Spurs Villain Tournament, Sweet 16: Former Spurs and Haters

There were a few upsets on the Killers and “Dirty” Players half of the Spurs Villain Tournament, but none of that intrigue carried over to the Former Spurs and Haters side of the bracket.

As you can see below, all the top seeds advanced to Round 2. The only semi-competitive matchup was Stephen Jackson vs Dennis Rodman, the latter of whom was surprisingly ranked 7th. I’m disappointed that Rodman is gone so soon, as I personally think he has an argument as the most disliked player who’s ever played for the Spurs, though Jackson’s up there too. Other than that matchup, everything else was chalk, so let’s now continue previewing Round 2 of our tournament.

Round 2: Former Spurs

1. Kawhi Leonard vs. 4. Richard Jefferson

The Nephew is back in the news, and Spurs fans are rejoicing once more. It’s a shame since he was supposed to be the heir to the dynasty, and Kawhi used to be a fan favorite. Then his true colors were revealed during the 2017-18 season when he abandoned the team and rehabbed a nagging knee injury privately, which he used as an excuse to ask for a trade. It seemed like a death knell for the team at that point, but I think everything eventually worked out in the Spurs’ favor.

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Kawhi should win this in a landslide, especially since Jefferson has a surprisingly high seed in the bracket. Sure, he had three disappointing seasons in San Antonio and jokingly called the city a dump, but he’s had more positive things to say about the organization than negative ones. I’ve never had any ill will towards RJ, and all the “insults” he’s levied against the Spurs are in jest, though sometimes it does get old — especially when you hear him calling games 24/7. Plus, if RJ never flamed out in San Antonio, then we wouldn’t have witnessed one of the greatest shoves ever.

2. Stephen Jackson vs. 3. Robert Horry

Stephen Jackson’s one of the most unlikeable players I can think of, and that’s before factoring in my Spurs fandom. He’s called out Pop more times than every other NBA player in history combined, constantly bringing up a story where his ego got in the way of the betterment of the team. He also hates Tony…

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Publish date : 2026-09-07 16:28:00

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