Though the unique tone of his laughter may lead some to believe otherwise, Clippers All-Star Kawhi Leonard is, in fact, not an alien from another planet.
Leonard hails from Southern California. He's known as a quiet sort of guy, though he will certainly bark out schemes and sets on the court when needed. Now a two-time NBA champion, he's become one of the more recognizable figures in the league, and so too has the sound of his laugh.
A lot was said about Leonard's decision to join the Toronto Raptors in the 2018 offseason, as he was leaving the San Antonio Spurs — one of the NBA's most established organizations.
During his introductory press conference with the Raptors, Leonard was asked “what he wants people to know about him.” Leaning into the microphone a bit and holding a straight face, he calmly noted that he is a “fun guy.”
“I'm a fun guy,” Leonard said during his introductory presser with the Raptors. “Obviously, I love the game of basketball. There's just more questions that you would have to ask me in order for me to tell you about myself.
“I just can't give you a whole spiel,” Leonard added, looking around the room. “I don't even know where you're sitting at.”
Kawhi let out a big laugh as he smiled, but this was no ordinary chuckle:
Some smiling and laughing from Kawhi Leonard during his introductory press conference with the Raptors. pic.twitter.com/uYNYldpwDC
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) September 24, 2018
From that moment on, Leonard's laugh became the subject of countless memes and jokes, with most noting his “fun guy” remark.
The evolution of Leonard's laugh started long before his stint with the Raptors, however. With the Spurs, fans heard it on occasion, though it wasn't an internet sensation at that point.
In June of 2011, a young Leonard let out a quick snicker during a session of media availability that was mostly glossed over. It was short, windy and a bit awkward, but it was one of the first airings of his unique laugh. “Uhh-huh,” Leonard said with a chuckle.
After winning the 2014 NBA Finals and claiming the Finals MVP award, Kawhi Leonard sat down for a post-game interview. During the discussion, fans around the globe heard a quick snippet of his laugh — this time as a champion.
As the years passed, Leonard's laugh became increasingly popular:
Now with the Clippers, Leonard is enjoying one of the most productive seasons of his career, and yet another playoff run seems to be on the horizon. In his 41 appearances thus far, the former San Diego State standout has racked up averages of 27.1 points on 46.6 percent shooting from the field (37.9 percent from beyond the arc), 7.4 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 1.8 steals in 32.1 minutes per outing.
Though his chuckling sounds a bit different than most, Leonard has established himself as one of the best players in today's game. Poke fun if you want, but be careful. He's had the last laugh before.
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