Spurs Star Forward Kawhi Leonard Says He Wants Out of San Antonio

According to reports given to ESPN by NBA insider sources, Spurs superstar forward Kawhi Leonard wants out of San Antonio.

Leonard has expressed frustration with the Spurs organization ever since he suffered a quad injury during this past season. He felt that the team did not handle his recovery properly and that they ultimately turned there backs on him when he requested a second opinion. Leonard apparently feels betrayed and lied to, making it seem as if his tainted relationship from with the franchise is all but irreparable.

Leonard has spent all 7 years of his career in San Antonio and has proven himself to be among the leagues elite players. He has excelled on both the offensive and defensive ends of the floor, making the All-Star game in both 2015 and 2016. During those two seasons, he scored 21.2 and 25.5 points per game respectively and took home the Defensive Player of the Year by both seasons’ ends, an exceptional feat for a player who doesn’t play a majority of their defense in the post. Leonard also won the 2014 NBA Championship with San Antonio, where they defeated the Miami Heat 4-1 in the series, with Leonard taking home the Finals MVP award.

However, Leonard played only 9 games during the 2017-18 season due to his quad injury, which eventually resulted in him being shut down for the entire season in January. It was during this time that Leonard’s relationship with the organization soured, ultimately becoming the main catalyst for his desire to leave San Antonio.

In regards to his future, Leonard has informed sources that he sees the Los Angeles Lakers as his ideal destination. The Lakers are expected to make some big moves over the summer, possibly signing LeBron James and/or Paul George in free agency. The addition of one or both of those superstars would make LA even more tantalizing for Leonard, so it will be really interesting to see how this situation pans out.

Article by Mike Conn