Before he was a robot, Kawhi Leonard was a nervous, sweaty human

Now, Kawhi Leonard is a cool-as-a-cucumber-MVP-candidate. But just a few years ago, he was as sweaty and nervous as the rest of us humans.

You know the origin story of Kawhi Leonard — traded on draft night, landing with the San Antonio Spurs, taught to shoot, molded by the cool and ruthless efficiency of Tim Duncan and co. into an MVP candidate and two-way destroyer of worlds. Leonard lasted until the No. 15 pick in the 2011 NBA Draft because several teams were concerned about his shaky outside shooting.

As, Scott Howard reminded us today, at least one team — the Phoenix Suns — were also turned off by his nervous, sweaty humanity.

The Phoenix Suns weren’t the only team to pass on Leonard. Also holding that dubious distinction are the Cavs (twice), Timberwolves, Jazz (twice), Raptors, Wizards, Kings, Pistons, Bobcats, Bucks, Warriors, Suns, Rockets and Pacers (functionally, since they picked him and traded him for George Hill.)

It seems crazy now to imagine Leonard overcome by nerves and soaking an ill-fitting silk suit, enormous sweaty palms clasped tightly under some shaky folding table. Leonard is as much defined by his stone-face and seeming unflappability as he his by his two-brilliance. I guess it’s just a reminder that he’s more of a bionic hybrid, upgraded by San Antonio’s basketball labs, than a true organic robot.

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Leonard’s Spurs have a chance to finish the Houston Rockets tonight in Game 6, and punch their ticket to the Western Conference Finals. Leonard hurt his ankle in Game 5 and watched from the bench during the fourth quarter and overtime as his teammates finished the comeback. He is listed as questionable on the Spurs’ injury report but has been adamant that he will be on the court tonight.

Good thing he’s not hanging out with Eric Bledsoe, plotting out a summer in the Phoenix heat.