Last season, Kawhi Leonard averaged 23.8 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 1.4 steals for the Los Angeles Clippers. His stats were reliable, but his body was not, and he only played 52 games. Moreover, he suffered a knee injury in the first round of the 2023 playoffs against the Phoenix Suns and sat out for the rest of the series. Despite his history of injuries, Leonard still has plenty left to offer the Clippers and the NBA. His work ethic will allow him to make an impactful return to the court.
Kawhi Leonard’s Work Ethic Will Provide an Impactful Return
Brief History
The Indiana Pacers selected Leonard with the 15th overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft. That night, the Pacers traded him to the San Antonio Spurs, where he spent the first seven seasons of his career. During the summer of 2018, he was traded to the Toronto Raptors. As a free agent in 2019, Leonard took his talents to the Clippers, where he currently plays.
Leonard’s Impact on the Court Is Undeniable
When Leonard plays, he is one of the best on the court. He is also one of the greatest two-way players in NBA history. His accolades speak for themselves:
- Two-time NBA Champion (2014, 2019)
- Two-time Defensive Player of the Year (2014-15, 2015-16)
- Two-time Finals MVP (2014, 2019)
- Five-time NBA All-Star
- Seven-time All-Defensive Player
- Led the NBA in steals (2014-15)
- Named to NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team
Leonard’s achievements did not come without hard work and dedication. One of his most impressive feats is the development of his offensive skills. In college, Leonard was mostly a defender and rebounder. He averaged 14.1 points and 10.2 rebounds and played stellar perimeter and interior defense. His NBA career average in points is significantly more, at 19.6. Leonard became a mid-range and three-point threat while retaining his elite-defensive play.
Most recently, he notched the second-best three-point field goal percentage of his career, shooting 41.6% for the 2022-23 season. In addition, he ranked 13th in defensive-plus minus among small forwards. Leonard has a historical basketball resume and continues to perform near the top of the league. His consistency and improvement speak volumes about his work ethic; however, his injury woes have recently overshadowed him.
Injury Woes
For the past few years, Leonard has been noted for his “load management” tactics, where he limits the number of regular season games he plays to be prepared for the playoffs. His injury history almost warrants this tactic. In the 2019 NBA Finals, Leonard played through a left knee injury. Since then, he has had multiple injuries, including a partially torn ACL at the end of the 2021 season and a torn meniscus in this past year’s playoffs. His injury pattern is unfortunate but does not define his future success. The hard work and attention he gives to be his best self will prove worthy.
Leonard’s Work Ethic Will Prevail
If one thing is unquestionable, it is Leonard’s work ethic. Teammates and coaches have noted his hard work and focus multiple times.
The Locked Gym Story
Leonard’s college teammate Tim Shelton tells a story of the star’s dedication to practicing in a locked gym back in 2021:
“So Kawhi had a lamp, and on different occasions, Kawhi would be in there late and the lightbox would be locked, so he’d bring a lamp in there. He’d put his finger under the door and unlatch it and he’d go in there and shoot with just his lamp.”
Leonard was willing to bypass a locked gym and get up shots in the near dark to work on his craft. Not everyone is willing to go to such lengths to improve their skills.
Effort Gives Rise to Stardom
Another player who took notice of Leonard’s work ethic is former teammate and All-Star Dejounte Murray. Murray claims that Leonard was the reason he made his first All-Defensive team, noting the superstar’s commitment to defense and consistency.
“He came to me and was like… I guarantee if you make [the All-Defensive team], you’ll get on the court. Defense gets you on the court, especially in San Antonio. Other than that, I watched him show up every single day… off days, game days, all of that, putting in work.”
Defense is one of Leonard’s greatest calling cards, and playing it at such a high level requires exceptional effort. Murray noticed this effort and took Lenoard’s advice to reach greater heights.
Diligent Attention to Health and Preparation
Lastly, Ty Lue, the head coach of the Clippers, gushed about Leonard’s approach to his rehab before his most recent injury. He claimed that Leonard “hasn’t missed a rehab session, eats right, eats clean, does everything he can for his body [and] works extremely hard.”
This account by Lue supports the fact that Leonard makes every effort to be on the floor. He not only works hard on his basketball skills, but he is diligent in ensuring his body is conditioned and prepared to play.
The Last Word: Kawhi Leonard’s Work Ethic Overcomes
Many have criticized Leonard for his lack of availability, but injuries have unfortunately accounted for his absence. If anything, his peers and coaches provide reassurance that he is working hard to make his return. Work ethic and dedication made Kawhi Leonard great, and that same dedication and greatness will prevail when he returns from injury.
