San Antonio Spurs: The Changing of The Guards …Or Forwards
By Cody Daniel
The foundation that holds up the basketball empire that Gregg Popovich built with the San Antonio Spurs stands upon the broad shoulders of one of the greatest, if not the greatest power forward ever in Tim Duncan.
Since entering the league as the No. 1 overall pick back in 1997, Duncan has brought home five NBA titles, three NBA Finals MVP awards, two NBA MVP awards, appeared in 14 NBA All-Star games, been named to the All-NBA First Team 10 times and was crowned as the Rookie of the Year back in his inaugural season.
Not too shabby for the future first-ballot Hall of Famer and at 38 years old, Duncan is playing as if he hasn’t lost a single step.
But Father Time catches up to everyone eventually and as the Spurs look to defend their NBA championship, it’s time for a changing of the guards in San Antonio as the reigning NBA Finals MVP, Kawhi Leonard will be looking to graciously accept the reins from Duncan as the future of basketball in the Alamo City.
This has been something the Spurs’ fans and organization have come to expect from Leonard over his first three seasons as his production, both on the stat sheet on off have increased as his career has progressed. Now heading into his fourth season, fresh off of his 14.3 points and 6.7 rebounds per game performance in last season’s playoffs, including an attention-gathering 17.8 points and 6.4 rebounds per night showing on 60 percent shooting against the back-to-back NBA champion Miami Heat and LeBron James, the throne is prepped for Leonard to become the newest king in San Antonio.
As we have seen Duncan’s minutes be on a fairly consistent downtrend over the years, the same should be said for the upcoming season, where around 27 or 28 minutes per night is all Popovich will likely throw Duncan’s way. The same can be said for Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili.
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On the other hand, Leonard will surely see an increase in responsibility and minutes as the Spurs’ old guys get older and he inches one year closer to his prime.
Popovich understands this and if there’s ever a coach who has understood the strategy and managing minutes throughout the 82-game, grueling gauntlet of a season that has mercy on no man’s age, it’s him.
While Duncan, Parker and Ginobili will find their fair share of time resting against some of the NBA’s lowly competition, Leonard will be learning how to carry what will be his team for the next decade. Throughout the course of next season’s pursuit to repeat as NBA champs, Leonard will continue to improve his shooting touch, become even more of a pest defensively, understand the game even deeper and most importantly, learn what it’s like to carry the weight of a championship team on his shoulders.
Is Leonard up to this task? Sure he is.
He was up to the task of going toe-to-toe with the world’s greatest basketball player and being arguably the biggest reason why King James didn’t three-peat in Miami.
I must say, the basketball gods have truly blessed the city of San Antonio. To go from one extremely humble and classy leader in Duncan to the passing of the torch to a guy the media and fans can’t help but love in Leonard.
The stage is set for Kawhi and 2014-15 is his year. Prepare yourselves for the emergence of one of the next great stars San Antonio has produced for our pleasure.