NBA 2018-19: 4 ways players did not give thanks during the Thanksgiving break

'Tis the season for thanks. But while everyone has been returning to their normal jobs after the Thanksgiving break, the NBA had not stopped at all.

This week, the Golden State Warriors had lots to be thankful for, as they won two games after a dismal losing streak. Further, Kemba Walker had lots of good things going on in Charlotte Hornets where he produced some amazing stats (43, 4, 5) to help steal a win.

Some other parts of Week 6 were filled with diss after diss, and while that might get you kicked off the Thanksgiving table, here are the sickest burns rated.

#1 Kawhi Leonard and Gregg Popovich

It's weird to think that these two can even feud, but that's a large word for some low-key drama that's brewing between these two.

Popovich himself brought the Spurs drama back into the limelight. The tension that was brewing last season between Kawhi Leonard and the San Antonio Spurs had disseminated when Pop spoke well of him after trading him to the Raptors.

However, it seems like that sentiment has passed as of last Sunday. Popovich praised Patty Mills's leadership, before throwing shade at one of his best players. He said that though Leonard was a wonderful player, he was never a leader, and that although his talent was a big part of the team, his leadership was not that important to their dynamic.

Given the context of the interview, it seems as though Popovich was commenting on the happenings of last season. Leonard had refused to play a certain number of games as he either did not want to travel or had just been medically cleared and did not want to take the chance.

On being asked about it, Leonard defended himself and said he was not sure of the reference of the comments.

However petty this may seem, it isn't surprising that it's coming from Popovich.

#2 A fan and Kevin Durant

Over the last year, Kevin Duran has turned into the quintessential bad boy. He has been ejected from games and is almost constantly getting T'd up.

Last Saturday in a game against Dallas, this side of his shone through again when he calmly walked up to a fan, presumably for a fist bump, but instead bent down courtside and asked him to "watch the f***ing game and shut the f*** up."

He apparently didn't like the heckling fan and took what could have just been a fist-bump or a pat on the back to something that it didn't have to be.

Reports later confirmed that the fans were saying nothing out of line, and that Durant's outburst was one step too far. Further, the Warriors, who are currently worried about the collapse of their dynasty, were charged a fine of $25,000.

#3 DeAndre Jordan and Luka Doncic

When the Dallas Mavericks played the Boston Celtics over Thanksgiving weekend, the Mavericks had a considerable lead towards the end of the fourth quarter. They were up 9 with 12.7 seconds to go, and technically it didn't matter who took the technical foul free-throw at that point.

However, when Luka Doncic stepped to the line, he was asked to move aside by Coach Rick Carlisle, who then replaced him with DeAndre Jordan. And although DeAndre has been shooting a personal all-time high from the line, his career percentage is not too good.

Technical free-throws are in any case generally reserved for the best shooters, and conventionally DeAndre does not meet that brief. But this must have been the equivalent of Coach Carlisle giving him an ego boost and the honor of the shot.

When DeAndre missed the shot as it rimmed out, Doncic (not a much better shooter than DeAndre) laughed at the mishap.

#4 Boston Celtics and Marcus Smart

Following the Celtics' loss on Saturday against Dallas, Marcus Smart had many comments about the goings-on in the game. He was quick to tell reporters that his own team showed a "lack of fear" (as in, his team did not impose their fear and will on other teams) and a "lack of effort".

The incident has made him not only a defender of the ball but also of the integrity of his team-mates. These claims about a lack of toughness seem to set a high bar for a team that has struggled despite its 12 wins and 8 losses.

Smart has asked his team to come out and start playing harder, and he couldn't be more right; the Celtics are not feared at all this season. That said, he wasn't right to throw shade at his own team while doing it.

Let us know in the comments below what you think about players dissing not only other players but their own teams as well!

Edited by Musab Abid