Kawhi Leonard has become one of the most recognizable stars in the NBA. After one of the greatest postseason runs in NBA history, Leonard became a hero in the city of Toronto. Now, he will return home to Los Angeles to play for the Clippers.
Although L.A. is a place that holds fond memories, it is also a reminder of the unmitigated sadness and tragedy that Leonard felt as a teenager.
Leonard's father was murdered over a decade ago, and the case remains unsolved. On Friday evening, investigators iterated that they are hoping that Leonard's stature might compel the perpetrator(s) to come forward via ABC7 Eyewitness News:
“Now they are finding out this was Kawhi's father and they may not have known that back then. Although it may be risky to get involved, they may be compelled to come forward, Lt. Shaun McCarthy of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said.
The only known details are that Leonard's father was reportedly involved in an argument with an associate prior to his killing, and that evidence points to the murder being a crime of a personal nature.
Since the death of his father, Leonard has leaned on his uncle–Dennis Robertson–for guidance and advice. Robertson was a prevalent voice during Leonard's final years with the San Antonio Spurs, and he has been outspoken about Kawhi's ability to deal with loss and adversity.
Leonard spoke about how special it was to win the NBA title on Father's Day in 2014, and his quiet demeanor has been attributed to the tragedies that he experienced during his youth.
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