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The Kawhi Leonard saga with the Spurs has finally ended but it’s still a mystery as to why the superstar forward decided he wanted out of San Antonio. Today. Jeff McDonald of the San Antonio Express-News revealed that one of the reasons why Kawhi wanted to leave San Antonio to play in a bigger market is because he was envious of the star treatment Russell Westbrook and other all-stars around the league were getting.
The first cracks in the low-maintenance veneer came in 2016, when Leonard made his first All-Star game — in Toronto of all places.
Leonard and his traveling companions noticed other All-Stars — notably Oklahoma City point guard Russell Westbrook — were using private luxury cars to get around, instead of the standard transportation provided by the NBA. They wanted the star treatment, too.
Leonard’s trip to China in August of 2017 seemed to spark another change in him. Everywhere he went on the NBA ambassador junket, Leonard was mobbed by fans wearing his jersey and other Spurs gear.
“I was surprised at how many Spurs fans there were, for me not ever going out there,” Leonard said upon his return stateside. “It’s just shocking to see how big they support the NBA.”
The experience also stuck with Leonard’s personal management team, including his uncle, Dennis Robertson. His advisers began to see Leonard’s potential as a top-shelf star and global brand.
Leonard is one of the best players in the league but his shy demeanor will probably prevent him from ever getting the “star treatment” no matter where he goes.