{"id":12430,"date":"2018-01-23T16:20:34","date_gmt":"2018-01-23T21:20:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lwosonnba.ms.lastwordonsports.com\/?p=12430"},"modified":"2018-01-23T16:27:37","modified_gmt":"2018-01-23T21:27:37","slug":"kawhi-leonard-spurs-disconnected","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2018\/01\/23\/kawhi-leonard-spurs-disconnected\/","title":{"rendered":"Kawhi Leonard and San Antonio Spurs Reportedly “Disconnected”"},"content":{"rendered":"

San Antonio Spurs<\/a> superstar forward Kawhi Leonard<\/a><\/strong> has missed all but 9 games this season due to a right quadriceps injury. Despite Leonard’s absence, the Spurs have still managed to stay in contention in the Western Conference. San Antonio sits at 30-18, which is tied for the third-best record in the West.<\/p>\n

Not bad for a team that has been missing its franchise player for more than 80 percent of its games. However, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and Michael C. Wright<\/a>, it isn’t all rainbow and sunshine in the land of the 5-time champion San Antonio Spurs. The two have reported<\/a> that Leonard is “distant” and “disconnected” from the organization. However, Spurs general manager R.C. Buford<\/strong> has denied this report from ESPN.<\/p>\n

“There is no issue between the Spurs organization and Kawhi,” Buford claimed<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The rift between the Spurs and Leonard seems to be because of his rehab process. Buford went into detail about how difficult Leonard’s rehab has been.<\/p>\n

“It’s been difficult for Kawhi. He’s an elite-level player. It’s been difficult for the team, because they want to play with a great teammate. And it’s been difficult for our staff. Historically we’ve been able to successfully manage injuries. This rehab hasn’t been simple, and it hasn’t gone in a linear fashion,” said Buford.<\/p>\n

ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne called this feud the “worst kept secret in the NBA” on an ESPN daytime television show,\u00a0The Jump<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Without Leonard, the Spurs have been able to survive, but it is not sustainable. A team led by 35-year-old Tony Parker<\/a><\/strong>, 40-year-old Manu Ginobili<\/a><\/strong>, and 37-year-old Pau Gasol<\/a><\/strong> will not be able to maintain this pace in the playoffs. Granted,\u00a0LaMarcus Aldridge<\/a><\/strong> has had a bounce-back season, leading the Spurs in points and rebounds per game. But even so, the Spurs will not be able to compete in a playoff series without Leonard.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Leonard is under contract until at least the end of next season, when he has a player option. If the “disconnect” between the Spurs and Leonard is legitimate, the Spurs may have to consider moving on from their franchise forward. Letting a superstar walk for nothing is devastating for a franchise. Just ask the Cleveland Cavaliers<\/a> about when LeBron James<\/a><\/strong> left for Miami (or perhaps ask the Heat<\/a> how it felt when James went back to Cleveland). A team without a superstar is almost certain to dwell in the abyss that is mediocrity in the NBA.<\/p>\n

The San Antonio Spurs have enjoyed incredible success, winning more than 50 games every year since the 1998-99 season.<\/p>\n

Could the end of the Spurs’ dynasty finally be upon us?<\/p>\n

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Main Photo:
\nEmbed from Getty Images<\/a>