Hoops Habit
Fansided

7 moments in recent NBA history in need of a documentary

By Daniel Lubofsky

CLEVELAND, OH - JANUARY 30: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the San Antonio Spurs puts pressure on Kyrie Irving #2 of the Cleveland Cavaliers during the first half at Quicken Loans Arena on January 30, 2016 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory copyright notice. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH - JANUARY 30: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the San Antonio Spurs puts pressure on Kyrie Irving #2 of the Cleveland Cavaliers during the first half at Quicken Loans Arena on January 30, 2016 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory copyright notice. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
7 of 9
Next

3. Kawhi Leonard’s final season in San Antonio

Even almost two years since the trade, how much do we really know about the quad injury that marked the beginning of the end of Kawhi Leonard’s time with the San Antonio Spurs?

There was never a clear diagnostic on what sidelined Kawhi because San Antonio was as in the dark as the general public. Having ceded control of his rehabilitation to a group headlined by the infamous Uncle Dennis Robertson.

Leonard eventually made his debut in mid-December, only twice playing more than two consecutive games — never, of course, on a back-to-back. A little more than a month later, after just nine games, he was ruled out indefinitely to further rehabilitate his ailing quad.

It was at this point where tension began to form on both sides, as Kawhi’s quiet demeanor left him out of the spotlight, forcing teammates and coaches to drum up theories regarding the absence of their best player.

His first public appearance in front of the media since stepping down came on March 7. As appreciated as his words may have been, they offered little clarity as to what the issue was and if and when Leonard would return at all.

Related Story. Remember when Danny Green almost won Finals MVP?. light

The saga reached a point where the ever-stoic Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker were compelled to throw out not-so-subtle digs at Leonard several weeks later. Manu failed to believe in a Kawhi return. Parker, who suffered a similar injury the previous May  — a ruptured quadriceps tendon — claimed his was “a hundred times worse.”

ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported a “tense” and “emotional” players-only meeting where teammates asked Leonard to return.

Kawhi never did return to the court, not even appearing on the bench during San Antonio’s five-game first-round loss to Golden State. More tension was reported in early May and Leonard’s trade request was made public in mid-June.

Leonard and the Spurs always seemed like an ideal fit. San Antonio had experience catering to the needs of a silent superstar. They aided Kawhi’s development into a perennial All-Star and were grooming him to lead the franchise into its existence after the Tim Duncan era.

To see it all crumble down was something few saw coming, even as its events progressed. It was that unfathomable from perhaps the best-run organization in the league and an unassuming star who never seemed capable of roaming amid such drama.