘hypocritical' for past support of Trump

San Antonio Spurs Coach Gregg Popovich hasn't been shy about expressing his contempt for President Donald Trump.

The 71-year-old Air Force Academy graduate has called Trump a "soulless coward" and someone who "brings out the dark side of human beings for his own purpose."

In an interview with the New York Times published Saturday, Popovich continued his presidential criticisms, but found new targets for his disdain at the nation's current state of affairs: Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.

Popovich explained that as a white man coaching black players, understanding their background is an important part of his job.

"It would bring you to tears," Popovich said of the emotion in recent calls among Spurs players and staff. "It's even deeper than you thought, and that's what really made me start to think: You're a privileged son of a b---- and you still don't get it as much as you think you do. You gotta work harder. You gotta be more aware. You gotta be pushed and embarrassed. You've gotta call it out."

That stance is partly why Popovich turned his attention to Jones and Kraft. Both men are two of seven NFL owners who donated at least $1 million to Trump's inaugural committee while simultaneously running franchises who rely on a roster of mostly black players. That combination doesn't mesh well with Popovich.

"It's just hypocritical," Popovich said. "It's incongruent. It doesn't make sense. People aren't blind. Do you go to your staff and your players and talk about injustices and democracy and how to protest? I don't get it. I think they put themselves in a position that's untenable."

As protests regarding social inequality and police brutality have taken place throughout the country, there has been renewed scrutiny of the NFL and its owners with regard to their treatment of former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who began the player protest movement in 2016 and has been out of the league since.

Weeks after kneeling with his entire team before the national anthem early in the 2017 season, Jones said any Cowboys players "disrespecting the flag" during the anthem would not play for his team.

Popovich believes Goodell originally capitulated to the desires of Trump and the NFL owners.