Golden State Warriors center Zaza Pachulia (right). AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)
The Golden State Warriors will head for their third straight NBA Finals after dispatching the San Antonio Spurs 129-115 on Monday (Tuesday in Manila).
READ: Warriors set 12-0 record for 3rd straight trip to NBA Finals
However, the entire record-setting series remains maligned with controversy, after the Spurs’ best player, Kawhi Leonard, missed out the remainder of the Western Conference Finals after landing on Zaza Pachulia’s foot in Game 1.
The Georgian center, who sat out the series-clinching Game 4 due to a heel injury, has since been the target of criticism after the unfortunate incident.
After receiving a verbal tirade from Spurs’ head coach Gregg Popovich—who referred to him as a “dirty player”—Pachulia opened up, disclosing that there have been “social media threats” to his family, which have left them “all shaken.”
As a precautionary measure, several security guards have been deployed in the schools of Pachulia’s three children, USA Today reported.
“Look at what happened at the school. It was unfortunate,” Pachulia, who has two sons and one daughter, told the news outlet.
“They had to get extra security because we are living in a world today where social media is so active, you can find any news you want to, hear any news you want to, and obviously it’s a hot topic lately.“
He added: “They just had hired extra security for the entrance and make sure nobody goes in the school. It’s just not fair. It does upset me.”
Although the threats began shortly after Pop’s tongue-lashing, the Dubs’ big man does not entirely condemn the legendary coach for his family’s dire situation.
“I don’t blame everything on Pop, but what he said had a lot of influence (and) you had a lot of people where, unfortunately, you can’t control what everybody’s intelligence is,” he said.
“Me as a person, as a man, I don’t mind dealing with it. But I hate to see my family deal with it,” he shared.
“My wife and my kids who have nothing to do with it, who are very innocent. I just hate my family going through that. They don’t deserve that. I’m not blaming everything on (Popovich), but he was a very big part of it.” Khristian Ibarrola /ra
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