Lastly! Lastly, famous person ahead Kawhi Leonard is wholesome sufficient to contribute common NBA minutes. He has performed seven video games for the Los Angeles Clippers this season. Well being has been his arch-nemesis because the 2017-2018 season when he solely performed 9 video games for the San Antonio Spurs and was subsequently traded to the Toronto Raptors.
Nonetheless, his popularity precedes him. He’s the defensive foil to LeBron James’s profession arch, a two-time NBA Defensive Participant of the Yr and Finals MVP, and Canada’s hero when the Toronto Raptors gambled on one 12 months of his companies. Most NBA consultants accustomed to his prowess will let you know that Kawhi Leonard makes you a championship contender. Leonard’s newfound well being makes that assertion correct in 2025.
Kawhi Leonard Places on Clinics When Not in One
Anytime Kawhi Leonard is typed right into a search engine, the phrase “harm” auto-completes your search time period. You’ll be able to examine his intensive harm historical past in the event you select. I need to level out that, regardless of that, the groups he performed for transfer heaven and earth to provide him most cash and contending rosters yearly. They’re nicely conscious of his availability or lack thereof, however additionally they know what he’s able to. Think about if franchises just like the Portland Trailblazers and Miami Warmth operated equally with their franchise stars.
this angle of Kawhi’s behind-the-back & reverse>>> 😮💨 https://t.co/xavkMRzyup pic.twitter.com/lcIuK2spIX
— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) January 26, 2025
Kawhi Leonard’s second season is the one wholesome one wherein he didn’t get an NBA award or accolade. Offenses tremble when Leonard has guarded their greatest participant. He’s 6’7″ with fingers the dimensions of baseball mitts, good for steals, deflections, and wreaking common havoc. Nicknamed The Claw, Leonard’s profession averages of 20 PPG, 6 REB, and three AST solely inform half the story. He prolonged a dynasty in San Antonio as a younger participant. Kawhi Leonard ended the Golden State Warriors dynasty with a championship in 2019. Some argue {that a} Warriors dynasty wouldn’t exist if Zaza Pachulia had not slid below his leap shot within the 2017 playoffs.
The NBA has since developed the Kawhi Leonard rule, which attributes a flagrant foul to that play.
Kawhi Leonard Has Assist
I wrote earlier this 12 months in regards to the hopes for a Los Angeles Clippers championship this season. Every little thing stems from Kawhi Leonard’s availability. Regardless of the lack of Paul George in free company, he has loads of assist.
The proprietor, Steve Ballmer, helps the group financially and through video games. Head coach Tyronn Lue has championship expertise as a participant and a coach, which is effective, contemplating the coaches on the high of West have far much less expertise than him.
Norman Powell is having a profession 12 months for the Clippers, averaging 24 factors per sport. His tough-nosed protection and skill to create offense enable the remainder of his teammates to shine.
James Harden continues to be taking part in at a Corridor of Fame degree. He has by no means missed the playoffs, and his talent degree has been persistently excessive for over a decade. That is Harden’s final hurrah, so you already know he can be motivated.
James Harden has by no means missed the playoffs in his total profession. He at the moment has the Clippers ranked fifth within the West with a 23-17 report, regardless of Kawhi Leonard lacking many of the season up to now. At age 35, he’s averaging 21.4 PPG, 8.0 APG, and 5.8 RPG.
One of many best… pic.twitter.com/LMAOmgiWBr
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) January 17, 2025
The followers are behind the group.
Clippers followers at The Wall are actually placing up an indication for each second that Giannis Antetokounmpo takes to shoot free throws 😂 pic.twitter.com/HbEUWGzMpj
— Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) January 26, 2025
A wholesome Kawhi Leonard skewers my earlier postseason prediction that the Clippers would fall this 12 months. Fairly the alternative. They’re a harmful group that younger contenders just like the Thunder, Grizzlies, and Rockets will need to keep away from.
Kawhi Leonard’s Championship Affect
The time period “load administration” derives from limiting minutes and typically video games to gamers with intensive or complicated harm histories. Made well-known by Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, he would sit total lineups for nationally televised video games, back-to-backs, and so forth. Kawhi Leonard was the face of load administration for years.
The NBA has since developed the “Kawhi Leonard” rule, which expects a minimal look of 65 video games to be eligible for normal season awards.
“I’m not a man that’s sitting down as a result of I’m doing load administration — nicely, once I was with the Raptors, it was totally different; like, I used to be coming [off] an harm,” Kawhi informed ESPN’s Baxter Holmes. “And it’s a must to know the small print from the physician.
“But when the league is seeing or making an attempt to mock what I did with the Raptors, they need to cease as a result of I used to be injured throughout that complete 12 months. However apart from that, if I’m in a position to play, I’ll play basketball. I work out each day within the summertime to play the sport. So, no league coverage helps me to play extra video games.”
The proliferation of Three-and-D gamers stems from groups making an attempt to copy The Claw on a smaller scale to fight explosive NBA offenses. Groups now make use of related gamers comparable to Amen Thompson and Mikal Bridges.
The Clippers this season with Kawhi Leonard on the ground:
127.8 Offensive Score (1st)
96.5 Defensive Score (1st)
31.3 Internet Score (1st)Regardless of shaking off some rust, he’s nonetheless one of the crucial impactful gamers within the NBA pic.twitter.com/BbRzVU6XcE
— HoodieBev (@HoodieBev) January 20, 2025
I’d be remiss if I failed to say the devastating Los Angeles fires which have devastated communities within the California space. Leonard’s constructive affect extends to his household and group as nicely.
The stakes are excessive this NBA season. No person has gained back-to-back titles in nearly a decade, and each group on the high appears to be like beatable. Having a wholesome Kawhi Leonard is a championship cheat code that the Los Angeles Clippers will fortunately exploit.
KAWHI LEONARD WITH THE NASTY PERIMETER MOVE!
He drills the middy from the quick nook 😤 pic.twitter.com/m9aPYlIEsR
— NBA (@NBA) January 20, 2025
Photograph Credit score for featured cowl picture: Getty Photographs.
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