The Enigma Known as Kawhi Leonard
Kawhi Leonard is one of the best players of this generation. He is also one of the most mysterious players in NBA history. You never know the next move he is going to make. Rumors and leaks in the media truly do not gauge what is going on his mind. He is truly an enigma. There is nothing wrong with being quiet and keeping to yourself. Kawhi is a natural introvert, but can it be a detriment at the same time? Kawhi is set to be a free agent soon and the Los Angeles Clippers have no idea as to what the future holds with him on the team.
An injury sidelined Kawhi for the rest of the playoffs after game 4 in their second-round matchup against the Utah Jazz. The extent of the injury was not known to the public. However, it seemed as though the Clippers did know either. Every game, we speculated as to whether he would play or not. The Clippers ended up losing in the Western Conference Finals without Kawhi playing a single game. After several weeks of guessing, we learned that he suffered a partially torn ACL. Now with him shelved until sometime next year, the Clippers need to see if he wants to stay. The Clippers might have no choice, but to be afraid of what Kawhi might do next.
Photo courtesy of Newsweek
The Odyssey to LA
When Kawhi burst onto the scene in the NBA Finals, we expected him to follow in the footsteps of Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginobili. We saw him staying with Gregg Popovich and becoming the next great Spurs player. However, he was ready to leave a few years after winning Finals MVP. 2017 was an MVP caliber season for him in San Antonio. He led the Spurs to the Western Conference Finals and then it all ended in game 1. He came down on Zaza Pachulia’s foot after a jump shot and had to miss the rest of the series. The following season is when things got weird as he is dealing with a quad injury and only plays nine games throughout the season. Then, we never see him in a Spurs uniform again.
He won a title in his lone season with the Toronto Raptors, but he had his sights set on Los Angeles. He chose the Clippers over the Lakers, as he was trying to take ownership of the city. The rift in San Antonio and not returning to the defending champions show that he only wanted to play at home. Now he is here. The first two years have not gone how he has expected. Winning a championship was the goal day one and they have not met those goals in two seasons.
The Clippers might be scared of the mysterious nature of Kawhi, but this is where he wants to be. There is a chance he can leave, but the goal for years was to make it to Los Angeles. Things have obviously not gone the way he expected, but it is not easy sometimes. His new injury is scary for multiple reasons. Kawhi has had a history of injuries, especially on his lower body. Perhaps the most troublesome is the reserved approach by Kawhi. The Clippers were somewhat shocked by him getting surgery. He got a second opinion on his injury without telling the organization. That is the same thing he did with the Spurs in his last year with the team.
Photo courtesy L.A. Clippers.
The Clippers’ Dilemma
The Clippers want to keep Kawhi. He is by far one of the best players when he is healthy. His playoff numbers were extraordinary before the injury. You do not pass up on superstar players like this. However, is it truly worth it in the end?
The everyday guessing game can be a headache at times. Winning is the most important goal for an organization, but sometimes you have to rethink the situation around you. Kawhi can shut out his teammates and the front office in big stretches. The man is a very quiet individual, but it is hard to understand when he came to Los Angeles in a big commercial claiming the city is going to be his. In the end, you have to keep him. His greatness is unmatched and the title window is still open. This injury is messing things up for next season, but expect the Clippers to be one of the best teams in the NBA. The Clippers might not know what to do, but they should hope that Kawhi is ready to come back to the franchise.
***Cover photo courtesy of The LA Times