San Antonio Spurs fans waited all season to call out Kawhi Leonard. With him sitting on the bench due to injury, and failing to play in Games 5 or 6, they got their chance.
Leonard has an ACL-related injury, though the official details are a little murky. For obvious reasons, Kawhi has every right to sit out if he’s not comfortable playing.
Rumors of Leonard’s supposed dissatisfaction with the Clippers training staff surfaced at the wrong time. With Kawhi out, it’s been up to No. 2 scorer Paul George to fill in, which he has done admirably.
For Spurs fans, it’s a familiar site. Leonard has an opt-out in his contract after the season, and he’ll likely receive an even more lucrative deal in Los Angeles or elsewhere should he act on it. Risking all that for a couple playoff games doesn’t make a lot of sense from Kawhi’s perspective.
NBA Playoffs: Spurs fans and NBA Twitter took aim at Kawhi Leonard
San Antonio Spurs fans came at Kawhi with some classic load management tweets, even though in this case he likely had every right to sit out.
It was reported that had there been a Game 7, Leonard potentially would have suited up. Though, even at that point, he would’ve been a game-time decision.
With Kawhi Leonard, the Los Angeles Clippers would be in the NBA Finals.
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) July 1, 2021
Where is Kawhi Leonard? He don’t even sit court side? That’s wild. He chose the wrong LA squad…#StixandSports
— 🚨AnonymousBigHomie🚨 (@homie_anonymous) July 1, 2021
Kawhi Leonard would have made a difference. But he didn’t play so deal with it. That’s just “if” he played
— alexabilio (@Abilio_alex6) July 1, 2021
Kawhi Leonard #ClipperNation was a real mystery after his injury, something wasn’t right about that. Must’ve been really serious to not even talk about now that your seasons ended again. #ClippersvsSuns
— Capt M J Singleton 🇺🇸 (@NavyCaptRet63XX) July 1, 2021
@kawhileonard ……. #GoSpursGo pic.twitter.com/sXuMGfPSsR
— Rene Valenzuela (@Rene_Valenz) July 1, 2021
Patrick Beverley riding home in the carpool with Kawhi Leonard and Paul George. pic.twitter.com/vKhhpuRsPM
— At The Buzzer (@AtTheBuzzer1) July 1, 2021
@LAClippers owner Steve Ballmer should take a long look at his roster. I think he has one player on that team that actually wants to win a championship. It ain’t Kawhi Leonard. #NBA #NBAPlayoffs2021
— Thomas Blunt❄️ (@MistedTwister) July 1, 2021
Enjoy your load management for the summer bozo!!! @kawhileonard
— Rene Rodriguez (@ReneRod_225) July 1, 2021
Kawhi Leonard did to the Spurs what he now has done to the Clippers = QUIT #PHXvsLAC
— The Dre Era (@TheDreEra) July 1, 2021
What are the odds Kawhi Leonard is "done" with the Clippers the way he was "done" with the Spurs the season after his foot injury?
— Adam Bushman (@adam_bushman) June 30, 2021
Does he split this FA?
Whether it’s fair or not, the Clippers gave it their best shot without their best player in Leonard.