Subscribe
Follow Us
Star forward Kawhi Leonard's tenure as a member of the San Antonio Spurs came to an end in a less-than-desired way, traded to the Toronto Raptors after Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich and the front office had exhausted every last option to try and mend a broken relationship with the organization — something unprecedented when it comes to the perennial playoff powerhouse.
The break-up didn't come without its share of parting shots, as Popovich recently said Leonard wasn't a leader — a comment that left a sour taste in people's mouths after a visibly frustrated Popovich vented to the media.
“Kawhi was a great player, but he wasn't a leader or anything,” Popovich said of the 2014 NBA Finals MVP and two-time Defensive Player of the Year. “Manu [Ginobili] and Patty [Mills] were the leaders. Kawhi's talent will always be missed, but that leadership wasn't his deal at that time.”
Since those comments went viral, Popovich “has regretted his comments and the way they were perceived,” according to Tim Bontemps of ESPN. Nonetheless, “that was yet another moment that exemplified how raw the emotions had become on both sides.”
Article Continues Below
Leonard's last season with the Spurs was an unforeseen nightmare, as veteran point guard Tony Parker has recovered from a full tear of his quad, not only faster but returned without any symptoms of a potential re-injury.
The Claw played in nine games before declaring himself out due to discomfort with his body, an area which the Spurs were forced to navigate along with him and one that was the cause of all-around frustration for the organization.
Popovich has been known to have a close-knit relationship with his players but Leonard was somehow the one exception. The eight-year NBA veteran went from being his best player and purpose to remain in the coaching business to his ultimate nightmare for a full year.
