- Former Lakers legend blames injuries for holding back Kawhi Leonard
- West says Kawhi had it going last year before the most recent injury
- Kawhi is going underappreciated by the fans due to frequent absences
Just a few years ago, the world watched as Kawhi Leonard almost single-handedly led the Toronto Raptors to their first title in franchise history. At the time, he was hailed as the best in the world while his rivals schemed for his downfall in vain.
Looking back on it today, that was the peak of Kawhi’s career so far. With the Clippers, things just haven’t gone according to plan and there’s a sense that the clock is running out for him to win a title there. Even still, Clippers consultant Jerry West believes Kawhi can still get it done if he (and the rest of the team) just stays healthy.
“People forget because he’s been injured so much, how great Kawhi Leonard really is. This guy’s a man on both ends of the court,” said West on the Rich Eisen show. “You watch film playing when he was really healthy all the time, and last year he had it going again. But he’s missed so many games with injuries, I think people forget about him.”
Indeed, Kawhi Leonard is an absolute beast when healthy. In the 52 games he played last season, he averaged 23.8 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game on 51% shooting. That’s not to mention his elite efforts on defense, which are consistently recognized as being among the best.
Love him or hate him, Kawhi’s talent is undeniable and it’s why the Clippers have been willing to put up with his antics over the years.
Kawhi Has Missed 119 Out of 308 Games For The Clippers
The problem for Kawhi Leonard has always been about availability. Going back to his final season with the Spurs Kawhi has missed a ridiculous amount of games and it’s been for various reasons.
The worst offense when it comes to Kawhi is his role in the popularization of load management. Healthy or not, there are games where Kawhi will just sit for the sake of resting and ‘preserving’ his body. Needless to say, those methods haven’t been very effective in preventing injuries so far.
So you really can’t blame fans for not recognizing the true power of the Klaw. Perhaps if he plays more and commits to taking the regular season more seriously, people will start to change the narrative once and for all.
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