Kawhi Leonard recently shared what drives and motivates him to continuously return from injuries and perform for his team.
“I love the game. I love the game. I have a passion for it still. I love to compete out there,” said Leonard while speaking with the media during practice. That’s pretty much what drives me back. Everything has its ups and downs. You have to go through that in life and just keep going.”
The Los Angeles Clippers forward was then asked whether he felt the need to prove something.
“No. I’m always just playing basketball, having fun and trying to get to that next step,” responded the forward, in his typical collected fashion. “And now we’re in the playoffs, so just that. Just trying to win games. That’s it.”
Leonard is one of the least animated players in the NBA. However, this is far from being an indicator of his greatness. The six-time All-Star has been one of the most impactful players on virtually every franchise he has been a part of.
Having won titles with the San Antonio Spurs and the Toronto Raptors, Leonard will be considered a legend for these teams as he was named the Finals MVP in both of these campaigns. All things considered, it is understandable why he believes he has nothing to prove.
However, Clippers fans may not necessarily agree with or appreciate this take and mindset.
Now in his fifth season with the franchise, Leonard has faced much criticism due to his constant unavailability due to injuries. This season has been no different, as the Clippers’ star was only available for a total of 37 games owing to injury recovery early in the season.
Regardless, the two-time champ lets his game speak for itself whenever he is available on the court. Leonard played a crucial role in helping the Clippers secure a playoff berth with his performances in the last stretch of the season.
In his last seven games for the team, the forward averaged 25.9 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game. Los Angeles enjoyed an 8-0 record in this period, with the star forward only sitting out one game during this stretch against the San Antonio Spurs.
Leonard’s performance against the Golden State Warriors in the last game of the season was also nothing short of spectacular. In a game with crucial playoff standing implications, the six-time All-Star recorded 33 points, six rebounds, and seven assists to lead Los Angeles to a 124-119 win in OT.
The Clippers will look to the star duo of Kawhi Leonard and James Harden to show out again in their upcoming playoff matchup against the Denver Nuggets. The series will tip off on Saturday at 3:30 pm ET with Game 1 at the Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado.
