Kawi Leonard’s exit from the San Antonio Spurs made headlines in 2018. It was a fruitful decision for him as he led the Toronto Raptors to their first championship.. However, it may have been preventable.
The San Antonio Spurs traded with Kawi Leonard in 2011, hoping he would become a stopper. It worked for him as he became known as one of the greatest defenders of the modern generation.
However, Leonard had different plans as he improved his all-around game. After Tim Duncan’s retirement, the quiet advance quickly became a star as he became the heir to the Spurs’ throne. Unfortunately, he was injured and locked him out of the lineup, causing trouble for some people, including Tony Parker.
As the best player for the Spurs, losing Leonard to an injury was a big deal. The injury came when Leonard stepped into Zazapachuglia’s foot at the 2017 Western Conference Finals. His struggle throughout the 2017-18 season has put him questioning the Spurs medical staff.
Leonard doesn’t trust the doctors on his team and urges him to seek a second opinion. That led to him not playing the game for the Spurs in 2018, which led to a huge hit deal. Demar Derozan landed alongside the Spurs, and Leonard played for the talented Toronto Raptors team.
At the same time, franchise icon Tony Parker questioned Leonard’s decision to get a second opinion.
It didn’t work because Kawhi Leonard and his management team didn’t like it. Former Spurs teammate Danny Green felt that was the beginning of the end.
“San Antonio, they don’t treat people like superstars. I think his uncle (thinking) should have been treated as a superstar, of course. Pop was spoiled. He didn’t have to treat Timmy that way.”
“After Kauhi was injured, Tony told the media a few things. Then Pop said a few things to the media. I think Uncle Dennis was like ‘Naha’. Kawhi is back from 9 games. After that, you have to talk to the people of Kawhi. ”
“Me and Kauhi couldn’t take that s**t… he really wanted to turn it over. When the injured ones came down, they didn’t fight for him… Tony said, “I got the same injury so I questioned whether he was really injured.”
Demal Derozan was decent for the Spurs, but he wasn’t Kawi Leonard. The Spurs’ 2014 Finals MVP played only one season with the Raptors, but he managed to win the championship. Leonard’s accomplishment with Spurs was a great achievement, but the fallout was way too big.
To rub it even further, Leonard won the 2019 Final MVP. Greg Popovich and the Spurs may have competed with the Golden State Warriors, but they didn’t go well. It would have been better if Parker had been quiet.
Losing Leonard has been a big blow, but they are slowly recovering. With Victor Wembanyama as the team’s current superstar, they’re in good hands. But there are always times when you wonder what Leonard could have done as a superstar in the late 2010s.