Editor’s Note: This is a guest post from Ron of FantasyBasketballMoneyLeagues.com. For more NBA news and updates, visit Fantasy Basketball Money Leagues today.
Kawhi Leonard is no longer a hidden commodity in San Antonio after winning the 2014 NBA Finals Most Valuable Player award. However, Spurs fans know that Leonard has quietly been the driving force that has enabled the team to stave off being labeled the old dogs of the NBA and continue to chase rings with the fury of the San Antonio dynasties of old.
There was a time not too long ago where the Spurs looked like they were heading downhill after reaching their peak. After making the Western Conference Finals in 2008, the Spurs were unable to get past the second round during the next three seasons, including being bounced in the first round twice. Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginobili were all battling various forms of injuries and were indicating that their best days were behind them. Luckily, they found their fountain of youth in the form of a 6'7” forward out of San Diego State.
The NBA Finals MVP Changes Everything
Kawhi Leonard was by no means under-the-radar heading into the 2014 NBA Finals, but he was definitely down on the list of players to game plan against for Heat coach Erik Spoelstra. While Leonard had shown the tendency to hit big shots in the past, his role with San Antonio was always kind of a little brother that thrived from the lack of attention being paid to him while Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginobili drew the ire of the defense. Now, however, with an NBA Finals MVP under his belt and the Spurs' "Big Three" creaking up there in years, Leonard is soon going to be priority #1 to stop for opposing coaches.
An Unlikely Superstar
One of the main reasons for questions around Leonard's rise to success is the fact that he's such a shy, reluctant, superstar. His answers to reporters rarely stretch beyond two words, and he keeps eye contact like a puppy dog who has been caught chewing on a shoe. In Games 1 and 2 of the '14 Finals Leonard took only 14 total shots, managing to score 9 points in each of the games. It wasn't until Gregg Popovich did everything but beg the third year star forward to be more aggressive that he posted scoring outputs of 29, 20, and 22 points to close out the Heat. During that three game stretch there was even one occasion where Leonard postured the team media manager to get out of a postgame interview because he was so uncomfortable discussing his success.
In the days of athletes spending every waking hour Tweeting, it's hard to find fault with a work-driven talent that shies away from the media spotlight. For Leonard, having Duncan, Parker, and Ginobili as part of the mix in the media-sheltered San Antonio countryside will help him avoid some of that attention, but whether he likes it or not, super-stardom just might await.
Kawhi Leonard is no longer a hidden commodity in San Antonio after winning the 2014 NBA Finals Most Valuable Player award. However, Spurs fans know that Leonard has quietly been the driving force that has enabled the team to stave off being labeled the old dogs of the NBA and continue to chase rings with the fury of the San Antonio dynasties of old.
There was a time not too long ago where the Spurs looked like they were heading downhill after reaching their peak. After making the Western Conference Finals in 2008, the Spurs were unable to get past the second round during the next three seasons, including being bounced in the first round twice. Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginobili were all battling various forms of injuries and were indicating that their best days were behind them. Luckily, they found their fountain of youth in the form of a 6'7” forward out of San Diego State.
The NBA Finals MVP Changes Everything
Kawhi Leonard was by no means under-the-radar heading into the 2014 NBA Finals, but he was definitely down on the list of players to game plan against for Heat coach Erik Spoelstra. While Leonard had shown the tendency to hit big shots in the past, his role with San Antonio was always kind of a little brother that thrived from the lack of attention being paid to him while Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginobili drew the ire of the defense. Now, however, with an NBA Finals MVP under his belt and the Spurs' "Big Three" creaking up there in years, Leonard is soon going to be priority #1 to stop for opposing coaches.
An Unlikely Superstar
One of the main reasons for questions around Leonard's rise to success is the fact that he's such a shy, reluctant, superstar. His answers to reporters rarely stretch beyond two words, and he keeps eye contact like a puppy dog who has been caught chewing on a shoe. In Games 1 and 2 of the '14 Finals Leonard took only 14 total shots, managing to score 9 points in each of the games. It wasn't until Gregg Popovich did everything but beg the third year star forward to be more aggressive that he posted scoring outputs of 29, 20, and 22 points to close out the Heat. During that three game stretch there was even one occasion where Leonard postured the team media manager to get out of a postgame interview because he was so uncomfortable discussing his success.
In the days of athletes spending every waking hour Tweeting, it's hard to find fault with a work-driven talent that shies away from the media spotlight. For Leonard, having Duncan, Parker, and Ginobili as part of the mix in the media-sheltered San Antonio countryside will help him avoid some of that attention, but whether he likes it or not, super-stardom just might await.
Moonlighting as a blogger to pursue my interest and enjoyment of sports. Former high school and Division I athlete (now a "retired" family man) that loves watching and discussing all sports. Follow me on Twitter (@HoldoutSports) and like Holdout Sports on Facebook.
