Spurs To Welcome Back Leonard To Starting Lineup On Friday

The San Antonio Spurs will get the services of Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard on Friday night when the defending world champs take on the Phoenix Suns.

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Now it’s a party for the San Antonio Spurs, who get Finals Most Valuable Player Kawhi Leonard back into the starting lineup for Friday night’s game against the Phoenix Suns.

The small forward missed most of the preseason and Tuesday’s Opening Night win over the Dallas Mavericks with an eye infection, had his breakout performance during the Finals, where he averaged nearly 24 points, nine rebounds and shot 69 percent from the field in the last three wins for San Antonio.

Center Matt Bonner started in place of Leonard in the 101-100 victory over the Mavericks. Leonard will return to join point guard Tony Parker, shooting guard Danny Green, power forward Tim Duncan and Bonner in the starting lineup.

The 23-year-old Leonard, who played at San Diego State, was the Pacers’ first round pick in the 2011 draft, but was traded to the Spurs in exchange for guard George Hill. He has played in 188 games, making 161 starts, while averaging 10.9 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.6 assists.

Leonard has started all 58 career playoff games, as his averages increase to 12.6 points, 7.4 rebounds and 1.4 assists to go along with 1.6 steals an outing.

He was also ranked as the 24th best basketball player in the NBA by ESPN.com in its annual rating of the top 500 basketball players. Leonard was one of four players last season who averaged at least 12 points, shoot better than 50 percent from the field and average better than 35 percent from 3-point range.

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