Has Kawhi Leonard abandoned the Spurs?
Kawhi Leonard did not travel (or play) for Game 1 against the Warriors and San Antonio fans on Twitter have feelings (and conspiracies!).
When the San Antonio Spurs tipped off against Golden State Warriors in the very first game of the NBA Playoffs, there was one conspicuous absence. Kawhi Leonard, who has not suited up for the Spurs since December amidst a variety of whispers about his exact injury status and/or happiness in San Antonio, notably — like, extremely notably — did not travel with the team to Oakland. And, consequently, was not visibly supporting his team as they struggled against the defending champs.
Yes, Kawhi likely would not have prevented the blowout, but his absence was still a bad look. A bad look that Spurs fans on Twitter did not take lightly.
The reactions ranged from anger and slander to straight up conspiracy — and included, as all NBA things of this ilk do, a Skip Bayless take.
Where tf is Kawhi Leonard?! Like did he just quit the team?
— Kristopher London (@IamKrisLondon) April 14, 2018
If Kawhi TRULY was medically cleared to play & is healthy but he’s sitting himself out while this Warriors team is missing Steph & is vulnerable then he’s literally quitting on not only the team but the entire city of San Antonio
— Brandon Awadis (@brawadis) April 14, 2018
there's gonna be a conspiracy doc on netflix in 20 years about this Kawhi situation
— Pounding the Rock (@poundingtherock) April 14, 2018
You know, I’m not mad at Kawhi or anything but not being on the bench during the playoffs is not a good look. Healthy or not.
— Quixem Ramirez (@quixem) April 14, 2018
AGAIN: Kawhi Leonard quit on the Spurs, crumbled under the pressure to live up to MVP and Face of Franchise expectations. The most conservative/patient med staff in sports, the Spurs', cleared him to play 2 MONTHS AGO! Has a thigh bruise! Making 19 mil! Left team. Won't talk.
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) April 14, 2018
Anybody want a Kawhi Jersey for free?
— Jordan Cantu (@jaycantu22) April 14, 2018
Is the Kawhi story officially weirder than the ‘#1 overall pick forgot how to shoot’ story yet?
— Travis Yost (@travisyost) April 14, 2018
Allow us to provide some clarity for San Antonio Spurs fans: No. No, Kawhi Leonard has not abandoned the Spurs. Yes, it’s a curious decision to not travel with the team and yes, literally everything that’s gone down over the past three months between Leonard and the Spurs has been curious, to say the least.
But the case remains that fans at home no very little about anything. You don’t know what conversations Kawhi and Pop, or Kawhi and his teammates, or Kawhi and the Spurs at large, have had about his status as well as this particular game — which is, again, just a Game 1. The Spurs are one of the best run teams in the league, if anyone deserves the benefit of doubt with regards to managing the situation, it’s the Spurs.
It’s not fun to be realistic, especially when Stephen Curry’s absence theoretically opened the door, but Leonard and the Spurs both must be realistic about their respective, and potentially conflicting, priorities as an athlete and an organization.
Next: 3 takeaways from Spurs-Warriors Game 1
Watching your team get blown out in Game 1 of the NBA Playoffs from home instead of on the bench is not a good look. But neither is turning quite so aggressively on your star player.