Los Angeles Clippers star Kawhi Leonard changed the NBA landscape during the 2017-18 season, according to NBA execs.

Leonard only played in nine games that season due to a lingering quad injury. Toward the end of the season, Leonard was cleared by San Antonio Spurs doctors to return to the court, but the two-time Defensive Player of the Year was never cleared by his own doctors to play and thus never returned to the lineup.

Teams across the NBA have shifted their power structure over the past few seasons to appear more player-centric and have erred on the side of caution to protect them from injuries. Several executives point to Leonard's trade request from the Spurs as the main reason why teams are doing that.

Via Tom Haberstroh of NBC Sports:

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So, what’s going on here? Polling some executives over the past few weeks, it’s clear that the league over the years has shifted the power structure to appear more player-centric, erring on the side of caution to protect their star player and also demonstrate a certain appreciation for the player’s long-term career.

As for the origin of this recent trend, several pointed to a single event: Kawhi Leonard forcing his way out of San Antonio in 2018 after a disagreement over how to handle his quad issue.

“Kawhi scared the living hell out of everyone,” said one GM. “If it can happen to the Spurs, it can happen to anybody.”

The Toronto Raptors, who acquired Leonard from the Spurs, load managed Leonard during the 2018-19 regular season. Leonard said multiple times last season he was happy with how the Raptors managed his health.

It paid off in the end, as Kawhi guided the Raptors to their first-ever title. Leonard won his second Finals MVP along the way.

The Clippers have been careful with Leonard's health this season as well. Everyone inside the Clippers organization wants Kawhi to be as close to 100 percent for the playoffs.