The Los Angeles Clippers were supposed to be the next superteam of the NBA when they acquired Paul George via trade and signed Kawhi Leonard. In addition, the Clippers racked up a hefty luxury tax bill surrounding the pair with adequate talent for a championship run. However, injuries to both stars have held them back from achieving much.
Ivica Zubac is one of the only players left on the roster from before the offseason of 2019, joining the team via trade from the Lakers earlier that year. Zubac has developed into a solid starting big man and plays a vital role on the Clippers as the only playable traditional center on the roster.
Zubac gave the inside scoop on how the often stoic Kawhi Leonard is behind the scenes, revealing that the ‘fun guy’ is normal whenever he isn’t talking to the media.
“I mean, the first question everyone asks me is ‘Is he a fun guy?’…Kawhi is a great guy, he’s a normal guy just like everyone else. I know it’s hard for people to imagine that, but he just doesn’t like talking to the media. I know everyone out there thinks it’s load management for the games he’s missing, but he was actually hurt. ACL is one of the toughest injuries out there. He wanted to make sure he came back 100 percent.”
Leonard is one of the most reclusive superstars in the modern era, and it’s a quality that many appreciate. But it seems Kawhi just can’t be comfortable enough to be himself when in the eyes of the media, as compared to in a locker room with his teammates.
Will The Clippers Compete For A Title This Season?
Heading into the season, many had the Clippers as championship favorites due to the expected good health of Kawhi and Paul George. However, both players have been hampered by smaller injuries that keep taking them out of the rotation. As a result, the Clippers are 21-18 this season and currently on a 3-game losing streak.
Kawhi Leonard is finding more consistent time on the floor but is still under a minutes restriction and often benched during clogged-up schedules. Nursing his health to unleash him in the playoffs may work like it did when he was with the Raptors, but the team has a lot more work to do before they can live up to their pre-season billing as title favorites.
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