Remember last May, when Kawhi Leonard was dominating the NBA playoffs and preparing to send the whole city of Toronto into a frenzy? And remember when Los Angeles Clippers head coach Doc Rivers got on live television and openly said that Leonard was the “most like Jordan” (yes, Michael Jordan) that the game has seen since MJ retired?
Well, here it is, in case you forgot:
"Kawhi is the most like Jordan we've seen."
Doc Rivers has some high praise for Kawhi Leonard. pic.twitter.com/i1R2gR1VrT
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) May 29, 2019
Rivers was eventually fined $50,000 by the NBA for his comments, which the league felt was an instance of “tampering” in light of Leonard's impending free agency.
However, Doc eventually got the last laugh when the Clippers traded for Paul George and then signed Leonard in one fell swoop, giving them a legitimate superstar duo to rival LeBron James and Anthony Davis in the pseudo battle for Hollywood.
On Wednesday, Rivers joked that those comments may have even propelled Leonard to another level as he led the Raptors to their first championship in franchise history:
Doc Rivers gets asked about Kawhi Leonard getting a ring when the Clippers “weren’t involved” in him doing it. He instantly grins. “What are you talking about, we weren’t involved. Didn’t you hear about the tampering?”
— Tim Bontemps (@TimBontemps) December 11, 2019
Of course, Leonard never suited up against the Clippers during that run to the Finals. The Clippers were swept by the Golden State Warriors in the first round of the playoffs.
Still, one of the speculated reasons that Leonard joined the Clippers in the first place has to do with his desire to play for Rivers, who has long been renowned as one of the top coaches in the NBA.
So sure, Rivers and the Clippers were not directly involved in Leonard winning a title. But they will dream of him leading Los Angeles to a championship of their own when he receives his ring on Wednesday night.
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