Kawhi Leonard’s time at the San Antonio Spurs is nothing less of a fairytale for the Spurs fans. He is still remembered as one of the greatest players to ever play for the San Antonio Spurs and is treated with much love and respect by the fans.
Kawhi was initially drafted by the Indiana Pacers but was traded to the Spurs on draft night. That move changed the career of Kawhi as he developed into one of the best players in the league and it all started with that move. Although his time was great at the Spurs his relationship with the head coach of Spurs, Gregg Popovich was a complicated one.
Kawhi Leonard’s past confrontation with Popovich
In a video that has surfaced on the internet, Kawhi Leonard can be seen playing in a game and Popovich calls his name indicating him to make a move, but soon after he calls a time-out and Klaw can be seen getting a scolding from Popovich.
Popovich calls Leonard at the courtside and says, “What the f*** are you doing?” to which Klaw replies, “I went here.” Popovich makes a frowning face and says, “You were supposed to go right there!” This fuming exchange may lead many to believe that Kawhi and Popovich do not have a good relationship but it would not be right to assume that.
The Klaw and Popo had some differences in their opinions in the past but their relationship is very strong. They are close friends now and Leonard once said that the player he is today is all because of Popovich. Popovich on the other hand has always praised Leonard for his dedication and work ethic on multiple occasions.
When did Kawhi Leonard leave the Spurs?
Kawhi Leonard left the San Antonio Spurs in July 2018, requesting a trade and being subsequently traded to the Toronto Raptors for Jakob Pöltl, DeMar DeRozan, and a protected 2019 first-round draft pick. The reason for the trade remains unclear, but speculations suggest that differences between Popovich and Leonard may have played a role.
Kawhi suffered a quadriceps injury in 2017 that caused him to miss most of that season. Rumors circulated that Kawhi and Popovich were not in agreement on how to handle the injury, potentially contributing to Leonard’s trade in 2018.
Kawhi Leonard accomplished a lot during his time with the Spurs. From his debut, he played a pivotal role in helping the Spurs reach the NBA Finals, although they lost to the Miami Heat. In the subsequent season, he made remarkable improvements, earning the ‘Most Improved Player’ award, and played a crucial part in the Spurs’ 2014 championship win. He was recognized as the NBA Finals MVP, becoming the sole player in Spurs history to receive this award.
What do you think of the fuming confrontation between Kawhi Leonard and Popovich? We are eager to know your opinion, so drop them down in the comments section and let us know.
