It isn’t common for Kawhi Leonard to be in the NBA news cycle, but his name has been appearing everywhere online today after a recent clip went viral. The video, which was taken during an end-of-summer Asian tour in Chengdu, China, features the Los Angeles Clippers star explaining the meaning behind the catchphrase he uses before making a shot.
“Wet ball, that’s a basketball term that I use when I shoot the ball and I know it’s going in, I say, ‘Wet Ball!’”
“When I shoot the ball and I know it's going in, I say, ‘WET BALL’”😂😂😂
– Kawhi
(via @836758160Joy / h/t @TomerAzarly )
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) August 26, 2025
At 34 years old, Kawhi Leonard is an NBA veteran who has mostly stayed out of the public spotlight. For most of his 13-year career, Kawhi has been known as the quiet superstar, thanks to his serious demeanor, a preference for silence, and a humble lifestyle.
This summer, however, Leonard is letting us see a different side of him that the fans are going crazy over. In this particular clip, the way he describes his “wet ball” phrase has been pure comedy for internet users, and the clip quickly went viral, drawing over 20,000 likes and hundreds of comments across multiple posts.
“The funniest guy in the NBA,” declared one fan, clearly entertained by Leonard’s explanation.
As unusual as the words may be, it’s actually not far removed from a common phrase on the court, referring to when the ball goes cleanly through the net to create that sweet, water-like splash noise.
“We used to say ‘that’s wet,’ but ‘wet ball’ is new love this dude. San Diego State University basketball,” a fan wrote on X.
Some fans even joked about what it’d be like to lose an important game on one of Kawhi’s “wet balls.”
“‘Wet Ball’ after a game 7 winner would send [me] to psych ward,” posted another fan.
Kawhi is very literal and straightforward when he speaks, and it still catches many people off guard. Even his deadpan explanation of the phrase had people cracking up.
“The way he [explained] it to her got me [crying],” added one user.
Whether you find the moment humorous or cringeworthy, it seems way out of character for Leonard, and it makes you wonder where this sudden burst of sociability came from.
“This gotta be AI,” one fan wrote. “Out of character for Kawhi.”
Of course, he did have that “fun guy” phase with the Raptors in 2018-19. He also had that one moment at Paul George’s wedding, where he was all smiles as teammates and friends were getting drunk in a massive celebration.
While we can credit this latest Asia for bringing out a different side to Kawhi, it doesn’t change anything about his commitment to the game or his goals to succeed with the Clippers. With Paul George gone and a revamped roster built around himself, James Harden, and Bradley Beal, the Clippers are poised to compete for the title, and Kawhi will be at the center stage.
If things go his way, he’ll have plenty more “wet ball” moments to deliver this upcoming season, but he’ll have to stay healthy enough for it to amount to anything. Here’s to hoping that he finally gets a chance to play a full season up to his potential, because it will only make things more interesting in the Western Conference.
