Kawhi Leonard had no mercy on the Miami Heat or their playoff chances, as his Toronto Raptors managed to dispatch them in overtime, limiting their chances to make the playoffs to a slim 1.2% shot. Yet it was Wade's heroics that reminded the two-way star of the toughest series he's ever been a part of when the San Antonio Spurs took on the Heat for two straight years in the NBA Finals.

“Just going through those championship series and facing him, and that Miami Heat team is the greatest team I have ever played,” Leonard said, according to Lori Ewing of The Canadian Press. “Being that young and having to guard Wade and LeBron it got me to where I am today. Losing and then coming back and winning just helped me out, man. It’s like I told him before, me going through that and them being as great as they are just made me a better player.”

The Spurs were crushed after a Ray Allen 3-pointer in Game 6 of the 2013 NBA Finals gave the Heat a sliver of hope, one they would soon take into Game 7 to give James his second championship and the third for Wade.

Article Continues Below
More Miami Heat News
Oct 16, 2023; San Antonio, Texas, USA; Houston Rockets assistance coach Tiago Splitter on the court before the game against the San Antonio Spurs at the Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images
Old LeBron James NBA Finals block victim reacts to viral videoZachary Draves ·
LeBron James (6) high fives Heat shooting guard Dwyane Wade (3)
Kendrick Perkins blames LeBron James, Dwyane Wade for breaking up Thunder Big 3Julian Ojeda ·
Jared McCain, Philadephia 76ers, Matas Buzelis, Chicago Bulls, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Miami Heat, Dyson Daniels, Atlanta Hawks, NBA Finals
Dyson Daniels, Matas Buzelis highlight NBA Finals correspondents for Thunder-PacersTomer Azarly ·
Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra reacts in the first quarter of game two of the first round of the 2025 NBA Playoffs against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Arena.
Heat rumors: Insider shoots down potential major change on Erik Spoelstra’s coaching staffZachary Weinberger ·
Nike Air Bakin, Nike Air Bakin release, Tim Hardaway
Nike Air Bakin OG returning Spring 2026Dominik Zawartko ·
Miami Heat star Davion Mitchell in the center with Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro on either side in front of Kaseya Center.
Why Heat must do everything in their power to re-sign Davion MitchellZachary Weinberger ·

San Antonio would take that loss to heart and then reload, coming back in 2014 to exact revenge in that series and eventually disband The Heatles, as James returned to Cleveland in free agency to start another chapter in his career.

The series wasn't close, as the Spurs put the Heat away 4-1 with Kawhi Leonard earning Finals MVP honors with averages of 17.8 points, 6.4 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.6 steals and 1.2 blocks per game.