In the summer of 2018, all eyes were in Kawi Leonard, the then San Antonio Spurs superstar.
After being selected for the 15th overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft, Cowhileonard slowly but certainly rose to stardom for the San Antonio Spurs.
Despite winning the NBA Championship and several individual accolades in the summer of 2018, Leonard was ready to move on from the Spurs.
As we know, Leonard was eventually traded for the Toronto Raptors on July 18, 2018, but before moving there were a lot of rumors about the Claw considering moving to the LA Lakers.
NBA analyst Stephen A. Smith has always shared his views on top stars in the league, including Leonard.
Even though La Clippers denounced Leonard for losing Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and discussing the options for double NBA champions’ free agency, Smith was always on the line.
Speaking of Leonard’s discourse with the Spurs in 2018, Stephen A. reported that the talented forward was willing to sit down for the entire 2018-19 NBA season.
“According to a few other executives, because of Kawi Leonard’s personality and the outbreak last season, they told me they wouldn’t rule out the possibility that Kawi Leonard would not be sitting next season before he returned to the San Antonio Spurs,” Smith told ESPN in 2018.
“That’s how badly he wants. That’s what he wants to stay in LA. That’s the situation. That’s the news I have,” he added.
When asked what Smith’s thoughts were about “toxic” methods, ESPN experts gave an explosive answer.
“If he adopted that method, it would be very professional, incredibly unfair and only minor on Kawi Leonard’s part,” Smith said.
The reality is that Leonard didn’t play the season or force him to move towards the Lakers. Instead, Leonard and Danny Green were traded for birds of prey in exchange for Demar DeRozan, Jacob Poertre and the first round picks of 2019.
Many people were looking down on the trade at the time, but Crow proved his critics wrong. He averaged 26.6 points, 7.3 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game during the regular season.
However, Leonard saved his best form for the NBA playoffs as he led the Raptors to the first NBA championship in franchise history.
He was by far the best player on the Raptors’ roster that won the 2019 NBA Championship. Of course, Leonard left the Raptors in the offseason and joined the Clippers, where he already spent six years.
Just as Kawhi was during his only season in Canada, the Clippers have never witnessed that version of the 34-year-old due to the decline in injuries through his stint in LA.