Jeff Van Gundy had some interesting things to say about Kawhi Leonard and his current status around the league and with the Los Angeles Clippers. Leonard last season in Los Angeles expected to take this team to the promised land for the first time ever, just like he did with the Toronto Raptors in 2019. None of that happened and Kawhi left the Orlando bubble amid jokes and criticism after blowing a 3-1 lead against the Denver Nuggets.
The Klaw is now under scrutiny and everybody is waiting to see what he’s going to do this season with the Clippers. After a very disappointing season, Kawhi is under more pressure and Van Gundy made it clear that this could have been even worse if he hadn’t had the luck he had in the 2019 NBA playoffs. Talking with Zach Lowe on “The Lowe Post” podcast, Van Gundy explained that Kawhi had a little bit of luck during that playoff run.
Zach Lowe: Why Kawhi’s negative culture didn’t surface in Toronto?
Van Gundy: “Let’s be fair, if the ball bounced out vs 76ers and if all the GSW injuries didn’t happen, the grumbling would be much louder. They benefited greatly from good fortune & luck, you have to acknowledge that.”
Last season he couldn’t display his best game when it mattered the most and the Clippers were eliminated in the second round of the playoffs, missing a big chance to transcend in the NBA and finally play the Western Conference Finals for the first time. He will try to change that this season and Clippers Nation can’t wait to see what the team will do led by Kawhi and Paul George under “normal” circumstances.
