Kawhi Leonard understands that he has an opportunity to make history by leading a third team to an NBA title, writes Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports. Robert Horry and John Salley both won rings with three franchises, but neither played a starring role like Leonard did in San Antonio and Toronto. He’s a team leader now for the Clippers and has a chance to bring a championship to the city where he grew up.
“That would be a great accomplishment,” Leonard said. “That feat would be something to talk about once I’m done playing, and being able to do that in my hometown would be amazing. Growing up, [Staples Center] was one of the first NBA arenas I ever went to. So to do all of that here would be special. But we have work to do first.”
There’s more from Los Angeles:
- The addition of Leonard and Paul George will mean a reduced role for Lou Williams, but the three-time Sixth Man of the Year is ready to adapt to whatever is necessary, relays Joe Vardon of The Athletic. Even though he came off the bench, Williams often ran the offense and served as the top scorer late in games. Having two stars on hand means those duties will now be shared. “At the end of the day, I am a sixth man, I am a backup,” Williams said. “No matter how much you dress it up, no matter how much history I’ve made, no matter how many special things I’ve done off the bench, I’m still a backup and I understand that to the core of me.”
- Clippers coach Doc Rivers tells Arash Markazi of The Los Angeles Times that he briefly quit the team in 2013 after former owner Donald Sterling vetoed the signing of J.J. Redick. The incident happened less than a week after Rivers was hired, and he changed his mind when Sterling relented the next day.
- LeBron James is ready to prove he’s still among the league’s elite players after the longest offseason of his career, Vardon writes in a separate story. LeBron’s summer included shooting “Space Jam,” working on his game and spending time with family and friends, but for the first time in 13 years it didn’t include the playoffs.
- Avery Bradley has quickly emerged as the Lakers‘ most feared defender, observes Tania Ganguli of The Los Angeles Times. Bradley is glad to be back in Los Angeles after ending last season with the Grizzlies. “This is a whole new opportunity for me to prove myself each and every night,” he said. “There’s no bigger stage than this. Each and every night, every opportunity I get I’m going to try to prove, to show the world I’m the best perimeter defender in the NBA.”
It will be interesting to see how Kawhi does carrying the team without Paul George for the first 10-15 games. Will he get any rest days?
That comment from Lou Williams doesn’t sound very happy at all.
No just a guy feeding off an inferiority complex. He’s hardly the only athlete who can only get himself up when he perceives others want to push them down. If anything, athletes like that will suffer if they are praised and held in high esteem. He’s experienced enough at this time to embrace his role to try to be the best of a second tier of players.
I can’t wait for Basketball. Best time of the year! Baseball playoffs, Football in full swing and Basketball starting up..oh and cooler weather! I couldn’t be happier right now lol. As a Lakers fan and a fan of basketball and all sports in general I’m excited for the Lakers and Clippers to play when everyone is healthy like PG and Kuzma, that’s gonna be a fun matchup and I can’t wait to see how both teams fair when the season is all said and done. Not a Clippers hater at all, if they succeed, good for them, obviously I hope my Lakers do better but I feel like the NBA is so much more balanced right now so I actually support Kawhis decision along with Durant and Kyries decision. You look around the league and there isn’t a team that you are going to say they are for sure going to win it all like it had been for a while there with the Warriors.