The severity of Kawhi Leonard’s injury is leading to a lot of eager fans and analysts questioning his return. There have been people questioning whether or not he wants to be there. To me, that’s “total blasphemy” in the words of Stephen A. Smith.
When it comes to Spurs basketball, the main guy we think of is Kawhi Leonard, correct? His entire career has been spent with the organization. Gregg Popovich has turned him into a humble, reserved All-Star.
Before we jump to conclusions on Jalen Rose’s statement regarding Leonard wanting out, we need to think about the logistics of the matter:
- Leonard has a quad injury, and even though his return is being pushed back, it doesn’t mean that he isn’t doing everything he can to get back on the court. This injury sprouted during the playoffs against the Warriors when he went down on Zaza Pachulia’s ankle. Head Coach Gregg Popovich has been left speechless by the injury, stating that he’s “never seen anything like it.”
- If anyone knows Leonard it’s Popovich, and do you really think he’s going to believe the rumors? Kawhi’s the franchise piece. We don’t see players jumping at the opportunity to go to San Antonio, because Popovich has a set system.
Only certain players are fit to play in Popovich’s system, which is why guys like Danny Green, LaMarcus Aldridge, Pau Gasol, and Tony Parker are having such solid careers in with San Antonio. Players make sacrifices to play here, and it’s one of the only organizations that truly have a consistent rhythm season after season. The Spurs are currently fourth in the West with Leonard playing in just nine games this season. This shows how much the injury affects them as a whole, but the Spurs know what they have with Leonard. Why would Leonard want out in the first place?
Jalen Rose stated “And when you go to San Antonio, guess who is the CEO of that organization? Gregg Popovich. It’s going to be his way.” I don’t see Leonard wanting to leave the organization because of Pop. He’s never had a problem with Pop, and when it comes to San Antonio, they aren’t media hounds, which is why more organizations should take notes.
As far as his injury is concerned, give it time. The last thing that Spurs fans want is for him to rush his return and end up like Derrick Rose. Injuries are becoming more severe than ever, and people need to realize that timetables get pushed back all the time. I’m sure Kawhi’s just as eager to get back on the court than all of us are to see him. Just breathe PerSources family!
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